Indian muscle, with global aspirations. That's what we heard Harley Davidson claiming its much-hyped make-in-India Street 750 motorcycle. The real surprise and cheer was the 4.5 lacs price tag of this bike. While the price bought some smile to those who were new to the super bikes scene, soon that initial lot of Harley Davidson patrons in India were left with regrets. Customers who bought this bike in year 2014 and 2015 later realized that they spent their hard earned money on monster wheels with totally in-effective braking system due to inferior quality parts used to save few dollars. Also, many individual reviews claim that the older braking system was not at all compatible for Indian extreme climate and road/traffic conditions.
Even though the automaker claims that HD Street 750 is duly certified by International Centre for Automotive Technology (ICAT), and is in compliance with requirements of the Central Motor Vehicle Rules of India, the users opinion totally differ when it comes to the units rolled out in 2014 & 2015. Also we get to see many local and international reviews that warn riders of poor brakes and brake failures on pre-2016 HD Street 750 bikes. To make life easier for audience I'm sharing some links here.
http://lanesplitter.jalopnik.com/harley-davidson-street-750…
http://www.team-bhp.com/…/150223-harley-davidson-street-750…
http://www.team-bhp.com/…/170800-harley-davidson-owners-pro…
http://www.team-bhp.com/…/177990-usa-harley-davidson-bikes-…
http://fortune.com/…/08/harley-davidson-brake-investigation/
https://www.motorbeam.com/…/harley-dealers-offering-old-st…/
http://www.autocarindia.com/…/harley-davidson-pre-2016-stre…
http://www.team-bhp.com/…/170800-harley-davidson-owners-pro…
http://www.injuryrelief.com/…/harley-750-brakes-are-not-up…/
After several reports of the brakes failing partially or completely to provide adequate stopping power & master cylinder failure due to high engine heat, the automaker introspected the issue and upgraded the same on the MY2016 edition with complete overhaul by adding Bigger Rotors, all New 34 mm dual Pistons, Improved brake lines, replacing Sintered brake pads with Brembo, adding all new Aluminium master cylinder with change in its placement. If brakes in 2014 & 15 models of street were adequate, as claimed by Harley Davidson, we all would like to know some acceptable answer behind this overhaul within one and half years of launch.
In absence of mandatory recall policy in India, the first owners of Harley Davidson Street 750 are still living with same shoddy brakes and Harley has done nothing even after several fatal accidents of Street 750 riders. I have been following many facebook posts in bike riding groups and pages like H.R.I https://www.facebook.com/groups/1********194192/ Highway Rangers https://www.facebook.com/HighwayBrothersGroup/?fref=ts and many more. Everywhere I found people complaining about inadequate brakes in Street 750 rolled out in Year 2014 & 15. Personally met lot of them.
Myself Udham Singh Hooda from Delhi https://www.facebook.com/udhamsinghhooda , I also initiated a movement against Harley Davidson’s ignorance to recall these bikes. “I loved Harley Davidson from the age when I couldn’t spell it well. Waited long and when I managed to own one, my dreams of enjoying a ride that offers freedom got shattered. Harley’s slogan SCREW IT, LETS RIDE didn’t really satisfy me when I realized that brakes in my Street 750 are adequate to screw my road safety while riding it. The rear brakes of my Street 750 were never up to the mark but recently in August when I went for a long ride to Shimla, which was approx 400 Kms one way, my motorcycle brakes suddenly failed to respond. We stopped for an hour and then it worked as earlier but I covered rest of the distance with no confidence and lot of fear about brakes. I never expected this to happen and I have lost all my trust on the brand Harley Davidson"
Sai Ghanesh https://www.facebook.com/ghanesh.shan?fref=ts from Chennai had much disturbing story to share. “Recently when I was riding my Street 750 at speed of 70 Km/hr, I applied brakes to slow down and the next second I found myself rolling on the road after falling on my face. All that happened because my front wheel got locked suddenly. He also showed his helmet that actually backed his storyâ€.
