I'm with you.... my imagination went as far as paint the blue stuff a different color and call it done. I'm not a Harley guy (tbh, I don't know anything), but this is the coolest HD I have ever seen.
Seeing the Bosozoku reference (Pronounced Bose-oh-zo-ku) made me smile. I was in Japan for a while and met plenty of Japanese riders and cultures in Kumamoto mainland and Okinawa. While I was in Kumamoto for a few weeks, I visited every maintenance shop and dealership I could find. Ended up having really good conversations and meeting interesting people. It is considered impolite to approach people randomly, so I really had to nail down my etiquette with shop owners and talking to them respecting their quality and attention to detail in their bikes... no matter the age of the motorcycle or where I went, they all looked as if they rolled off the dealership floor brand new. Especially the Older Honda CBs, Kawasakis and Suzukis of the 60's and 70's.
If the vrod came out now, itd be a hit. This bike was so underrated. The motor revs high, the power is broad & smooth, and the hydraulic clutches are great. The ergonomics with forward controls, unnecessarily fat tire, & relatively limited suspension travel were what kept customers away. These bikes like to go straight lol.
The vrod would be falling just as flat as all of the rev. max motor bikes. They are garbage with just enough marketing to lure a few people into buying it. Nobody wanted a new liquid cooled motor
I have the 1st year VROD still, rear tire is 180, thats "Unnecessarily fat"? Because I have been running a 200 on it for 125,000 of the 140,000 miles that are on it. Mostly Canyons of Soy=uthern CA riding by the way.
@@superegghead13 There was an issue with 2nd gear in the transmission on the 1st year 02-03 models they fixed in 2004. Had mine done while under warranty, unfortunate back then most HD dealers didnt have a VROD Guy and they didnt want to work on them so the 1st time it was installed wrong and needed to be done again, still under warranty but by a Indie shop that was warranty Cert. Thats all I ever had issue with.
I haven't ever seen a chopper/bobber built on a V-rod. I was thinking the same. I've a naked Bandit 1200 that has similar frame lines. It will give it a good clean look if those can be exposed. The wheels are too heavy I think. Short fenders. Hide, chrome, or polish all of that junk we just uncovered. Try to make all of the wires/cables disappear. Single saddle. Big headlight bucket. Get creative with the spaces under the seats. Performance upgrades need to not be super experimental. I think the handling/front damper should be altered in some way so that it seems like a different bike altogether. This is a build that could impress Paul.
A clear tank on that would look so sick. Filled halfway to show off the badass air intake on that bike, and be able to just look and see the fuel level, and the aesthetic of the fuel surrounding the air filter would be cool too.
Now that I'm seeing the bike I would maybe go for a modern interpretation of a WW2 military bike. Maybe run the fuel system from a Jerry can mounted on the side and expose the filter setup. Cut down pieces of the original tank as a frame around the filter, some knobby tires on spoked wheels, olive drab paint with a flat black star of two, some caged lights, and a springer look fork setup.That's just me though, I'm excited to see what you come up with!
Lean into Porsche's WW2 history and make it a Nazi themed boat bike! Bonus points if it actually swims. Be a nice piece to put next to the jetski bike..
I still cant believe diehard harley guys hated on this bike when it came out, harley had finally tried to make a modern bike, came out with a proper muscle cruser that dripped american style, and all the old school bikers tanked the sales trash talking the watercooling.
Not just the bike but damn near the whole company. HD has been trying the last few years but I fear it might be too little too late. I’m 46 and a HOG Lifetime Member, and I haven’t had hardly anything to do with the dealerships in about 5 years. They keep catering to guys old enough to be my father playing classic rock from the late 60s and early 70s at their bike nights. I was the head photographer for my local chapter for years, and gave up my chapter membership because no one seemed to listen when I kept saying if we wanted guys my age and younger we needed to have music from at least the mid to late 80s. Nope; stuff like GnR, Metallica, and Motley Crue wasn’t what they were looking for.
@JCole78 I am 72 years old and I road Harleys for 50+ years. I have owned knuckles, pans, shovels and blockheads. There were very few options when I started riding. If I were still able to ride I would not even consider a Harley. There are just too many superior motorcycles available that are dependable and require little maintenance. Also less expensive to maintain and repair.
That’s exactly why Harley people hated it, they abhor anything modern or new, just keep selling them the best 1940 has to offer. And that’s why Harley nearly went bankrupt. It wasn’t until they finally told their design team to stop allowing octogenarians to lead their company that they pulled their heads out of their asses and built acceptable modern bikes.
Looking forward to seeing how creative you get. You make it clear that you work with limited time, tools, and customization skills that most of us relate to. So this should be approachable and relatable.
I wish they still made the VROD, they're great bikes! They were known as "The Ninja Killer" because they could leave Ninjas in the dust. The thing about the VROD motors is that they increase HP all the way to redline, which is 9K if memory serves me. Instead of cutting the front wheel you could get it laser etched or get it skinned.
I purchased a new V-Rod when it first came out and still own and ride it. It runs fine and still looks and runs better than many of the newer bikes. One of the things that hurt the model was it had an advanced electrical system and required special training, tools and special diagnostic equipment only available at local Harley shops to work on it. Local bike shops could disassemble the bike but didn’t have access to the diagnostic equipment to fine tune it. Good luck with your build.
I'm interested to see what Paul Sr picks, there's so many big Vtwin Japanese bikes to pick from but who knows, maybe he'll come out with a surprise and use a V4 or I4. You definitely got the hardest budget wise and gave yourself more of a challenge by not just picking a sportster.
Custom painted Drag bike, Hoosier slick on rear, home built turbo kit with Amazon gtx2860r turbo, Thundermax, stretched swingarm, lowered, chain drive. Easy 150-180hp
I love it. The ONLY Harley I'd ever even consider owning is a Night Rod. I'm a sportbike guy. @8:20... This is where you realize, to build a bike and not spend a grip of cash, you need to be able to fabricate. This is where Sr has the advantage over you and Sean. @19:00... Damn, was hoping for a longer video.
