HARLEY DAVIDSON STREET ROD 750. IS IT A HARLEY?

HARLEY DAVIDSON STREET ROD 750. IS IT A HARLEY?

THE HARLEY DAVIDSON STREET ROD 750

Harley Davidson a brand which is considered to be the face of two wheeler. A brand which is known even by someone who don't even know what a bike is. Its distinctive V-twin burble, unique retro classic looks respect it offers and the manly bad biker attitude which screams "i don't give a fuck" are all considered as the ultimate style statement, symbol of royalty and a lifestyle of bikers. You cant compare a Harley to a sports bike or anything else, because only a Harley can be a Harley. So performance and general terms what is considered as a parameter for other bikes won't be even be looked at in this review. Its all about the feel and the freedom it offers as a Harley Davidson.

First look and i loved it. This was the way street 750 should have been made in the first place. Looks may be subjective but it sure is a head turner. It does looks small but looks genuinely Harley. The large rear disk reminds you of tracker styled bikes and the single disc of street 750 moves way for twin discs at front gives it a huge sex appeal and anchors the bike even at high speeds. the humongous v-twin, exhaust pipes, drag bar and those new updates to design builds  up the attitude of the street rod. 

The equipment though  are falling short for a bike of over 7 lakhs. Rider modes? led headlights? ride by wire? traction control ? the street rod haven't even heard of a fuel gauge. So all those Royal Enfield riders could provide help on how to magically know level of fuel by shaking the bike. But maybe its too early to judge. Lesss electronics could also mean more mechanical feel  for the bike, and the feel is what a classic bike is all about, so lets keep all that to the end.

The headlights are halogens and not leds

Brakes are strong. unlike street 750 it gets twin rotors in front

Swing your leg over and you would feel like......well getting on to a bike? but once you keep your legs on the tiny confusing foot pegs you would notice the absurd seating position it has got to offer. Being 190 cm tall i looked like i was photographed while squatting. Switch it on to just fire up the engine and you would notice the loud screaming eagle exhaust comes alive providing a great roar. But...Listen careful and you would notice the cardinal sin, It doesn't sound like a Harley, there is no iconic potato potato growl of a V-twin. But the exhaust does its job well and gives you a good classic roar what you expect from a large capacity classic but still its does not give Harley a justice. Personally would recommend to spend that extra bit on an aftermarket exhaust  as stock exhaust feels too blank.

The 750 cc V- Twin packs charachter

Screaming Eagle exhaust system adds to character for that little extra penny.

The rear disc give it a tracker swag

Taking her for a spin and i noticed how easy it was to maneuver. U turns and figure of 8 were completed on a double lane road with ease, thanks to low centre of gravity. Personally felt it was much easier than Royal Enfield Twins to maneuver . It was way too stable and confidence inspiring to ride harsh, thanks to the well calibrated suspension which is pretty stiff, bike doesn't wobble or feel out of control. Torque was awesome and the pull was great to experience. Still even being a 750cc beast you never will have hard time managing those outputs. Scary? not at all, exciting? yes it is. the engine feels soft and matured. The screaming exhaust and the high displacement engine with well balanced chassis ,a great steering and a pretty well stacked 6 speed gearbox gives you enough confidence to carry triple digits speeds comfortably. Though it gets little vibey after 6000 rpm all the way till red line at 8700 that is not much of a bothering stuff. The brakes were just awesome too,good feedback and bites good. Overall it looks like could go through anywhere, but the drag bar handle limits to filter through traffic and get through tight spots limiting true potential of an otherwise great machine.

Much more fun than expected.

In corners don't expect super bike performance but does the job neatly, weight is not too much and tyres offer great grip making it good to keep speed and angles while cornering. Its somewhat eager ergonomics and low CG makes you work less to tip into and carry itself on corners.

Comfort is actually a question. Well Harley is considered to be great cruisers, but the seating position tired me out. my thighs started to get cramped after few minutes of riding. Well heating is obvious for a large capacity powerhouse, cooked legs i can bear, but due to small narrow seat, the engine is bit exposed to your thigh, so at slow moving traffic the thigh and groin could get cooked and that i really don't want to happen. The cooling in the machine is a joke, that made me wonder if the liquid used in cooling system was accidentally replaced with molten lava.The chunky exhaust also ensured the street rod is unforgettable especially for your right legs.

Seats are of decent comfort for rider but not for pillion

Seating position and ergonomics were fine for riders with an average height tho. For me I felt i could handle it once i got used to. but don't think it could handle long distance cruising. Short riders also be prepared to face slight trouble with ergonomics and rider comfort.

The engine is bit too exposed to your thigh

As mentioned earlier not much is been provided as hardware. For a bike costing over 7 lakhs it misses out on plenty. Even the switch gears look basic for a premium bike. yet that's forgiving looking at the build quality and fun it offers.

Now coming back to the question, Is street rod a Harley? The quick answer for a normal biker is a yes, but its not for those who really care. It is a great fun to ride retro classic rod. unlike most bikes of this category it handles well and is much easier to ride.

A mere basic instrument console,

Riding such a bike is all about pleasure, you don't want the adrenaline pumped each time you twist the throttle or when dragging your knees on every corner. its about feeling the engine, getting there quick, using that torque to enjoy the sudden burst of speed, enjoying the exhaust and engine notes, letting others know your presence, and turn heads and get satisfied with that. The street rod does all that making it a phenomenal bike.

But as an American born in India with not much of characteristics what made its ancestors special it sure doesn't feel welcoming for a Harley Davidson fanboy.

Chief  writer -Ambady Anil

Photographer co-writer -Aaron Joseph