Sauraj Bhardwaj https://www.facebook.com/sauraj.bhardwaj?fref=ts “Im totally disappointed with the brakes in my street 750 and the response of Harley Davidson India. They claim to have some certificates. I didn’t buy Harley Davidson for those certificates. I bought it because I had faith and love for Harley Davidson. Will never go for this brand againâ€.
Rakesh Choudhary (name changed on his request) who do lot of mods on super bikes says “Problem with older models of Street750 is the undersized braking system which could be adequate for 200-300 CC motorbikes but not for a 750 CC machines that weighs 220 Kgs. At times I receive calls from Street 750 owners who face master cylinder failure due to engine heat and complete brakes failure issues. Master cylinder issues are due to wrong placement and the material used to cast it. Post 2015 models comes with totally upgraded brakes but yes still ABS is missing and I hope Harley will soon add one.
And the list is long....Don’t have so much space to mention every interview.
Recently many Indian customers went out to the extent of protesting in different towns to let Harley announce the recall they have been expecting since they realized that brakes aren’t adequate.
On NOV 6, hundreds of Street 750 owners and other bike enthusiasts gathered to raise their voice. Spokesperson of Highway Rangers https://www.facebook.com/HighwayBrothersGroup/?fref=ts confirmed that they also invited Managing Director of Harley Davidson India to come and answer their queries, but no one responded. Sanjay from Highway Rangers also had glitches with the media. “We invited 29 reporters, but no one turned up. No one care for the life of fellow Citizensâ€
The link to different protests held in Chennai and New Delhi are attached below.
https://www.facebook.com/HighwayBrothersGroup/photos/pcb.13********248941/13********582356/?type=3&theater
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=11********211270&set=pcb.11********544442&type=3&theater
You must watch this live video https://www.facebook.com/udhamsinghhooda while protesting at the spot where Harley Davidson was launching a new bike.
I really want to ask Harley Davidson, do you really feel that all these riders who own premium bikes have so much of time to waste if there is no problem in brakes?
The brakes are not only inadequate but also faulty and develop faults on regular usage. This has been well reported in the international media as well. HDI india should immediately recall and fix the problem.The fact that's in its first upgrade itself the only change they made was the entire breaking system is testament to that fact that know it's inadequate in the earlier model.
It's high time that Harley India shud start taking Indian consumers seriously. Now with other super bike manufacturers in India Harley India shud not take consumers for ride.Moreover we are not asking for recall for some cosmetic changes,it's for Manufacturing Defects.....FAULTY BRAKES...question of life and death...Please wakeup
The brakes of 750 are useless.
I have faced near death situations multiple times becuase of this and my family doesnt allow me to ride anymore.
Harley you need to recall the bikes and make sure the brakes are redone.
I support this poor breaking initiative
Yes there are problem with breaks on 14 n 15 models
I have XG750 2015 Model purchased in Sept 2014. It has seriously weak braking capability.
At normal speeds the bike takes longer distances to come to halt. This jeopardise essential stability of riding this bike.
HD needs take this seriously and provide the necessary recall.
I agree to udham bhai in regard to poor braking system given on 2014 n 15 models.i am facing poor brakes in order to improve it i changed rear tyre mrf vyde n installed 2016 rear brake pades .now brakes improved a bit that bike does does not skid but have down shift to 3 rd gear quickly n apply brakes.problem is it cant be done in an emergency.yes can be done in a condition where one has time enough to do this in order to stop bike effectively.several times i have been luckey but one day i may not be that luckey.
Braking system of 2015 Street 750 is absolutely inadequate for the power of the vehicle. Add to that the poor grip offered by stock mrf tyres, makes it a dangerous mix for the rider and pillion at any given riding conditions. Most unfortunately the brakes detoriate over time. Master cylinders fail repeatedly. Rear brake lever play becomes absurdly long. I have bought a Street bob recently after selling the 750. After riding the Bob I realized how poor the brakes and tyres were on my erstwhile street 750. HD should take responsibility and recall if they care for riders safety. On one hand they promote brotherhood and at the same time they continue to be stubbornly obtuse about this issue.