If Craig were not building a bike I think Sr's only other competition would be Greg. Sean needs to phone a few friends. Sheesh. I dig the Bonneville, but that fire damage is a mechanic's nightmare. Sean needs to be elbow deep into his build right now.
Unless the factory exhaust is something totally obscure and someone needs it for a restoration, you will never get rid of it. That has to be the number one modification every Harley owner does to their bike. A friend of mine has a Kawasaki Vulcan and needed new mufflers. The O.E. ones are super expensive. I told him to just find a set of Harley mufflers and we can make them work. He found a pair that were literally brand new and paid next to nothing for them.
Amen. I worked at a Harley Davidson dealership in London, Ontario, Canada, and almost nobody kept the stock exhaust system. Since the 1980's, they're like listening to your Harley through a pillow.
Lemme ask you, 2002, you’re a student at MMI and somebody comes up to you and says, 22 years from now you’ll have your own show and Paul Senior is personally gonna challenge YOU to a bike build off. What would you say to them?
They’re liquid-cooled. Harley riders back then basically never thought of it as a real Harley. FTR, this is not my thought process, I am just honestly answering your question. At least this one sounded like a Harley, the new liquid-cooled engines sound like Hondas to me. 🤷🏻♂️
@@calysagora3615 . To each their own indeed. As a true biker, I always find something to love about anything with two wheels and an engine. I never cared about posing. From a mini-bike to a Harley to a Japanese bike - l almost always find something to appreciate in each of them. That's why this youtube channel is so special. Cheers.
@@jimp.7286 Sure. I just don't think the design is coherent, or that this engine belongs in a cruiser. it would fit better in a Buell or something like the Japanese V-twin sports bikes, like the VT1000R or VRX. The design language don't match the stance, the front don't match the rear, and the tank dummy on top of the frame rails feels like a decade or two too late to seem modernistic. I probably would have appreciated it way more if it was sold as a Porsche bike, and not a Harley.
Give the thing a steeper steering head angle, a bit more ground clearance, a fork and brake system from a sports bike (possibly Öhlins + Brembo) and turn it into a sports bike! Gib dem Teil einen steileren Lenkkopfwinkel, etwas mehr Bodenfreiheit, Gabel und Bremsanlage von einem Sportler ( eventuell Öhlins + Brembo) und mach daraus ein Sportbike!
@@JeanMarceaux but Buell never use this Harley engine in one of there bikes 🤔! I think this engine have big potantial for a cool Sportbike 😎! And I miss Buell 🥺................ @JeanMarceaux aber Buell hat diesen Harley-Motor nie in einem seiner Motorräder verbaut 🤔! Ich denke, dieser Motor hat großes Potenzial für ein cooles Sportbike 😎! Und ich vermisse Buell 🥺................
Change the handle bars up, Leave the air box exposed, and bob it, it will give it a hot rod look, hot rod the engine a bit and paint that bad boy. I was hoping to see an American cafe racer since that would be on brand for you but you can’t do that with a vrod. Good luck 👍
Man you should have done the bozusoku thing. I made a mad max bozusoku bike with a sidecar out of a Suzuki TS125 a Ford Mercury exhaust and lots of old tractor parts. There is nothing cheaper than going through scrap to find awesome parts. My build was under 1500 bucks and it even has a twostroke powered welder on the sidecar. Mad max bike would be the ultimate budget cheat.
If you want nods. You should build your own! They sell all the parts. which is really cool, its cheaper to a point until you put in an upgrade. You can get a gen 3 for the prize of a older model if you build it! Nitrogen purging is the hardest. to clean out any dust or what not. lots of forums have how to's! This is my goal one day!
Might as well Challenge Billy Lane while you're at it, shame he wasn't part of this build off. Billy is doing some amazing work, watch Senior build something Like a Grom or Rukus
I always liked Billy Lanes' work. That hubless rear wheel he builds is just crazy. I met him years back at a bike night in Toronto. He was there with one of his wild stretched out choppers. I'm not a fan of those bikes, but his craftsmanship is incredible.
Very impressed that you managed to find an ‘06 VRSCB V-rod for just 3k, that’s a steal! As for the fireworks box looking thing, a load equalizer is needed if you swap from halogen lamps to LEDs, like was done with the headlight. If you’re gonna swap to those mini-LED turn/tail/stop lights, you can re-use the equalizer since its on the same wiring. 👍🏻
VROD BABY LET'S GOOOOOOO. I love the look of these bikes. Super unique, very different from Harley's normal and VERY fitting for this build-off! Good luck my guy.
I don't know if you have updated this bike..but one of my first chopper builds was on a budget and this was the bike model I modded. Longer adjusted angle forks, new super wide rear tire and rear fender. /Sight mods and welding. Make add-ons or buy aftermarket. It's a great lump of clay
Organized......try the party line. Lay out towels on the floor. First piece you take out goes to one end of towel. Next piece follows it. When reassembling start at the other end and work backwards.
This whole bike was sort of a "retro-modern" styling thing, I seem to recall it coming out closer to 2000. They had a promotion with a popular Beer manufacturer and several of these bikes (100th Anniversary edition) were at Wal-Mart stores on display; that's when I got to see the V-rod for the first time (I was 10 years old at the time, thought it was the coolest thing). I think it would be neat to see a "Re-rez" version with harder angles and LED backlighting, and you could establish the factory hole placements to create a bolt-on "lattice" that the outer panels could be screwed to, and to save cost you could 3D-print your own Carbon-fiber reinforced panels. Adhere the LED strips on the backside of the panels to use the reflection of the paint below to have backlighting and light-bleed from around the panels. If you could tie the LED strips to the controls for turn signals, you could eliminate the factory signal clusters and use the sequential strips to bleed from the panel gaps along the length of the bike, making it look like the lights are the leading edges. The blank wheels would make great candidates for LED illumination pods mounted to the forks. Basically massive reflectors... think Tron _Light-cycle_ only done in Cyberpunk render-style that could still be ridden by the Dark Knight since it's blacked out and stealthy with the lights off.
