How about a new Harley Davidson Street 750 flat tracker? It looks like they’re planting the seed to see what the interest is in getting flat track racing into the X Games. They set up Street 750s in flat track clothing and took them out on the dirt. If you ask me, I think it’s a great idea.
Ever since Harley Davidson introduced the Street 750 and Street 500, there’s been quite a bit of debate about the bikes and especially, their new water cooled engines. It seems to me the bikes are a pretty good attempt to build a sort of “world bike” suitable for countries all over the globe and, with liquid cooling, better able to meet stringent emission and noise regulations. With the 500 and 750 engine sizes, it brings the bikes to a wider potential market, too.
Styling of the new bikes isn’t particularly striking, but it makes a great base for part swapping and turning it into whatever you want it to be which suits Harley just fine since they get to sell you more parts and accessories, almost like they planned it that way.
Harley-Davidson will offer more than 100 genuine Harley-Davidson accessories to help customers make Street their own.
Now just think if they had a street tracker kit, kinda like Storz, you think that would sell? I’ve long thought the Motor Company should play more to their flat track heritage and, with the 750 displacement, these Street 750s might make a nice Street tracker without breaking the bank.
Now, I wonder what Mule could do with one of these.
UPDATE: Here’s a better photo of the converted flat trackers.
Link: Harley Davidson
Image credits: Harley Davidson
Press release follows:
NEW HARLEY-DAVIDSON STREET 750 MOTORCYCLE SENDS DIRT FLYING AT X GAMES AUSTIN
New Bike Stars in Exhibition Flat Track Race; Fans to Decide if Event Will Be a Future Medal Sport at #XGamesFlatTrack
AUSTIN, Tex. (June 4, 2014) – After scorching the ice at ESPN’s X Games Aspen, the new Harley-Davidson Street™ 750 will kick up the dirt – and the action – at X Games Austin with an adrenaline-fueled Flat Track exhibition race just weeks before the new bikes begin to arrive at U.S. dealerships. Highlights of the race will air on ESPN during the X Games competition coverage.
Reigning AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National champion Brad “the Bullet” Baker lead the exhibition race on the Street 750 – the first all-new motorcycle platform from Harley-Davidson in 13 years. In the spirit of the customer-led product development approach that Harley-Davidson undertook to create the Street motorcycle, fans will be the ones to decide if Flat Track racing should become a future medal sport at X Games Austin using #XGamesFlatTrack to make their voices heard.
“The action-packed environment at X Games Austin fits perfectly with the attitude and identity of the new Street 750 motorcycle,” said Dino Bernacchi, Director U.S. Marketing, Harley-Davidson Motor Company. “And, since we gathered input from more than 3,000 customers, riders and dealers in more than 10 countries around the world to create the Street platform, it seems only fitting to let our fans decide if Flat Track racing should become an X Games medal event.”
Flat Track Racing – An Original Action Sport
Harley-Davidson is no stranger to action sports. The company has had an official H-D Factory Racing team in existence for 100 of its 111-year heritage.
“Long before events like X Games, Harley-Davidson motorcycle riders were pushing the limits of their motorcycles up hills, around wooden board tracks, across beaches, on ice and through the mud,” added Bernacchi. “The Street 750 is the perfect motorcycle to help introduce the next generation of passionate riders to the amazing experiences and thrills that await them on two wheels.”
Race to Your Local Dealer
As fans watch the Street 750 motorcycle get dirty at X Games Austin, the new bikes will make their long-awaited debut at Harley-Davidson dealerships nationwide in the coming weeks. MSRP for the Street 750 is $7,499 (Vivid Black) and $7,794 (Denim Black, Mysterious Red Sunglo), while the Street 500 MSRP starts at $6,799 (Vivid Black) and $7,094 (Denim Black, Mysterious Red Sunglo).
The Street 750 is the perfect “ride anywhere” bike and is designed to easily handle and escape the gridlock and stop-and-go demands of urban environments.
