7 Best Street 500/750 Mods
Strangely enough, the low priced Street 500 and 750, are actually two of the most advanced bikes Harley-Davidson have ever sold. These popular, low priced bikes are quickly catching on with riders looking for a smaller cruiser they can make their own.
1. Exhaust
The Street 500/750 may make more power, but it sounds a lot like your typical lawnmower. Thankfully not only does Harley offer a less restrictive, better sounding muffler, but aftermarket companies are coming on board too. Fit a lighter, less restrictive muffler so folks can hear you coming, but not something so loud it wakes the neighbors. The bike pictured has the entire Screamin' Eagle catalog added to it, including some parts not sold in the USA, but the "Nightstick" slip on the muffler is and it is tuneable for noise level.
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2. Free Flowing Intake
Of course, the other modification most people do to their Harley is to install a freer flowing air intake as well. The stock filter on most Harleys is made to quiet the sound of the engine and the air rushing in. If you want the motor to breath better, and look better, an open element washable filter is the way to go. It appears Screamin' Eagle isn't selling the one pictured anymore, but the Vance and Hines Naked kit allows almost any round cover to fit. Add their FuelPak FP3 tuner to optimize the fuel injection for more performance from the intake and exhaust mods.
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3. Suspension
One of the places motorcycle manufacturers always cut corners, especially on cruises, is in the shocks and forks. Typically the front end is too soft, and the rear shocks are too hard. Bolting on a set of shocks with springs specifically rated for your weight and riding makes a huge difference. Replacing the front springs is harder, but nearly any home mechanic can do it in an afternoon. This custom has had a ton of work to build it into the cafe racer/street tracker it has become, but the adjustable piggyback shocks are one of the most important.
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4. Luggage Rack
Most big Harleys and Sportsters are cruisers for tours, weekends, or occasional bar hopping, but the entry level Street 500/750 makes for great commuters. Add a luggage rack on the back and you can carry school books, briefcases, lunch, a 12 pack, or whatever. This crazy Street based dirt bike has an awesome rear rack, and a retro style tank rack, both custom, but racks to fit the stock back are readily available.
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5. Bags
If you are looking for a small touring bike, all it takes is a few weekends of work and a little shopping to make one out of your Street 500/750. It's easy to throw a set of soft bags over the seat and go, and Harley even offers a set sized just for the bike. If you are looking for lockable hard bags, check out Viking Bags, which has quite a few options, some even with quick release hardware.
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6. Custom Paint
One of the worst things about the Street 500/750 bikes is that the factory only sells them in about 4 colors, this was also a cost cutting move. The bike above was customized in Australia for a Marvel Comics tie-in a custom pearl white with pink and blue accents, and it really makes it pop. The sky is literally the limit when it comes to painting options.
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7. Seat
Harley-Davidson makes fitting the Street 500/750 to your size very easy with a variety of seats. Are you extra tall? They have a seat (pictured here) with several inches of extra padding for your longer legs. Extra short? They have a seat that pushes you forward to reach the handlebar easier. Then there is the cafe style solo seat if you don't have any friends. Look past the P and A department and the aftermarket has dozens of options, styles, colors, and materials for you.
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If you have questions about service and maintenance, the how-to section of HDForums.com is here for you.