@@zenmoto369 To let Craig and Dan know that they are reaching people all around the world who enjoy and support their work. Even people who don't have english as their first language, like us. That's why. Now, I wonder why this can bother you so much to the point that you feel compelled to ask this question and be bitter about such a simple thing... 🤔
Lose panels to keep the workings visible, run brass/gold anodized where you can to contrast with the black, go for a terminator/borg look. Hell, sneak some green LEDs in.
I always like the Vrod. Hated that you have take a piece of the frame out to drop the engine to replace the rear spark plug. But loved the concept. Can't wait to see what you come up with. I've always wanted to see an old school long fork rabbit ear bars vrod. On the flip side. I feel like Senior could easily do an old school CB750 or XS650.
One of the joys of owning a Vmax (since 1985, 135,000 trouble free miles) is embarrassing guys riding VRods who actually believed they had a chance against the Max.
I have 140,000 trouble free miles on my 2002 Vrod and never paid attention to the dopes on other bikes who thought I wanted to race them. That and I usually have a girl on my bike with me.
I personally think it was a mistake to get rid of that exhaust. I think it'll be too expensive to come up with anything better. The bike appears to have some performance upgrades already. Anyway, those slip-ons look waaaaaaay better than what comes on there from the factory.
Put one of those NOS Sneaky Pete systems on it . Whistle Whistle 😙 ! They won't know what passed them. You can hide it under the false gas tank . 😊 And don't forget the Low Rider look . I know you will come up with something cool 😎👍
Fab a tank an oval shape to expose the air cleaner,de rake and extend the front end by 12 inch, and chop the back off for a hardball setup that is angled a bit more upward. Custom seat custom fenders and custom exhaust and bam
Vicbaggers can customize those wheels for a reasonable price. Going topless on the air box and a tuner will help a ton and not be expensive. A few HD engineers went to Germany to help with the V-Rod.
This is not a motorcycle bike build…..You guys are simply taking ones that exist and modifying them!!! That’s not bike building!!! This whole fake fight / challenge is nothing more than content creators trying to get views!!! A little advice for all 3 of you!! Don’t treat your viewers like we’re stupid…..
Some vrod muscle parts would look cool and the holes in the wheel are a thing. When fat boys first came out they had solid wheels people used to machine patterns into them. That red box(kinda looks like a fire works) is a load equlizer for the aftermarket turn signals
Good to see y’all at the chopper shows...... oh right y’all have never been to a single one. Not one of you have ever been to a single one..... not a single one.
You should do a Bosozoku VRod. It'd probably look like crap and you would probably loose the biker build-off but it would be rideable (which is more than can be said about some custom bikes), there are some Japanese guys who would love it, and some of us would like the build just because it is so off the wall
I had this same bike, 2004 in some wild orange color. Was one of the best bikes I’ve owned, I miss it a lot. But Craig, you’ll be surprised at how expensive parts are for this bike. Not just because of Harley, but because they fully discontinued making parts, and there wasn’t a lot of aftermarket support. You’ll get some decent money from your stock parts.
My V-Rod is turboed it’s a monster! But it’ll need a power commander then you’ll need to put it on a dino and map it every 100 rpms! also I chained it with larger selection of sprockets!
I've helped a friend of mine modify his 2003 V-Rod so it now has a 280 rear tire. If you are interested and it's not to late he also designed and has produced a 5gal fuel cell for the early model V-Rods which are available. Let me know and I can connect the two of you.
lol you got the most Japanese looking HD, I love it lol... so whats the vision here? massive back tire? black frame and paint job, candy apple green or red rims, stitched seat with stitching matching the rim color, rake out the front end? throw a tc bros drag bars on it for a handle bar? skull headlight and coffin tail lights? maybe put some flake in the paint if you're into that, not my style but some people like flake. Hm... now I want one like that lmao
Craig, I love that you picked the v rod. I suggested it on your Paul Sr video. Although, I predict your choice will drive up the price of these things in the long run! Now I can live vicariously through your video. I’ve always felt these bikes would one day be appreciated as it deserves to be. I can’t wait to see what you do with that amazing motor. Good luck!
Those bikes are so cool. My family members got a drag version of one of those that they drag race and they ride Harleys a lot. I love your videos.Crag I hope you win brother. Make a café racer or drag bike all smooth it out and make it look good.
The biketronix thing in the front is for running LED lights, it’s just a fancy resistor so the LED lights work correctly:) but I’m sure you’ve already looked that up.
I think the cool thing with this style would be some inverted racing forks and maybe change the angle on the shock tube to vertical like a race bike so almost like a Buell and some nasty wheels and tires almost a cafe racer.
@11:30 you can absolutely machine designs into wheels. However the thickness of the material (aluminum) might not be designed (thick enough) to have designs cut in them. It will affect the structural integrity. And then you can begin to understand how certain things are done for show only. To showcase your work because its artwork then. Fabricating parts (gas tank, exhaust, handle bars.. etc) is how you can set your bike apart from others and cut some cost too.
@1:00 Haha! I did think that was the one you got for the competition... at first. But when you made an off hand comment about returning it to the family, it became clearer. Best of luck!
Vrod may have been the most UP IN THE AIR choice but mad credit if ya make it work. That engine was ahead of its time. Porsche had a hand in its design. As a harley guy i hate the design but i gotta give it credit for its forward thinking.
I definitely didn't think you would end up with a V-Rod, but it's something different and it runs. I'm looking forward to seeing what you do to it. I know you can kick Pauls Sr's butt...
Matt hotch built a very cool vrod motor custom, VLUX. The main problem with newer bikes is the tons of wiring and stuff, let's see what he builds now with this vrod.
