Sand Lover Harley-Davidson V-Rod Sand Dragger
A Harley V-Rod is more likely seen perfectly polished and cruising the streets—not this one—its owner had a very special sand-dragging idea for his turbo-charged V-Rod.
IF YOU were one of the 5000 spectators at the Westdale Rock Bike Festival in WA, this Harley-Davidson V-Rod dirt bike needs no introduction. Owned by Drewy, who also organises the annual event on 130 acres just outside Beverley, it proved unbeatable on the sand thanks to its choice modifications. Plus, he’s also what you’d call a pretty hard rider.
Last year the Harley rider finished third overall in the Australian Top Bike Series, terrorising the quarter mile in his nitro fuel Harley. For the road he uses a Night Train with a Trask turbo attached, but it is his 2004 V-Rod dirt bike that is perhaps the most unique.
“I needed something for the sand drags,” Drewy says, “and the V-Rod has a nice front-end rake and plenty of horsepower. I’d bought the bike new, sold it to a friend, then bought it back to build up for the sand drags.”
The V-Rod, with its liquid-cooled, 1130 cc V-Twin engine, with dual overhead cams, gives a healthy shove as standard and has a reputation as a brilliant all-round package. That’s not to say it can’t be improved on, and with its upgrades, including a Trask turbo charger, Drewy’s evil-looking black V-Rod now offers up an impressive 160-odd horsepower; a healthy leap over the standard 104 hp.
With Drewy used to running quarter-miles in the sixes on his Top Fuel Harley though, it’s certainly nothing he can’t handle.
The V-Rod is a sexy bike as standard, being very long, low and easy to get on. In fact, it’s not too far off the dimensions of a Top Fuel drag bike—perhaps part of the V-Rod’s appeal to Drewy. Being the racer he is though, and with his idea of sand dragging it, soon after buying it his work began.
The bike has been its moody black colour since rolling off the production line, but has been toughened up with the promotional Westdale Rock stickers on its aluminium body panels and unmistakable ‘666’ dirt bike racing number panel—in black of course—mounted to the forks.
The idea was to finish the bike for the sand drags at Westdale Rock Festival, and Drewy managed this with one week to go. Real features are the required knobbly tyres by Maxxis wrapped around the Harley’s standard wheels.
“For better traction I wanted to use a paddle tyre,” explains Drewy, “but it was 20 mm too big for the swingarm.”
Drewy added an electric gear shifter and connected the rear brake to the handlebars for use in the sand drags, while a smaller set of flat bars also prove useful. But the low-slung nature and Harley-built-quality have ensured not much else has needed changing, including the suspension.
“The rake is good, and the shape of the bike is very good for sand drags.”
The black exhaust fits into the colour scheme and came as part of the Trask turbo kit. Kiwi Nick Trask developed the kit seen on Drewy’s bike, using a Garrett turbine, custom intake plenum, Jet-Hot-coated manifolds, polished compressor housing, and a K&N filter. The result is 60 percent more power using normal pump fuel, and all without opening the engine up.
“I will pull apart the engine soon and fit bigger pistons and different valve springs. Hopefully then it will be taken up to 200 hp,” says Drewy. It is fun enough on the sand right now, but when you’re a racer at heart, more power is always a good thing.
Damn shame nobody got her name…
Sorry, we don’t really have any info on the chicky babe. Apparently she was one of the dancers from the Westdale Rock event and Drewy paid her to show up at the photo shoot.
pics by Brian White; words by Iain Curry