The latest additions to the Dark Custom™ line-up, the Harley-Davidson Street 750 and Street 500 feature the all-new liquid-cooled Revolution X™ engine housed in a narrow and lean chassis built for agility. New suspension and a broad handlebar sweep provide the confidence and maneuverability you need when managing tight turns and fast moves – with a premium, minimalist style that serves as a blank canvas for riders to customize their own sense of personal freedom.
In addition to the motorcycles, Harley-Davidson will offer more than 100 genuine Harley-Davidson accessories to help customers make Street their own.
marc says
the last paragragh made we gag. who writes this stuff??? well harley has been sellin us a questonable quality product for years,why not get the next generation in on it. really the v-rod was a great big flop why would they try again, only smaller and cheaper. yuk. i dont follow flat track racing much,but the last time i did it seemed like alot of other bike brands were starting to kick their buts. its easy to win all the the races when you are the only class out there. Harley was givin help from the MAN back in the eighties when they could not compete. then they were givin a curve in drag racing in the 90s and bragged about winning races,then they came out with a 26000 dollar V-rod that they claimed was a factory race bike.all fine and good but a 8000$ busa could out run it stock off the show room floor,and ride you home after the races. now dont get me wrong i like to look at H-Ds all day they do build a fine looking machine.
Paul Crowe says
So I guess that puts you in the “not a fan” column?
Yeti2bikes says
Looks like he hasn’t priced a ‘Busa or watched a drag race since the ’90s either
Ron says
Past AMA Champions:
1954 – Joe Leonard – Harley-Davidson
1955 – Brad Andres – Harley-Davidson
1956 – Joe Leonard – Harley-Davidson
1957 – Joe Leonard – Harley-Davidson
1958 – Carroll Resweber – Harley-Davidson
1959 – Carroll Resweber – Harley-Davidson
1960 – Carroll Resweber – Harley-Davidson
1961 – Carroll Resweber – Harley-Davidson
1962 – Bart Markel – Harley-Davidson
1963 – Dick Mann – BSA
1964 – Roger Reiman – Harley-Davidson
1965 – Bart Markel – Harley-Davidson
1966 – Bart Markel – Harley-Davidson
1967 – Gary Nixon – Triumph
1968 – Gary Nixon – Triumph
1969 – Mert Lawwill – Harley-Davidson
1970 – Gene Romero – Triumph
1971 – Dick Mann – BSA
1972 – Mark Brelsford – Harley-Davidson
1973 – Kenny Roberts – Yamaha
1974 – Kenny Roberts – Yamaha
1975 – Gary Scott – Harley-Davidson
1976 – Jay Springsteen – Harley-Davidson
1977 – Jay Springsteen – Harley-Davidson
1978 – Jay Springsteen – Harley-Davidson
1979 – Steve Eklund – Harley-Davidson/Yamaha
1980 – Randy Goss – Harley-Davidson
1981 – Mike Kidd – Harley-Davidson/Yamaha
1982 – Ricky Graham – Harley-Davidson
1983 – Randy Goss – Harley-Davidson
1984 – Ricky Graham – Honda
1985 – Bubba Shobert – Honda
1986 – Bubba Shobert – Honda
1987 – Bubba Shobert – Honda
1988 – Scott Parker – Harley-Davidson
1989 – Scott Parker – Harley-Davidson
1990 – Scott Parker – Harley-Davidson
1991 – Scott Parker – Harley-Davidson
1992 – Chris Carr – Harley-Davidson
1993 – Ricky Graham – Honda
1994 – Scott Parker – Harley-Davidson
1995 – Scott Parker – Harley-Davidson
1996 – Scott Parker – Harley-Davidson
1997 – Scott Parker – Harley-Davidson
1998 – Scott Parker – Harley-Davidson
1999 – Chris Carr – Harley-Davidson
2000 – Joe Kopp – Harley-Davidson
2001 – Chris Carr – Harley-Davidson
2002 – Chris Carr – Harley-Davidson
2003 – Chris Carr – Harley-Davidson
2004 – Chris Carr – Harley-Davidson
2005 – Chris Carr – Harley-Davidson
2006 – Ken Coolbeth – Harley-Davidson/Honda
2007 – Ken Coolbeth – Harley-Davidson/Honda
2008 – Ken Coolbeth
2009 – Jared Mees
2010 – Jake Johnson
2011 – Jake Johnson
2012 – Jared Mees
2013 – Brad Baker
dave says
This Street 750 and the short-lived V-rod Street Rod are really the first new Harley Davidsons I have ever liked. Now having a Street 750 flat tracker makes me want one even more! Now I think back to when Harley and the AMA did away with the Honda sohc v twin dirt trackers in the 80’s and now Harley finally joined them.
