Harley-Davidson pre-2016 Street 750 review, test ride

The Street 750 delivers strong acceleration, with immediate throttle response, and the bike feeling good for a 100kph dash in close to 5 seconds. Top speed is in the region of a true 170kph, the bike pulling smoothly up to an indicated 180kph in top gear on our ride. Third is good for close to 120kph, fourth for 145kph and fifth 160kph, all speeds as indicated on the instruments. The Street 750 engine feels really smooth at all times, and is completely buzz and vibe free. It's a refined powerhouse that can cruise all day long at an indicated 130kph, at which speed the engine still has plenty of shove in reserve, before it runs up to meet the limiter. The engine is flexible, easy to master and ride in traffic and all six gear ratios feel well matched to the power on offer.

 Harley-Davidson has given the Street 750 a cruiser-typical long wheelbase, 1534mm, while the bike seats riders in comfort, low with a back-upright riding posture that's supported by feet-set-forward footpegs. The Street 750 riding saddle is comfy, and well padded. Harley could have done slightly better on pillion comfort, the rear seat failing to offer as much room as the pilot’s. The Street 750's steel constructed frame spine is supported on 7-spoke alloy rims, telescopic front suspension and a set of dual rear shock absorbers with a rectangle section steel swinging arm.

The Street 750 offers 2 inches more ground clearance and 2 inches of extra suspension travel over any other Harley-Davidson currently sold in India. The 222kg Street 750 isn't a light or nimble motorcycle, but it is still manageable and not cumbersome, even in crowded urban Indian conditions. The handlebars are wide for good leverage, and the bike steers with a confident, neutral feel, going exactly where pointed. Cornering manners are good for a heavy cruiser. Ride quality is good too. The Street 750 runs on Indian-manufactured MRF tyres front and rear, these working well to give the bike confident grip up to reasonably high speeds, only starting to feel stressed when riding beyond 140kph. Traction is otherwise good even when hustling the big Harley through a set of quick corners.

MRF tell us they have already developed a tailor-made, oversize 170/70 x 15 inch rear tyre especially for the Street 750, ready to fit to the bike and upgrade from the stock 150/70 unit. Braking is via a pair of single, ventilated discs at both ends. The big Harley stops when you want it to, but the brakes lack powerful bite, require pressure at the levers and fail to communicate a reassuring enough feel when trying to haul the bike down urgently from really high speed. ABS is also missed, and Harley would do well to add this to the new bike.