Posted on 03/10/2017 3:25:55 AM PST by BraveMan
The mid-weight naked motorcycle craze is alive and strong in America. Yamaha has its FZ-07. Kawasaki its Z650. Others have updated previous mid-weights due to this craze, such as Ducati with its Monster 797 and Triumph its Street Triple 675.
Harley-Davidson wants a bigger piece of this market. Its answer? The 2017 Harley-Davidson Street Rod, which is the third member of the Street family that includes the base 750 and 500.
This Street Rod offers more aggressive styling, and claimed improved handling over the Street 750. The engines design was borrowed from XG750 flat track platform, and makes a claimed 18-percent more than the base Street 750, bringing it to around 70 base horsepower.
The Street Rod will put the thrill in any urban commute, said Mathew Weber, Harley-Davidson Chief Engineer for the Street Rod. Weve paired the potent new High Output Revolution X 750 engine with a revised chassis and up-rated suspension components to make the Street Rod quick, light-handling and easy to ride.
Were heading to Daytona Bike Week to ride the new Street Rod, but for now, here are the Ultimate Motorcycling Fast Facts.
(Excerpt) Read more at ultimatemotorcycling.com ...
Looks a lot like my 15 year-old old Harley-powered Buell Cyclone - that is 30 lbs lighter and has 25 more horsepower. Harley always has a problem winding their calendar when it comes to the sport bike market.
It looks 20 years old right off the bat, and will probably handle like it too.
” the British have never perfected the starter.”
My understanding is the Brits have had lotsa trouble in the mechanical field. I’d like to buy an old TR7, but from what I’ve read, they were troublesome. Similar stories with other old British cars.
Wife wants an original VW Bug, I think she’ll win out. Fewer mechanical problems, parts easier to find.
To me this thing looks a little like a Buell. Also from the pics on line it may be liquid cooled. FYI, this bike weighs around 500 lbs.
The comeback of Norton is also good news. My last bike was a ‘72 850.
You might recall Norton was owned by an American for a couple years and an “all new” 961 CC motor with electric start was developed.
This deal fell through and a wealthy Englishman bought the name and rights to the new motor. Nortons are being manufactured at a few every day in the UK.
Rocket 3. I had one, a 2005. It was a lot of fun.
The mechanics have always been rather durable. I had a 77 Spitfire that developed a rear main cap issue and I actually fixed it with JB Weld. That engine and cap are still in the car and running. The electrics were always the issues for reliability overall.
Although I do like the bugs. I had developed a means to be able to pull an engine, rebuild it with new crank, rods, heads, pistons and cylinders and have it back in the car and running before the end of the day.
Vrods are water cooled and have radiators. The rest just sport oil coolers. Look like radiators.
So....a 30 year old bike.
I stand corrected...
“Wife wants an original VW Bug, I think shell win out. Fewer mechanical problems, parts easier to find.”
One of the Mexican built ones???
Ask a Harley dealer, ...they love these ‘junior’ models because the one sale very often amounts to three sales.
The classic scenario, even with some older models, like the Sportster, goes like this. First they sell the junior model, usually to a first time Harley buyer. But the buyer eventually comes to believe he underbought, so he goes back to the dealer and trades it in on a ‘real’ hog, something with at least 80 inches. So the dealer sells him a second bike, plus he then gets to sell the used junior Harley to someone else. And the cycle (no pun intended) continues.
The new engines are water cooled, right...the heads?
“Japanese sport bikes (aka organ donors).”
I think the term you’re looking for is “donor cycle”
Harley has invented the 1984 Honda Nighthawk 700.
Don’t worry, they still make brand new antiquated motorcycles with amazing style and paint.
The demographic for their old fashioned cruisers(boomers) is fading and HD cannot rest on soon to be forgotten laurels.
In the meantime, welcome to about 1983 or so Harley Davidson.(bike looks like an early Honda Shadow to me)
LOL yes, just needs the square headlight to seal the deal.
8700 bucks !
Pass... if I wanted something that looked like a throwback to a 1970s japanese built bike coverd in black plastic... I’d go buy an old Honda and cover it black plastic
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