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 ...
That’s cheap for a Harley.
I have a KLR 650. I don’t ride a motorcycle to be seen. I ride a motorcycle to disappear. (And find God). :)
This sums up the KLR650 attitude about motorcycles:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M62y6BgvO-0
I had an ‘06 Buell Lightning Long. I had to get rid of it. That machine wanted to kill me.
It would whisper in my ear (scream in head,) “C’mon, let’s go! What are you afraid of? Are you CHICKEN!”
Wheelies on command. No talent required. It was fun while I was on it.
:)
I've considered Harley from time to time but they're anemic compared to my '15 Triumph Explorer XC with ~130 hp. I've thought about the HD Vrod muscle with 122 hp but I don't like forward controls. Besides, HD riders don't consider the Vrod line to be a real Harley.
That's not at all true. The "cafe" models and the Vrod have a radiator, but the traditional bikes do not.
True that, but if it has 50+ foot lbs of torque at 3000 rpm it will scoot right along.
there are faster models for a straight line...is Russ Collins still alive?
My first scooter in 77 was an H2
Crazy dangerous
The biggest advantage of the Harley is the drive belt. Chains are a problem to keep lubed and clean.
The new engines are all water engines...Harleys are water bikes now.
70 hp?????
Lose the tennis shorts and alligator shirt, wear jeans and a Black T shirt and you're all set.
Seems a little wide of the mark for the Harley brand personality to me.
I've been a Harley owner for a decade, and I still get that treatment at the dealers. I have tattoos, long hair and always wear jeans, a black tee shirt and a leather jacket. Doesn't matter. They're jerk offs. I think you have to be a prick to work the parts counter.
Hate the dealer, but I love my Harley (FXSTS). Best bike I've ever owned, and oddly the most reliable. That's after having three Hondas (RC51, XR650R & CR250), two Suzukis (VZ800 & RM125) and one Kawasaki (KLR650).
Both of the Suzukis were utter garbage, but that little RM125 had so much personality, it's my second favorite bike. The Hondas were smooth, bland and fairly reliable. I really liked the RC51 until the engine kept cutting out on high speed turns. Never did solve that before wrecking it.
FXSTC not FXSTS. Ugh. I wish I had a springer front end though. At least I think I do based on looks. Never rode one.
I had an H1 in 1975. The Flexible Flyer. Mine got 15mpg! With a 60 mile range, sooner or later it was bound to leave you stranded somewhere unpleasant.
I recall being humbled in a corner by a guy on an R60 Beemer, two up. I’m wiggling away, as he blew right past me like I was parked.
“....just get the midweight Ducati and it’s perfect right out of the box.”
Exactly.
The dirt trackers were pretty, no argument there.
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