Harley-Davidson XG 750 Street 2017 — Specifications

So, a Harley with less than 60 horsepower and weighing over 220 kilograms fully fueled, what do you do with it? That’s precisely the question posed by the Harley-Davidson XG 750 Street, a flying saucer in Milwaukee’s galaxy. Launched to seduce a new generation and emerging markets, this motorcycle has often been met with skeptical looks from the brand’s old guard. Too small, too light, and, sacrilege, liquid-cooled. Yet, upon closer inspection, this Harley-Davidson XG 750 Street may have more to offer than just a ticket of entry.

Its heart beats with the Revolution X engine, a 60° liquid-cooled V-twin that spits out 58 horsepower at 8000 rpm and 59.8 Nm of torque. Figures that place it in the mid-displacement class, barely less powerful than an 883 Sportster but with a very different character. The six-speed gearbox and belt drive provide a certain smoothness, but it must be admitted that the weight of 222 kg is felt, especially when compared to more agile European or Japanese competitors. For around €7450 at the time, it positioned itself as the least expensive entry point in the catalog, a massive argument against the often costly myth.

But what is it really? Neither a squat Sportster nor a large touring bike, the Street aims to be an urban custom. The 720 mm seat height and 13.1-liter tank confirm this vocation: it is made to weave through the city and for short rides, not to devour the highway. The braking, with its two 300 mm discs, is correct but sometimes lacks bite, a weakness that the switch to ABS in 2017 fortunately corrected. Photos of the Harley-Davidson XG 750 Street often show a motorcycle with a clean, raw design, faithful to the custom aesthetic but without the embellishments of the larger models. It is a base, a blank canvas promised to personalization, a traditional strength of the brand.

So, target audience? Clearly the novice attracted by the shield, the young license holder, or the city dweller who wants a custom presence without the constraints of a large engine. For them, the Harley-Davidson XG 750 Street 2015 or later versions like the Harley-Davidson XG 750 Street Rod 2019 offer undeniable style. But the somewhat demanding rider will reproach it for its lack of agility, its plethoric weight for its power, and a finish that, in the early years, could have lacked polish. The fact that part of the production comes from factories in India has also fueled debates about authenticity.

Ultimately, the Harley-Davidson XG 750 Street remains a bold gamble. It has opened the range to new riders, with models like the Harley-Davidson XG 750 Street 2014 or the Harley-Davidson XG 750 Street 2020. It proves that Milwaukee attempted to renew itself, even if the result is divisive. It is a motorcycle with a short and tumultuous history, far from the traditional canons, which deserves to be judged for what it is: an accessible custom, practical for the city, but which will never convince the purists of the 45° air-cooled V-Twin. A path of compromise, exciting but fraught with obstacles.