Harley Street Models Arriving At US Dealerships. Available For New Rider Training.

HDStreet1Last November, when Harley-Davidson blew the covers off its two brand new Street 750 and Street 500 models, I mentioned that they would probably join the previously called Harley Riders Edge Course program, now named Harley’s Riding Academy New Rider Course. It’s happening right now, replacing the Buell Blast as the small and easy machine for rider training. A smart strategy to expand Harley’s reach to new young male and female riders interested in a more manageable street cruiser. Since 2000, Harley-Davidson is the only motorcycle manufacturer having its own branded training program.

In many states, completion of a Harley-Davidson Riding Academy course can exempt riders from needing to take an additional road test before becoming licensed, and many insurance providers offer discounts to graduates. In the United States, more than 180 Harley-Davidson dealers offer training courses. Globally, Harley-Davidson Riding Academy is expanding globally into Mexico, China and South Africa.

riding-academyAs newbies in the US begin to perfect their skills riding the new Street (cost for the course range from from $250 to $400 with some dealers offering a discount on a bike purchase), Harley-Davidson dealers are receiving their bikes allocation. Half of the first Street US production is said to go to dealers, half to the Harley’s New Rider Academy. The 2 Street models are much-needed motorcycles in the Harley lineup. Young and women riders are easily intimidated by numbers before the CC’s and numbers after the dollar sign. In addition, most don’t want to look like bad-ass bikers on big heavyweight cruisers…

The Street™ comes powered by the all-new Revolution X™ engine, a V-Twin motor specifically designed for urban riding. It is liquid-cooled to maintain peak performance both in the city for casual riding and on the highway. It is powered by a single overhead cam, four valves per head and a smooth-shifting 6-speed transmission. It features Café-style speed screen, black front fork gaiters, all-black exhaust system and aggressive slash on the tail section to deliver Harley-Davidson’s signature Dark Custom attitude. I will publish a complete a report as soon as I get a chance to ride it

11 Responses to “Harley Street Models Arriving At US Dealerships. Available For New Rider Training.”


  1. 1 MMA Apr 30th, 2014 at 8:44 am

    I love my ’09 FXDF; but I fear that at some point this year, if I see one on the floor, I will impulse buy a Street 750.

  2. 2 Matt W. Apr 30th, 2014 at 9:29 am

    The Street models were developed with the Asian market in mind and I think they will do well in countries like India and China. Will be an interesting to see how American riders ultimately take to them though.

  3. 3 Howard Apr 30th, 2014 at 9:37 am

    I think Harley is going to do very well with the Street, both in the US & abroad.

  4. 4 CafeSportyTc Apr 30th, 2014 at 10:21 am

    Matt , my sportbike was designed with the track in mind… but it still rides well on the street. I think when it comes down to it we all just need to see em and ride them first person before making a decision.

  5. 5 James just another Crazy Kiwi Apr 30th, 2014 at 3:25 pm

    We get the 500 made in India, directly aimed at the learner market.
    Not a stretch from 750 to 883 I wonder if medium term this is the modern replacement for the Sportster.? ? ?
    Only a thought

  6. 6 Matt W. May 1st, 2014 at 9:19 am

    Cafe: My point is that the Asian market is largely dominated by light, small displacement, liquid cooled bikes so the Street will likely appeal to a wider demographic in the East than it will here in the States. Especially when you consider the Harley purists that view the the Street as a MoCo “metric” and the budget minded beginner market that already has cheaper options from Korean and even some Japanese manufactures. I myself am not proclaiming the success or failure of the Street though. That is up to time to tell.

  7. 7 Steve The Hog Radio Show Producer May 1st, 2014 at 12:31 pm

    H-D understands the cradle to grave concept of brand loyalty better than any other company out there.

    The H-D Rider program is another marketing pathway designed to keep new H-D Owners within the H-D “family”. Why would you want a new H-D owner to rub shoulders with a metric rider?

    As I have said in earlier posts, I think the 500 and 750 will do quite well as they are designed to invite younger would be riders along with would be woman riders to join the “family” on a smaller bike they feel more comfortable riding. Once these new riders are in, they will eventually move up to the larger H-D family of bikes. But even if they don’t move up, these riders will buy lots of the H-D “family” branded merchandise.

    Here’s it to keeping it in the family.

  8. 8 Pinhead May 1st, 2014 at 1:11 pm

    The quality of finish work is very low, HD has a standard rating for their other models of (5) there quality standard for the street is a (2). Some aspects of it look as if it came off one of those little bikes at autozone. With the price point being high as it is I expected a little more attention to details and more power from a 500cc engine.

  9. 9 nicker May 1st, 2014 at 9:14 pm

    How about a “HD Kit” to update a 750 to an XR750 look-alike…..????

    Just a thought.
    -nicker-

  10. 10 BCinSoCal May 5th, 2014 at 4:51 pm

    Remember people, it wasn’t that long ago a 750 was a big bike, guess that is forgotten with “stock” new bikes rolling out of dealerships at over 100″s (1640cc.)

  11. 11 V Pederson May 8th, 2014 at 4:50 pm

    Well, while an XR750 kit would be nice, it is hard to make a bike with a radiator look cool.

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Cyril Huze