| Author | Message | ||
     Brumbear |
It isn't gonna be an American market there after. It makes sense to try to crack the Indian market I foolishly thought HD was gonna start building sportsters over there. It's a numbers thing if you sell one hd 500 cc to 2% of the people people in India alone it's something like 20,000,000 bikes | ||
| Ljm |
I like it. Not that I am in the market for a commuter-type bike, and if I want a cruiser, I'll ride my FLH. But it seems like a good entry point for them, likely to be durable and comfortable to ride, and without the downsides of a sportster (heavy, slow, hot to ride in traffic (I've had two). If it get's a younger crowd into the dealership all the better. I feel 14 years old in there and that was so long ago I can't even remember. It seems like a reasonable expansion of their line. I wish them every success. Just not with my money. | ||
| Swampy |
480lbs!  How is that going to work out in India? | ||
| Midknyte |
How is that going to work out in India? That'd be about 218 kg  | ||
| Cataract2 |
Odd, my Cycle World article makes no mention of the torque. It does say it makes about 50hp though. http://www.cycleworld.com/2013/11/04/2014-harley-d avidson-street-500-and-street-750-revealed-at-eicm a-2013/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign =2014-harley-davidson-street-500-and-street-750-re vealed-at-eicma-2013 " Redline for both engines is 8,000 rpm, and peak power for the 750, though not officially announced, was said by one Harley rep to be 54 hp at 7,500 rpm, with 44 pound-feet of peak torque arriving at an unspecified rpm" | ||
| Grancuda |
I'll keep my nightster | ||
| Sifo |
480 pounds isn't exactly an ideal candidate for their riders edge course. " Redline for both engines is 8,000 rpm, and peak power for the 750, though not officially announced, was said by one Harley rep to be 54 hp at 7,500 rpm, with 44 pound-feet of peak torque arriving at an unspecified rpm" The paper rag was what I was referencing. I still think the power is within reason for the class of bike. It is aimed at the entry level cruiser market. | ||
| Ezblast |
A Royal Enfield would be a better bike at less cost - sigh - they never have gotten it - still stuck in a time warp. EZ | ||
| Fahren |
EZ, I think you have hit the nail on the proverbial head: In the classic retro market, they are up head to head with Triumph and Royal Enfield, as well as Guzzi with the V7, and even Suzuki is back into the game with a retro 250 that would make a great starter bike.     | ||
| Hybridmomentspass |
title misleading, where have they said they are ditching the sporty? | ||
| Elsinore74 |
Safe bet they'll keep the Sporty. The V-Rod never managed to unseat the FX line (not sure that was its purpose, though). The way I see it, H-D doesn't have to be as concerned about other manufacturer's offerings in any market segment as much as how their new model reflects on the brand overall. I'd pick a Bonneville over one of these in a heartbeat, but that's mostly because cruisers aren't my cup of tea. Lots of other bikes come to our mind when shown the 500/750 Street models, but Beulligans are far from the target audience. It'll be interesting to watch and see how this goes for H-D. Selling any motorcycle to the younger generation seems to be getting more difficult, and selling your father's Oldsmobile to them must be really hard. | ||
| Fahren |
That's a part of the bike's problem: its daddy was a hog, its momma was a small street standard, and its uncle a V-Rod. The kid has an identity crisis. I'd take a Guzzi for a 750 cc v-twin any day. If I were to want a small displacement cruiser, there are many solid, basic Asian options already out there. | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
Its nothing more than a Blast replacement for Riders Edge. They will be able to sell the 750 to the students as soon as the pass the class. Hop off the 500 and ride away on a 750. There will be a ton of bolt on bling in the showroom to make it your own. Then in a few months or so.... they will trade it in on a big twin. The Blasts in the program I teach at are becoming very difficult for a motorcycle newb to ride. The new bikes are needed on the range ASAP | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
Becoming difficult to ride, as in beat down and barely functional? | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
As an owner of a "Real" Street, that is to say, a Triumph Street Triple R, I guess I should be offended, but then imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, isn't it. Actually, I think it is rather clever for a Harley, but I don't think I'll be trading my Streety for one anytime soon.  With twice the horsepower, and 65 pounds less weight, and a competition suspension, there really isn't much reason to switch. | ||
| Buellinachinashop |
