Harley-Davidson Street Rod is a Milwaukee Youth Movement [w/ Video]

While there’s no question that Harley-Davidson is one of the most recognizable and valuable brand names – not just in the motorcycle industry, but in any industry – in the world, the fact remains that the American marque’s core customer demographic trends a fair distance north of a marketer’s idea of the Land of Milk and Honey, the 18 to 34 age bracket. Appealing primarily to the salt-and-pepper set pays the bills for the most part but, as more and more Baby Boomers decide it’s time to become a cager, H-D is going to need start courting younger buyers. And court us they are with their latest bike, the evocatively named Street Rod.

Though its looks may ape those of the Street 750, the Street Rod’s seat is higher (by 2.2”), the wheelbase shorter (by 1”), the ground clearance greater (by 2.4”) and the front end’s rake steeper (by 5 degrees). The net effect is a tidy, upright naked bike with that distinctive Harley-Davidson V-twin soundtrack, in this case coming from the 750 cc High Output Revolution-X. Prices start at $8,699, which should make it a strong homegrown competitor to the popular under-a-liter streetbikes from Italy and Japan.

Source: Harley-Davidson