Additionally It has completed the 15,000 mile EPA certifications, etc. which requires leakdown tests, etc. to complete. Besides, with about 375,000 V-Rods on the road, the motor has more development on it than most every Jap bike or Ducati on the road. EVER.

He has built multiple 1250SC’s, and is working on the next generation bike as we speak.

I can also tell you that with a “slight increase” in the rev limit, it made WAY over 200 HP at the wheel. (sorry Walter!)

The 180 HP limit was artificially set for EPA and engine durability. (connecting rods, crank can’t handle more than that for prolonged periods.)

We spent some time developing a race version of the engine, but never built it. One of the bikes during mapping was ran to 10,500 and I seem to recall it made about 227 HP at the wheel while running lean as we reached injector saturation. That was where the decision was made to switch to the Destroyer injectors.

I can also tell you that the $ 20K price tag is less than the cost of the parts on the bike.

As someone who has ridden the bike, and as a past race team owner that for 14 years raced and won on Feracci Ducati’s, Anthony Gobert’s Muzzy world superbikes, and the VR1000 (no wins on that turd) I can tell you that it is more than a match for a GSXR or Ducati, and the equal of the 1198R.
The single biggest issue is the gear ratio spread is too close together due to the cruiser origins of the engine.

As for it being bulky. BS. the bike is right in the middle of the real weights of all the current superbikes with gas, and until you have wheelied it at 105 mph in 3rd gear with a fast roll-on or flicked it into a corner as I have, I would reserve comment about it.

Of course, you could always head out to California or New York to one of the dealers and ride one. (they have them in stock and if you are qualified financially you can demo ride it), or, call Roehr motorcycle company, talk to Walter, and go ride one.

By the way, Walter has done essentially ALL of the bike himself. Someday a book will be written on him, and everyone will be able to see the blood, sweat, and tears that he has put into this. Walter is no different than Erik Buell, and with a lot less luck on the financial side. (Ever introduced a $ 50,000 sportbike 3 weeks after the world economy crashes?)

As a personal friend of Walter’s, I get really testy on this when all of these armchair quarterbacks critique something that they have never ridden and criticize a man who has literally given his life to accomplish what everyone said could not be done, especially when they have not actually ridden the bike. If you make the effort, you can ride one.

Walter does share his toys, and sells them too!

Enough with my ranting.

Mark

Actually it’s 180 hp measured at the crank, where all manufacturers measure those numbers. It’s also got a lot more torque than a Ducati or Gixxer, at 115 lb/ft. But that’s not even the real point of a bike like this. It’s definitely an image thing, the exclusivity is another big factor in it. Besides, outside of a pro racer, on a racetrack, nobody can use a machine like this to its full potential for more than a few seconds without extreme risk of death.