ZigWheels Exclusive: Interview with Anoop Prakash on the Harley-Davidson Street 750

ZigWheels: How did you come-up with the idea of creating the Street 750?

Anoop Prakash: We felt there was a global trend towards urbanization and the demographics around the world being younger including the US and India and we have a much larger young generation with a different mindset which is more technology oriented and they wanted a new generation of Harley-Davidson. Thus the most researched new platform development process was initiated in the history of Harley-Davidson, that included interacting with over 3,000 individuals from across 10 different countries and what we found was that they wanted a more accessible motorcycle that is authentic and had its own identity and dark custom street soul. And these were the guidelines that were given to the engineers while developing the Street 750. 

ZW: Don’t you think that the Street 750 will cannibalise the SuperlowIron 883?

AP: I don’t think so as the Street 750 and the above mentioned bikes will appeal to a different customer base altogether and we feel all the bikes can co-exist simultaneously. Also we want to make the Harley-Davidson brand more accessible to the consumers and that we are sure to attain with the Street 750.

ZW: Why did you guys go for an all-new engine and transmission?

AP: A lot of people in the interview had said that they wanted an engine that is liquid-cooled so that it is better suited for riding in urban environments due to traffic congestion. Also the new platform which we had developed for the Street was much more compact than any of the other we had done in the past with lowered seat and higher ground clearance. Hence it was concluded that it was more feasible to develop an all-new engine, which coincided with the character and dynamics of the new bike and thus the Revolution X mill was born.

Also it was an opportunity for the company to expand its technological prowess and it’s always a great challenge while developing a new engine and our engineers were more than happy to face it. Since the Revolution X engine was built from the scratch we felt that a new transmission did justice to the engine and will have better suited the over dynamics of the new offering. Since the Street 750 was conceptualized for the urban environment, power had to be delivered at lower revs so that it’s easy for the rider to negotiate the bike out of traffic.  

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ZW: Since agility was among the primary criteria while developing the Street 750, any special parameter were kept while developing the chassis?

AP: We had set out the wheelbase and the fork-angle and it was close to the V-Rod DX and the profile was quite similar because there is a certain charm about a fork that has been raised and placed at a certain angle to give the bike a striking silhouette and profile. But the bike just hadn’t to look good but it had to be agile also and that meant a number of test runs and playing around with the fork angle so that it is a harmonious combination of form and function.

ZW: The Street 750 is the lightest of all the Harley-Davidson offerings; any special precaution was taken to keep the weight low?

AP: Since the Street 750 was developed for the urban environment the bike ad to be as light as possible to aid the handling but simultaneously a Harley-Davidson cannot look to plasticky as the loyalists want more metal and less plastic, so it was kind of a challenge for us. So we had to focus on crafting the components from lighter alloys to make them look bigger yet lighter, like the powertrain and forged wheels. 

ZW: Where there any special precautions taken while manufacturing the Street 750 in India, to maintain the global quality standards of Harley-Davidson?

AP: If you were to blind fold someone and you know put them inside our plant in Bawal and ask them where they are in the world. Are they in Europe or Kansas City or the plant in India or Brazil, they wouldn’t know as we use the exact same equipment, standards and quality assurance in every plant around the world. It’s all about implementing and maintaining those high standards on a consistent basis.

ZW: Will there be any customisation accessories available for the Street 750?

AP: According to us, the Street 750 is a blank canvas on which the customer and his imagination can run wild and showcase his personal choice of styling and we at Harley-Davidson aid them in creating their perfect bike by providing around 40 different accessories just for the bike but if you run through our whole range of accessories the number swells to over 100.

ZW: When will be the Street 500 launched in the Indian?

AP: There are no immediate plans to launch the Street 500 for the Indian market until 2015 as we are focusing more on the Street 750.