Paul Crowe says
Well, the Street 750 flat tracker is a “some user assembly required” model, but it will be interesting to see how many parts Harley has ready to go when these hit the showrooms to make the “flat track look” possible. My guess is some aftermarket companies have been working with these models already and when they arrive, the parts will be there.
Yeti2bikes says
By the time your new 750 Street is out of warranty the likes of J&P Cycles and such will have a section in the catalog for them.
blackbird says
If the lead photo is not distorted the forks on the lead bike sure are.
Paul Crowe says
I noticed that, too. In fact, both bikes have forks that look just a bit off. Might just be the photo.
blackbird says
I guess anything is possible with photographs but all the other lines in that picture that should be straight are straight and the leading bike’s forks are really bent. To me it looks like a street bike with spindly forks ridden by a very good rider putting more force on them than they can handle. Just hope they improve that before any real racing begins.
lennardschuurmans says
It’s not bend,
The fork protectors are not in line so it looks bend
Here is a side view picture
http://stblogs.motorcyclistonline.com/files/2014/06/Image-003.png
David Duarte says
looks like they removed the standard radiator and replaced it with 2 side radiators. Interesting.
Sasquatch Kneivel says
This could be a direct result of the 650 Kawasaki starting to dominate the last bastion of Harley in racing,the 1/2 and 1 mile flat tracks.
The liquid cooled Kawi’s maintain their power after the 750 Harleys heat up and lose power. Just my opinion.
S.K.
Mule says
Yes, I would like to build one. I looked the V-Rods over really good, but the overall package was just too weird to attempt to make it into a good bike. Meanwhile, HD can’t give them away.
On this 750, the bottom line would be, what does the power plant weigh. Like the new Bonnevilles, you can do tons to them, but it’s still a 200 lb motor! Not sure what the Kawasaki weighs, but I’d guess closer to 150 lbs. Weighing motors and/or bikes is an interesting way to spend an afternoon. As I always say, a chassis with good components can be made light and better than stock, but the motor is runnin’ the show. You have to start with a good motor that doesn’t weigh a ton!
Ken says
It makes you wonder why Harley never put the V-Rod motor in another frame? The mile wide rear end is too much… If it was squeezed into a Sportster size frame, it would probably sell very well.
They have a 500 sitting at the showroom at SD Harley. The wheels look like they are the wrong size, even if the bike is smaller.
lennardschuurmans says
For more high res detail pics of this Harley Davidson Street 750 Flat Tracker check my blog.
mule says
Please explain how to navigate your site to find the Harley pictures.
Grant says
It looks like they ditched the conventional forks for upside down items, which is probably pretty necessary if you don’t want the front end flexing all over creation. But that kind of swap is not cheap, which is contrary to the general (control the cost) thrust of spec racing, so that means they want to go head to head with the current crop of other brand flat-trackers? It will be interesting to see.
Tin Man says
The only Flat Track racing I attend is in rural areas of Northern Michigan and the big Harleys still dominate the open class. There may be some Kows and Ducs winning in the big money national races but the grass roots guys still run the 20 Yr.old 750’s to good effect. It would be great to see HD put some of their riches into racing again in this the American Flat Track racing, the series needs the help or it will be gone with only the old horse tracks in the back woods for a venue. Of course big money usually ruins a sport and maybe Dirt racing should return to its roots.
