| Author | Message | ||
     Williamscottrobertson |
The asshats at hd have repackaged the street 750 into a sportier bike targeted at the "urban" environment (read street-fighter). Who knew there was a market for that?! Kill off the Buell brand, then go back into the same market 7 years later under the HD name. WTH. https://www.yahoo.com/news/harley-davidson-introdu ces-model-not-090241134.html | ||
| Macbuell |
Still ugly. No matter how they rearrange them, I just don't like Harleys | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
Less ugly than the previous Honda Vt500 Ascot clones. Are these Indian-made things selling at all? I have never seen one outside of a dealership/rider's edge class. | ||
| Court |
But.....somehow fitting that it appeared on "YAHOO News". They try . . they really try. Jon Flickinger could straighten the mess out in 45 days . . . if he'd just quit golfing. :-) | ||
| Zane |
I rode a 750 when the HD truck was in town a about 2 years ago. It was reasonable peppy but had little in the way of handling to recommend it. Shifted like wet noodles. This new version just doesn't do it for me either. That shot from the rear makes the handlebars look like they used a shower curtain rod. Blech!!!! | ||
| Hughlysses |
It looks OK, but only 60-some RWHP according to Cycle World and ~500 lbs weight. | ||
| Pwnzor |
Ugly. Heavy. Slow. Expensive. No thank you. | ||
| Ratbuell |
Say hi to Flick for me  So...HD had such good luck with the "street rod" badge the first time around, they figured they'd try it again on a worse motorcycle?? Looks like a sportster mated with a Yamaha... | ||
| Court |
>>>Ugly. Heavy. Slow. Expensive. When you are a hammer . . . .every problem looks like a nail. | ||
| Etennuly |
Ugly. Heavy. Slow. Expensive. EXACTLY what prospective Harley owners are looking for and have come to expect! It'll come with the "be different" leather HD badged lifestyle, of course with the requisite tattoo a year into payments! Met a couple of middle aged new riders with this plan in mind for their riding futures the other day. Nice guys, did not know shit about bikes or riding, but they gots 'em some plans! | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
I mean seriously! http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/Honda/honda _vt500e%2083.htm I would rather have the svelte Honda any day. I keep bringing it up since my friend had one and I rode it a good amount. My only gripe with it really was the plastic side panels were held on with rubber gromits and they would fly off at speeds over 95. | ||
| Crusty |
I love it. Nobody here has ridden one, yet everybody is shitting all over it. It's kind of like hearing "The rake on the XBs is too steep. you need a steering damper or else it;ll make you crash". A magazine whose editor was on Honda's payroll really pushed that, and lots of people believed it. Ain't Contempt prior to Investigation wonderful? | ||
| Elsinore74 |
I applaud the tiny faction somewhere in H-D who struggle to get a 'standard' bike to market every decade or two. Maybe this time it'll be more successful. Tough going against the Bonneville, Moto Guzzi V9 and others in this niche, though. To my eye, there was nothing wrong with the original VRSCR Street Rod and the XR1200. This bike looks to have reasonable ergonomics like those two, but I have a feeling its sales future in the US won't be too great. Might be a hit in other markets, though, if the price is right. | ||
| Ourdee |
Crusty, This could be the Alaska ticket. Luggage, spare fuel, Gerbing elec. jacket and gloves. Did anyone quote MPG? | ||
| Adrenaline_junkie |
Well said Crusty, well said! | ||
| Court |
Crusty . . . I agree with your comment, as it relates to a riding impression. The thing may, for a heavy, underpowered bike, ride great. But . . . in terms of what Harley-Davidson has been doing over the last 10 years I'd suggest my . . >>>Ugly. Heavy. Slow. Expensive. Is perfectly accurate. I'd love to buy another Harley-Davidson . . . . but there is nothing, in the current line up, save perhaps that $40,000+ dresser, that even appeals to me. | ||
| Adrenaline_junkie |
I would argue that the Sportiest bike in the Harley lineup is the XL1200R Roadster....until 2 days ago. This Street Rod is 50 lbs lighter, with less rake, less trail, less wheelbase, less money and significantly more lean angle. And obviously, less power. Is it in the Buell league? Hardly, but I do think it is the sportiest thing in the Harley lineup. I guess I should clarify that my definition of sporty is corner speed. Acceleration is Hot Rod. So by my definitions Erik builds very sporty Hot Rods. Can this Street Rod carry some corner speed? I don't know but it appears to have more potential than anything else I see in the H-D stable. I know it is an attempt to grab some of the hipster market share, but they moved the seat and the tank forward on the frame, according to the website, to put a little more weight on the front tire. This coupled with the rake and trail changes should help it turn with SOME front tire feel. My dream come true would be for Harley bring out a carbon copy of the Buell X1 (with a current engine)and call it the new Sportster Sport, an Erik Buell design. Since that has about as much of a chance as a snowball in a pizza oven I guess I'll keep riding my Dorsoduro. | ||
