In class we are watching a video about Harley Davidson's V-Rod motorcycles (pictured above), that shows how the engineers at Harley Davidson used the Design Process to create the V-Rod.
The VRSC (V-Twin Racing Street Custom) family was introduced in 2001 in a single model called the V-Rod. The V-Rod was developed as Harley-Davidson first "Power Cruiser", designed to compete against Japanese and American muscle bikes. The "V-Rod" made use of the Revolution engine, developed jointly with Porsche that, for the first time in Harley history, incorporates fuel injection, overhead cams, and liquid cooling. The V-Rod is visually distinct from other Harley-Davidson motorcycles. It can be easily identified by the 60-degree V-Twin engine, the radiator and the hydroformed frame members that support the round-topped air cleaner cover. A distinct difference between the V-Rod and all other Harley production motorcycles, is the location of the fuel tank. The fuel tank on the V-Rod is located underneath the seat, placing the driver on top of it, rather than the usual frontal placement, the "tank" in this place is simple dressing, hiding the frame. Loosely based on the VR-1000 superbike, it continues to be a platform around which Harley-Davidson builds drag-racing competition machines.
Click
here to see a video on how Harley Davidson kept their distinct sound in the V-Rod.
Harley Davidson continued to make modifications year after year to the award winning V-Rod. In 2009, Harley Davidson introduced the V-Rod Muscle, (pictured above) showing that they have continued the 7 step Design Process (listed below) by reviewing their choices.
1. Identify the Problem
2. Collect Relevant Information
3. Brainstorm Design Options
4. Evaluate the Design Options
5. Select the Best Option
6. Create Model or Implement the Design
7. Review Choices
What part of the 7 step Design Process do you think is the most important and why?
