According to Harley, the V-Rod is "the first member of a new family of performance custom motorcycles." The motor that powers this first of a new generation is the much rumored water-cooled engine that was inspired by the factory's VR 1000 Superbike racing effort and received assistance from a little Stuttgart company named Porsche. Displacing 1130 cubic centimeters (69 cubic inches) via its over-square 100 x 72 millimeter (3.94 x 2.83 inch) bore and stroke, the new motor manages to make 115 horsepower (claimed, at the crank) at 8,250 rpm before moving on to a 9,000 rpm red line. There's even a lofty 11.3:1 compression ratio helping things along within the confines of the cast iron cylinder liners.

Situated atop the new motor you'll find dual overhead cams driven by hydraulically tensioned chains. Each cam operates two valves, giving the obvious total of four with the intakes checking in at 40 millimeters, the exhausts at 34.5 millimeters. The valve train features a shim under bucket design, a 23.5 degree included angle and a maintenance interval of 10,000 miles (after the first service at 1,000 miles) of open road between trips to your local dealer.

Harley received help from Porsche in the design of their all-new motor. It displaces 1130 cc, an 11.3:1 compression ratio and spins to 9,000 rpm.

Fuel and air meet in the cylinders thanks to dual downdraft intakes that feed into 53 mm throttle bodies. A Sequential Port EFI system ensures that appropriate amounts of fuel come to the combustion party at the correct time. A number of sensors take into account manifold pressure, crank position, incoming air temperature, throttle position and engine coolant temperature before things are lit off by a single 12 millimeter spark plug that resides atop each cylinder.