Photo: Bundnerbike
It's easy to forget that one of the most visually insane motorcycle families ever made, the Harley-Davidson V-Rod, has a trace of Porsche DNA in it. Yet, from time to time, a build comes along to remind us of that, and we're all left awestruck.
Back in the late 1990s the American bike maker was looking to enter the muscle bike segment, where the Japanese big boys roamed unchallenged. To do that, it of course needed a new motorcycle.
And not just a new motorcycle, but one powered by a brand-new engine. The existing powerplant, the Twin Cam, was not suited for the task, while the Evolution was on its way out the door.
To make sure it doesn't screw things up, but also in a bid to get a bit of notoriety (it's unclear why it needed that), Harley enlisted the help of Porsche Engineering to help with the design of the muscle bike's family powerplant.
The tie-up between the two companies dates back to the 1970s, but it wasn't until the arrival of this new engine that it really took off. Called Revolution, the unit marked quite the departure from the usual Harley design, switching from the usual 45-degree configuration to 60 degrees.
The powerplant was initially launched with a displacement of 69ci (1,131cc), but the offering was later increased to 76ci (1,245cc) – consequently, power levels jumped from 115 hp to 125 hp.
That's because the thing was supposed to power a bike unlike any other Harley had made before. Christened V-twin racing street custom (VRSC), it became known as the V-Rod, and despite being pulled from production in 2017, 16 years after it was introduced, it still dominates the custom motorcycle landscape.
Several of Europe's largest custom garages work on keeping the V-Rod torch lit, but the sad reality is few of them still remember, care, or try to honor the historic collab between America's favorite bike maker and the car brand all kids dream of owning when they grow up.
So imagine our joy when we stumbled upon something called the Hulk. A V-Rod by trade, it was named so because of the obvious green paint that covers its body, but probably also on account of each body part, from the wheels to the fenders, being beefed up a bit.
But despite its name, and the lack of connection between that and Porsche, the shop behind the build, Bundnerbike, still managed to remember the connection with the German brand. That's done with the help of discreet, but very effective references: the Porsche emblem on top of the fuel tank, the silhouette of a Porsche car right above the Harley-Davidson lettering on the sides of the fuel tank, and the revealed secret on the rear fender.
Sadly, Bundnerbike gives absolutely zero details about what was done to the stock V-Rod, so aside from what you can see for yourself (custom wheels, bodywork, exhaust, paint job with undisclosed specs) there's not much else to go on.
Yet that has never stopped us from enjoying custom Harleys, and it certainly won't do that when it comes to this priceless green beauty.
And not just a new motorcycle, but one powered by a brand-new engine. The existing powerplant, the Twin Cam, was not suited for the task, while the Evolution was on its way out the door.
To make sure it doesn't screw things up, but also in a bid to get a bit of notoriety (it's unclear why it needed that), Harley enlisted the help of Porsche Engineering to help with the design of the muscle bike's family powerplant.
The tie-up between the two companies dates back to the 1970s, but it wasn't until the arrival of this new engine that it really took off. Called Revolution, the unit marked quite the departure from the usual Harley design, switching from the usual 45-degree configuration to 60 degrees.
The powerplant was initially launched with a displacement of 69ci (1,131cc), but the offering was later increased to 76ci (1,245cc) – consequently, power levels jumped from 115 hp to 125 hp.
That's because the thing was supposed to power a bike unlike any other Harley had made before. Christened V-twin racing street custom (VRSC), it became known as the V-Rod, and despite being pulled from production in 2017, 16 years after it was introduced, it still dominates the custom motorcycle landscape.
Several of Europe's largest custom garages work on keeping the V-Rod torch lit, but the sad reality is few of them still remember, care, or try to honor the historic collab between America's favorite bike maker and the car brand all kids dream of owning when they grow up.
So imagine our joy when we stumbled upon something called the Hulk. A V-Rod by trade, it was named so because of the obvious green paint that covers its body, but probably also on account of each body part, from the wheels to the fenders, being beefed up a bit.
But despite its name, and the lack of connection between that and Porsche, the shop behind the build, Bundnerbike, still managed to remember the connection with the German brand. That's done with the help of discreet, but very effective references: the Porsche emblem on top of the fuel tank, the silhouette of a Porsche car right above the Harley-Davidson lettering on the sides of the fuel tank, and the revealed secret on the rear fender.
Sadly, Bundnerbike gives absolutely zero details about what was done to the stock V-Rod, so aside from what you can see for yourself (custom wheels, bodywork, exhaust, paint job with undisclosed specs) there's not much else to go on.
Yet that has never stopped us from enjoying custom Harleys, and it certainly won't do that when it comes to this priceless green beauty.
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