Harley-Davidson Street Bob 107 test

Menus

• V2, 1745 cm3, 86 hp at 5020 rpm, 145 Nm at 3000 rpm, 297 kilos, from € 14,860
• A change in philosophy from the Dyna family to the Softail family
• Discovery
• In the saddle
• Engine and transmission
• In the city
• On motorways and main roads
• On departmental
• Part-cycle
• Braking
• Comfort and duo
• Consumption / autonomy
• Conclusion
• Harley-Davidson Street Bob Video Test

V2, 1745 cm3, 86 hp at 5020 rpm, 145 Nm at 3000 rpm, 297 kilos, from € 14,860

A change in philosophy from the Dyna family to the Softail family

It’s been a good dozen years that the Harley-Davidson Street Bob lugged its nonchalance on our boulevards: first appeared in 2006 in a 1450 cm3 version, it received less than two years after the block 1584 then, later, the 1690. One could think that the current evolution, which makes it integrate the recent Milwaukee Eight (in its 107 version, that is to say 1745 cm3 and cooled by air and oil) constitutes a perfectly logical progression. In truth, it’s much more complicated than that.

The Street Bob was an important motorcycle in the Harley-Davidson range, not only for its longevity in the catalog, but also for its positioning, a little halfway between the Sportster range and that of the "big" (and expensive) Harley. The Street Bob was a compact motorcycle with a big engine, all at a reasonable price. The Street Bob was also an almost bobber look, a minimalism design with a solo saddle, wire wheels, truncated mudguards, mini ape hanger handlebars: in short, a big engine, two wheels, a posture.

Discovery

And that we are reassured: the Street Bob, it is always that: even if, on this new version, the tank is more compact (13.2 liters instead of 17.8 l on the previous one), impossible to not to recognize this inimitable allure. The spoked wheels are still there, as are the fork gaiters. The mini ape hanger handlebars, which are quite high, are a bit different in terms of proportion to the smoothness of the bike. The new saddle has been redesigned and looks quite comfortable. The small headlight goes well with the black finishes of the motorcycle, which affect the engine, the exhausts, the wheels: it is more "dark custom" than before, since on the Street Bob 2017, the exhausts are chrome and the cylinder heads are also in chrome finish.

The headlight, moreover, is also new: with LEDs, with a circular light signature, it gives this bike a real posture when you see it arriving in traffic..

Looking in more detail, something is obvious: missing, the two combined shock absorbers which came to take their anchor directly under the saddle. Would Garcimore have pulled off another magic trick? Not at all: the Street Bob inherits a new technological platform. In oblivion, the Dyna, the Street Bob is now part of the Softail family. It therefore inaugurates, along with many other models, a completely new chassis, where the rear shock absorber is in fact placed between the extension of the backbone and the top of the swingarm. What does it change ? Lots of things, but to find out you have to take a seat on board.

In the saddle

An easy operation: the saddle is only 680 mm high: thus, it is not necessary to have long legs, especially as the footrests are in the middle position and do not require to lengthen the stems far ahead. On the other hand, it is preferable to have large arms to nab the handlebars properly. Evil tongues say that the equation small legs + big arms equals the morphology of gibbons, but we must let them say. What matters is that yes, indeed, the ergonomics are typical, but you not only end up getting used to it quickly, but in addition this machine is obvious to grip, even more when you think that it it is about a 1745 cm3 of nearly 300 kilos.

In front of you, a new dashboard. There, opinions are divided: on the one hand, the good old center console is part of Harley history and it has disappeared. Should we live with the times? Probably. On the other, of course, the small digital keypad does the job, because it is full of information (fuel gauge, range, two trips, clock, tachometer and speed, plus a battery of lights), but at the same time time it is not always super readable (a drop of water is enough to hide information), it is hardly bigger than an Apple Watch and it looks a bit cheap. At the same time, it is also very well integrated on the handlebar trigger guard (handlebar which is of a vermiculated coating), so those who are in favor have as a last argument that it refines the line. What is factually correct.

Before leaving, we will briefly rail in front of the side stand, which has the good (?) Taste of standing just in front of the left footrest, even if it is foldable….

Engine and transmission

We have known the Milwaukee Eight since 2016, when they first equipped the Touring range. So here they are on the Softail and that’s a good thing, because this engine has so many qualities. Moreover, if the new Softails can, in certain cases, have the choice of block 107 or 114, this is not the case of the Street Bob which is only entitled to 107. It is satisfied with it. ‘elsewhere very good, because it is still 145 Nm and 86 horses (at 5020 rpm) which are available, which begins to be serious for a minimalist machine !

Compared to the version mounted in the Touring range, this unit has a second balancing arm. On the other hand, it is mounted rigid in the frame. This block is associated with a six-speed gearbox and belt transmission.

In the city

That lengthens, a block of 1745 cm3! Even if the V2 is relatively flexible, each stroke of the piston translates into meters traveled. Basically, on the boulevards, we can hope to hold the 50 km / h at 2000 rpm in 3rd, on a trickle of gas. On the other hand, below 30 km / h, it will sometimes be necessary to resume the clutch in seconds, because it shakes a little at very low speed..

We did not have the opportunity to go up the line or the ring road (what a shame!), Just to cross a few villages lost in the mountains. Thus, difficult to be definitive, but the narrowness of the motorcycle and its modest pneumatic mounting allow it to be very agile. On the other hand, once stopped at the light or at the stop sign, we plague once again against these footrests in a central position on which the calves come up against. An inconvenience that we had already mentioned during the test of the 1200 Roadster, and for the same reasons.

On motorways and main roads

A 1745 cm3, that must send steak and reduce the straight lines to ashes! Yes, it’s true. But the Street Bob, in its name, there is "street" and it is not a coincidence. In fact, the driving position is still special and quite exposed to the wind and during our test, it turns out that a small 110 km / h cruising (at 2500 rpm in sixth) seemed perfectly comfortable. Faster, it pulled a bit on the shoulders because of the wind pressure … The new chassis is much more rigid than the old one, but we will talk about that again below…

On departmental

We will agree that this kind of motorcycle is not made to attack and that it is in ride mode that it is appreciated the most. That’s right, with an engine that is both flexible enough on the gas net, but also powerful and lively as soon as you turn the handle seriously. Finished, the nonchalant side of the previous block 103. Here, the Street Bob can be suave or edgy on demand and that changes a bit for those who were used to the vintages of the past..

Especially since, if the ground clearance remains limited (28.5 ° to the right as to the left), it is the footrests that touch first and we can add a little before installing the frame. Where things change is that this vibrant engine now sits in a stiffer chassis than before. The new Softail frame is indeed 34% more rigid than before, which is not nothing: but it is not all, because the Street Bob, it, had a Dyna chassis. And in this case, the gain in rigidity is of the order of 75%.

In fact, if one is always limited by the ground clearance, one balances the machine of the pif to the paf, by taking care to round off its trajectories, but without ever feeling parasitic movements or swaying on the part of the chassis. In comparison with the previous one, it is therefore day and night! In fact, she is so nimble and easy, that I renamed her Street Mob, my Street Bob !

Part-cycle

New frame, therefore, for this Softail family. On a common set, Harley-Davidson still chose an almost modular structure: there are indeed three possible caster angles, two triple tree widths and two swingarm widths. It has been said that the Street Bob was minimalist: it is therefore simple, with the narrow swingarm (150/80 x 16 rear tire), narrow triple clamp and reduced caster angle (30 °). The new fork is cartridge and the rear suspension is adjustable for preload, under the saddle.

Despite the increased displacement and the new chassis, the Street Bob has lost 8 kilos compared to the previous generation.

Braking

A simple disc at the front, but a 4-piston caliper and the whole is perfectly satisfactory for use if, of course, we stay in the philosophy of the duo.

Comfort and duo

A lively Geraldine hitchhiking on the side of the road? Bad luck, it’s Gerard, in his Renault Scenic Diesel, who has every chance to win. The Street Bob is indeed delivered in solo saddle, a passenger ottoman being available as an option. And as long as you go into the accessories, a little sissy-bar will not be too much, because the acceleration and recovery are sustained! On the pilot side, we mentioned the lack of protection that will limit its ability to fast grand touring. The new cartridge fork gives complete satisfaction, while the rear shock remains a little dry in rebound, but no longer has the frozen side of the previous Softails on the successions of bump: overall, the progress is therefore noticeable. Too bad the saddle is a little hard at the base. Its small backrest, however, allows you to stall when accelerating. The vibrations in the footrests are sensitive, but not bothersome.

Consumption / autonomy

Of course, the tank has lost capacity: we go from 17.8 liters to 13.2 liters. But the Street Bob is not a GT and Harley-Davidson announces a consumption of 5.5 l / 100. Which must be verified in reality, because after refueling at the end of our test day, the range indicator announced more than 270 kilometers.

Conclusion

On the one hand, the Street Bob does not deny its fundamentals. We find the main features of its style, its almost high handlebars, its compact chassis, this unique posture on the road.

On the other hand, it really evolves in depth: the 107 engine is much more powerful and above all more lively than in the past, even if it has lost its nonchalant character a little in history. Those who liked the Street Bob for its mechanical roundness may be a little disappointed; those who wanted more power and feel will love it. And this all the more so as the chassis largely follows, by being much more lively, more precise, more playful than before. In action while going from one turn to another, it is impossible to guess that this machine weighs nearly 300 kilos. With it, we take pleasure even on mountain roads.

And for the rest, the price increase remains contained, with less than 200 € additional from one vintage to another. So we end up with a real Harley-Davidson, endearing and powerful, with a 1745 cm3 and a latest-generation Softail chassis, at less than € 15,000. Commercial cardboard in sight…

Strong points

• Very nice engine
• More rigid frame
• Remarkable agility
• Improved comfort
• Driving pleasure in ride mode
• Price for a Harley 1750 and a Softail

Weak points

• Autonomy in withdrawal
• Inconvenient median position of the footrests (crutching and balance in town)
• Saddle a little hard
• Rear cylinder heat rises

The Harley-Davidson Street Bob technical sheet

Test conditions

• Itinerary: a hundred kilometers on small mountainous roads around Barcelona (Spain)
• Motorcycle mileage: 500 km
• Problem encountered: none

Competition: Indian Scout Bobber, Triumph Bonneville Bobber

Harley-Davidson Street Bob Video Test

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