RE: Harley-Davidson Street 750: PH2
Discussion
For a cheap urban bike, it makes sense, I think it looks alright and with a decent set of pipes you'd probably get a bit of a note out of it. However, as the article says, for only a little bit more you can get an 883 Iron, which is a much nicer looking bike imo and has a the proper air-cooled sound.
The "Bro's" won't get it, but I do, in fact I've bought one. Yes, it is cheap, yes it is made in India, but it is low, compact, and as a town bike, which is what I've bought it for, I think it is ace.
I think it is the new Virago, and there are a lot of shorter riders (the XV535 sold thousands) that will be looking hard at this bike. It is a lot more nimble than the 883, and the standard switchgear will appeal to riders coming up from the bikes they've just learnt to ride on.
I think it's quite a coup for Harley, and I am not one of their biggest fans, even though I have done over 125,000 miles on their bikes over the years.
I think it is the new Virago, and there are a lot of shorter riders (the XV535 sold thousands) that will be looking hard at this bike. It is a lot more nimble than the 883, and the standard switchgear will appeal to riders coming up from the bikes they've just learnt to ride on.
I think it's quite a coup for Harley, and I am not one of their biggest fans, even though I have done over 125,000 miles on their bikes over the years.
original article said:
thread and lock-nut tappets (and a clever angled head design) make valve shim adjustment a 35-minute job
Surely its one or the other - shims or thread / nutThat aside, it'll probably appeal to the non-traditionalists, but not to someone that wants a Harley
As for weight - seems a bit lardy - I had a Buell X1 (1200 Harley lump) and it weighed less than 200kg (and went round corners too, which I suspect this faux-Harley will not be brilliant at)
bogie said:
India is a huge market, potentially many times bigger than USA and this is the bike Harley need to gain share there ...its not meant for rich Western Europeans who can afford £20-30k Harleys as weekend toys
But in this market you have to maintain a "brand Image". The Asian market is either "cheap and usable" or High end and exclusive. That second market is where you need to be and diluting it by making bikes where the new market could perceive them as a "local" product will kill it.
telecat said:
bogie said:
India is a huge market, potentially many times bigger than USA and this is the bike Harley need to gain share there ...its not meant for rich Western Europeans who can afford £20-30k Harleys as weekend toys
But in this market you have to maintain a "brand Image". The Asian market is either "cheap and usable" or High end and exclusive. That second market is where you need to be and diluting it by making bikes where the new market could perceive them as a "local" product will kill it.....I guess time will tell, and Harley have enough cash to try and get it wrong from time to time.
Harleys own sales pitch below.....................one good reason why not too bother. ridiculous but totally hilarious. Still some one will swallow it and be "unleashed" and whip that traffic . See it is excellent micky taking material.
Traffic has never been beaten harder.
Last year, we unleashed a new form of rebellion on the urban grid. The Harley-Davidson Street® 750 motorcycle. This is a machine built to let you shred traffic in plenty of infinitely customizable Harley-Davidson® Dark Custom™ style. Liquid-cooled engine. Quick handling. A suspension tuned for rough pavement. Fire up the blacked out engine, send some sound out the blacked out pipes, and get behind the café racer windscreen and go. Consider the traffic whipped.
Traffic has never been beaten harder.
Last year, we unleashed a new form of rebellion on the urban grid. The Harley-Davidson Street® 750 motorcycle. This is a machine built to let you shred traffic in plenty of infinitely customizable Harley-Davidson® Dark Custom™ style. Liquid-cooled engine. Quick handling. A suspension tuned for rough pavement. Fire up the blacked out engine, send some sound out the blacked out pipes, and get behind the café racer windscreen and go. Consider the traffic whipped.
883s used to be the entry level Harley and I'm sure I read somewhere that in the 90s 60% of them where traded back in on a bigger Harley. Sportsters seem to have become a niche on their own with prices to match so I guess they're hoping the new 750 get new riders on a Harley earlier and stay within the brand
I've toyed with the idea of a cruiser-style bike for quite a while, and I've failed to be impressed by Harleys at any price point when compared to either Japanese equivalents or Victories. A big part of that has been the price point vs the spec/quality of the product, with a significant nod to bad air filter design/placement getting in the way of my right leg on every one I've sat on.
