HD enters the baby cruiser melee

[Slide Panda]

This one doesn't suck

Nope - I dig that one

[the_Journeyman]

Who designed the motor?  It's very V-rod esque (their other water cooled one) in appearance and pipe routing.

JM

[Kev M]

Who designed the motor?  It's very V-rod esque (their other water cooled one) in appearance and pipe routing.

JM

From the name "Revolution" and basic specs (60 degree V-twin, 4V/cylinder) I'm ASSuming (drink  ) that it's a very mildly tuned V-Rod derivative. But it's otherwise not been made public yet that I can tell.

[Johnny5]

Well, we are talking about cheap/entry level bikes here - I guess I can forgive a LITTLE EEWWW  

Like I said, I'm not looking to replace my Sporty, OR my Guzzi with one, but I BET they'll sell.

That said, check the Harley website out, they've already got some "customs" their bike designers built on the platform to show what can be done with them. And a LOT of Harley sales are because they are blank canvases.

This one doesn't suck

Yep that one is not bad.  But I'm a big-time sucker for fat front Bobbers and I want one of these two in the worst way:

[Kev M]

Who designed the motor?  It's very V-rod esque (their other water cooled one) in appearance and pipe routing.

JM

Found it - first report on motor

First info on motor:

http://www.cycleworld.com/2013/11/04/2014-harley-davidson-street-500-and-street-750-revealed-at-eicma-2013/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=2014-harley-davidson-street-500-and-street-750-revealed-at-eicma-2013

Let’s start with the engine, a liquid-cooled 60-degree V-twin whose chain-driven single overhead camshafts operate four valves per cylinder via roller rockers with screw adjusters. Called the Revolution X, this all-new powerplant, with a vertically split crankcase and plain bearings, is a modern design that traces its lineage back to the V-Rod of 2001. Jeff Coughlin, Harley’s chief powertrain engineer, says a 60-degree design was chosen to help reduce the height of the wet-sump engine, which helps keep seat height and center of gravity low, important considerations given that the Street is seen as a first bike for many potential customers.

Separate aluminum cylinders are fitted with pressed-in iron liners, and the only difference between the 500 and 750 versions, which share a 66.0mm stroke, is the bore. The 500’s is 69.0mm, which makes for an actual displacement of 494cc. The 750’s bore, at 85.0mm, makes for a displacement of 749cc. Redline for both engines is 8,000 rpm, and peak power for the 750, though not officially announced, was said by one Harley rep to be 54 hp at 7,500 rpm, with 44 pound-feet of peak torque arriving at an unspecified rpm. A single balance shaft keeps the V-twin from shaking too much, and a six-speed transmission works with Harley’s familiar belt final drive.

Those numbers are nothing to a Ducati or the rest of the sportbike/naked standard world, but they are actually VERY competitive to the metric cruiser market.


Article is wrong about weight differences between Iron 883 and Street however (assuming Harley's wet weight specs are right).

Street 480 lbs.
Iron 883 562 lbs.

So it's not only NOT close to 200 lbs, it's actually a little LESS than 100 lbs.

[Slide Panda]

Redline for both engines is 8,000 rpm, and peak power for the 750, though not officially announced, was said by one Harley rep to be 54 hp at 7,500 rpm, with 44 pound-feet of peak torque arriving at an unspecified rpm

I just don't get power number on these bikes. My 650cc single is rated at 63 hp, and 64 Nm/47 ft/lbs with similar redline numbers.

[HotIce]

Well, we are talking about cheap/entry level bikes here - I guess I can forgive a LITTLE EEWWW  

Like I said, I'm not looking to replace my Sporty, OR my Guzzi with one, but I BET they'll sell.

That said, check the Harley website out, they've already got some "customs" their bike designers built on the platform to show what can be done with them. And a LOT of Harley sales are because they are blank canvases.

This one doesn't suck

That's a RSD one, which I think it has only the original engine left 

[SpikeC]

 Talk about apples to watermelons!
(Referring to the KTM comparison)

[Slide Panda]

Talk about apples to watermelons!
(Referring to the KTM comparison)

Would it beeeee ORANGES! 

[SpikeC]

Ok, Oranges to watermelons!

[the_Journeyman]

Yea, but it's a KTM 

For similar V-twin reference - My wife's water-cooled 650cc twin makes (accord to specs) makes 58HP and weighs 370lbs dry and around 406lbs wet.

JM

[Kev M]

I just don't get power number on these bikes. My 650cc single is rated at 63 hp, and 64 Nm/47 ft/lbs with similar redline numbers.

Then you don't get the cruiser market. Harleys and most metric cruisers are tuned for wide, flat, torque curves, typically with lower peak hp numbers.

They're also tuned for economy.

These numbers are obviously not impressive to anyone looking at any sportbike derivative (of any common motorcycle engine configuration) but they are pretty much matching or better to all the metric cruisers in the 500-800cc range, and matching some up to 900cc.

That's a RSD one, which I think it has only the original engine left  

Yes I get that (though it is a great exaggeration), but like most of their parts catalog build bikes it was done to show what can be done with the platform. Remember Harley makes a significant share of their money by selling blank canvases (and the accessories to make them look different, like this).

[Slide Panda]

Then you don't get the cruiser market.

They're also tuned for economy.

Granted - I don't.

But that KTM has a wide, flat torque curve. I can feed in the clutch and get that bike rolling and keep going even up hills without ever touching the throttle... and it keeps torquing along though the band

It also pulls 50mpg (freakishly) at the track and 55mpg real world.

I'm not expecting the freaky inline 4 power numbers from something slated for cruiser use. But it just seems to me that given current capabilities a water cooled 750 should have more to it.

[Slide Panda]

Not sure how much of the original bike is left here... but this versions pretty hawt

[Kev M]

Granted - I don't.

But that KTM has a wide, flat torque curve. I can feed in the clutch and get that bike rolling and keep going even up hills without ever touching the throttle... and it keeps torquing along though the band

It also pulls 50mpg (freakishly) at the track and 55mpg real world.

I'm not expecting the freaky inline 4 power numbers from something slated for cruiser use. But it just seems to me that given current capabilities a water cooled 750 should have more to it.

Oh, I hear ya, but again, just look at the word you used with regards to the KTM - "track" - that's another world.

Here are some examples of what these bikes are competing against:


Honda Shadow RS - 745cc, 503 lbs. wet, 42 hp (about 38 rwhp)
Honda 500x - 500cc, 430 lbs, 46 hp (about 42 rwhp)

Yamaha V-Star Custom - 650cc, 514 lbs. wet, 40 hp  (about 33 rwhp)

Suzuki C50 - 805cc, 611 lbs. wet, 50 hp (about 42 rwhp)
Suzuki S40 - 650cc, 380 lbs. wet, 31 hp (about 25 rwhp)

Kawasaki doesn't really have anything in the category anymore since they discontinued the Vulcan 500LTD, the smallest they have are the 900cc Vulcans which are really more Sportster competitors. That said the current

Kawasaki Vulcan 900, 903cc, 620 lbs. wet, 50 hp (about 44 rwhp).

the 500 was

Kawasaki Vulcan 500LTD, 498cc, weight low 400s wet, power about 46-50 hp


I'll assume Harley's 43 hp (500cc) and 53 hp (750cc) figures are crankshaft - but alone they look VERY competitive to the market, and if you factor in the 480 lbs wet weight which is lower than everything but the new 500X (which is really a slightly different market bike), the S40 or the discontinued Vulcan 500, that's pretty darn good.