Harley-Davidson Street 750 Vs. Yamaha Star Bolt
HARLEY-DAVIDSON STREET 750 VS. YAMAHA STAR BOLT
I’LL SEE YOUR CLONE AND RAISE YOU HALF A CENTURY
Alan Girdler
No s—t, as the fighter jocks say, there I was, astride my Ninja 250R, a bike I bought because it did everything I can ask a motorcycle to do. Red light, and I filtered to the front of the line. Green light, and I performed my usual spirited launch...
And the Audi in the right lane blew me into the weeds. What a gentleman needs, as Mammy would have put it, and what said gent would like to have are two different things. Time for some comparison shopping.
On hand on this occasion were two different machines, eligible for
comparison mostly because they are two makers’ approaches to the same target, the entry-level, budget-conscious young enthusiast. Suggested retail prices are close, but after that, the rivals differ.
The Star Bolt has been on the market for two seasons, it’s powered by
a 942CC version of a Yamaha V-twin used in other models, and the engine is air-cooled and tuned for low-end power. The Harley is brand new, just
now hitting the showrooms, and it’s truly new and truly different, a
60-degree, water-cooled V-twin, close but not quite a little brother to the
larger and older and more radical V-Rod.
The rivals have a lot in common, as in belt final drive, all-disc brakes,
EFI, as well as awkward ignition switches and some cost cutting. For instance, even the upgrade Bolt R-Spec, with extra paint and special rear shocks, comes in solo form and the clearest sign that the Street is a Harley is the total absence of a tool kit.
Oh, and both are old school in the form of real rear fenders, not that silly clump behind a pointy tail.
THE BOLT R-SPEC
Here begins the comparison. The Bolt is clearly and openly styled to resemble H-D’s previous entry-level Sportster, witness the quasi-peanut fuel tank and semi-hamcan air cleaner. Then the designers cluttered the shape with lots of bits, too many notes as the emperor said in the movie, plus FED taillight and turn signals, a styling clash if ever there was one.
That said, start the engine, clunk into gear, feed some power, and... Whoo-eee, reckon that Audi is there every day, same time? Armed with the Bolt, I’m ready for a rematch. This is a strong big twin, tuned for torque.
The high and wide bars are useful in town, giving leverage to counter the Bolt’s weight. My gosh, it’s heavier than a rubber-mount XF. City traffic requires constant attention. Out on the open road, the high bars and headstock and bulky instruments give wind protection, while the torque-strong engine isn’t as relaxed at speed.
True Sportsters look small because they are small. The Bolt feels bigger than it looks.
Against that? The soft suspension and big tires provide smooth sailing. You’re aware of the ruts and potholes, but you don’t feel them.
Better still, the seat, better call it a saddle, is as good as any on the market or even in the past. Sit back, shift slowly and firmly, obey the speed limits, and in city, town, or country you can cruise all day.
THE STREET
Not since I sold my vintage two-stroke MX250-powered short tracker have I ridden a Harley-Davidson that felt less like a Harley-Davidson.
Now wait; that’s not a complaint.
Just as Triumph was revived with a bike totally unrelated to the classic Bonneville, so has Harley-Davidson supplied the very model of a modern motorcycle: overhead camshafts, four valves per,
water-cooling, EFI, even a preflight check for the systems when you turn the key, just like the sportbikes from the Big Four.
The full fenders are integrated. There’s provision for a tolerant passenger. All the bits are tucked away or neatly placed. The Street and the Sportster share only a badge.
Oddly, what with water jackets and all, the Street 750 is noisy at idle. Not rattly, but you can hear stuff moving around.
Next comes spirit, spark. Revs pick up quickly, and with revs come power. (Our example had a quirky clutch, which we assume was unique to our early model.) And six speeds give revs and power in an instant. Again, thoughts of revenge except that with the Street shifts are quicker and smoother. Oh, the Street has more power and less weight than the Bolt, meaning more performance.
The major shortcoming here is the seat—make that the seating position. The footpegs are high, for cornering clearance, and the seat is low, for style. Pegs and seat are close together, and the standard-size rider is cramped.
(The factory guys told us there will be an optional seat, higher and with the back farther back, but, from the movies again, wishin’ ain’t getting.)
Oh, yeah, both bikes have small fuel tanks and prudent range of maybe too miles.
THE VERDICT
Enthusiasts with fond memories of Yamaha DT-is or Honda XL175S will struggle with the notion of 500-pound beginner bikes and can only hope these buyers new to the street have ridden dirt bikes as kids.
Further, reporting from the background of 20 years and 150,000 miles on the Real Thing, Yamaha’s Star Bolt is not a Sportster. It’s a solid, reliable big twin, a cruiser if that term hasn’t been worn out.
The Street 750 is something else. The outside media makes fun of Harley-Davidson offering the same old same old machines year after year. In fact, H-D has offered two wheels and three; four-stroke and two; twins and singles while the market picked still another version of the FFH.
In spirit if not letter, the Street 750 is a revival of—brace yourselves—the legendary Indian Scout, a sporting middleweight with the very latest technology, all for a reasonable price.
Team Tuning Fork hopes to sell a clone of a design 50-plus years old.
The Motor Company is betting the pasture, if not the farm, on the buyers accepting something really new. CUi
HARLEY-DAVIDSON STREET 750
UPS Performance From the First Family State of the art, as that term is supposed to mean DOWNS Limited range Squashy seat makes you glad it’s time for a fuel stop Exhaust pipe shield below the peg could be an inch or so longer
Price: $7794 Dry weight: 4881b. Wheelbase: 60.0 in. Seat height: 28.3in Fuel mileage: 54 mpg 0-60 mph 5.1 sec. 1/4 mile: 14.02 sec. @91.05 mph Horsepower: 54.8 hp @ 7890 rpm Torque: 43.2 lb.-ft. @ 3760 rpm Top speed: 110 mph
STAR BOLT R-SPEC
UPS All-day saddle Torque Even more torque OWNS Limited range Copycat LED lights on classic fender is lipstick on a pig
THE NUMBERS Price: $7990 Dry weight: 531 lb. Wheelbase: 62.2 in. Seat height: 27.2 in. Fuel mileage: 41 mpg 0-60 mph 4.9 sec. 1/4 mile: 13.78 sec. @93.47mph Horsepower: 46.2 hp @ 5480 rpm Torque: 52.7 lb-ft. @3020rpm Top speed: 101 mph
