Seven months after launching the Street 750 in the Indian market, Harley-Davidson has finally unveiled the new most affordable motorcycle in its line-up, the 2015 Street 500. The Street 500 is on sale in the US market for USD 6,799 (Rs 4.11 lakh) and is currently manufactured at the company’s facility in Kansas City, Missouri, USA.
The Harley-Davidson Street 500 is powered by the company’s new Revolution X 494cc 60-degree V-twin engine. This liquid-cooled engine is identical to the one used in the Street 750, but has a narrow-bore. The engine is rated at 40Nm of torque and comes with a six-speed gearbox. Harley-Davidson claims that the Street 500 will return an efficiency of 17.4kmpl under a combined US cycle.
The Street 500, along with the Street 750, is a part of Harley-Davidson’s new Dark Custom range of cruisers. The company developed a brand new platform, the first since the last 13 years, to be used in the Street 750 and the Street 500. Except for the rear shocks and the forks, which are garnished in chrome, the entire motorcycle gets a matte black theme. The black cast aluminium wheels and a headlamp cowl complement the all-black engine and exhaust system.
The cowl on the round headlamp is reminiscent of the Harley-Davidson XLCR. The Street 500 also carries other traditional cruiser design cues like the two-in-one exhaust, pullback handlebars, comfortable seats, a steel frame and mid-mounted controls. The Street 500 is available in a gloss red and gloss black paint schemes, which envelop the fuel tank and the other panels.
The Street 500 and Street 750 are critical motorcycles for Harley-Davidson and are part of the company’s strategy to increase their market share by targeting a new set of users. While the rest of the company’s line-up is more expensive and attracts a more ‘grown-up’ audience, the Street series zeroes in a younger audience and first-time buyers. The Street 750 is also manufactured at the company’s facility in Bawal, India and it will soon be joined by the Street 500. The Street 500 will go on sale in India early next year with an expected price tag of around Rs 3.7 lakh.
