2017 Harley-Davidson Street Rod 750 has finally been launched in India with a price of Rs. 5.86 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) and since the regular Street 750 has been keeping the company on shore in India, the new beefed up version is expected to cement its standing in the sports-cruiser segment.
India being the nation full of speed lovers, had the Kawasaki Ninja as their only preference when anyone had the pocket to shell out a couple of lakhs for a motorbike (or a status symbol) but since Harley-Davidson launched the Street 750 in 2014, the taste and preferences have changed. Now everyone wants a comfortable ride for long-hauls, without compromising with driving capabilities within city limits, and that it what 2017 Harley-Davidson Street Rod 750 is all about.
Harley-Davidson Street Rod 750 Design (The Aggressive Yet Cool Beast)
The new Harley-Davidson Street Rod 750 gets a flat, drag-style handlebar which gives an aggressive riding position and those new foldable bar-end rearview mirrors, lightweight front fender, 2-up seat performance tail section, curved LED tail light, integrated bar & shield logo, rear LED turn signals, color-matched speed screen with a black insert fit perfectly with an urban backdrop and brings a whole new depth of soul to this Street on Streets.
Compared to the Street 750, Harley-Davidson Street Rod 750 gets a new seat shape to hold the rider securely (well-thought), while the seat height has been further increased to 765mm for a better view.
The Street Rod 750 will be offered in three colour options i.e. Charcoal Denim, Vivid Black, and Olive Gold.
Harley-Davidson Street Rod 750 Engine (More Power)
The Street Rod 750 is powered by a 749cc liquid-cooled, single OHC, eight valves, 60-degree V-Twin High Output Revolution X engine, producing max torque output of 62 Nm at 4,000 rpm and yet again, HD hasn’t unveiled the maximum power of this beast of an engine. The powerhouse is compliant with BS-IV emission norms and is mated to a six-speed transmission.
As per company’s claims Harley-Davidson Street Rod 750 develops 11% more power and 5% more torque, than the Street 750.
Dimensions (The Perfect Urban Ride)
The new Harley-Davidson Street Rod 750 comes with a wheelbase of 1,510 mm and measures 2130 mm in length. Ground clearance has been increased by 60 mm to 205 mm and fuel-tank capacity is the same 13 litres.
What you get for an additional Rs 80,000
- Harley-Davidson Street Rod 750 gets a larger volume airbox, high-lift camshafts, new cylinder heads and a higher volume exhaust muffler. Further, The compression ratio has also been raised to 12:1 from 11:1.
- As compared to the Street 750’s block that redlines at 8,000 rpm, the engine now revs up to 9,000 rpm.
- The Street Rod 750 gets beefier 43mm inverted front-forks, with the rake angle being tightened to 27 degrees. This has reduced the wheelbase and thus improve the bike’s agility. The rear suspension gets 117 mm travel and the swingarm has been lengthened to support these taller shocks.
- Harley-Davidson Street Rod 750 sits on 17-inch cast aluminum wheels wrapped around MRF 120/70 R17 M/C 58H and 160/60 R17 M/C 69H radial tyres in the front and at the back, respectively.
- Dual-piston 300 mm disc brake at the front and Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) as standard.
Verdict
Harley-Davidson has come a long way in India and since its debut in one of the fastest growing market, the company has gradually made a mark with its line-up. Street 750 being the most economical offering from HD, attracted loads of customers to the showrooms, however, when it came to sales charts, companies like DSK Hyosung, Kawasaki, Benelli and Triumph had an upper hand.
However, Harley-Davidson has got everything right with the Street Rod 750 and this is the one motorbike that oozes purpose and commands respect, wherever it goes.
And even though the Harley-Davidson Street Rod 750 costs Rs. 80,000 more than the Street 750, the new handle-bar and chassis setup, combined with a more powerful engine and better brakes seem to make it a better proposition overall, than the Street 750.
15th March 2017
Rohan Jaitly