2017 Street Rod: Walkaround and First-Ride Impressions
Smooth and torquey Street Rod impresses on the streets of Malaysia.
We already know that the new, 2017 Street Rod is designed primarily as an urban commuter. It’s somewhat of a departure from the big touring bikes and cruisers that Harley-Davidson is most famous for. But if the stylish new bike is able to lure a new segment of riders to H-D, we’ll call it a major win. And right now the Street Rod looks primed to do just that.
One thing we might not consider is how well the 2017 Street Rod will do in other parts of the world as well. In many countries, overpopulated cities, horrific traffic, and narrow roads make car ownership a pain. In these cases, folks almost have to use motorcycles to get around. Like in Singapore, where two wheeled transport is a very popular choice.
It is in that Malaysian country where we see the new Street Rod 750 put through its paces by Mohan of Paul Tan in this video. Mohan comes away impressed with the excellent brakes and handling prowess of the 750. He also praises its torquey engine and smooth gearbox. Mohan also didn’t seem to mind the controversial foot peg position as much as others do, but he’s admittedly not a super tall guy.
A heavy amount of praise is bestowed upon the styling of the Street Rod, which is reminiscent of a dragster. Little touches like the rear seat cowl that mimics the H-D XLCR flat-track racer of the seventies only add to the appeal.
All-in-all, Mohan reckons that the 2017 Street Rod 750 is more than enough bike for almost anyone. It’s a competent machine with great looks and solid performance. For those who care more about navigating busy city centers than H-D “purity,” it’s simply the perfect bike.
