7 Things To Know About the 2017 Street Rod

1. New Kid on the Block

When Harley-Davidson introduced the Street 500 and Street 750 a few years ago they attracted a whole new crop of riders who were looking for something different from the brand's bigger cruisers and touring bikes. Smaller, lighter and less expensive, the Street line attracted new buyers, both domestic and international, and that success spurred this year's introduction of the the Street Rod. Though based on its siblings, in reality, it's a very different, more performance-oriented machine.

>>Join the conversation about the 2017 Street Rod right here the Harley-Davidson Forum!

2. Harley Responds

Dubbed the "Urban Bulldog" by lead stylist Chetan Shedjale, the Street Rod evolved from the Street-based RDX 800 concept bike that H-D unveiled in 2013. The Milwaukee manufacturer paid close attention to the reaction that bike garnered and incorporated many of its elements into the bike you see here. In fact, research carried out among 600 respondents in over 10 countries went into the production of this motorcycle. The Motor Company's marketing materials focus on the urban rider who wants increased performance to go along with that aggressive appearance.

>>Join the conversation about the 2017 Street Rod right here the Harley-Davidson Forum!

3. Inverted Forks

The first thing you notice on the Street Rod is that the retro-style fork gaiters of the other Street models are gone. That's because holding up the front end of the bike are new 43 mm inverted front forks. Also new are sweet-looking 17-inch blacked-out wheels at both ends, up from 15 inches in the rear, with ABS available as $750 option.

>>Join the conversation about the 2017 Street Rod right here the Harley-Davidson Forum!

4. More Muscle

The Street Rod features a new dual port 42mm Mikuni fuel injection system and the compression ratio of the engine has been bumped from 11.0:1 up to 12.0:1. New, freer-flowing intake and exhaust systems help the 750cc High Output Revolution X twin breathe easier when the throttle is twisted. Harley was able to squeeze out more low-end torque and at the same time add more power up top. This new unit revs to an impressive 9000 rpm and power is up an equally impressive 18%. All this has been achieved without sacrificing the power plant's durability.

>>Join the conversation about the 2017 Street Rod right here the Harley-Davidson Forum!

5. Saddle and Stance

The two-up perfed and stitched two-piece saddle on the Street Rod stays close to the look of the single seat on the RDX 800 prototype so you get that custom attitude right out of the box. True to its sportier nature, the ground clearance has been increased over that of the Street 750 and as a result, the seat height has likewise been elevated, from 25.7 up to 29.8 inches. Special attention was given to nudging the fit and finish of this model to the levels of more upmarket Harley-Davidsons, and it shows.

>>Join the conversation about the 2017 Street Rod right here the Harley-Davidson Forum!

6. Rear Suspension

Another detail shared with the RDX 800 are red springs over the dual piggyback-reservoir rear shocks. The suspension, both front, and rear is designed for more travel and has more lean angle dialed in. So not only is it more flickable, it can take the bumps a jaunt through the city can sometimes hand out. Rubber on the Street Rod is provided by Michelin in the form of its Scorcher 21 tires.

>>Join the conversation about the 2017 Street Rod right here the Harley-Davidson Forum!

7. South of $8700

So if you're in the market for a mid-displacement street machine with the looks of a show special, and the power and agility to go along with them, get yourself down to a dealer and try one out. You and your optional plus 1 could be peering over the drag-style bars with its bar-end mirrors for as low as $8,699.

>>Join the conversation about the 2017 Street Rod right here the Harley-Davidson Forum!

For help with service of your bike, check out the how to section of HDForums.com