Suspension compliance from the unique front swingarm is decently damped by a single adjustable shock, while bumps out back are felt more directly though the minimal travel offered by the twin shocks mounted horizontally under the engine. Travert underlined that the shocks also fit Harley’s Softail series and are the only adjustable dampers for that application.
The V-REX offers another odd sensation is felt while braking, as the front end rises when the binder is applied aggressively (as opposed to diving) due to the front swingarm’s geometry. Incidentally, that rim-mount front brake rotor and its six-piston caliper are borrowed from a Buell sportbike.
I had to chuckle when I read the Robb Report Motorcycling’s impression of the V-REX: “At speed it glides through corners, soaks up unfriendly pavement, makes U-turns with no worries and stops crisply.”
Although we’re amazed that such precocious design as the V-REX actually goes, turns and stops like a motorcycle, we’re a little more discriminating with our evaluation. Most of the “gliding through corners” is done by the footpegs or exhaust pipe, as the slammed and lengthy scooter has a dearth of cornering clearance, scraping hard parts even at modest speeds through turns. And if your turns are of the U variety, you’d best be on a multi-lane road with plenty of extra room. The V-REX is awkward during such maneuvers, with a floppy front end and limited steering lock.
But, really, no one should be surprised or offended by a lack of agility, as this is a characteristic of most high-end radical customs. This genre of bike works best when profiling up and down Main Street.
Except the V-REX stands apart from any typical chopper – it’s a chassis and a shape unlike anything else on the road, and it magically swivels necks at a higher rate than any bike we’ve tested. And an observer doesn’t need to be a motorcycle connoisseur to appreciate and be moved by the V-REX’s far-reaching and alluring unique design, evidenced by the never-ending stream of cell-phone cameras and toothy smiles it inspires.
The V-REX also appeals to those who understand the cost of creating a piece of rolling sculpture. One of the locations we used for photos was Ford’s Premier Automotive Group facility in Irvine, California, where we again gathered another crowd. Even the car guys knew they were looking at something special, and they examined it from all angles while pointing and smiling. After admiring it for awhile, one man asked a pointed question.