New Attraction At European Bike Week. Harley-Davidson XG 750 Street Rod Hooligan Races.

This year, European Bike Week at Lake Faak, Austria is celebrating its 20th Edition. Harley-Davidson has come up with a new attraction that gets fresh wind and very cool action into the event. In record time, a Short Track oval was prepared in one of the most scenic locations that Faak has to offer,. Harley brought 10 new XG 750 Street Rod bikes converted to “Dirt Rod” style bikes modified just for the racetrack.

Twenty Journalists from all over the world, including Japan, South Africa, Scandinavia, Spain, Italy, Germany and Austria who never ever ridden dirt bikes received a “crash course” on both bike and track by Italian Dirt Track specialist and “tutor” “Professor” Marco Belli and his team. All on the “fast track” to learn riding on the dirt and adapting to the not easy task of handling the heavy bikes around the very short track. The bikes – all 2018 model year, were prepared by Silverstone/UK based IDP Moto Ltd who converted the Street into “Dirt Track mode” by removing the front brakes, installing new handlebars, a Harley’s Dirt Track seat, a modified tank, an open air filter and short pipes. Rear shocks were swapped for Ohlins, the stock fork did the job in the front..

The race was won by Elia Sammartini, Italy, who was present for “Riders” Magazine, fighting hard against Ferran Mas, Spain, writing and wrangling bikes for “Solo Moto”. Daigaro Suzuki, hot shot from Japan and one of two riders from the rising sun came in third. The big surprise came a few minutes in the trophy ceremony, as the hard fighting  resulted in the fastest lap for Ferran Mas, which qualified him as the winner of the “Grand Price”, one of the 10 XG 750 “Dirt Rods” to be taken home to Spain!

The race action did not stop here. The same routine was renewed with European Authorized Harley Dealers. The public at European Bike Week could also book a “Dirt Track Seminar”, riding the very same bikes for a small fee of 75 € ifor a 2 hour “Riding School Experienc” (photos @ H. Roesler for C. Huze)

Winner BIKE (Fastest Lap) Ferran Mas, Spain, Solo Moto

#1 Elia Sammartini, Italy (Riders)
#2 Ferran Mas, Spain, Solo Moto
#3 Daigaro Suzuki, Japan

24 Responses to “New Attraction At European Bike Week. Harley-Davidson XG 750 Street Rod Hooligan Races.”


  1. 1 Mike Sep 9th, 2017 at 9:28 am

    Its so funny how Harley is aggressively pushing what is arguably the cheapest made and worst bike they have made in a long time. The bike is junk, with cobbly welds and a lousy engine, suspension, brakes. I wouldn’t ride it around my block mush less a track.

  2. 2 Zundap Sep 9th, 2017 at 2:15 pm

    Doesn’t do well on the track here in the USA and is ugly in st. form.

  3. 3 James just another crazy kiwi Sep 9th, 2017 at 3:36 pm

    The ones we get over here that are made in India look alright 🙂

    HD should of done something like this years ago as many of the contributors here have pointed out .

    We spell Faak differently over here, mind you we do have an accent 🙂

  4. 4 NoH2Oh Sep 9th, 2017 at 6:24 pm

    They are all made in India. Maybe they put them together here, maybe not. But they are all made in India.

  5. 5 Tony Davidson Sep 9th, 2017 at 7:42 pm

    Buy a Indian Scout

  6. 6 SYF Sep 9th, 2017 at 7:47 pm

    For all of those dogging this bike, have you actually ridden one?

    I don’t particularly like these India made Harleys, but I took a demo ride and it was decent. If someone is an entry level rider and wants a decent commuter bike, the Street model feels solid and handles pretty good. The 750 had some poop in stock form.

    There are many nice entry level bikes out there that are nice, and that is a good thing for our industry!

  7. 7 Roscoe Sep 10th, 2017 at 7:04 am

    Proof that you can sell anything, as long as it says Harley on it.

  8. 8 MSP Dan Sep 10th, 2017 at 7:10 am

    If they would build one for the street that looks just like these, making 100 reliable HP at a reasonable price, I’d be the first guy in line.

  9. 9 chris w Sep 10th, 2017 at 8:18 am

    HD has gone to shit…just further proof!

  10. 10 Adam Sep 10th, 2017 at 1:23 pm

    It’s quite different, but doesn’t necessarily have to be bad. I can’t say I’m hopeful, but I’ll judge once I’ve used it.

