Few motorcycle brands can claim a following more loyal than Har­ley Davidson. The brand carries a lot of creed, even for the non-bik­ers. Iconic and irresistible, it encap­sulates so much with its unapologetic machines, with an illustrious legacy spread over an endless assortment of Touring, Softail, Sportster, and CVO family. However, the times they are a changin’. Enter the Street Series—a different recipe that veers away from the tra­ditional Harley styling to something that is more urban and sport-ori­ented. Introduced by Harley David­son at the EICMA Show in 2013, the Street Series targets entry-lev­el buyers in the US and upmarket buyers in the developing mar­kets. Available as a 750cc model, the Street Series bikes are nim­ble and middleweight motorcy­cles build to take on city streets. And these are our thoughts on the Street Rod 750, the Street 750’s sporty cousin.

First things first…

…The Street Rod shares its design with the Street 750. But, as with most models in Harley’s Dark Cus­tom range, the Street Rod stands out with its purposeful styling. And the drag style bars with bar-end mir­rors, Screamin’ Eagle slip-on muffler, blacked-out finishes and the 13.1-liter tear-drop tank calls out for a strict attention. The rest of the bodywork is a tasteful blend of HD’s flat-track heritage, American drag racing and streetfighter elements.

The Street Rod 750 measures 2,130mm in length while the ground clearance is 205mm. The wheelbase of the Street Rod 750 is 1510mm. The taller ground clearance and the new 17-inch wheels further add to the bike’s athletic stance. Also, the supercharger-inspired air intake does draw attention to the engine.

Visually, the Street Rod appears meaner and more powerful than its more affordable sibling—the Street 750.

At the heart of the matter….

…is a 759cc liquid-cooled V-twin Revolution X engine from the Street 750, but reworked to produce 20 percent more power and 10 percent more torque, which results in 68 bhp at 8,750 rpm and 65 Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm. Harley engineers have bumped the compression ratio from 11.0:1 to 12.0:1, and the redline increased from 8,000 to 9,000 rpm to maximise the mid-range torque. The new single overhead-cam V-Twin engine also features a larger air box, new 42mm dual-throttle bodies, revised four-valve cylinder heads and high-lift camshafts, and a new exhaust muffler to enhance the airflow.

It does exactly what it says on the paper. The engine produces more torque through the mid-range and power at the top-end. The sweet spot for the motor lies between 3,000 and 5,000 rpm, and the result is a torquey machine with extra revs at your disposal. Once you wring the throttle, the bike leaps forward with a calm demeanor. Throttle response is great and power delivery linear. There is no change in the six-speed gearbox which has been taken from the Street 750 with the exact same ratios. Hit the twisties and the bike encourages you to push it even hard­er. And, the exhaust note begs you to be heard even louder.

The Street Rod bears a ‘Bull­dog’ stance that is…

…poised and aggressive. Instead of sitting back in a relaxed position, you sit up on the bike in a forward stance and the flat handlebars ascer­tain this fact. The forward seating position is not ideal for taller rid­ers. Compared to the Street, you sit 45mm higher on the Street Rod, and the first thing you’ll complain about is the ergonomics. The seating position is cramped and the high-set mid-mounted foot pegs will take some time getting used to. The rub­ber heel rest on the right exhaust is annexed to the top of the silencer shroud to mitigate the limited foot control placement. But instead of covering the rear brake pedal, you waste your time trying to adjust your foot in the right position. This is the reason why we ended up with using the front brakes more. Could the Street Rod’s handling outshine the uncomfortable ergonomics?

The Street Rod delivers handling that is light and precise at all speeds. While the Street Rod is easy to maneuver, the wide handle bars at times allow only modest room for lane changes in the urban jungle. Because the fork rake is tightened from 32° to 27° for quicker steer­ing, the tighter steering geometry does make it easier to ride the bike through fast swooping curves. With a machine like the Street Rod at your disposal, you’ll want to hit highway speeds once in a while.

Out on the highway, dropping into the rare sixth gear, is where the Street Rod really stretches itself. Everywhere else, it’s just a matter of selecting the right gear and letting the throttle do the talking. Although the Street Rod weighs 238 kg, we had no problem handling the bike at cruising speeds. But squirting in and out of rush-hour traffic can be cum­bersome because of the heat. This is the only downside of the riding the Street Rod inside the city.

The suspension setup for the most part provides a comfortable ride, even on rough or uneven pavements. The front end features 43mm USD forks gripped by lightweight alu­minum yokes with no adjustment. Coil-over piggyback shocks support the rear end with adjustable spring preload that can be adjusted with a standard wrench. The steel swing arm is slightly longer to accommo­date the taller shocks and provide extra traction.

The Street Rod wears 17-inch front and rear cast alloy wheels and MRF rubbers—120/70 rubbers up front and 160/60 on back—facilitating for more lean, with 37.3 degrees to the right, and 40.2 degrees to the left. When it comes to braking duties, the Street Rod gets dual 300 mm rotors up front and the rear, with twin-pot calipers. Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) comes as standard and its non-switchable. The brakes provide plenty of stopping power where you need it most.

We think the Street Rod is the most-nimble motorcycle in the cur­rent Harley line-up in Nepal.

Should you get one?

The Street Rod is not your typical Harley Davidson. It may not have a macho or a rad appeal like other Harleys, but the appeal is more along the lines of a performance oriented machine with an authentic Milwau­kee heartbeat. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced rider, the Street Rod 750 will appeal to you with its sporty demeanor and a distinct character.

At Rs 2,700,000, the Street Rod is the second most affordable Har­ley-Davidson motorcycle in Nepal after the Street 750, which is priced at Rs 2,300,000. In other words, it is priced to be almost irresistible for someone looking for a starter Harley. For us, we would still leapfrog to its big bore brothers