| Adrenaline_junkie |
My bigger dream with even less possibility is an EBR 1190 Super Duper Motard. | ||
| Teeps |
I was actually intrigued, at first viewing, with the prospect of a light weight H/D... until I got to the spec sheet and read the weight of the bike. I'll keep my 11 year old Buell with nearly twice the hp and less(?) weight, less maintenance, and far superior suspension. But it does appear to have belt drive, that's a plus. | ||
| Fb1 |
Nobody here has ridden one, yet everybody is shitting all over it. +1 | ||
| 1313 |
Nobody here has ridden one, yet everybody is shitting all over it. +1 Same thing can be said about the EBR 1190's when someone comments 'I don't want a race bike.' I don't think anyone has ridden one that didn't end up enamored with them - 185 hp and all. Just because the latest from the MoFo's at the MoCo doesn't trip my trigger, doesn't mean that I am 'shitting on it'. I'll just let me consumer dollars speak by NOT buying one as it doesn't interest me. Since you are so supportive of it, when will you be buying one? Actually, I kinda like this and I should really stock up on popcorn, as this recent article proclaims that Harley plans to introduce 50 new models in the next 5 years. With the Road King Special and now the Street Rod out of the way, I wonder how many of the 48 remaining new models will find acceptance - or derision - here on BadWeB. Last I 'heard', the Dead Short - sorry, I meant the Live Wire - electric bike should appear as a 2020 model. So that leaves 47 more coming to divide BadWeB as much as another ••••••• political thread! Don't get me wrong, there's PLENTY good for Harley (and their business - Hell, they might even get out of selling T-shirts...) that they're going to be introducing so many new products in such a short time, but that definitely is not the focus of this thread...  1313 | ||
| Fb1 |
Since you are so supportive of it, when will you be buying one? Is that directed at me? | ||
| Figorvonbuellingham |
Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuugly | ||
| Rsh |
No matter what people on this board may think about HD products, like it or not, Harley is still in business and EBR/Buell is not. | ||
| Henshao |
Had Harley been a subsidary of Buell, and Buell given Harley the axe, do you think it would have gotten another foothold? I guess we can all agree that no matter what people on this board may think about GM products, like it or not, GM is still in business and Pontiac is not. | ||
| Imadog |
I prefer a standard riding position. My favorite bike of all time was the 1981 KZ750E http://ridermagazine.com/2012/07/06/retrospective- kawasaki-kz750-e-1980-1982/ I put close to 100K miles on it in my twenties to early thirties. A standard bike with a comfortable riding position for my 6" frame. The longest ride I took in one day was 800 miles... of course that was many years ago. This bike was very reliable and only had regular maintenance on it... tires, clutches, cable, shocks, chains and sprockets, oil changed every 1000 miles (Castrol GTX)... I finally put new wheel bearing in it at 68k miles.... the old one still felt good but I was heading out on a long trip. I like my M2 for the standard riding position, handling and torque, but the reliability and fact that you can't get parts or service anymore from a dealer plays in the back of my head. | ||
| Ratbuell |
Harley is still in business, yes. That doesn't mean I have to like their products or their customer base (and having worked for a dealership for the better part of 7 years...I've got plenty of exposure to both). I didn't slam the bike as a bike; I said I didn't like the way it looked, and had a laugh at the fact they resurrected a nameplate that did very poorly for them before - while attached to what was very likely a better motorcycle than the current offering. I think the biggest hurdle they will find in a bike like this - whether this particular model or a future iteration - will be the global shift needed in perception of "what's a Harley". We see it here in this thread - "ugly. heavy. slow. expensive." Those are the hallmarks of HD motorcycles to us here on the forum. That is the overall perception of "a Harley" for the world at large (well...once you add "loud pipes" and "tons of chrome"). If HD truly wants to market a standard like this...they need to change that image. Stereotype. Whatever. They have to find a way to effect a change in the owners; in the fashion show; in the overall "this is Harley-Davidson" product image. Given history...I