Nearly everything said about the VRod is incorrect. The VRod wasn't the first production Harley to be liquid cooled, the VR1000 was. While produced in low numbers, the VR1000 was sold as a homologation special as was required in order for it to be raced in AMA. Also, the VR1000 was over 100HP. That brings us to the engine. The VR1000 engine was being reworked by Eric Buell to into a Buell. Eric worked with Porsche, Rousch, yes, that Rousch that does Ford performance, and Cosworth to make the VRod engine suitable for street use, make more power, etc. Harley engineers got involved because Harley wanted the engine to pull double duty in a Buell sportbike, and a new cruiser, and in typical Harley fashion of function follows form, they added 40+ pounds to the engine and cut horsepower. Things like adding fins to a liquid cooled engine so it "looked Harley", doing away with the dry sump, completely reworking the cooling system so the coolant line didn't block the view of the finned engine. There's a real good three part series here on UA-cam called a tour of Eric Buells barn that covers most of it.
I'm only half way through the video, but I wanted to comment. I think if it was me doing this build-off with Paul Sr. (not that I am a builder or anything lol) I would want to build a bike in HIS style but make it better/more rideable etc. I'm curious to see what route you go. I love the V-Rod, I knew that was what you were going to pickup, I just knew it lol. I think you could go chopper style, maybe longer forks to raise the front up a little, throw some reasonable apes on there, but make it look cool and also be really rideable. I think that's how I'd go at it, but I'm looking forward to see what you come up with.
First thing that came to mind was clip on handlebars. Next thought after that, make it a super sport style bike. Upside down gold fork, super sport style rear fender, flashy paint, maybe find a way to add some fairings? Don’t hate on me, just the first idea that came to my mind lol.
Sweet! I look forward to seeing what you come up with. I've been curious about the Vrods after seeing so many for sale recently. Something really cool would be a Deadpool tribute bike.
What about etching the stock blank rims polish them and paint some areas black. you could even do that to other stock Parts too for that custom look that's old school bike building especially on a budget modify what you got.
Also just thought about it watching the video If you decide to go this route I'd recommend doing the heads two-tone black and Polished you can even file patterns into the fins I think the bike being blue would look awesome with black etched accents and polished chrome
Just make sure you enhance the performance considerably and definitely make sure that the handling capabilities. I brought way down subpar from where they were from the factory man, you got a winner
How about you lean into the Porsche aspect of the bike and design something around that? Maybe use a Porsche colour, throw some minimalist LED's on for headlights and turn signals. You can remove a lot of the wiring and electronics by utilising an M.Unit Blue, which also gives you some very cool options around the lights and how they function, as well as eliminating fuse boxes and the like. Can't wait to see what you come up with.
I have a limited imagination. I cannot imagine making that bike any more cool.
Must admit, stock it looked amazing. I only remember them in all silver and thought they looked a bit gimmicky but this looks cool
For real. Absolutely amazing look stock
My favorite HD , been riding mine since 2004.
I'm with you.... my imagination went as far as paint the blue stuff a different color and call it done. I'm not a Harley guy (tbh, I don't know anything), but this is the coolest HD I have ever seen.
@@williamallen6778 nice
Seeing the Bosozoku reference (Pronounced Bose-oh-zo-ku) made me smile. I was in Japan for a while and met plenty of Japanese riders and cultures in Kumamoto mainland and Okinawa. While I was in Kumamoto for a few weeks, I visited every maintenance shop and dealership I could find. Ended up having really good conversations and meeting interesting people. It is considered impolite to approach people randomly, so I really had to nail down my etiquette with shop owners and talking to them respecting their quality and attention to detail in their bikes... no matter the age of the motorcycle or where I went, they all looked as if they rolled off the dealership floor brand new. Especially the Older Honda CBs, Kawasakis and Suzukis of the 60's and 70's.
Robin: The batmobile won't start.
Batman: Check the battery
Robin: What's a tery?
😂😂
Classic
Thanks Dad
I don't get it......?
@@mattsmith6666 damn that sucks
If the vrod came out now, itd be a hit. This bike was so underrated. The motor revs high, the power is broad & smooth, and the hydraulic clutches are great. The ergonomics with forward controls, unnecessarily fat tire, & relatively limited suspension travel were what kept customers away. These bikes like to go straight lol.
Nailed it on the head.
The vrod would be falling just as flat as all of the rev. max motor bikes. They are garbage with just enough marketing to lure a few people into buying it. Nobody wanted a new liquid cooled motor
I have the 1st year VROD still, rear tire is 180, thats "Unnecessarily fat"? Because I have been running a 200 on it for 125,000 of the 140,000 miles that are on it. Mostly Canyons of Soy=uthern CA riding by the way.
@ any major engine work yet
@@superegghead13 There was an issue with 2nd gear in the transmission on the 1st year 02-03 models they fixed in 2004. Had mine done while under warranty, unfortunate back then most HD dealers didnt have a VROD Guy and they didnt want to work on them so the 1st time it was installed wrong and needed to be done again, still under warranty but by a Indie shop that was warranty Cert. Thats all I ever had issue with.
Definitely a minimalist look would look sweet. Keep the air filter exposed, bob the rear fender, and get small minimalist lights for starters.
I haven't ever seen a chopper/bobber built on a V-rod. I was thinking the same. I've a naked Bandit 1200 that has similar frame lines. It will give it a good clean look if those can be exposed. The wheels are too heavy I think. Short fenders. Hide, chrome, or polish all of that junk we just uncovered. Try to make all of the wires/cables disappear. Single saddle. Big headlight bucket. Get creative with the spaces under the seats. Performance upgrades need to not be super experimental. I think the handling/front damper should be altered in some way so that it seems like a different bike altogether. This is a build that could impress Paul.
Yes sir! Keep that filter exposed, great ideas man
Agreed
A clear tank on that would look so sick. Filled halfway to show off the badass air intake on that bike, and be able to just look and see the fuel level, and the aesthetic of the fuel surrounding the air filter would be cool too.
Now that I'm seeing the bike I would maybe go for a modern interpretation of a WW2 military bike. Maybe run the fuel system from a Jerry can mounted on the side and expose the filter setup. Cut down pieces of the original tank as a frame around the filter, some knobby tires on spoked wheels, olive drab paint with a flat black star of two, some caged lights, and a springer look fork setup.That's just me though, I'm excited to see what you come up with!
