Living on the Street

Street racer image, heritage and competitive price. Harley’s Street Rod looks spot-on. We’ve spent four months finding out if it is…

AND SO IT seems I was wrong. Or gullible. Actually, let’s say caught momentarily off-guard. Yes, that’s it. Harley-davidson’s Street Rod impressed launch attendees earlier this year, and I could see why. The entry-level Street has a Fisher-price image and the poise of soggy brassica, yet the hopped-up Rod version is convincing. Proper suspension, serious stance, styled somewhere between bullish streetfighter and café racer. Numbers from its tuned-up twin rival the best of the latter, and the price is keen. This could be Harley’s hit: ample performance for its corner of the showroom, good looking (XLCR 1000 from some angles, XG750R from others), genuine and affordable. We arranged a long-term test bike so I could enlighten one and all. Turns out I was optimistic. The Rod has charm, ability and some usability. Stiff and accurate, the chassis’ potential is frustratingly out of reach due to a cruiser riding position that spoils every ride. It’s in a wasteland, neither feel-good thrummer nor on-its-toes street racer. A missed opportunity.

‘Neither feel-good thrummer nor on-its-toes street racer. A missed opportunity’