RE: Harley-Davidson Street Rod XG750A: PH2
Sunday 7th May 2017
Anytime you mention Harley's Street 750 range the instant reaction from a few quarters is 'they aren't proper Harley models as they are built in India.' While this is technically true - all European Street 750s are built in India while American ones are built in America - that's not the issue I have with the Street 750. I don't care that the Street is built in India, that it's water- and not air-cooled and has cam chains instead of push rods; what annoys me about the Street 750 is the fact it doesn't feel like a quality Harley product. When I tested it a few years ago for PH2 I thought it felt like a cheap imitation of a Harley that was in danger of devaluing the brand, not attracting a new generation of customers as it was trying to do. The Street's forks are spindly, the brakes poor, the finish leaves a lot to be desired and overall it lacks the ability to do justice to the famous Harley name. Sorry, but I'd buy an 883 over the Street every single day of the week as it sounds, looks and feels like an authentic Harley. That said, globally Harley have sold over 35,000 Street 750s in the last three years, so maybe I'm being a touch too critical. Anyway, with all this in mind, when I was invited to ride the new Street Rod my expectations were low. I am genuinely delighted to have been proven wrong.
What's new, pussycat?
The most important thing to know about the new Street Rod is the fact it's basically a whole new machine, not just a restyled Street 750 - that's why it is so improved. While it has the same basic Revolution X 750 motor as the Street, the Rod part means the engine has been breathed upon and gets new cams (only one per head) with increased lift and duration, high flow heads and dual throttle bodies, all of which boost the power by 20 per cent to 67hp and the torque by 10 per cent to 48lb ft. The chassis is also new with sharper geometry, twin piggyback dampers (that are only pre-load adjustable), inverted forks (non-adjustable), 17-inch wheels and twin discs at the front. As a Harley man said "it's now badass", which I think translates from American to British as 'it performs far better than before.' And the look is also altered with a more muscle bike attitude thanks to drag bars, a new seat unit and a screen. And it works, not only looking so much more substantial than the Street 750 but also appearing a far higher quality machine with lovely paint finish and neat details such as the laser etching on the new mirrors and the Harley logo on the peg's rubbers. Overall, where on the Street I felt the firm skimped to meet a financial target point, on the Street Rod it certainly hasn't. And yet the price is still keen - you get all this for £6,745 for a black bike (or £6,995 if you want a grey or olive one), which is just £750 more than the Street 750 and £1,250 less than an 883 Iron. And PCP deals can make this just £89 a month. In my book, that's very good value as the Street Rod not only looks like a proper Harley, it rides like one. However, there is one major irritation...
Peg placement predicament
In a truly remarkable move, Harley has given the Street Rod one of the most ridiculous footpeg positions I have ever seen. Worse even than the Ducati Monster 821, and that takes some doing. Located mid instead of forward as on the Street, you can't actually put your foot on the Rod's peg without resting your heel on the exhaust. Harley knows this and has added a neat little pad - perhaps an afterthought - for your heel, but it's so annoying that you end up riding with your foot half off the peg to compensate. I spoke to Harley's PR people about it and they told me the odd positioning is down to the exhaust downpipes, which are straight from the Street 750 to save costs and don't have the required bend to allow the mid-pegs to sit correctly. To be fair the majority of Rod owners will swap the pipes for aftermarket items pretty much straight away, eliminating the issue, but it is still really annoying. If you take a Street Rod for a test ride, be prepared to be irritated by this - but spend a bit longer on the bike and you will soon forgive it.
More lean, more fun, more proper
Having not expected a lot from the Street Rod, I was genuinely surprised just how well it handled. The new wheels and chassis geometry make it agile in bends and the suspension is set on the firm side to give it a sporty attitude, which I like - you can actually hurl this Harley around and not feel like you are riding a pogo stick. Where the Street 750 would be throwing in the towel, the Street Rod is happy to play ball. And it even has a decent amount of ground clearance to allow you to have some fun.
A genuine alternative
Unlike the Street 750, the Street Rod is a genuine alternative to the 883 rather than a poor imitation of a Harley. Its water-cooled engine offers a different experience that is less agricultural than the air-cooled lump, its aggressive styling is more modern than the classical Iron and it is an easier bike to ride and I'd also say better handling. To some the 'made in India' sticker on the frame will be a turn off but, unlike the Street 750, the Street Rod doesn't feel, look or ride like a cheap product despite its budget price tag. To me the Street Rod feels like Harley's design team have at last built the Street model they wanted to, with little compromises, but still kept within their price target. It's a new generation of Street machine and one that is now worthy of carrying the famous Harley-Davidson logo. Just get over the fact it is built in India - I'm sure Triumph modern classic range riders don't get as much grief about the fact every Triumph parallel twin is built in Thailand!
