Harley-Davidson Street 500 and 750

Question for street rod owners

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Old Jul 12, 2019 | 08:41 PM
  #1  
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Default Question for street rod owners

Looking to get my First bike at the age of 40 possibly going with an xg750a street rod, while I know these are not considered real Harley’s figured at the price it could work for a couple years until I get a big cruiser.

Was wondering if I could hear what some current owners think of them? Also are there any good aftermarket accessories to at least make it a little more my own?
 
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Old Jul 18, 2019 | 07:37 AM
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HI There

I bought mine 2 months ago and love it. Went for few advanced riding courses with it to test its abilities and I was really amazed with it especially the handling, balance and cornering. If you're between 5.7" and 5.11" in length then it will fit you. If taller, then you will be really uncomfortable. For commuting it's perfect, except for the heat in your thighs which is manageable but on long roads it's really awesome. Took mine already on a 1200km round trip and it handled it pretty well. Nice cruising speed at 150kmph up to 170 and at 180-190 the wind gets a bit rough. On long roads you do not feel the heat at all.

Easy to get used to. Very sporty thus the suspension needs a bit of adjustment depending on your weight.

In all, it's an awesome bike for it's price. I bought mine brand new for R89 900 ($6425).
 
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Old Jul 19, 2019 | 06:40 AM
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I just purchased a 2017 and I really like it, though I am coming off a metric Cafe Racer. The seating position is definitely not for everybody. Engine is great as are tires, brakes, and suspension, though a bit stiff for my 150-pound body weight.

Mine has Rinehart pipe and other genuine HD accessories. HD and aftermarket parts are nowhere near as abundant as for other HDs.

Nobody here in the USA knows what it is, even hard-core HD guys.
 

Last edited by VortecCPI; Jul 19, 2019 at 06:43 AM.
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Old Sep 6, 2019 | 08:34 PM
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Default SR first bike

Go for it! Got my license along with my wife. Took her to HD to test a Sporster for her, I rode the XGA. Loved it. Had a deal on a low milage RK not dropped into my lap I would have bought the SR. BTW, got back into riding at age 57 after a 35 year break.
 
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Old Sep 10, 2019 | 10:54 AM
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i will assume:
-Mrs: you are a girl/woman
-40: not huge body builder.

my wife had a 750 (not the upgraded street rod) and there was a LOT to like about that bike.
she was 5 foot flat, and i am 6ish/250lbs, and I rode it to work for a week when I sold my truck.
it will do many things very well.
there are not many parts available for it.


-the first year (2015?) had almost no brakes. i mean, like SCARY hard to do emergency stops.
-they LOSE value VERY quickly, i would buy off CL or eBay instead of a dealer,
-they are hard to re-sell, and you will take a big hit if you buy from a dealer.

do NOT buy a sporty, they are horrible for women.

i would think you can find a used 750 (2016 & newer) for $3500, ride it, and keep it if you like it, or resell it and not lose much. and for $3500, you can let it be the "family bike" that folks who come over can borrow to go on rides, hate to do that with a brand new $7k bike.


I would test ride a trike, if $$ is not a problem.
my wife has had ~dozen bikes (103 Softail Slim was the best!) but she LOVES the trike so much more than any 2 wheel bike. she can enjoy the RIDE and not worry about stuff.

i would NOT buy a trike from a dealer, get a 'FreeWheeler" off CL for huge savings.

either way, let us know what you get & post up pics & ask for tips.
 
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Old Sep 10, 2019 | 10:56 AM
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there are active STREET sites on FB, lots of good info there.
the 750 is a favorite in Europe
 
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Old Sep 10, 2019 | 11:05 AM
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I had one and couldn’t get my hips to stop cramping up. Other than that it a fun bike to ride.
 
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Old Sep 11, 2019 | 08:16 AM
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After many more long rides on the Street Rod I will say for a fact it is not a comfortable ride. On non-flat road surfaces I have had my arms and hands jolted so hard the throttle position changes resulting in abrupt on-off inputs. This bike has an extremely sensitive throttle an even small inputs result in large outputs. When riding nasty roads it is quite uncomfortable and even disconcerting at times, especially when the throttle position changes. Be sure to take the Street Rod down some non-flat roads and see what you think. Our roads here in CLT are very nice compared to where I grew up in WNY and it is still a rough ride.

All that being said, the Street Rod is made to carve turns, not to ride in comfy luxury. If you want a sport-style bike then have at it and as rough as mine rides I still love it.
 
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Old Jan 15, 2020 | 02:02 PM
  #9  
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I ride a Sportster and I will say that is not necessarily for a short man or woman with low upper body strength. The reason is the tall 45-degree V-twin engine makes the frame top-heavy. Once underway, it's a breeze. The reason I mention this is, I just returned from a local H-D dealership with a beautiful used Street 750 on the floor with only 2240 miles on it and the price on it was only $2999. I think the model year is 2017. So, yes you can get a good deal from a dealership in comparison to eBay. Maybe Craigslist from a private seller would work out better -- that's how I got a great deal on my bike.This 750 was not top-heavy while twisting the handlebar on the carpet. The engine has a different angle V-twin and is lower in the frame which makes the bike feel lower and better balanced. (Note that almost all drops occur in the driveway or garage while stationary. Once it starts to go down, you have to react very fast and be very strong because you only have a fraction of a second to recover.)
I liked it but I haven't ridden one yet. I want to, just out of curiosity.I felt right at home on it. I suspect it to be better handling than a Honda Shadow 750 because of the mid-controls and low handlebar, both of which improve handling. My Sporty has mid-controls and handles fantastically.
If you're buying a motorcycle and not specifically aiming for the Harley LOGO, this would still be a good bike. If you want the Harley IMAGE, this won't give it to you -- maybe in Europe but not in the US of A. (I'm making the Tim Taylor the Tool Man grunting sounds right now.)
Also, test ride any bike you are considering and make sure you find out which controls you like: mid-controls, forward controls and somewhere in between. I have a bad back and I have no choice. Forward controls kill me after riding only 30 minutes.
Hope this helps.
 
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Old Jan 15, 2020 | 03:29 PM
  #10  
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Originally Posted by SWFLGuy
I had one and couldn’t get my hips to stop cramping up. Other than that it a fun bike to ride.
This for me as well. Mine was the 2015, so definitely had crappy brakes too.

I had a Tuner, intake and exhaust...and for a 750 that thing would get up and go more than folks would expect, but good luck stopping.

Tried better grips and foot pegs, changed seats, still couldn’t “fit” on the bike right. Loved how she ran, but I needed something bigger.

Upgraded to a Dyna Street Bob with the 103. Much better fitting.
 
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