  11. 11 Felix Sep 10th, 2017 at 8:39 pm

    Hey Indian, good time to bring out your 750 Street.

  12. 12 Pat h Sep 10th, 2017 at 8:53 pm

    Indian has a nice motor with the victory octane/ scout but there treading water now cause they ain’t selling bikes all the smoke and mirrors there telling stock holders is bs on the sales floor is what matters and talking to insiders they aint selling many, tracker version would be nice

  13. 13 supertone Sep 10th, 2017 at 11:13 pm

    I test drove it, I thought the motor was goog, the suspension was ok, the execution of the total package seems poor. The controls sucked, cheap. The stateside Street models are supposed to be made in the USA.

  14. 14 supertone Sep 10th, 2017 at 11:14 pm

    *motor was good

  15. 15 Matt W. Sep 11th, 2017 at 8:05 am

    Mike. I am more concerned with the quality control than anything else. Harley had to recall some of the Street models because they neglected to install the reflectors on them. If they are passing QC with rather obvious missing external parts it makes you wonder what else they aren’t catching.

  16. 16 kent Sep 11th, 2017 at 12:35 pm

    Yep, those smoke and mirror Indian dealership have a lot of used traded-in Harleys and the lies keep coming!

  17. 17 Chris Sep 11th, 2017 at 2:06 pm

    Let’s place a betting pool on how many more years before Harley discontinues the Sportster. If the resources are going to this model to make it the cool and new fun bike for beginning riders and dirt trackers, there is no way the XL survives.

    Just for kicks,I say 2018 is the last year of the Sportster.

  18. 18 HillBilly Jim Sep 11th, 2017 at 3:31 pm

    The Street race bikes are coming along nicely with the help of Vance & Hines. I too heard the ones for sale here are made here. While not my cup of tea the young guys I know seem to like them and this article about Hooligan racing proves what I have been saying for 3 years now, Indian returning to the market place and the race track against HD is a win for all. I do not think the new 8 valve engine is great but the frame changes are a step in the right direction. Liquid cooling is a 21st century thing we are going to have to get used to but one one point the complainer are absolutely right. There is no excuse for poor welds and cheap looking switches. Fit and finish must be top quality.

  19. 19 NoH2Oh Sep 11th, 2017 at 5:51 pm

    Guys, c’mon…..do you actually think HD would make this crap in two different locations. Maybe put together here, not made. How many do they sell stateside of the Street models? Sell, not use in training programs. And why would they care to make the US consumed Street models in the US? Good PR?

    When is the last time you saw, heard, or read an HD ad that touted HD is an AMERICAN bike?

  20. 20 Pat h Sep 11th, 2017 at 10:23 pm

    No water yes 2 different locations the fake indians could be built in a pole barn like any boutique bike ie. Iron horse big dog at least they had the balls to put out units sold per year/ quarter Polaris still has a few years to use the fake indians as a tax wright off their swiss built race bikes are nice but in 2 years the bandwagon jumpers on flat track will be gone only the die hard will be left they better hurry with a street version

  21. 21 Chris G Sep 13th, 2017 at 9:38 am

    Funny Pat H . I have a friend that sells Indians and he was telling me over beers that the scouts are selling well. Hmmm who should I trust? Guy I know or anonymous internet guy that bashes Indian daily and talks out his a$$

  22. 22 Pat h Sep 14th, 2017 at 8:59 pm

    You should trust me Chris I don’t try to sell a heritage that’s non existent and if you follow my writings that close you should buy my book I don’t bash indian I bash Polaris, indian died many many years ago and I actually like the octane / scout motor said it many times just the rest of the bike is fugly but it’s still better than the 111s those are well gaaaaaayyyyy

  23. 23 Davis Sep 17th, 2017 at 9:39 pm

    Aww the good ole days, thing is is that someone will be saying that about today, someday, maybe.

  24. 24 nicker Sep 19th, 2017 at 10:45 pm

    Sportster “going away”…???

    Can’t see a small lightweight bike with 100 HP not selling, as long as its a quality product.

    That is unless the buying demographic is no longer really interested in learning how to actually “ride” a motorcycle as opposed to simply “driving” (profiling) it around like it was a car.

    -nicker-

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Cyril Huze