If you're looking at the photos and thinking "hang on, that's not based a V-Rod!" – you're correct. The new Street Rod, as the keen eyed will have guessed, is based around the US-spec Street 750, Harley's entry level model which has helped ensure the brand can attract younger riders wanting a taste of “The Bar and Shield”.
The new Street Rod builds upon the Street 750, but unlike the learner friendly focus of the Street 750 and the Street 500 we get here, the Street Rod is a much more performance oriented machine.
For starters, it gets a more powerful version of the 750cc Revolution X engine the US gets, with power up 18 percent with torque increased by 8 percent. That should put it around the 47kW and 70Nm mark – not bad. This means it has slightly more power than Triumph’s soon to arrive Street Cup which will be targeting essentially the same buyer. The Triumph however has the Harley beat on weight, with the Street Rod weighing in at a rather hefty 229kg without fluids.
Other performance oriented features include new rigid 43mm inverted forks gripped by a lightweight aluminium triple clamp with a tighter steering angle. Out back its coil-over rear shock absorbers have an external reservoir to increase fluid capacity and improve control. These shocks increase the rear suspension travel by 31 percent, to 116mm. Rolling stock is 17inch cast wheels wrapped in performance Michelin Scorcher 21 radial tyres. This Harley is definitely designed to handle the twisty roads.
It’s the styling where the Street Rod really stands out, with the same Dark Custom design aesthetic as seen on the revamped Sportster range employed to give the Street Rod an aggressive look which seems inspired by the much loved XR1200.
“The Street Rod is a perfect addition to the Street family. It is an exciting time for Harley-Davidson and our riders.” said Adam Wright, Director Marketing, Australia and New Zealand.
The best news however is that for the first time Kiwis will get the 750cc V-twin as an option in showrooms, with the new Street Rod confirmed to be heading for our shores in May with a $13,995 price point, making the Street Rod an appealing alternative to the Sportster based Roadster launched last year.
