G'day. I have a 2014 NRS with:

V&H 2-1 Comp pipe
Air filter, toplesss airbox
SERT and Dyno tuned
Engine oil level: a little over the refill line
Odometer: 4000km

On the weekend I went out for a ride with a few mates. As we were playing around I dropped back a couple gears and floored it. I held each gear until almost hitting the rev limiter and did quick gear shifts. I would have been in 4th or 5th gear and 4 or 5k RPM with the throttle pulled right back and all of a sudden I felt a loss of power and the back wheel started dancing sideways.

I wasn't in the middle of shifting and I didn't 'just' let the clutch out, I just had the throttle wide open and i was holding on. My only guess is that maybe the gear wasn't in properly and it dropped into the gear below by itself which would have likely put it above the rev limiter. My only other thought is that since I don't have both belt guards on that maybe a rock bounced up and caught in the rear sprocket?

As soon as this happened I didn't look at my gauge to see the revs, i just pulled my clutch and brake in and slowed right down and then shifted back up again to cruise. But i couldn't tell you what gear it was in because I was focusing on keeping the bike upright and that's all.

If anyone has some insight i'd really appreciate the input. Thanks.

Please include the registration number and state so I can record it on my "do not consider buying" list. Cheers

Ha Ha.

Probably all three. No one ever answers my posts so I thought a controversial one might get a response, I ride like an old woman who probably wont get the opportunity to buy another bike if the one I have falls apart. I would relish the opportunity to see what a finely kitted and tuned bike would go like.

I havent got a reason for you for why it happenned though. Sorry

Haha, all good.

I've put the questions on 3 different forums over the last couple of days and no response. Makes me think this is a particularly unusual circumstance. Maybe I should call a bike mechanic, but would probably get roped into getting the bike looked at so I thought id' try the forums first. I can't pin point exactly what happened, bloody scary when you're not expecting it.

Put your belt guard/s on for starters unless you want to invite trouble

Strange.... Aliens??????
Try 1130cc.com
If you can't find it on there, it didn't happen
goodluck mate

When you drop a gear at too high a speed you will lock your rear wheel. Your theory seems along the right track. I haven't experienced a bike dropping down into another gear only 2nd to N.

It was most likely one of those random occurances that happen.

Thanks mate!

Update...

I took the bike to the dealer and they took the rear wheel off and inspected the wheel and pulley bearings. The verdict was they are all in top condition and the grease coming out of the pulley was caused from a tyre shop putting grease on the bearing when they replaced the wheel. The dealer said that no grease is required.

So although I haven't worked out what caused the rear wheel to lock up but I take comfort in knowing the rear wheel, pulley and bearings are all good.

Thanks for all your input.

could of hit a greasy spot on the road as you down changed.  go change your jocks and have another attempt lol

Lucky it didn't happen in the Rayn man.

I see what you did there.

if the bike had dropped a gear of its own accord I think you would have felt a clunk in the gearbox and the bike would have revved its tits off before locking up. I appreciate it all happened very quickly but can you remember if either of these things happened?

Off topic, but talking about rear wheel bearings etc.

Have a look at my rear wheel when i removed it to fix a flat tyre.

I was really PISSED off.

wrote letters to HD Aust. and HD USA about all the shit in the hub... and surprise, fckn surprise NO response.

My rear hub had heaps of blast media? or other foreign  matter present. 

 

that sounds like a scary ride. One thing I've found with the v rods is they love to shift up and down gears at any, including high rev without the clutch and as smooth as with no clunk. Is it possible as you were cranking her up you may have changed your footing and bumped the lever I know when my girl starts getting up to over 5000 revs all I worry about is just hangin on. I have accidently gone from a decent rev in 2nd and kicked back to first under revs without the clutch ? ? ?

Yeh, I haven't discounted that idea at all. I really can't recall that happening, but i'm just hoping it was a rider error rather than bike fault.

my thoughts would be if she's running smooth and doesn't do it again it may have been a one off.

Yeh man. Here's hoping!

Does the V-Rod by your model year not have a " slipper clutch " ?

That's supposed to minimise such upshift/downshift wheel lockups I thought.

I don't have a V ROD personally , but I have worked on many and 5 of my riding mates have them

They're all on the 2002/2003 "Anodised" bikes but 2 of them have put " slipper" clutches into them

Yeh 2012+ have slipper clutches in em. I know they help out a lot but won't completely stop the possibility of rear wheel lockup.