Harley-Davidson Street Rod XG750A: PH2
Harley's latest Street model turns a corner in more ways than one
The most important thing to know about the new Street Rod is the fact it's basically a whole new machine, not just a restyled Street 750 - that's why it is so improved. While it has the same basic Revolution X 750 motor as the Street, the Rod part means the engine has been breathed upon and gets new cams (only one per head) with increased lift and duration, high flow heads and dual throttle bodies, all of which boost the power by 20 per cent to 67hp and the torque by 10 per cent to 48lb ft. The chassis is also new with sharper geometry, twin piggyback dampers (that are only pre-load adjustable), inverted forks (non-adjustable), 17-inch wheels and twin discs at the front. As a Harley man said "it's now badass", which I think translates from American to British as 'it performs far better than before.' And the look is also altered with a more muscle bike attitude thanks to drag bars, a new seat unit and a screen. And it works, not only looking so much more substantial than the Street 750 but also appearing a far higher quality machine with lovely paint finish and neat details such as the laser etching on the new mirrors and the Harley logo on the peg's rubbers. Overall, where on the Street I felt the firm skimped to meet a financial target point, on the Street Rod it certainly hasn't. And yet the price is still keen - you get all this for £6,745 for a black bike (or £6,995 if you want a grey or olive one), which is just £750 more than the Street 750 and £1,250 less than an 883 Iron. And PCP deals can make this just £89 a month. In my book, that's very good value as the Street Rod not only looks like a proper Harley, it rides like one. However, there is one major irritation...
In a truly remarkable move, Harley has given the Street Rod one of the most ridiculous footpeg positions I have ever seen. Worse even than the Ducati Monster 821, and that takes some doing. Located mid instead of forward as on the Street, you can't actually put your foot on the Rod's peg without resting your heel on the exhaust. Harley knows this and has added a neat little pad - perhaps an afterthought - for your heel, but it's so annoying that you end up riding with your foot half off the peg to compensate. I spoke to Harley's PR people about it and they told me the odd positioning is down to the exhaust downpipes, which are straight from the Street 750 to save costs and don't have the required bend to allow the mid-pegs to sit correctly. To be fair the majority of Rod owners will swap the pipes for aftermarket items pretty much straight away, eliminating the issue, but it is still really annoying. If you take a Street Rod for a test ride, be prepared to be irritated by this - but spend a bit longer on the bike and you will soon forgive it.
Having not expected a lot from the Street Rod, I was genuinely surprised just how well it handled. The new wheels and chassis geometry make it agile in bends and the suspension is set on the firm side to give it a sporty attitude, which I like - you can actually hurl this Harley around and not feel like you are riding a pogo stick. Where the Street 750 would be throwing in the towel, the Street Rod is happy to play ball. And it even has a decent amount of ground clearance to allow you to have some fun.
With 40-degrees of lean angle before things scrape (the most on any Harley model) the pegs aren't always on the floor, which is a unique experience on a Harley. Add to this the twin disc set-up, which it has to be said is a bit on/off in their feel due to the braided lines and lacks lever span adjustment, and the Rod is a decent handling bike that can be enjoyed in the bends. And yet it remains a relaxed city bike with a light clutch, a low centre of gravity giving it a nice balanced feel at slow speed, a decent turning circle and a seat height of just 765mm. Having spent a day riding the Street Rod at quite an enthusiastic pace, I thoroughly enjoyed it and left impressed rather than disappointed as I did when I rode the Street 750 in the UK. And the engine is also improved.
The alterations to the Revolution X lump are fairly minor, but Harley has added a bit more poke and a nice crackle on over-run with a slightly louder exhaust note, which was necessary. The power boost is welcome, but for me it is these small details that now make the water-cooled engine feel far more 'Harley' and less 'Japanese' and sterile than before, one of my main gripes about the Street 750. It's still smooth and far more refined than the air-cooled lump, but it now has a bit more character, which was needed.
Unlike the Street 750, the Street Rod is a genuine alternative to the 883 rather than a poor imitation of a Harley. Its water-cooled engine offers a different experience that is less agricultural than the air-cooled lump, its aggressive styling is more modern than the classical Iron and it is an easier bike to ride and I'd also say better handling. To some the 'made in India' sticker on the frame will be a turn off but, unlike the Street 750, the Street Rod doesn't feel, look or ride like a cheap product despite its budget price tag. To me the Street Rod feels like Harley's design team have at last built the Street model they wanted to, with little compromises, but still kept within their price target. It's a new generation of Street machine and one that is now worthy of carrying the famous Harley-Davidson logo. Just get over the fact it is built in India - I'm sure Triumph modern classic range riders don't get as much grief about the fact every Triumph parallel twin is built in Thailand!
 |
 |
Discussion
Gassing Station | Biker Banter | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff