Menus
- 749 cm3, approx. 57 horses at 7,500 rpm, 59 N.m at 4,000 rpm, 206 kilos dry, from € 6,950
- The most accessible way to enter the Harley-Davidson universe
- Discovery
- In the saddle
- In the city
- On motorways and main roads
- On departmental
- Comfort and duo
- Part-cycle
- Brakes
- Consumption / autonomy
- Conclusion
749 cm3, approx. 57 horses at 7,500 rpm, 59 N.m at 4,000 rpm, 206 kilos dry, from € 6,950
The most accessible way to enter the Harley-Davidson universe
Among the myths and there are many, attached to the Harley-Davidson brand, often returns that of expensive motorcycles. If this myth can already be discussed given the low resale discount, fuel frugality, overall reliability and low maintenance that these motorcycles require, it is squarely swept away with the Street 750 which is positions below the symbolic bar of € 7,000, from € 6,950 exactly for a Street in black (mat or shiny), € 7,150 for one of the two colors (blue or red). These prices are those of autumn 2016 and we tested a 2016 model. The 2017 model is coming soon: on the program, a transponder start and braking announced more powerful, with ABS, of course. The price of this vintage will remain to be announced….
In the meantime, the Street 2016 benefits from a price repositioning: the Street was first launched at the end of 2014 at € 7,890, very close to the Sportster 883 which was a little over € 8,000, but with a different, more accessible philosophy. , more open, less stuck to the fundamentals of the brand. The idea was also to offer a motorcycle in emerging countries, especially India, which sees the middle class bikerise at "high speed" and which aspires to a little more than a Royal Enfield Bullet to hit the tracks of the Himalayas and which does not need the opulence and bulk of an Ultra Limited Low 107 either! The decision was taken to capitalize on the reinforced concrete image of the Milwaukee firm, whose saga is recalled in the Harley and the Davidsons series, to offer this brand new motorcycle, fundamentally simpler and more versatile..
The intention is laudable, but, all in reinforced concrete, is the image of Harley glued to the words "simple" & "versatile"? Good question. Because, in spite of the forced assertions of the leaders of the mark, the Street 750 does not seem to reach the hoped-for sales targets. As if the Indian market has taken it a bit for a sub-Harley while in the West, its integration into the rest of the range has not necessarily been well understood. A sign that a repositioning was necessary (we rarely lower prices when customers line up in front of the store to buy a product), the Street comes back to us technically unchanged, but more accessible in terms of price. A new 750 for less than € 7,000 is already not bad, but then an additional Harley-Davidson for the same price, it smells like a good deal. So it remained at Le Repaire to look into the question: what do we have, for that price? ?
Discovery
Overall, Harley has still very often made machines of the custom genre (that those who are not familiar with the history of the brand immerse themselves in it, they will discover with delight some rarities!) And the Street 750 refers to the genre. : low with a hollow saddle, long enough with the exhaust which reinforces this character trait, identifiable its clearly visible V-engine, its large "Harley-Davidson" logo on the tank, impossible to wonder for long what it is . From certain angles, its small Low Rider S-style headlight cowling maintains doubts.
This one disappears with the approach: the Street 750 is a small motorcycle and that is a good thing, because it puts it within the reach of a vast caste of users: beginners, young girls in flower and boys with the template. frail, not to mention all those who think that a heavy and bulky motorcycle is an obstacle to pleasure. The Street is a small motorcycle, but with big brake discs and a large radiator: so it probably has some ambitions. !
While the Harley-Davidson logo is clearly visible on the tank, other badges on the bike simply reproduce the shape of the brand’s logo without engraving the name inside. It is from these kinds of details that we can see that the machine was still a bit economical. Oh, there’s nothing to say about the quality of the paint, most of the materials, or the adjustments, it’s still pretty decent, especially since the tank and front fender are in real life. metal. However, the low-end controls, an electrical plug hanging over the exhaust and the rear light unit that one would think borrowed from a Honda NC 700 tarnish the picture a bit. But let’s not forget the price: less than 7000 € the new 750, it probably involves some sacrifices.
In the saddle
Nothing could be easier: it is located at 710 mm and you will rather have the impression of going down on it. The driving position, then, is natural: arms neither too high nor too far, only the presence of the footrests just vertically to the pelvis may, possibly, hinder some during maneuvers in town or at a standstill. Especially since as is the Harley tradition, these folding footrests are quite generous, as on other Sportster models such as the Forty Eight.
Then, we will not be disoriented by the amount of information: the dashboard is very simple, a counter with a small digital window in which there are two trips and that’s it. We do not find the clock or the engine speed and the gear indicator engaged, nor the control of all that by a button on the stalk. Commodos who, on the Street, border on poverty. We handle the trips thanks to a push button on the meter. At night, this meter lights up with a beautiful red hue. It is very premium, that !
Unlike the other models in the Harley range, the Street does not use a transponder and still requires the insertion of the ignition key. In the old way, what, but we will not complain, especially as the blocking of the direction is, suddenly, centralized. On the other hand, for the transport of an anti-theft device, you will manage.
In the city
With a low center of gravity and a fairly short wheelbase (1530 mm), the Street is objectively not its weight. Weight which, with the full, is announced at 222 kilos, but its excellent distribution should not frighten young drivers, target of this machine. Once again, Harley manages to design chassis geometries that largely reduce weight. With the Street, urban evolutions are only a formality, because the character traits very present on a Sportster have almost all disappeared: the end of the V2 not super flexible at very low revs and which throws you its pistons! Here, the 750 is able to resume at 50 km / h in sixth, oh, without leaving any traces of rubber on the asphalt, but with a good manliness that can save gear changes. Not that this is difficult, on the contrary: the clutch is soft and dosable and the gearbox changes gears without any problem, smoothly and silently, which changes with the rest of the Harley models. !
The only downside in an urban environment: a fairly weak front brake. Admittedly, the bike must be accessible to beginners, but such a lack of bite (although accompanied by a work of compression of the fork, rather soft in this exercise), it is still light. Fortunately, the rear brake comes to the rescue and it does its job pretty well..
On motorways and main roads
The Street 750 is advertised for 57 horsepower, no less than an 883 Sportster and almost as much as a 1200 Sportster! That’s the advantage of this new generation, liquid-cooled, 4-valve Revolution X engine compared to the old air-cooled 2-valve Sportster blocks. The rotation speeds, of course, are not the same, but the 750 has the merit of not asking to be too whipped, with a maximum torque of 59 N.m available from 4000 rpm.
In the absence of any indication of the engine speed, we will therefore not know more. Afterwards, the Street does the job. Does she deposit her mother? No, of course. Does it give the feeling of being underpowered? No more: the little 750 is even quite brave and lengthens the stride without weakening, to the point that we quickly find ourselves in excess of speed and that is very bad. However, the rather compact ergonomics and the lack of protection are two points that encourage you to give up your hand, unlike the saddle which is quite soft and whose hollow allows the kidneys to be well wedged. As for stability, it is not at fault.
On departmental
Smooth engine and agile motorcycle are already two qualities that we can rejoice in the departmental. Thus, the Street 750 twirls from one bend to another without the hassle or change of gear. Ease of driving remains a major asset and freedom of mind remains at the rendezvous. However, the Street is less harsh than a Sportster and the logic of accessibility desired by Harley is present: mechanical inertia and the gearbox, behavior of the suspensions, everything here is easier to understand and much less intimidating for the driver. beginner, who will find the automatisms learned on the driving school set. The Street 750 is neutral and obvious and even allows you to have fun.
Afterwards, demanding drivers stay with a small custom equipped with cheap peripherals: by increasing the pace a little, we obviously quickly find the limit of the Street 750 in terms of ground clearance, especially as braking, already pinned in town, is still mounted as light at the front and requires good use of the rear. Fortunately, the big disc is powerful. Michelin Scorcher tires have never shone in the rain: the profile of the rear tire, 140/75 x 15, is oddly enough square, like a dragster tire. However, it does not prevent to put (a little) of angle.
Comfort and duo
Small size and low protection: the Street 750 remains typical of the custom genre, but compensates with a very correct saddle, at least for the pilot. The passenger should not be of a very generous size to enjoy the experience for a long time, especially since there is nothing other than the pilot to hang on. Fortunately, the Street 750 doesn’t vibrate, which will satisfy those who find Sportsters a bit tough. Side suspensions, the fork is flexible and the rear, a little hard, sends shots of the racket on small unevenness.
Part-cycle
Classic and efficient: double cradle, small conventional fork (with bellows) at the front, double shock absorber at the rear. To find out more, especially on the diameter of the fork or the suspension travel, dial 3615 Madame Irma, because the H-D data sheets sometimes border on poverty. At the rear in any case, the spring travel seems more generous than on a Sportster. With 1530 mm of wheelbase and a caster angle of 32 °, the geometry favors stability, but, with the help of excellent weight distribution, this does not come at the expense of agility.
Brakes
Two simple discs 292 mm in diameter pinched by two-piston calipers: this is the equipment of the Street and the specifications had to specify that braking should not be intimidating for beginners. This is the case, even if we would undoubtedly have liked a bit more bite and a little more power, especially at the front. We compensate by using the entire device and relying a lot on the rear. On the other hand, the braking is well controlled and the feeling of the controls is rather good..
Consumption / autonomy
With 13.1 liters in the tank (which locks, but the cap is not attached) and a consumption of around 5 l / 100 in current use, the Street 750 guarantees more than 250 kilometers of ‘autonomy. Not bad.
Conclusion
There was a time, little customs were all the rage and even made it possible to score big sales figures: who remembers the Honda VT 600 Shadow and the Yamaha XV 535 Virago, both of which were excellent initiation machines? allowing to fart a little in town. The Street 750 is a bit of their heir: a simple and simply stylish machine.
However, it has something more: it’s a Harley-Davidson. Which is appropriate, in his case, to ask the question again: what is a Harley-Davidson. Because the Street 750 has, in the end, quite a few of those things which, from a purely sensory point of view, belong to the Harley universe: the feeling of the controls, the noise of the box, the vibrations. None of that here: Harley’s DNA, we find it on the Street in the tank badge, the red lighting of the meter at night and the sound of the black exhaust (for purists: XLCR Cafe Racer from 1977) which, in some ways, resembles that of the V-Rod.
It is therefore both a little cerebral and also a form of social bond. Because we know that the strength of the Milwaukee brand is not only to sell you a motorcycle, but also, if you wish, new friends, an agenda filled with lots of outings and rides, as well as a real kind. of street cred with the possibility of entering a new universe. There is no doubt that this is one of the golden arguments of this model.
Model which, at the time of the accounts, does not demerit: the Street is easy to drive and its badge calls out to taxi drivers at a red light.
Strong points
- Perfect for small builds
- Ease of driving
- Smooth motor
- Neutral chassis
- Rather pleasant engine
- Instrument panel lighting at night
- Sounds reminiscent of the V-Rod
- Entering the Harley universe !
Weak points
- Not very suitable for large riders
- Average braking
- Firm rear suspension
- Sloppy finishing details
- Some heat rises on the right side in town
- Rear Michelin Scorcher profile and grip in the wet
The technical sheet of the Harley-Davidson Street 750
Test conditions
- Itinerary: One week trial in Paris and its surroundings, 300 kilometers
- Motorcycle mileage: 5600 km
- Problem encountered: none
Competition: Kawasaki Vulcan 650, Hyosung GV 650 Acquila,
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