Harley Hits The Street With All New Models

Just when you thought that the Motor Company was going to be content splashing around in the shallow end of the water cooled pool (remember Project Rushmore?), BAM!!, they go and introduce not one, but two, all new fully liquid cooled motorcycles that Harley is calling “Street”. And as if that wasn’t enough of a shock to the faithful, these two new beauties are relative “mini-bikes”, sporting displacements of only 500cc and 750cc respectively. Oh the humanity!! At least Sportster guys will catch a break.

 

Looking pretty tough, and on a budget too

Sharp eyed Chromies will remember that some time ago we wrote about the fact that Harley-Davidson was going to have to develop a smaller displacement machine in order to continue their Rider’s Edge new rider training program.  Harley had no choice but to replace its fleet of aging and oft maligned Buell Blasts (500cc) for their instructional duties given the fact that it kicked Buell to the curb a couple of years ago. The remaining Blasts were only going to last so long. Enter the “Street”.

And make no mistake, minting new Harley converts is the primary mission of Motor Company’s Street. Both models are designed to appeal to younger riders, as is witnessed by their decidedly “un-Harley like” MSRP’s; $6,700 for the 500, and only $7,500 for the 750. Can you say, “take that” metric cruisers? Both machines will feature Harley’s wildly popular Dark Custom styling treatment, along with low maintenance belt drive and something you probably never thought you’d hear in the same sentence with the words “Harley-Davidson”, and that’s low weight, only 480 pounds.

 

Beefy backend gives the Street some cred

But wait, there’s more. Both the 500 and 750 Street will feature all new frames which will cradle the aptly named Revolution X liquid chilled, fuel injected motor. This is big stuff people…….if you don’t think so, just look at the size of the freakin’ barn door of a radiator.  Calling the unveiling “a great day in our history,” Matthew S. Levatich, Harley’s president and COO, said the Street series “fills a need for people who want to identify with the brand but want a motorcycle that is less intimidating, and more inviting. This bike is easier to ride and easier to learn how to ride.”

What’s not to love right? Maybe, but here’s the deal, it looks like, although we’ve not seen it confirmed, that these latest badass mini’s from the Motor Company will be IMPORTED from, gasp!, India!! We’ve already reported on HD’s plant in India, used news. What is new is that what once was merely a production strategy to dodge the onerous tariffs imposed by the worlds largest democracy, may now be an export play to bring entry level Harley’s to the US. Will the faithful revolt? I mean, water cooled AND foreign made……blasphemy!

 

Just me and my Shadow, come on you were thinking it

Our guess is, should the Indian Harley’s (dwell on that for moment!) US debut become reality (remember these little beggars could be cobbled together here) HD will sell as many of them as the former British colony can pump out. The folks these bikes are being built for; young, new to motorcycling, urban and hip simply won’t care. Think about it, their iconic Levi’s are made in Mexico. Those classic Chuck Taylors? China my friend. Authentic Harley Davidson leathers? Ditto. It’s all about image baby.

Sadly, even though the country of a brands origin is foundational to its very core, once established, the marketers and bean counters have learned to leverage every ounce of “authenticity” regardless of where that product is built. Could a Ducati have come from anywhere but Italy? Obviously not. But once established as an “Italian” brand in the minds of the consumer, where the next generation of Duc is assembled becomes an unimportant detail, or at least so it seems.

No doubt about it, 2013 has been a big year for the boys in Milwaukee with the Rushmore project being just the tip of the iceberg……..who knew that below the waterline would lurk Harley’s reimagining of the Honda Shadow!? Seriously, we have to credit HD with playing the cards they were dealt; an aging customer base, the need to lure younger folks to Harley with inexpensive and fun motorcycles, all the while staying true to brand. Looks like they may have knocked it out of the park, time and unit sales will tell.