A_R_R_2015_04

AUSTRALIAN ROAD RIDER | 45

HARLEY-DAVIDSON STREET 500

STREET CRED AT STAKE

Harley’s press releases used to include

a note at the bottom that said it was the

maker of heavy motorcycles. Now that

it has launched the Street 500, that note

says the company “produces custom,

cruiser and touring motorcycles”.

It’s an ever-so-subtle change, but the

traditional American heavy iron cruiser

company is indeed changing and it

needs to identify itself a little differently.

But does the production of a 500cc

cruiser dilute the venerable brand?

Harley-Davidson Australia and New

Zealand marketing director Adam

Wright says no. “Did BMW’s 1 Series

dilute their brand?” he asks. He may

well have also referred to the Mercedes-

Benz A Class, Audi A1 or even the

Porsche Macan mini-SUV. Seems if it’s

good enough for the Germans ...

Adam says the 1 Series meant many

young people could afford to go straight

into a BMW for their fi rst car. Once BMW

has them in their grasp, they can work

on building customer loyalty for life.

Harley plans to do the same thing.

Adam says they will offer an attractive

fi nance package — probably as cheap as

$50 a week — to lure young people into

the Harley lifestyle with their fi rst bike.

He believes it will be easier to retain

those customers and get them to trade

up through the various Harley families,

than to win new customers to the brand

after riding other fi rst bikes.

The other hurdle for Harley is the

country of origin. The Street 500 and 750

are being produced in Kansas, but also

in Bawal, India. It’s the fi rst time Harleys

have been built outside North America.

However, Adam doesn’t believe this will

be an issue.

“Many of our cars and bikes already

come from Asia,” he says. And he’s

right. Most Honda cars and almost all

dual-cab utes are built in Thailand and

as European motorcycle companies

such as Triumph, KTM, Ducati and BMW

start assembly and production plants

in India and other South East Asian

countries, we are bound to see more

Asian bikes here.

Adam maintains that Harley has very

“stringent quality-control measures” and

that the Indian-built bikes are identical

to those made in Kansas. The only

difference is “Made in India” on the VIN

label and the presence of a locking fuel

cap that is required for Asian markets.

the uncharacteristically high-revving

cruiser engine at highway speed, just a

light galloping vibe.

Harley claims fuel economy of about

3.7L/100km delivering in excess of 350km

from the 13.1L fuel tank which is not only

good for touring, but more appropriately

a ractive economics for commuters.

Riding position is similar to the

Sportster, with a low 709mm seat height

and wide mid-mount controls that get in

the way a li le when you stop and put

your foot down; again like the Sporty.

My knees were set a li le high beside the

tank, but at 183cm tall I didn’t feel like I

was too big and ungainly for the bike.

Bars are a reasonable reach and give

the rider dirt-bike-style control over

the steering. They are also adjustable

for the many rider sizes this bike can

accommodate.

Mirrors are set fairly narrow, which

accommodates lane fi ltering but makes

it diffi cult to see directly behind you. The

smooth engine also doesn’t vibrate the

mirrors, which give clear vision at any

engine revs.

The non-adjustable brake pedal feels

a li le low and the adjustable gearshi

is a li le high, even when adjusted low.

So when gearing down and braking into

a corner you feel a bit like you’re riding

a pushbike because your feet are at

diff erent levels. If you swapped the pegs

for a ermarket units, you could possibly

adjust the brake a li le higher.

Being a Queenslander, one of my pet

hates when commuting is the heat that

Harley riders are used to doing.

Harley’s tech tells me it’s a simple

engine that will be easy to service. He

also says it could be modifi ed up to 750cc,

but it would not have the same crank and

valves as the Street 750. 

Out on the highway, sixth gear isn’t too

tall like on many other Harleys, but you

will still have to drop it a cog or two for

brisk overtaking. Surprisingly, there is no

annoying tingle through the bars from

r The riding position is comfortable for taller riders

“So what’s the recipe

for success? The first

ingredient is making the

price right. Harley has done

that, bringing it in at $9995

rideaway. Yes, you heard

right. A brand-new Harley

for under $10,000”

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