Harley-Davidson announce new 'Street' LAMS motorcycle

The new 500cc 'Street 500' v-twin is the first mid-size Harley-Davidson since the Aermacchi days of the 1960s, and represents Harley's first assault on the LAMS market in this country.

More than four years in development, images, information and specs on the new model were unveiled today, November 5, at an invitation only media event held at Melbourne's Gasolina café.

Officially coded as XG500, the new model is one of a pair that Harley have developed, with a 750cc version to be built on the same platform, but this larger capacity XG750 is unlikely to be imported, according to Harley-Davidson Australia.

While liquid-cooled, the Street 500's "Revolution X" 500cc v-twin shares no common parts with the liquid-cooled V-Rod. The engine, along with the frame and most of the other componentry is all very much a 'clean sheet' design, but the result is unmistakably Harley-Davidson. SOHC and 4-valve heads for both cylinders, and a 2-into-1 exhaust with mildly upswept exhaust are other features.

Transmission is a 6-speed, with belt final drive. Brakes are single discs with dual piston calipers front and rear. ABS, which has been applied to most of the Harley model family, and is being introduced on the Sportster range for 2014, will not be available on the Street 500 initially. Harley-Davidson Australia indicated that it may be added in the future.

Other features include a headlight flyscreen fairing, small-ish bullet indicators, LED tail light, alloy spoke wheels, wide handlebars, a 2-up seat with pillion pegs, and specially tuned suspension.

A narrow front tyre on the 17-inch front/15-inch rear wheel package makes for easy turning, a factor considered important in the "urban" environment which is seen as the major playground for this upcoming model.

Externally, the Street 500 carries elements of Sporstster, Dyna and V-Rod. There's even a hint of the classic XLCR café racer in the small flyscreen, with the modern café racer, bobber and chopper custom scene influencing the look and feel of the new model, too.

"The Street 500 was designed with thousands of hours of input from young adults in cities around the world," said Matt Levatich, President and COO, Harley-Davidson Motor Company.
"This input guided both the attitude and capabilities of these motorcycles. They are proof that being customer-led continues to be a core driver of our product development process."

Actually, "urban" was a common theme throughout the reveal of the Street 500, which included advertising, merchandise and various examples of the imagery that will feature in promotion for the new model. The inner-city hipster crowd, and the emerging motorcycle subculture of young custom builders and modifiers are very much the audience that Harley-Davidson are aiming this new model at.

Harley-Davdson Australia's Adam Wright added that 'sleepers' are a key target for the new model as well, referring to those older individuals who, while still holding a motorcycle license, haven't owned a bike for some time.

With soft suspension, a low 645mm seat height and 217kg wet weight, the Street 500 will likely present as a less daunting 'first' ride for those either purchasing their first motorcycle, or returning to motorcycling after a long absence. Of course, being 500cc, the Street 500 is LAMS legal, but will undergo ADR testing ahead of its Australian reveal in mid-to-late 2014, with local deliveries expected at the start of 2015.

Construction of the new Street 500 will be shared between Harley-Davidson's plants in Kansas City and Bawal (near New Delhi), India, with both factories capable of producing motorcycles from scratch.

Harley are presenting the Street 500 as part of the 'Dark Custom' range that has been applied to various Sportsters, Softails and other models in the past. In the case of the Street 500, this treatment means lots of blackout parts on the engine, frame, tinware (tank and guards are all steel), headlight shroud and other detailing.

Initially, the Street 500 will be finished in gloss 'Vivid Black' as standard, with satin-finish 'Black Denim' and 'Sunglo' (red) paint for the tank and guards as options. A number of custom parts from the H-D Genuine Parts and Accessories will also be available from launch, to enable owners to customise their bikes.

Harley-Davidson Australia have set up a dedicated mini site for the Street 500, which will feature further details and updates as they become available, along with giveaways and other features to keep potential buyers interested ahead of local availability.

Harley-Davidson Street 500 - basic specifications

Engine: 500cc liquid-cooled Revolution X 60-degree v-twin
Exhaust: 2-into-1
Transmission: 6-speed
Final Drive: Belt
Suspension: Telscopic fork front, twin coilover shock rear
Brakes: single disc fr/rr, dual calipers fr/rr
Wheels: 17-inch front, 15-inch rear
Wheeelbase: 1511mm
Seat Height: 645mm
Wet Weight: 217kg