THIS kind of question is often posed to every car or motorcycle nut, who frequents shows every so often. And with the ongoing motor show happening right now at World Trade Center in Pasay City, the safest answer for every member of the testosterone club would be “the ride”—not unless you want your wife to stick a knife up your throat before you get out the door. Ugh.
As the case may be, this kind of debate won’t be as tough as it seems for any real hardcore Harley-Davidson buff in any part of the universe. On the contrary, here, these aficionados would cull metal over skin any given day—even if a two-time FHM Philippines’s sexiest woman was standing right in front of them.
Recently, Harley-Davidson Manila introduced the Street 750 at the 12 Monkeys Music Hall & Pub in Makati City. The motorcycle’s connoisseurs were in attendance and the woman, believe it or not, only served as a mere sexy add-on.
The American motorcycle manufacturer from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, this time, tapped young urban riders in the Philippines with the introduction of its latest entry-level model.
“The Harley-Davidson Street 750 is designed to cope with the unique challenges faced by riders in heavy traffic. It marries nimble maneuverability, unique Dark Custom style and instant power helping riders escape the cars, buses and taxis that clog inner-city roads,” enthused Jay Bautista, general manager of Harley-Davidson Philippines.
The Harley-Davidson Street 750 motorcycle is the first all-new platform from Harley-Davidson in 15 years. It is built for urban environments with an all-new liquid-cooled “Revolution” powertrain that sports nimble agility, thus, the sound and look that resemble the genuine feel of this American muscle.
The newcomer is built for an urban environment. It features the new, Revolution X engine, designed to match the demands of stop-and-go traffic with absolute ease, while delivering instant throttle response that frees every rider from the daily grind of the city.
The Revolution X engine is housed in a new, narrow and lean chassis, with a super-low seat, new suspension and broad handlebar sweep that provides confidence and maneuverability when managing tight turns and fast moves. In short, the 750 is powered by a 749 cc displacement version of Harley’s 60-degree SOHC V-twin, water-cooled engine.
This signature Dark Custom motorcycles present a premium, minimalist style that serves as a blank road ahead where riders can freely create their own “hog” according to their taste and feel.
The Street 750 is tagged under P600,000 and is the most affordable bike in the extensive Harley-Davidson lineup in the country.
To give you a brief background, from 1977 to 2014, the only motorcycles sold to the public under the Harley-Davidson brand have been heavyweight motorcycles designed for highway cruising, with engine displacements greater than 700 cc. Harley-Davidson motorcycles or “Harleys” are noted for the tradition of heavy customization that gave rise to the “chopper”. While Harley-Davidson’s attempts to establish itself in the light motorcycle market have met little success and have largely been abandoned since the 1978 sale of its Italian Aermacchi subsidiary, the company now reenters the middleweight market in with its Street series of motorcycles.
Harley-Davidson sustains a large brand community which keeps active through clubs, events and a museum. Licensing of the Harley-Davidson brand and logo accounted for $40 million of the company’s net revenue in 2010. The next time you drop by a motor show, better heed the advice from these aficionados. Your wife might even love you more for it and she’ll even be generous enough to give you her own version of the show.
Image credits: Ronald Rey M. de los Reyes