2017 HARLEY-DAVIDSON STREET ROD
A muscular middleweight with upgraded performance, handling and more aggressive riding position
The Street Rod’s™ new High Output Revolution X™ 750 V-twin engine puts out more peak power and torque with an extended rev range
New chassis geometry and 17in front and rear wheels deliver fast, responsive steering
43mm USD forks are matched by remote reservoir rear shocks
Dual 300mm front discs plus ABS braking as standard
Three paint options show off the Street Rod’s Dark Custom™ style to the maximum
For 2017 the new Harley-Davidson® Street Rod™ is set to raise eyebrows, and reset expectations. Grown from the Streetplatform it’s built to thrive in the city – and provide an exhilarating experience beyond.
Its tuned High Output Revolution™ X 750 engine, producing more torque through the mid-range and power at the top-end also chases a higher redline. The bigger hitting motor is matched with sharper chassis geometry and aggressive riding position; there are also upgrades to the suspension, brakes and wheels.
And the Street Rod’s lines are very much its own. Its tough look is drenched in Harley-Davidson Dark Custom™ styling (plus hints of flat-track steel) and oozes purpose, with a hunched forward, ready-for-action stance.
The Street Rod will be offered in three colour options:
Vivid Black
Charcoal Denim
Olive Gold
Mathew Weber, Harley-Davidson chief engineer:
“The Street Rod’s new High Output Revolution X 750 has got hot cams, gas-flowed heads, more compression and a higher redline. It gets your attention. And we wanted a chassis to match, sharp handling and aggressive, perfect for urban cut-and-thrust and canyon carving. Its attitude and the relationship between seat position, rearset footpegs and wide handlebars put the rider fully in control. The fact the Street Rod looks so good – and very close to our early sketches – gives us all a real charge too!”
More midrange torque, top end power and an extra 1,000rpm…
The Street Rod’s liquid-cooled, single OHC 8V 60° V-Twin High Output Revolution X 750 engine produces 20% more horsepower and 10% more torque than the Street 750; peak power arrives @ 8,750rpm, with peak torque delivered @ 4,000rpm. It’s tuned to deliver strongly between 4,000 and 5,000 rpm, with strong midrange performance that a rider can feel and exploit in real-world situations.
It features a larger volume air box and new dual 42mm throttle bodies, new four-valve cylinder heads and high-lift camshafts, plus a higher-volume exhaust muffler – all designed to increase airflow and efficiency. Compression ratio is raised from 11.0:1 to 12.0:1 and the redline goes from 8,000 to 9,000 rpm.
Sharper geometry plus new suspension and brakes deliver agile handling
The Street Rod chassis is engineered to match the performance of the engine. The front end features rigid 43mm USD forks gripped by lightweight aluminium yokes. Fork rake is tightened from 32° to 27° for quicker steering.
New rear shock absorbers feature an external reservoir to increase fluid capacity and maintain damping consistency; travel is increased 31% to 117mm. The swing arm is slightly longer to accommodate the taller shocks, with performance-inspired styling.
A new seat shape is designed to hold the rider firmly in place and seat height is raised by 104mm, to 757mm, to enhance the rider’s view forward. The Street Rod also features new forged brake/gear levers plus aluminium rearset footpegs that aid control and make it easier for more riders to get good ground reach when stationary. To suit more spirited riding lean angle is increased from 28.5° left and right to 37.3° right and 40.2° degrees left.
The flat, drag-style handlebar creates an aggressive riding position; new bar-end rear-view mirrors can be mounted above or below the grips, and feature a patent-pending design that allows them to fold back without interfering with the rider’s hands.
The Street Rod wears exclusive 17-inch front and rear Open Spoke Black Cast aluminium wheels and new Michelin Scorcher 21 radial tyres, sized 120/70 R17V front and 160/60 R17V rear; dual two-piston calipers and 300mm front disc brakes plus ABS deliver powerful, controlled stopping power. Harley-Davidson’s Smart Security System is standard fitment.
Dark Custom to the core with something extra all its own
The Street Rod backs up its upgraded engine and handling performance with a liberal dose of Harley-Davidson Dark Custom styling. Thick, blacked-out forks and triple camps, topped with a new speed screen (colour-matched to the bodywork except for a black centre insert) add mass to the front end. A new tail section, with perforated rear mudguard, lightens the rear; the taillight is crisp LED, as are the indicators.
The raised ride height and 17-inch wheels inject the Street Rod with an athletic stance, while the new scoop-style air cleaner cover and sharper snap of the exhaust note draw attention to the engine’s strong design.
Text & Picture Copyright Harley-Davidson Oxford