Harley-Davidson Street Bob 114: like before, more than before [TEST]

by Cristiano Morroni

Lots of torque, inimitable sound, minimalist design and driving pleasure. It's the perfect recipe that emerges already in the first kilometers on the bike Harley Davidson Street Bob 114, which the “Roman Village” dealer in Rome has just delivered to me for this test.

Tradition, innovation and great character

Looking at it from a standstill, the large tank in the foreground does not influence the streamlined line of this bike and its characteristics “number One” logo printed on the yellow background it immediately refers to the Harley Davidsons of the 70/80 decades. Together with the tank, the high "Ape Hanger" handlebars, the low solo seat and the moderately advanced footrests create a very "bobber style" riding position for the Street Bob with the black rubber shower heads covering the fork legs to add a further retro touch. In the Softail slimmer and lighter than the Milwaukee company, the chrome you are used to on a Harley leaves room for black paint with a coarse grain finish, called "Line X" for various parts, among which the engine crankcase and handlebars stand out , very resistant to sight and touch, really well made.

Always in black overlapping “shot gun” exhausts and the frame of the modern instrumentation set in the handlebar riser with a 2.14 inch LCD screen, which shows the speedometer, the fuel level and the gear engaged indicator as fixed values ​​(only when the clutch lever is not pulled), while as options to choose from from time to time there are the odometer, the clock, the rev counter or the residual range. Another touch of modernity is the USB socket, which is located in front of the tank on the left side of the frame, at the height of the steering head, but which remains out of sight for the sake of purists of the brand. The wheels are six-spoke alloy, 19 inches at the front with 100/90B-19 tires and 16 inches at the rear with 150/80B-16 tires, painted in glossy black like the beautiful steel cradle frame.

Lots of torque without brake… engine

The tank is large and contains up to 13 liters of fuel, because having to leave room for 114 long stroke 1868cc engine, it is necessarily subtle. However, it guarantees a range of more than 200 km, as long as you don't overdo it with the gas for this sculptural and imposing 45-degree V twin, which is truly pleasant to use. Can exceed 5000 rpm when needed, but it brings out the best up to 4500, being at ease in any driving phase. Very torquey (15.8 kgm at 3000 rpm), it offers an enjoyable 94 horsepower of maximum power that makes itself felt, especially in dragster starts which were often inspired by the classic sound made in the USA, and by the riding position of the Street Bob, with the pelvis well contained in the comfortable single-seater saddle.

An extra gear is the secret to getting out of any curve or hairpin while enjoying it to the fullest powerful couple of this engine, which is a distinctive brand with which Harley Davidson has entered the hearts of millions of fans all over the world. This engine makes you want to start from a standstill in second gear, and if that doesn't apply to you too, you've never driven a twin-cylinder from Milwaukee, or you're lying.

When you then release the accelerator while driving, both for the flywheel masses involved but also for the engine calibration algorithms, it is a real pleasure feel it flow making its way almost like a two-stroke, with engine braking reduced to a minimum. For those who don't know the engine braking of a two-stroke motorcycle (non-existent), a similar reference could be driving a large-displacement car with an automatic gearbox when you take your foot off the gas. Drive it it's an emotion, in the city as on trips out of town. The engine is always ready, has a particularly regular delivery, a sound as expected from a Harley Davidson, and management within the reach of every motorcyclist, from the novice to the seasoned traveller. A truly pleasant driving experience.

In the saddle

Over 290kg, wheelbase of 1630mm, sitting low to the ground at just 660mm in height and wrists and hands hanging up there on the mini “Ape Hanger”. This would be enough to not give an idea of ​​great maneuverability, but it is not enough, because the extended legs and the steering angle more to stability than agility, intertwine both thought and gaze. But then we set off…..and with the hum of the engine and its good vibrations, it's as if magic were accomplished instantly, transforming the elephant into a butterfly. Traffic will never be his hunting ground, but once the measures are taken the Street Bob defends itself well. Thanks to one fork not hard but well supported, and a pair of tires that seem to be built "around it" (if you don't exaggerate). The single shock absorber, with adjustable preload, is sufficiently effective as long as you don't encounter disconnections that force it to react quickly and too dryly. As long as the road is smooth it works well, but if you encounter a root or a pothole, it kicks like a thoroughbred and the bike moves, breaking down too much, with the result of the kick going straight to the jockey's back...oops...rider.