Given this is a new engine there's hope for the air filter (even if that hope may be misplaced looking at the pictures
) and it's at a very good price point. I don't care about the plasticky switchgear as it's hardly like I can experience the height of tactile sensations through gloves, and to my eyes it looks good. Badges aren't a big thing for me, but if anything it's a bonus. Strong offering from Harley, first bike I've seen from them with the potential to not be toss.
Given this is a new engine there's hope for the air filter (even if that hope may be misplaced looking at the pictures
) and it's at a very good price point. I don't care about the plasticky switchgear as it's hardly like I can experience the height of tactile sensations through gloves, and to my eyes it looks good. Badges aren't a big thing for me, but if anything it's a bonus. Strong offering from Harley, first bike I've seen from them with the potential to not be toss.luckystrike said:
I've toyed with the idea of a cruiser-style bike for quite a while, and I've failed to be impressed by Harleys at any price point when compared to either Japanese equivalents or Victories. A big part of that has been the price point vs the spec/quality of the product, with a significant nod to bad air filter design/placement getting in the way of my right leg on every one I've sat on.
Given this is a new engine there's hope for the air filter (even if that hope may be misplaced looking at the pictures) and it's at a very good price point. I don't care about the plasticky switchgear as it's hardly like I can experience the height of tactile sensations through gloves, and to my eyes it looks good. Badges aren't a big thing for me, but if anything it's a bonus. Strong offering from Harley, first bike I've seen from them with the potential to not be toss.
I agree with the above, I had a bonniville and it was fine but I was not into all of the chrome tat where as this in black looks fine I also like the Kawasaki Vulcan s in black. The Selling point is both are cheap, easy to ride and probably reliable. AS my next bike will be a cash purchase basic price and dealer support is an issue. I don't care about lean angle and warp speed because I am a average rider. What I want is to be able to ride A to B filter in traffic and not ache when I get off.Given this is a new engine there's hope for the air filter (even if that hope may be misplaced looking at the pictures
) and it's at a very good price point. I don't care about the plasticky switchgear as it's hardly like I can experience the height of tactile sensations through gloves, and to my eyes it looks good. Badges aren't a big thing for me, but if anything it's a bonus. Strong offering from Harley, first bike I've seen from them with the potential to not be toss.I suspect this will do all of that. An there is always the Suzuki Gladius Yamaha MT7 etc if you need urban to be more 21st century etc.
Lemmy at Revzilla seem to think that if you were going to ride a Harley in town that the Street 750 would be the best for that. He does have some issues with it, like the front brake is nearly worthless, as is the headlight, but he figures most could be fixed easily enough with aftermarket kit. Which assumes that after spending that kind of dosh on a bike that you are going to be happy to spend more to 'fix' it.
He was riding a 2014 model. Apparently the 2015 model addresses some of those concerns; I don't know if it addresses all of them or how well it addresses them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKs693qqBNA
http://www.revzilla.com/common-tread/2015-harley-d...
He was riding a 2014 model. Apparently the 2015 model addresses some of those concerns; I don't know if it addresses all of them or how well it addresses them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKs693qqBNA
http://www.revzilla.com/common-tread/2015-harley-d...
Well I sat on one today. It was the lowest / lightest (220kg!) Harley for me. Because the weight is low down, it actually felt no heavier than my 160kg baby blade, and riding position not too weird either, compared to my usual sportsbike position. I wonder how hot the exhaust gets through the heat shield, given that when stopping my leg would be pressed right against it. I almost felt confident enough to test ride it, were it not for the £500 excess in the event of dropping it 
Looks wise, it looks pretty good in the flesh, bar the horrible orange reflectors on the front forks and nastily cheap looking radiator.
Looks wise, it looks pretty good in the flesh, bar the horrible orange reflectors on the front forks and nastily cheap looking radiator.
ash73 said:
mrmaggit said:
The "Bro's" won't get it, but I do, in fact I've bought one.
Good for you, let's see some pics!My only real complaint is the mirrors which are absolutely useless.
Should get it the week after next. Apparently if I wanted a Black one, I would be on one now.
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