Braking system of 2015 Street 750 is absolutely inadequate for the power of the vehicle. Add to that the poor grip offered by stock mrf tyres, makes it a dangerous mix for the rider and pillion at any given riding conditions. Most unfortunately the brakes decorate over time. Master cylinders fail repeatedly. Rear brake lever play becomes absurdly long. I have bought a Street bob recently after selling the 750. After riding the Bob I realized how poor the brakes and tyres were on my erstwhile street 750. HD should take responsibility and recall if they care for riders safety. On one hand they promote brotherhood and at the same time they continue to be obtuse about this issue.
I support Udham brother, i ride a street 750 as well which is of 2014 make and i am not happy with the breaking performance. HD should take appropriate action against d 2014 and 2015 street 750 bikes.
The HD Street 750 is a very dangerous motorcycle as the brakes are not in league with the power of the engine. First launched in India, Indians have the guinea pigs for the USA based Harley Davidson company. They have to recall all the Street 750 bikes produced in the year 2014 and 2015. Please don't buy these products as they are not safe. I am an affected victim.
I also ride hd street 750 make 2014
The brakes on it doesn't work properly and we want recall from hd
I ride a 2014 Harley Davidson street 750, but the brakes are not proportionate to the power given, the bike takes a while to stop at higher speeds, which makes it risk my life riding the bike as there is a fault in the design of the braking system, the brake pads were recently changed by the company and they did not even last 4k kms, as i went to them and told them that there is an issue with the brakes, they told there was no issue with the brake as the bike rides perfectly and stops perfectly, after a few days i went to them again and they say i should change the brake pads, for a bike which has to have their brake pads replaced every 4k kms does not make the bike safe on highways, our lives are important, they should recall and accept that they have a fault in their brake design, if we could afford higher budgeted bikes we would never buy a street XG750, the company does not want to accept their mistake, and risk the life of their consumers, its time they accept they mistake as we wont keep quiet this time and fight for our right for the new braking system and save the life of our fellow brothers riding the street XG750.
I ride Street 750 make 2015, breaking system is pathetic.
Last month I been to Darjeeling, Sikkim, Bhutan & Nepal from Delhi and back, however it's quite difficult to handle in hills.
Harley Davidson team should test brakes in Sikkim Tsomgo lake road & Darjeeling.
I ride 2014 HD Street 750 but not 100% compitant on my rear wheel brakes any time on the bike I love my bike I like to ride more often my bike but I can't because I scare for my life that my bike's brake will fail to work the time I need it to work in normal use it does not work at all its like hard foot peddle not even slowing down bike in time I am scared to be on road with this HD brands street750 models manufactured in 2014,
I demand from International big brand Harley Davidson should recall all faulty brake bikes and resolve the issues for safety of the riders on road out there.
Udham you are totally right. I also mailed Harley davidson about my issue but never got the reply back. Selling a substandard product and that too compromising on something like BRAKES is not at all acceptable. I want harley davidson to recall our 2014-2015 XG750 (STREET750) and replace it with a better version. Our lives are important and we do not all ow harley davidson to play with it. Mine was the case when the rear brakes failed while i was on a 3600kms ride (To and Fro)thankfully that situation was not an emergency situation, if it would had been something like that i wont be here commenting about all this for sure. I have lost my confidence on riding my street 750.
I WON'T ACCEPT THE FAULTY BRAKES PROVIDED BY HARLEY DAVIDSON. I DISOWN MY HARLEY DAVIDSON STREET 750
There is a fundamental problem in XG750 2014 2015 models. Starting from brake pads rotar master cylinder brake lines. This bike doesn't have adequate braking capacity. Post 2015 bikes have better braking system. Much effective.
HD India has to take steps to ensure the safety of the HOGS who are affected by this inherent defect. While the bike may have conformed to the. Indian norms if the riders safety is at stake they must assist with a reasonable solution.
HD has a traditional and culture to stand for. Am sure that it will provide our fellow brothers with a solution. If not, faith in HD will diminish and that would not be a good thing for the company's prospects.