Rennie Scaysbrook | March 9, 2017
Latest version of the Harley-Davidson 750 brings flat track style to the street
A bit of flat track, a bit of XR1200… the new Street Rod certainly looks mean!
Harley-Davidson has released the latest evolution of their 750 V-twin in the brand new 2017 Street Rod.
Powered by a production version of the same XG750R water-cooled engine that will be tearing around the AMA Pro Flat Track circuits this year in the factory with riders Jake Johnson, Kenny Coolbeth and Brandon Robinson, the new Street Rod gets an 18 percent horsepower and eight percent torque increase over the original Revolution X 750 motor.
The new single overhead-cam V-twin engine features a larger air box, a new dual-throat throttle body, revised four-valve cylinder heads and high-lift camshafts, and a higher-volume muffler. The compression ratio is bumped from 11.0:1 to 12.0:1, and the engine redline is increased from 8000 to 9000 rpm.
“We’ve improved air flow and then tuned this new engine to maximize mid-range torque,” said Mathew Weber, Harley-Davidson Chief Engineer for the Street Rod. “It really delivers a punch between 3000 and 5000 rpm, power you can always feel and use in real-world riding situations. Liquid cooling helps maintain that performance and rider comfort in stop-and-go urban traffic.”
The chassis features a new 43mm inverted fork, with sharper steering coming from a reduced rake from 32° to 27°. The swingarm length has been increased and the rear shocks get 31 percent more travel to 4.6 inches. The Street Rod rolls on light-weight, 17-inch front and rear Split 7 Spoke Black Cast Wheels and new Michelin Scorcher 21 radial tires.
“The Street Rod is the most nimble motorcycle in the current Harley-Davidson line-up,” said Weber. “Tires, wheels, suspension and frame geometry are engineered to work together and deliver handling that’s light and precise at all speeds.”
The styling has been closely linked to the minimalistic lines of the company’s flat track racers. Seat height is now 29.4 inches, there’s a flat, drag-style handlebar, forged alloy foot pegs, a street fighter-style tail unit and LED indicators.
The Street Rod will be offered in three color options: Vivid Black, Charcoal Denim, and Olive Gold.