I love the creativity. Everyone is saying "make it a batcycle" - I feel like that's too obvious of an idea and a bit boring.
Lean into Porsche's WW2 history and make it a Nazi themed boat bike! Bonus points if it actually swims.
Be a nice piece to put next to the jetski bike..
That’s what I am seeing too.
Best idea yet!!
I still cant believe diehard harley guys hated on this bike when it came out, harley had finally tried to make a modern bike, came out with a proper muscle cruser that dripped american style, and all the old school bikers tanked the sales trash talking the watercooling.
Not just the bike but damn near the whole company. HD has been trying the last few years but I fear it might be too little too late. I’m 46 and a HOG Lifetime Member, and I haven’t had hardly anything to do with the dealerships in about 5 years. They keep catering to guys old enough to be my father playing classic rock from the late 60s and early 70s at their bike nights. I was the head photographer for my local chapter for years, and gave up my chapter membership because no one seemed to listen when I kept saying if we wanted guys my age and younger we needed to have music from at least the mid to late 80s. Nope; stuff like GnR, Metallica, and Motley Crue wasn’t what they were looking for.
I still want one lmao one of my all times favourites
@JCole78 I am 72 years old and I road Harleys for 50+ years. I have owned knuckles, pans, shovels and blockheads. There were very few options when I started riding.
If I were still able to ride I would not even consider a Harley. There are just too many superior motorcycles available that are dependable and require little maintenance. Also less expensive to maintain and repair.
That’s exactly why Harley people hated it, they abhor anything modern or new, just keep selling them the best 1940 has to offer. And that’s why Harley nearly went bankrupt. It wasn’t until they finally told their design team to stop allowing octogenarians to lead their company that they pulled their heads out of their asses and built acceptable modern bikes.
Please do a Bosozoku build sometime in the future, pleaseee
I live in Japan, I could help with parts.
Why not now! The irony would be epic!
🤣
I would love to see that, the whole bosozoku thing has so much more artistic appeal that most anything that happens in the US.
Isn't Paul going to be building something similar in this competition?
Looking forward to seeing how creative you get. You make it clear that you work with limited time, tools, and customization skills that most of us relate to. So this should be approachable and relatable.
I wish they still made the VROD, they're great bikes! They were known as "The Ninja Killer" because they could leave Ninjas in the dust. The thing about the VROD motors is that they increase HP all the way to redline, which is 9K if memory serves me.
Instead of cutting the front wheel you could get it laser etched or get it skinned.
I purchased a new V-Rod when it first came out and still own and ride it. It runs fine and still looks and runs better than many of the newer bikes. One of the things that hurt the model was it had an advanced electrical system and required special training, tools and special diagnostic equipment only available at local Harley shops to work on it. Local bike shops could disassemble the bike but didn’t have access to the diagnostic equipment to fine tune it. Good luck with your build.
I'm interested to see what Paul Sr picks, there's so many big Vtwin Japanese bikes to pick from but who knows, maybe he'll come out with a surprise and use a V4 or I4. You definitely got the hardest budget wise and gave yourself more of a challenge by not just picking a sportster.
maybe a custom goldwing
Chopped v65 magna would be sick
He'll buy an MT-01 off Sean.
Custom painted Drag bike, Hoosier slick on rear, home built turbo kit with Amazon gtx2860r turbo, Thundermax, stretched swingarm, lowered, chain drive. Easy 150-180hp
I love it. The ONLY Harley I'd ever even consider owning is a Night Rod. I'm a sportbike guy. @8:20... This is where you realize, to build a bike and not spend a grip of cash, you need to be able to fabricate. This is where Sr has the advantage over you and Sean. @19:00... Damn, was hoping for a longer video.
If Craig were not building a bike I think Sr's only other competition would be Greg. Sean needs to phone a few friends. Sheesh. I dig the Bonneville, but that fire damage is a mechanic's nightmare. Sean needs to be elbow deep into his build right now.
The SWEETEST Bike Harley EVER Made - LOVED my V-Rod - So many ways to customize that bike! Congrats!!!!!
No truer words have ever been spoken than “there’s nothing less valuable in this world than a stock Harley exhaust”.
Unless the factory exhaust is something totally obscure and someone needs it for a restoration, you will never get rid of it. That has to be the number one modification every Harley owner does to their bike. A friend of mine has a Kawasaki Vulcan and needed new mufflers. The O.E. ones are super expensive. I told him to just find a set of Harley mufflers and we can make them work. He found a pair that were literally brand new and paid next to nothing for them.
Amen. I worked at a Harley Davidson dealership in London, Ontario, Canada, and almost nobody kept the stock exhaust system. Since the 1980's, they're like listening to your Harley through a pillow.
@@Enter-a-name55I did the same on a 1981 Gold Wing. Worked great.
Lemme ask you, 2002, you’re a student at MMI and somebody comes up to you and says, 22 years from now you’ll have your own show and Paul Senior is personally gonna challenge YOU to a bike build off. What would you say to them?
Thank you for not getting a sporty. That’s too boring. The V-Rod is great. That’s a steal for 3k
I love the look of V-Rods, and I never understood why they get so much hate. They're awesome bikes.
They’re liquid-cooled. Harley riders back then basically never thought of it as a real Harley. FTR, this is not my thought process, I am just honestly answering your question. At least this one sounded like a Harley, the new liquid-cooled engines sound like Hondas to me. 🤷🏻♂️
Go for a "Captain America" build with some red decals and a polycarbonate round, tinted (wind)shield!
That's a beautiful bike already.
worst HD what ewer has made.
@@mattivirta That I wouldn't know about. Sure is pretty though.
@@jimp.7286 To each their own, I suppose. I find it hideous and boring.
@@calysagora3615 . To each their own indeed. As a true biker, I always find something to love about anything with two wheels and an engine. I never cared about posing. From a mini-bike to a Harley to a Japanese bike - l almost always find something to appreciate in each of them. That's why this youtube channel is so special. Cheers.
