If there are two factors that can put people off buying their first Harley-Davidson, it’s the price tag and a fear of not being able to ride the quirky machines properly. The new Harley-Davidson Street 750 is the answer to both these concerns. At £5795 it’s the cheapest bike Harley currently produce, and its controls and riding position are far more in line with what most UK riders are accustomed to.
The Street 750 Harley-Davidson’s first all-new platform since the V-Rod, and like that bike it uses a liquid-cooled engine. It’s been designed to tempt new riders into the Harley-Davidson world – and it really is a brilliant introduction. The Street may be inexpensive, but there are no obvious signs of it being built to a budget. On the contrary, it looks and feels like a much more expensive machine.
In town the Harley-Davidson Street 750 excels. Few cities have more traffic lights than Barcelona but, rather than being a pain, they were fun on the 750, thanks to the instant and addictive torque (44lb.ft) produced by the 749cc Revolution X engine. Accelerating from the lights it was faster than the larger (and more expensive) 48 and Iron 883.
Perhaps even more encouraging for those who have always been put off the Harley dream by fears about unfamiliar controls and an unusual riding position, the Harley-Davidson Street 750 is a breeze to ride. The ignition is where you’d expect it to be (rather than tucked away down a fork leg), the indicators use a single switch (not Harley’s usual twin-switch system), and the Street’s footpegs don’t give it a feet-forward riding position.
It’s light too - at 229 Kg, Harley-Davidson Street 750 is the lightest bike Harley have produced for decades. That means it stops well, with a single brake disc and two-piston caliper for each wheel, though there’s currently no option for ABS. It’s highly manoeuvrable too – another concern among Harley customers. In keeping with the Street’s urban aspirations, the steering lock is excellent and allows for easy darting through busy city traffic. Ground clearance is far better than you’d expect from a Harley too, so once you’re cruising at motorway speeds, the lack of wind protection might prove a limiting factor over distance – as might the 100-mile tank range.
Surprisingly, there’s an almost total lack of the engine vibration that you’d normally expect to feel through the bars and pegs of a Harley-Davidson. The Harley-Davidson Street 750 feels far more smooth and refined, and that goes for the engine noise too. It still sounds – and feels – like a Harley-Davidson, but it’s not as hardcore as other models. Gone is the thumping “potato potato” effect, replaced by a more sophisticated growl.
The Harley-Davidson Street 750 ticks all the boxes for an entry-level bike. If you’ve been sitting on the Harley fence, tempted to buy one but put off by price and an unfamiliar riding experience, put those fears aside: access to the world’s most famous biking brand has never been easier...
Service Schedule
- First Service : 1000 Miles
- Service Intervals : Every 5000 Miles
- Fuel Economy : Claimed Consumption: 49 Mpg
- How to Pay for It : Cash price is £5795 for the ‘vivid black’ version of the Harley Davidson Street 750, or £5995 for the other colours, including red and blue. Harley’s own PCP finance scheme starts with a deposit of £999, then 36 fairly meagre monthly payments of £79, and an optional final payment of £3115.64 – for a total amount payable of £6958.64.
Options & Accesories
Like all Harley-Davidsons, the Street 750 is well suited to customisation and there are already more than 90 parts and accessories available for the bike. These currently include the Daymaker LED headlight (below), As well as different wheels, bars, pegs and grips, with lots more to come. The Street comes under Harley’s Dark Custom umbrella, referring to the underground cult of stripping back and blacking out bikes rather than pimping them with chrome and bling.
Harley Davidson Street 750 Specs
Engine : 749cc, SOHC, 60° V-Twin, 4-Valve per Cyl, Liquid-Cooled
Power : 57,6 HP @ 8.000 RPM
Torque : 44lb.ft @ 4000 RPM
Transmission : 6-Speed, Belt
Chassis : Steel Double Cradle
Front Suspension : 37mm Forks, 140mm Travel
Rear Suspension : Twin Shocks, Adjustment Preload
Front Brake : 300mm Disc, 2-Piston Caliper
Rear Brake : 300mm Disc, 2-Piston Caliper
Front Tyre : 100/80 R17
Rear Tyre : 140/75 R15
Wheelbase : 1.534mm
Rake/Trail : 32°/115mm
Seat height : 710mm
Kerb Weight : 229 Kg
Fuel Capacity : 13.1 Litres
Price : £5795 (Colours £5995)