Luckily however, driving without road-related problems, it disengages with an agility that we would not have expected. Sometimes we thought we could handle it almost naked, especially by using your feet a lot on the footrests to lower the center of gravity and distribute more weight towards the front axle. It's neither easy nor intuitive, but it made me understand that you can't ride it thinking about braking and entering corners like a traditional motorbike, yes. Once I grasped the concept, taking advantage of the little engine braking and counting on the rear brake as a rudder, the Street Bob started to have fun. By optimizing the ground clearance thanks to a lot of healthy movement of the body, and letting it flow using the rear brake even when cornering, I was able to count on a better contact with the ground from the tires and I enjoyed it pleasantly even on mixed terrain. The your shape of urethane not too wide allow a certain ease in the pif paf, as long as you don't overdo it with the throttle at the exit, where otherwise you start to lose grip by skidding with the rear wheel. The first time is also cool, with a Harley. The second may seem fun, but in the long run the risk is to get too carried away and perhaps cause damage, or take risks when it is not necessary. In these cases, objectively I would have appreciated electronic support to limit this exuberance.

In everyday life, pros and cons

The protection from rain is equal to a maximum of 0+ (for encouragement), and when the saddles still soaked in rainwater force you to deal with it even the day after the downpour, the question arises spontaneously. Why??? There air protection It's not much, and you can already imagine this by looking at the bike when it's stationary. Ultimately, however, the average speeds that naturally occur with it never cause a driver's license to be withdrawn, and despite the considerable power of the engine, with the Street Bob it is natural to walk around enjoying the moment, rather than running to reach the destination. On the road the engine grumbles slyly at a touch of gas (it seems to enjoy it at least as much as the person riding it) and the riding position doesn't tire you even after 200km, something I wouldn't have expected. But when there are two people traveling, everything changes: the passenger is sacrificed with a position of the legs that is too tight and a straight torso, and the weight distribution is very unbalanced towards the rear axle in every driving phase.

Clearly I'm not trying the Harley Davidson ideal for traveling as a couple, but "where there is a will, there's a way", as a Rome/Lake Bolsena trip aboard a "friend's" zip 50 reminds me (everything is now in statute of limitations). , with her passenger. In the city, the good vibrations and the sound are always engaging, and mixed with the beautiful colors available and the impeccable paintwork they easily attract everyone's gazes. In traffic, dancing between cars is not exactly immediate, and only if the hourly average exceeds "walking pace", the Street Bob does not sacrifice driving too much compared to a traditional motorcycle. The braking is proportionate to the vehicle, and I advise those who criticize it to learn to use the rear brake, rather than asking too much from the front, ending up compromising the balance of the vehicle. Listen to me and you won't miss a more aggressive system.

Credits

Once the test was over, I got back on my bike in the usual routine, but after a couple of days, feeling an unusual sensation and not being able to decipher it, I thought about it for kilometers and kilometres, until I understood what was causing it. She, the Street Bob, in those couple of weeks spent together reminded me of how much riding the human factor may be decisive. And by adding the right ingredients to the basic recipe, a mouth-watering dish was born. Together, we also took the satisfaction of making such a block of steel made in the USA, so at ease everywhere.

– Is it a bike that can be improved? Well, maybe;
– Is it a perfectible project? Absolutely, we will always move forward and it is obvious;
– Was it a fulfilling experience? Yes, definitely above expectations. Because I really enjoyed her daily imperfection as well as mine, and I will remember it as a very pleasant adventure.

Thanks to Harley Davidson Italia, and thanks to the Roman Village, a splendid dealership managed with passion and elegance by Fabio Della Vecchia, nestled in the heart of the capital.

Ah, but the price??? It is clearly not a cheap motorbike, by nature and approach it certainly doesn't want to be. It's a Harley Davidson, a Status Symbol, and its 18.000 euros, today doesn't seem like a crazy sum to me at all for so much steel, emotions and fun in the saddle.