HD enters the baby cruiser melee

[Speedbag]

Did some digging around online to learn what I could about this thing and how it relates to the current V-Rod.

Engine is called Revolution X (V-Rod was/is just Revolution), both right and left hand engine covers seem to be bespoke and slightly smaller, and is SOHC (V-Rod is DOHC) with different cam covers. The newb gets a 6-speed trans (wish my VRSCR had this), where the V-Rods all have been 5-speed. The whole engine/trans package seems to be more compact overall, which is good since the V-Rod's is pretty damn big. Difference between the two new displacements is bore only, no doubt for parts commonality.

A little study makes me wonder what, if anything in terms of parts, is shared with the V-Rod other than the general layout and liquid cooling. It would appear that the engine breathes from the right side like other Harleys (same general single-throat EFI setup for more parts commonality?) versus vertically on the V-Rod (for those not in the know, the "gas tank" on the V-Rods is actually the airbox lid, housing velocity stacks on top of the throttle bodies).

The V-Rods respond well to hop-ups, and I wonder how long it'll take for goodies to start appearing for these. For some reason I see these things getting dirt-tracked...  

[twolanefun]

For some reason I see these things getting dirt-tracked...  

Well the best, XR750, is getting old for sure and there are legitimate newer competitors these days but the motor characteristics of this new motor on paper does not appear to be good flat track material, we'll see. FWIW the Kawsaki Versys motor did some butt kicking this year but the HDs are still in there as well as the Lloyd Brothers Ducati. - Gene

[Speedbag]

Oh, I'm not talking organized, legitimate competition.... 

[jerryz]

My wife  has said thats her new bike right there as soon as she saw  25'' seat height and 54 hp  she loves  the look but will need pullback bars ,,, she has been looking for 4 years to replace her 250cc rebel  but everything she tried was to tall, or handling compromised like 883 low .2015 till its available in Thailand and the price will be  1305% more than USA with import tax .

[Speedbag]

2015 Harley Davidson Street 750 & 500 New Model

Digging the 'RDX800'.... 

[Slide Panda]

The RDX and Urban do look sharp. Gotta say the carbon and billet hubs for the spoke wheels on the first one... mmmmm yeah.

The stock look of these bikes leaves me rather flat. But what those guys did 

[memper]

Yeah that's funny. But I never worried about that with my XR1200 and the recent variations they have done like the 48s have caught on with the young guns as well as the Ladies. I don't hear much chatter in the community about girly bikes. - Gene

Yeah it was all in jest. I haven't actually heard the girly bike comment in many years and not from anyone younger than 55.

[Kev M]

Yeah it was all in jest. I haven't actually heard the girly bike comment in many years and not from anyone younger than 55.

Or emotionally older than 10

[muskrat]

the bike's going to sell to many Vstar and VTX customers IMO. 

[jwoconnor]

There's a big gripe-fest over on Motorcycle Daily as they debate the made in KC slogan.