Harley-Davidson XG 750 Street 2018 — Specifications

Can a Harley-Davidson manufactured in India, water-cooled, and lacking that characteristic rumble still bear the famous badge? That was the question that agitated purists when the XG 750 Street arrived. With an attractive price tag of €7,490, it clearly positioned itself as the entry point to the brand, a strategy to attract a younger audience and novices. Yet, in 2018, its journey remained fraught with challenges, with some fans criticizing its lack of soul.

Its heart beats with a 60° V-twin engine of 749 cm³, an architecture that recalls the V-Rod more than the classic Sportster. Water-cooled, this “Revolution X” delivers 58 horsepower and a torque of 59.8 Nm, figures that place it in the same playground as the Sportster 883, but with a very different character. Water cooling, a first on an entry-level Harley, was a pragmatic response to urban hassles and emissions regulations. At a standstill in traffic jams, the engine doesn't overheat, that's a fact. But on the road, some find its sound too muffled, far from the visceral growl that makes the legend.

With a 13.1-liter tank and a wet weight of 222 kg, the Street aims to be agile. The seat height of 720 mm is a real plus for smaller riders or beginners looking for a reassuring seat. The braking, ensured by two 300 mm discs, is correct, but we would have liked a little more bite, especially on a model that only received ABS as standard in 2017. Faced with Japanese or European competitors in this category of mid-size roadsters, it relies on image and the promise of belonging to the Harley clan, not on pure performance or high-tech equipment.

That’s where the problem lies for many. The Harley-Davidson XG 750 Street, in its 2015, 2018 versions, or even the more tempting 2019 Street Rod version, has always been divisive. It is perceived as a compromise machine: cheaper, lighter, but also less “authentic” in the eyes of traditionalists. Its partially outsourced manufacturing in India for markets outside the USA fueled the controversy. Yet, it has its qualities: a raw style, easy customization, and undeniable accessibility. It is aimed at those who dream of a badge on their tank without breaking the bank, for short urban or departmental rides, ignoring the snobbery of the old guard. Photos of the Harley-Davidson XG 750 Street show a motorcycle with a clean design, but it remains, in the history of the brand, an interesting but contested parenthesis, which failed to permanently conquer its audience.