Randy says
Is this the start of another HD parallel universe? Yamaha is throwing the gantlet down with the FZ-07 – a bike that is a clean 110 pounds lighter and 15 – 20 HP up. How could this 750 be competitive against that? Anywhere? Assuming Yamaha forces the competition to come out with even more competitive bikes I just don’t see HD going anywhere with the 750 except for people that want a low seat cruiser.
I remember the 883 only flat track races, kind of interesting to watch the first time, but really, those bikes were slow.
I think sometimes I see conflation of the new 750 with the XR750. The two bikes are worlds apart in all respects except the V-twin layout. The XR750 obliviously was a triumph of racing design, and like almost anyone that has paid any attention to them I would dearly love HD come out with a bike that somehow captures the essence of that bike. And no, I don’t think the otherwise decent but 580 pound (!) XR1200 came even close to doing it.
Paul Crowe says
Everyone here who is looking at this flat track conversion as “uncompetitive” is, in my opinion, completely missing the point. What Harley has done here isn’t some illustration of future racing intentions, it’s to illustrate what a clean slate the Street 750 is.
A Street 750 on the showroom floor is a basic cruiser, but with a little time, effort and the right parts, you can turn it into whatever you want. Like the flat track look? Here you go. Maybe a cafe racer? Sure, why not? Full custom? Absolutely. Harley is letting you build your own bike by giving you a more inexpensive entry point, a liquid cooled engine able to more easily meet various regulations and then they will happily supply you with whatever else you want to add or modify the platform. These racers are food for thought. If they see a lot of owners building a particular type of bike out of it, maybe they’ll offer something like that in the future.
Could they form a Harley only race series just for these? Yep, and there’s nothing wrong with that. This is all about possibilities.
Grant says
Paul, I see your point about the bike being a “clean slate” or “blank canvas”. I’m not so sure the motor company will be so responsive to supplying the bits for adding to or modifying the platform, though. Some parts, yes, but the parts to convert it to more of a cafe’ racer look (thinking RYCA, here); I just don’t see that happening from HD.
Here’s hoping the power and handling are good enough, and enough people buy them, for it to be a success. The world could use another (newer) motorcycle-shaped blank canvas.
Randy says
Well, what I meant by “competitive” is “competing for our attention and money”. I’m sure this 750 will sell to people that want a decent cruiser. But will experienced riders buy one intending to make heavy modifications? I doubt it. I’m sure a few will be made into interesting customs – the HD tracker above is very good looking – but the platform is too heavy and low powered to be interesting.
I’ve been waiting, resisting the mighty FZ-09, to see if Yamaha brings the FZ-07 into the states. They have and apparently you can buy one right now. I have to make up my mind which but one of them (likely the 07) will be in my garage within a few weeks.
Drydock says
You guys have no idea what you’re looking at, do you? Thats a Street 750 engine in a C&J full race chromoly single shock dirt track frame. Thats a full on Grand National race bike there.
These here are lightly modded, say 75 or 80 horse. A friend of mine at the KC factory telling me the race shop is now well north of 100 HP in a 310 lb bike (AMA has a minimum weight requirement, they’ll have to ADD weight to this bike to meet it.)
Paul Crowe says
Sounds like the factory is indeed planning to go racing with this, if what you say is true, and looking again at the side photo above, you may be right.
It’s a bit disappointing the factory would put out a press release all about the Street 750 on the dirt at the X Games, when what we’re really seeing is a pure factory racer. If they essentially removed the engine and tossed everything else, then built up the engine and put it in a Grand National race bike, well, … calling it a “Street 750” is quite a stretch. It’s like all of those “V-Rods” winning at the drag strip.
Why not call them what they really are? Why not say, “Our new Grand National flat track racers will run with a (highly) modified version of the same engine you can buy in the Street 750.” There’s nothing wrong with that, but their PR department had other ideas.