@@jimp.7286 Sure. I just don't think the design is coherent, or that this engine belongs in a cruiser. it would fit better in a Buell or something like the Japanese V-twin sports bikes, like the VT1000R or VRX.
The design language don't match the stance, the front don't match the rear, and the tank dummy on top of the frame rails feels like a decade or two too late to seem modernistic.
I probably would have appreciated it way more if it was sold as a Porsche bike, and not a Harley.
I wish you could have found an Orange County Chopper bike to customize. That would have been hilarious.
That would have been way to much work to it rideable.
I almost spilled my tea because of the dancing skeletons. Top-tier editing
check out Venjent - R U Guna Move.
@@nicozimmermann8672 this is freakin' awesome, thanks!
@@nicozimmermann8672 strange, for some reason my previous comment was deleted (or not sent), so I'll duplicate it:
this track is awesome! Thanks!
Brings me joy to see this colab. And I'm glad you got the Harley, Looking fwd to all the vids as the builds happen.
That V-rod is about to become V-RAD.
You deserve all the credits for this one, sir. I salute you and your geniality. Let the V-RAD build begins! \o/
He could do it rat bike style and make it a v-rat
With all the time off Craig's taking... it'll be a V-GREG!
It’s not bike building
Yeah.... that was pretty darn clever what ya did there! 💙👊🏼
Give the thing a steeper steering head angle, a bit more ground clearance, a fork and brake system from a sports bike (possibly Öhlins + Brembo) and turn it into a sports bike!
Gib dem Teil einen steileren Lenkkopfwinkel, etwas mehr Bodenfreiheit, Gabel und Bremsanlage von einem Sportler ( eventuell Öhlins + Brembo) und mach daraus ein Sportbike!
So basically make it into a Buell?
@@JeanMarceaux but Buell never use this Harley engine in one of there bikes 🤔!
I think this engine have big potantial for a cool Sportbike 😎!
And I miss Buell 🥺................
@JeanMarceaux aber Buell hat diesen Harley-Motor nie in einem seiner Motorräder verbaut 🤔!
Ich denke, dieser Motor hat großes Potenzial für ein cooles Sportbike 😎!
Und ich vermisse Buell 🥺................
Change the handle bars up, Leave the air box exposed, and bob it, it will give it a hot rod look, hot rod the engine a bit and paint that bad boy. I was hoping to see an American cafe racer since that would be on brand for you but you can’t do that with a vrod. Good luck 👍
I agree with the Cafe racer build idea.
@@madmosinman I love the idea too, but the Vrod frame won’t really allow it he’s kinda stuck with ether a bob or chop
Man you should have done the bozusoku thing. I made a mad max bozusoku bike with a sidecar out of a Suzuki TS125 a Ford Mercury exhaust and lots of old tractor parts. There is nothing cheaper than going through scrap to find awesome parts. My build was under 1500 bucks and it even has a twostroke powered welder on the sidecar. Mad max bike would be the ultimate budget cheat.
The Batcycle idea is the direction we should be headed with this one. lol
100%. It's the only way to not downgrade the original aesthetics, IMO.
was thinking that too
Dude, I went to MMI in Phoenix from '02 to '04, and remember drooling over the secret vrods too! Nice.
If you want nods. You should build your own! They sell all the parts. which is really cool, its cheaper to a point until you put in an upgrade. You can get a gen 3 for the prize of a older model if you build it!
Nitrogen purging is the hardest. to clean out any dust or what not. lots of forums have how to's!
This is my goal one day!
They are modifying existing bikes because none of them can actually build one ☝🏻
I'd love to see the wheels jeweled like a rifle bolt. Maybe keep the air box cover off, rearset controls, and drag bars.
Might as well Challenge Billy Lane while you're at it, shame he wasn't part of this build off. Billy is doing some amazing work, watch Senior build something Like a Grom or Rukus
A Ruckus build would be awesome but I say that as a huge Ruckus fan who is currently building another one lol 😂.
I always liked Billy Lanes' work. That hubless rear wheel he builds is just crazy. I met him years back at a bike night in Toronto. He was there with one of his wild stretched out choppers. I'm not a fan of those bikes, but his craftsmanship is incredible.
Billy Lane is one cool mf, I'd love to see him on this channel
Very impressed that you managed to find an ‘06 VRSCB V-rod for just 3k, that’s a steal!
As for the fireworks box looking thing, a load equalizer is needed if you swap from halogen lamps to LEDs, like was done with the headlight. If you’re gonna swap to those mini-LED turn/tail/stop lights, you can re-use the equalizer since its on the same wiring. 👍🏻
某蔵族 Bōsōzoku.....oh, Hello from Japan btw lol
I'm watching from Kohoku, Yokohama. Hello.
don't judge americans based on these two especially the cameraman. they essentially watched the show "The Office" and then tried to become it
I watched this Vice Asia bit about Bōsōzoku several months ago. Pretty interesting culture. ua-cam.com/video/vQzyKOkI0WQ/v-deo.html
@@c0rpse1 who asked?
I definitely stand corrected. All this time I thought it was "bosozuko"
Yes !! Another episode of Paul vs Craig. I'd LOVE to see you guys have a regular co-channel of doing projects. You guys have great chemistry.
VROD BABY LET'S GOOOOOOO. I love the look of these bikes. Super unique, very different from Harley's normal and VERY fitting for this build-off! Good luck my guy.
Beautiful bike. Can’t wait to see what he does.
@@gkjester Same!
I don't know if you have updated this bike..but one of my first chopper builds was on a budget and this was the bike model I modded. Longer adjusted angle forks, new super wide rear tire and rear fender. /Sight mods and welding. Make add-ons or buy aftermarket. It's a great lump of clay
This isn't a build off its a modification off
Organized......try the party line. Lay out towels on the floor. First piece you take out goes to one end of towel. Next piece follows it.
When reassembling start at the other end and work backwards.