"I have seen no reporting linking the HD street with Hyosung designs/products, do you have any links to this?" Spoke to a friend at HD today. He said this motor is from India and it's lucky to put out 50 hp. (Message edited by buellinachinashop on November 06, 2013) | ||
| Elsinore74 |
On the Hyosung V-twin; if it's the one related to Suzuki's SV and V-Strom lines, isn't it a 90-degree design, not 60-degree as reported for the new H-D? (Message edited by Elsinore74 on November 06, 2013) | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
I see also that HD have trademarked "Street" how's that going to work then? Triumph already use the word as do squillions of people in the anglophone world for their home addresses. Have they also trademarked the correct squiggle for the Indian market? | ||
| Coxster |
From a buddy ( a self-made millionaire ) - Harley Davidson is an accessory company that also sells motorcycles. If they can sell more $400 jackets the dealers will smile all the way to the bank. I like the little bike, but wouldn't own one. | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
You're forgetting Harley Davidson Finance too, that's another area where they make a shedload of money. So if they can get future Harleyists on the hook with a 500 or 750 then "It's time you moved up to an original Harley" when they sell em Sportsters, then again when you become a real biker & buy a BIG TWIN. Go on have another bite at the cherry. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
so they are all excited about it.... but they missed the seat height and ground clearance stats in the specs two very key measurements for new and shorter riders.  | ||
| Brumbear |
If they sell to .003% of Indians they will sell 300,000 units it's mind boggling | ||
| Cityxslicker |
In the words of Raj from Big Bang Theory 'India is so hot and there are SO MANY people !' just checking the stats on the new Honda CB500X .... and thinking that Harley will not have to compete with the Rebel for this market, but this Honda instead. http://www.cycleworld.com/2013/09/17/honda-cb500x- first-ride-review-photos-specs/ and I like the ergos and adventure style more of the HONDA - hello knobbies | ||
| Josequinones |
For the record: Hyosung is a Korean company. India is.... not Korea. This is all moot, because according to THIS
and later in the comments the following clarification:
Now about the engine, according to THIS:
Some other facts: Weights about 80 pounds less than an Iron 883. Better power to weight ratio that an Iron 883. More ground clearance and 2" more front/rear suspension travel than an Iron 883. 25 inch seat height. | ||
| Akbuell |
A comment from one of the empty shells in the peanut gallery . . . The numbers are not all that far off from a late 60's ironhead Sportster. Which used to be considered a hot bike. Amazing how far the industry and our perceptions have come since then. Back when I was working at a bike shop, I remember when Suzuki brought out the water cooled 750cc 3 cyl 2 stroke, better known as the Water Buffalo. It was my bosses firm belief that the real purpose for that bike was to educate motorcycle customers about water cooling. The VRod has not set cash registers on fire. And we now have the 'Twin Cooled' baggers. Given the increasing difficulty air cooled engines have with EPA regs, could this new bike provide the engine platform for the entire line? | ||
| Cityxslicker |
we have a 55 KH on the floor - it is TINY ! and heavy | ||
| Ratbuell |
Let us analyze: The bikes that will be sold in the US, Canada and Mexico will be built in Kansas City. The bikes that will be going to Portugal, Spain, Italy and India will be manufactured in India. "Built" - assembled from a box of parts and semi-completed sub-assemblies to avoid tariffs and "product of" labels. "Manufactured" - constructed from raw materials and base components. (Message edited by ratbuell on November 07, 2013) | ||
| Sifo |
I'm surprised this hasn't been posted yet... | ||
| Blake |
>>> Given the increasing difficulty air cooled engines have with EPA regs, Complete myth. | ||
| Azxb9r |
Complete myth. Not at all. One of the key factors in controlling tailpipe emissions is getting the engine up to operating temperature quickly, and then maintaining a consistent temp. This is much easier to do with a water cooled engine than an air cooled, as air cooled engines warm up more slowly, and have operating temps all over the board depending on ambient temps. Also, air cooled engines run hotter than water cooled engines (once they are warmed up). Hotter operating temps means hotter combustion temps, which means increased NOx. This is one thing that there is no way around. When the epa tests a vehicle for compliance they don't just do a warmed up tailpipe test like they do at the smog stations. They test the car through a complete drive cycle... which includes warm up...so the increased CO output during warm up creates a problem if the engine takes too long to come up to operating temp. |