don't see that happening anytime soon. Hell...they do extra work to HIDE radiators, so they don't offend "traditional buyers". Let's face it - their buyer is well-off. Not buying the motorcycle because it's a high-tech, world-beater, cutting-edge machine. They're buying them "because it's a Harley". Cadillac buyers aren't looking for Ferrari performace. Ferrari buyers aren't looking for Cadillac comfort. It's called "brand image", and HD's image is NOT "sporty standards". Beginners? Young folks? Budget shoppers? They go to other brands, where you can get a perfectly reliable, nice performing, good-looking motorcycle starting around 5 grand or so. Sporty riders? Don't even consider HD. It's not who HD "is", and like I said...it will take a long time for them to change that image; that market; that...stereotype. They are still in business, yes. They still don't make motorcycles that appeal to me. The 1190? I love it. But...I won't let myself ride one. I own a CR and, to echo Brankin's statement above about the 1190 being "more than a racebike"...so is my CR. I've done 800+ mile days on that bike without an issue, and I love it. But...it's still a hooligan and I still lack self control. I do dumb shit on that bike, rated at 146 hp. I'd do even DUMBER shit on something rated with 185 hp. It's not the bike's fault - it's me. I'm fundamentally immature, and I just can't allow myself to throw a leg over something like that. I'll kill myself. I'm not good enough for that kind of power and I "know" it in my brain...but my restraint still lacks. I'd do something stupid within about...oh...a day or so. I want to support EBR. I want to support Erik. I really do; I love the motorcycles and I love the man, he's one hell of an engineer and turns out some amazing products. And they're AMERICAN products. But...like all the offerings from HD...the 1190 just isn't for me right now. Not a slam of the bike - not at all. I'm sure I could do 800+ mile days on an 1190 just like I do on my CR. It's those "hooligan" moments that'll get me. I know...I've seen me do it. I give HD credit for trying, but...well, what's the definition of insanity? That would be doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting different results. They keep trying to "do sporty"...and they keep failing at it. They had a real shot with Erik on board, but some beancounter screwed that up - for both parties, HD and Erik. Now, they're trying to do it again and if history is any indication...they'll meet with the same results. Failure - at this, the "sporty" bike, not overall as a t-shirt company. | ||
| Two_seasons |
Is this bike, unlike the 750 and 500, built in USA? If yes, then they will sell around the world. India HD bikes do not sell well, here or abroad. And hey, it's LC! | ||
| Crusty |
For the record, the Street 750 and 500s that are sold in the USA are built in the Kansas City plant; not India. Is it nearly as good as one of Erik's bikes? No. But it is a step in the right direction. Before I pass judgement on it, I want to take one for a ride I've met too many people who had nothing good to say about Buells or EBRs that never even took one out for a demo ride. Before I dump on a bike, I think it's wiser to check it out first. It might be a toilet; but it also might be worthwhile. Also, since it 16º outside, I just spent a little time looking at the competition. The Moto Guzzi V7 III puts out 52 HP and makes 44.3 Lb. Ft of torque. The Yamaha FZ-07 makes 75 HP and 50 Lb. FT. of torque The Street Rod makes 68.4 HP and 47.2 Lb. FT. I'd say the Street Rod is in the Ballpark, power wise. It has improved suspension with longer travel piggyback shocks and upside down front forks, and twin 300 MM brakes on the front wheel and the wheels are now 17 inchers. the seat and fuel tank have been moved forward to improve weight distribution and the footpegs have been moved back about 3 inches. Pretty much, the whole bike has been gone through and it's designed to meet the competition head to head. As far as styling goes, some people think the Street Rod is ugly, yet the FZ-07 is good looking. Myself, when I look at the FZ, I keep expecting it to turn into a Decepticon or whateverthef**k those Bad Transformers are called. Once again; it ain't no Buell. But it just might be a much better bike than those badmouthing it think it is. Daytona is this coming week. I wish I could be there; not just for the TT race, but to also take a Street Rod out for a Demo ride. Oh; one other thought occurred to me. Vance & Hines is running H-D's Dirt Track team, and that means they're getting something in the neighborhood of 100 HP out of the race engines. (if they aren't, they'll be very embarrassed by the Indians) How long before hop up parts start appearing to improve performance? (Message edited by Crusty on March 11, 2017) | ||
| Crusty |
And no, Brankin; I might be supportive of the Street Rod, but my heart belongs to a Black Lightning. |
