dual 42mm thro le bodies, new four-valve
cylinder heads and shorter but higher-volume
exhaust to give it an eight per cent increase in
torque to 65Nm at 4000 revs.
Harley also claims an 18 per cent bump in
power, although the company never provides
those fi gures. Scu lebu has it at around
50kW (about 70 horsepower). The compression
ratio is raised from 11.0:1 to 12.0:1 and the redline
goes from 8000 to 9000rpm, although the extra
revs aren’t really necessary as it seems to run
out of puff about 6500rpm.
It’s a fl exible engine with plenty of midrange
punch, a buzzy top end and no surging down
low in heavy traffi c. However, it does get very
hot in slow traffi c and blows scorching airWHO’S GONNA BUY IT?
Harley-Davidson Australia and New
Zealand marketing manager Adam Wright
says the target market is urban riders aged
25-35. In developing the bike, Motorcycle
Product Portfolio director Peter Michael
Keppler says they surveyed more
than 3000 people in 10 countries. He says
the Street range has been a huge success,
selling more than 35,000 worldwide since
its release in 2015. The Street 750 outsells
the same-size cruisers in the USA, while
the Street 500 has helped Harley to the top
of Australian road bike sales.
Peter describes the Street Rod as “Phase
2” of the Street family. We expect there will
be many more phases to come! “People
always want more — more performance,
handling, capability — and on all these
fronts the Street Rod provides that,” he said.
“We have very high hopes for this bike.”
Peter does not believe the Street
Rod will cannibalise sales of its Sportster
range and says it should a ract new
buyers to the brand. He says the
V-Rod Street Rod name was resurrected
a er 11 years because they both have a
60-degree engine.
While the V-Rod range ends this
year, the Street Rod is not seen as a
replacement, but as an extra option to
a ract new and younger customers who
may never have heard of the equally
sporty V-Rod Street Rod. r It's pretty quiet, but you can bet there will be a loud
exhaust available.90 | AUSTRALIAN ROAD RIDERARR139_086-095_H-DStreetRod.indd 90ARR139_086-095_H-DStreetRod.indd 90 6/20/2017 3:40:35 PM6/20/2017 3:40:35 PM