The Donahue Harley-Davidson V-Glide

by Brent Koosman
Issue #65--April 2004

For those of you who don't know Butch Donahue, CEO and founder of Donahue Harley-Davidson/Delano Sports Center, here is an introduction into his personality. Butch is a man who acts on instinct and doesn't let anybody get in the way of that. When he read a short feature in a magazine about a company in San Diego that was making a Road Glide style conversion kit for the V-Rod, the gears started turning and those instincts took over.

Since the release of the V-Rod, Butch believed that there is a market for a liquid cooled touring bike from H-D. The fact that there are aftermarket companies building conversion kits for the bike seems to back that theory. His current bike is a 2001 Road Glide, so it was all too natural of a match for the guy was out to prove to the brass at Harley that it's time to expand on the liquid cooled revolution platform.

The process began by ordering a conversion kit from Cycle Visions and stripping down a new 100th Anniversary V-Rod basically to its frame. The kit featured all of the mounting brackets needed to mount the factory Road Glide fairing and saddlebags on the bike. It also featured a fender extension with recessed license plate that bolts into the existing V-Rod fender. Everything went together really well and still managed to compliment the V-Rod's lines and design.  

To make this bike look like a factory original, the new fairing and saddlebags were custom painted to match the black and silver of the 100th Anniversary V-Rod. Kevin Dubbin at Klassic Auto Restoration in Montrose, MN did the paint job. His attention to detail was a key component in the success of this project and helped the overall feel of the bike.

The body wasn't the only thing that got an upgrade. A race tuner and Screamin' Eagle air cleaner were also added to help enhance the bike's performance. Because of the stock exhaust's size and design, a new Supertrap exhaust was installed. This helped to create the needed room for the larger saddlebags and also gave the V-Rod better clearance when the bike is being leaned through a tight curve. These simple changes bumped the new touring bike up to a rear wheel dyno reading of 111 horsepower and 80 ft-lbs of torque, which makes it one of the fastest touring bikes you can buy. 

Initial rides of the bike have left people really impressed with its level of comfort and power. At about 4,000 RPM the bike will test the strength of your grip and give any power hungry rider what they're looking for. The handling characteristics don't change a whole lot from the original V-Rod, which means the bike still feels well balanced, light and maneuverable. This is a huge advantage over some of the other touring bikes which can be very difficult to maneuver and leave some less experienced riders feeling a little timid at idle speeds. Thanks to the large saddlebags, you won't have to leave much behind. The new fairing gives extra protection to the rider as well as making accessories like a CD player a legit option.

This bike is not for everybody. For those who understand its unique niche, it will leave a lasting impression that will change the way they look at the next V-Rod they see coming down the road. Once that leg is thrown over the saddle, it becomes clear to even the skeptical rider that this bike is for real and has potential beyond the standard V-Rod. Even Butch was a little surprised by how well the bike turned out and how it is being received by everybody who has seen it. For a guy like Butch this is a dream come true.

M.M.M.