Wow I'm like here for the premier! Good morning!
That will be a fun bike for the build. I am amazed that older V-Rod's are so cheap. There should be plenty of power. Great video, boys!!!
this is gonna be HUGE!!!!
That what she said!!!!
I think you mean "yoooge"
@@ww6156chyyyynnnnaa
It’s not bike building it’s click bait
This whole bike was sort of a "retro-modern" styling thing, I seem to recall it coming out closer to 2000. They had a promotion with a popular Beer manufacturer and several of these bikes (100th Anniversary edition) were at Wal-Mart stores on display; that's when I got to see the V-rod for the first time (I was 10 years old at the time, thought it was the coolest thing).
I think it would be neat to see a "Re-rez" version with harder angles and LED backlighting, and you could establish the factory hole placements to create a bolt-on "lattice" that the outer panels could be screwed to, and to save cost you could 3D-print your own Carbon-fiber reinforced panels.
Adhere the LED strips on the backside of the panels to use the reflection of the paint below to have backlighting and light-bleed from around the panels. If you could tie the LED strips to the controls for turn signals, you could eliminate the factory signal clusters and use the sequential strips to bleed from the panel gaps along the length of the bike, making it look like the lights are the leading edges.
The blank wheels would make great candidates for LED illumination pods mounted to the forks. Basically massive reflectors... think Tron _Light-cycle_ only done in Cyberpunk render-style that could still be ridden by the Dark Knight since it's blacked out and stealthy with the lights off.
cheers from Brasil. Win this competition !!!!!
BR Gang assemble! 🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷
Why do you have to say where you are from?
@@zenmoto369 To let Craig and Dan know that they are reaching people all around the world who enjoy and support their work. Even people who don't have english as their first language, like us. That's why.
Now, I wonder why this can bother you so much to the point that you feel compelled to ask this question and be bitter about such a simple thing... 🤔
I had a 2003 and installed an RCC Turbo . So much fun
Do nothing to it and it’ll be better than anything OCC has built lol
This. Just give it a killer paint job and call it a day
☝️yep!
Haha yup totally right!
I mean that's a bit strong... Probably right though 😂😂😂
I’ve always loved the look of the V Rod. This build off is just what the world needs right now!
Almost a shame cause that bike is sexy
Lose panels to keep the workings visible, run brass/gold anodized where you can to contrast with the black, go for a terminator/borg look. Hell, sneak some green LEDs in.
The airbox looks so cool on that thing, maybe you could try to leave it exposed and make a transparant cover..
Like the hood in Grease 1 lol..
I always like the Vrod. Hated that you have take a piece of the frame out to drop the engine to replace the rear spark plug. But loved the concept. Can't wait to see what you come up with. I've always wanted to see an old school long fork rabbit ear bars vrod.
On the flip side. I feel like Senior could easily do an old school CB750 or XS650.
One of the joys of owning a Vmax (since 1985, 135,000 trouble free miles) is embarrassing guys riding VRods who actually believed they had a chance against the Max.
I have 140,000 trouble free miles on my 2002 Vrod and never paid attention to the dopes on other bikes who thought I wanted to race them. That and I usually have a girl on my bike with me.
My dad used to race quater mile on a vmax. Was hitting high 9's after some work was done lol
Yes!!!!!!!! I’m so happy you got a braid Craig. I’m a nightrod special rider so this is awesome for me. Go get em man!
0:35 - Not gonna lie, I picked Japanese for everyone because that would have been hilarious..... 😂😂
I personally think it was a mistake to get rid of that exhaust. I think it'll be too expensive to come up with anything better. The bike appears to have some performance upgrades already. Anyway, those slip-ons look waaaaaaay better than what comes on there from the factory.
767 views in 6 minutes.... The Bearded Mechanic fell.... ON!
Put one of those NOS Sneaky Pete systems on it . Whistle Whistle 😙 ! They won't know what passed them. You can hide it under the false gas tank . 😊 And don't forget the Low Rider look . I know you will come up with something cool 😎👍
Make a bobber bike
Fab a tank an oval shape to expose the air cleaner,de rake and extend the front end by 12 inch, and chop the back off for a hardball setup that is angled a bit more upward. Custom seat custom fenders and custom exhaust and bam
Harley looked outside the box, realized they know nothing about innovation or horsepower, and got Porsche to make it.
Vicbaggers can customize those wheels for a reasonable price. Going topless on the air box and a tuner will help a ton and not be expensive. A few HD engineers went to Germany to help with the V-Rod.
This is not a motorcycle bike build…..You guys are simply taking ones that exist and modifying them!!! That’s not bike building!!! This whole fake fight / challenge is nothing more than content creators trying to get views!!! A little advice for all 3 of you!! Don’t treat your viewers like we’re stupid…..
Some vrod muscle parts would look cool and the holes in the wheel are a thing. When fat boys first came out they had solid wheels people used to machine patterns into them. That red box(kinda looks like a fire works) is a load equlizer for the aftermarket turn signals
Good to see y’all at the chopper shows...... oh right y’all have never been to a single one. Not one of you have ever been to a single one..... not a single one.
Not one.
that 1:35 rev dub-step SLAPS!
You should do a Bosozoku VRod. It'd probably look like crap and you would probably loose the biker build-off but it would be rideable (which is more than can be said about some custom bikes), there are some Japanese guys who would love it, and some of us would like the build just because it is so off the wall
I had this same bike, 2004 in some wild orange color. Was one of the best bikes I’ve owned, I miss it a lot. But Craig, you’ll be surprised at how expensive parts are for this bike. Not just because of Harley, but because they fully discontinued making parts, and there wasn’t a lot of aftermarket support. You’ll get some decent money from your stock parts.
My V-Rod is turboed it’s a monster! But it’ll need a power commander then you’ll need to put it on a dino and map it every 100 rpms! also I chained it with larger selection of sprockets!
