Harley-Davidson XG 750 Street Rod 2019 — Specifications

Who would have bet on a Harley-Davidson sporting an inverted fork and a dragster flat handlebar? Yet, that’s the bold gamble of this 2019 XG 750 Street Rod, a clear attempt by Milwaukee to seduce a younger clientele, seeking an urban motorcycle with a strong personality. Far from the V-Rod, of which it shares only the name, this Street Rod is a radicalized version of the standard Street, with a simple promise: to inject adrenaline into the entry-level range. The question remains whether this transformation is enough to shake up the Japanese and European roadsters that dominate this segment.

Under the hood, the philosophy changes. The 60° V-twin, a bit sleepy in its base form, is graced with the “High Output” suffix. A marketing name for a series of serious technical modifications: compression ratio pushed to 12:1, wider intake butterflies, optimized exhausts. The result is tangible, with 70 horsepower at 9000 rpm and 65.7 Nm of torque available from 4000 rpm. It’s not a revolution, but the 18% power gain is immediately felt, giving this twin an unexpected liveliness and a more playful character. The six-speed gearbox and belt drive ensure appreciable smoothness in the city, even if the announced weight of 238 kg fully fueled reminds you in quick direction changes.

The real change lies in the chassis. Harley has seriously reworked the geometry, with a rake angle reduced to 27° and a shortened wheelbase to gain agility. The 43 mm inverted telescopic fork and the two lateral cartridge shock absorbers, sporting striking red springs, mark a real shift in priorities. Braking, with its two 300 mm front discs, gains bite. The whole offers a much more reassuring and precise handling than on the standard Street, even if it is still far from the finesse of a Triumph Street Triple or a Yamaha MT-09. The seat height of 765 mm and the rear-set foot controls impose an engaged riding position, halfway between the roadster and the urban adventurer.

With a price of €8590, this 2019 Harley-Davidson XG 750 Street Rod positions itself as a charismatic outsider. It clearly targets the young urban rider attracted by the style and aura of the brand, but who refuses a motorcycle that is too tame. Its 13.1-liter tank and dynamic behavior make it a machine capable of leaving the city, even if its top speed approaching 170 km/h and limited comfort restrict it to short trips and fun rides.

This Street Rod is therefore a motorcycle of compromise, but an assumed compromise. It proves that Harley can step out of its comfort zone and offer a machine with an aggressive look and revised behavior for riding pleasure. It will not beat the Japanese roadsters on pure technical merit, but it offers something they do not: this raw identity, this American bad boy style that speaks to a certain generation. It’s an interesting evolution, which shows the way for the brand’s future mid-size cylinders.