I've helped a friend of mine modify his 2003 V-Rod so it now has a 280 rear tire. If you are interested and it's not to late he also designed and has produced a 5gal fuel cell for the early model V-Rods which are available. Let me know and I can connect the two of you.
lol you got the most Japanese looking HD, I love it lol... so whats the vision here? massive back tire? black frame and paint job, candy apple green or red rims, stitched seat with stitching matching the rim color, rake out the front end? throw a tc bros drag bars on it for a handle bar? skull headlight and coffin tail lights? maybe put some flake in the paint if you're into that, not my style but some people like flake. Hm... now I want one like that lmao
Craig, I love that you picked the v rod.
I suggested it on your Paul Sr video.
Although, I predict your choice will drive up the price of these things in the long run!
Now I can live vicariously through your video.
I’ve always felt these bikes would one day be appreciated as it deserves to be.
I can’t wait to see what you do with that amazing motor.
Good luck!
Bro your build is done, you can't improve on perfection.
That scream tickled my eardrums through my headphones... thanks.
Those bikes are so cool. My family members got a drag version of one of those that they drag race and they ride Harleys a lot. I love your videos.Crag I hope you win brother. Make a café racer or drag bike all smooth it out and make it look good.
You have to keep the Air filter on show. Look good sat there 🎉
What an awesome bike to start with and I can't wait to see what happens. Also dear lord, the power going out, just like of course it did.
I would make a 30's 40's military style bobber . rigid in the back and massive springer with less angle in the front. huge tires too.
The biketronix thing in the front is for running LED lights, it’s just a fancy resistor so the LED lights work correctly:) but I’m sure you’ve already looked that up.
I think the cool thing with this style would be some inverted racing forks and maybe change the angle on the shock tube to vertical like a race bike so almost like a Buell and some nasty wheels and tires almost a cafe racer.
@11:30 you can absolutely machine designs into wheels. However the thickness of the material (aluminum) might not be designed (thick enough) to have designs cut in them. It will affect the structural integrity. And then you can begin to understand how certain things are done for show only. To showcase your work because its artwork then. Fabricating parts (gas tank, exhaust, handle bars.. etc) is how you can set your bike apart from others and cut some cost too.
@1:00 Haha! I did think that was the one you got for the competition... at first. But when you made an off hand comment about returning it to the family, it became clearer. Best of luck!
Vrod may have been the most UP IN THE AIR choice but mad credit if ya make it work. That engine was ahead of its time. Porsche had a hand in its design. As a harley guy i hate the design but i gotta give it credit for its forward thinking.
I'm half way though this video. I think a 70's Honda bench seat and set the bike up as a Cafe Racer might be pretty cool.
I definitely didn't think you would end up with a V-Rod, but it's something different and it runs.
I'm looking forward to seeing what you do to it. I know you can kick Pauls Sr's butt...
Matt hotch built a very cool vrod motor custom, VLUX.
The main problem with newer bikes is the tons of wiring and stuff, let's see what he builds now with this vrod.
I'm thinking apocalypse style build, intentionally patched holes, rips and tears, rust and mismatched parts, would be so sick
As a vrod owner this is awesome, keep up the good work!
Nearly everything said about the VRod is incorrect. The VRod wasn't the first production Harley to be liquid cooled, the VR1000 was. While produced in low numbers, the VR1000 was sold as a homologation special as was required in order for it to be raced in AMA. Also, the VR1000 was over 100HP.
That brings us to the engine. The VR1000 engine was being reworked by Eric Buell to into a Buell. Eric worked with Porsche, Rousch, yes, that Rousch that does Ford performance, and Cosworth to make the VRod engine suitable for street use, make more power, etc. Harley engineers got involved because Harley wanted the engine to pull double duty in a Buell sportbike, and a new cruiser, and in typical Harley fashion of function follows form, they added 40+ pounds to the engine and cut horsepower. Things like adding fins to a liquid cooled engine so it "looked Harley", doing away with the dry sump, completely reworking the cooling system so the coolant line didn't block the view of the finned engine. There's a real good three part series here on UA-cam called a tour of Eric Buells barn that covers most of it.
Dude, that bike looks freaking great as it is!! Excited to see what you do with it.
Can't wait so see how it turns out
Great bike! Can't wait to see this build!
I'm only half way through the video, but I wanted to comment. I think if it was me doing this build-off with Paul Sr. (not that I am a builder or anything lol) I would want to build a bike in HIS style but make it better/more rideable etc. I'm curious to see what route you go. I love the V-Rod, I knew that was what you were going to pickup, I just knew it lol. I think you could go chopper style, maybe longer forks to raise the front up a little, throw some reasonable apes on there, but make it look cool and also be really rideable. I think that's how I'd go at it, but I'm looking forward to see what you come up with.
First thing that came to mind was clip on handlebars. Next thought after that, make it a super sport style bike. Upside down gold fork, super sport style rear fender, flashy paint, maybe find a way to add some fairings? Don’t hate on me, just the first idea that came to my mind lol.
Sweet! I look forward to seeing what you come up with. I've been curious about the Vrods after seeing so many for sale recently. Something really cool would be a Deadpool tribute bike.
I gotta be honest, that V-Rod, as you rode it home, looks better than anything I’ve ever seen from OCC.
What about etching the stock blank rims polish them and paint some areas black. you could even do that to other stock Parts too for that custom look that's old school bike building especially on a budget modify what you got.
Also just thought about it watching the video If you decide to go this route I'd recommend doing the heads two-tone black and Polished you can even file patterns into the fins I think the bike being blue would look awesome with black etched accents and polished chrome
Good looking bike to start off with looking forward to what you do with it.
Just make sure you enhance the performance considerably and definitely make sure that the handling capabilities. I brought way down subpar from where they were from the factory man, you got a winner
How about you lean into the Porsche aspect of the bike and design something around that? Maybe use a Porsche colour, throw some minimalist LED's on for headlights and turn signals. You can remove a lot of the wiring and electronics by utilising an M.Unit Blue, which also gives you some very cool options around the lights and how they function, as well as eliminating fuse boxes and the like. Can't wait to see what you come up with.