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?
I agree with all my fellow riders. I tried all my level best to drive as slow as possible, reason riding at any high speeds scares me a lot. The braking system installed in my Street 750, Jan 2015 bike is not up to the mark and not as per industry standards. Many a times, my calculations goes wrong in terms of braking, reason it doesn't stop where you actually want it to stop, thus giving a skidding feeling. I am more concerned about my life and my family. I have stopped riding from long time due to same reason. I use it only for city rides. HD should rectify this problem ASAP.
I agree for the same. I jad issues with brakes and always complained with show room service manager. Till now no proper solution for brakes. Harley Davidson shod not take i dian riders benefit . They should recall bikes for free brake replacement. If it would have been another country Harley would have taken it seriously. Government should take action on harley and force them to change brakes for 2014 and 2015 street 750. Government should help us in forcing harley so in future also no one can take our advantage and use flaws of our country rules. This is life risk where the expensive bike hasapoor braking and always there is threat to life.
Harley street 750 brakes are not worth it really risks our life as i am goog fast rider but whenever i ride i just think that will the brake work when i will apply it i am always at a high risk and all this things makes me worry i request hd india to change our brakes
Can't agree more , I own a street750 '14 model , and I realized from the first day itself that the brake weren't uto the mark. At regular speeds the bike brake work fine , but when you are above a certain speed , the bike brake are very less effective, HD was aware of this problem and took corrective measures in the recent models .HD should consider replacing this faulty system of the Earlier 750 models on priority and shouldn't take existing customers for granted
I agree with the above . The brakes on my street 750 are very bad and it makes the bike very dangerous
Hello, this is Vanik Jain from East Delhi.
I own street 750 2014-15 model with severe FAULTY BRAKES, I didn't knew at first that there was such a problem in braking system, and I even complained about the same to CHD gurgaon, the representative of Harley Davidson Service told me that the brake shoes need to be changed, and don't worry the brakes are perfect. But once I saw the posts on Internet and Facebook I then checked out with my friends 2016 model there is completely changed braking system.
I would like to know why are you guys misguiding us and what are you guys doing regarding this matter. Harley Davidson You need to take this matter seriously, you can't just fool around us like this.
We need our bike to be with a proper braking system.
HDI Should recall all 2014-15 models of streets 750 for its faulty breaks and should rplace them with new ABS breaking System.
The braking system always terrify me on my bike.I seriously demand a free brake unit upgrade on the HD XG- 750 2015 make.
Totally agree! Got taken in by iconic name and reasonable price tag to realise that the bike wasn't stable enough. Brakes are definitely not up to mark!
I totally agreed with my brother here.
I faced this isuue copule of times, which almost cost my life!
Due to braking failure, I couldnt avoid a gutter, which bended bith the alloys and broke the shocks!
Secondly, on a down hill road, the rear break completly stopped working and Thanks to God, some how t on shifting dow the gear, I was able to bring the bike ro a halt!
Fight brother, I am with you on this matter, tills justice is done!!
I own a street 750, early 2015 model. The worst problems i have faced in my one and half years of the ownership of almost everybody's dream bike "a harley davidson" is the brakes after a ride of say around 50-60 kms. Obviously, not taken the bike for my routine days work, but for my pleasure rides with fellow riders. But since the pleasure of riding is more of a painful pleasure where i am worried more about the brakes rather than enjoying my rides. Had some hitches before going on rides, but since last month and a half, my confidence has rattled with the brakes of the street 750, and the bike is lying idle in the parking. When asking the service guys, the answer is replace to new system... why are we, as a customer suplosed to suffer for the braking issues in their bike?? If these brakes had no problems, what was the need to change to a new system in later models, the new 2017 line up is supposedly coming up with ABS. I did not buy the bike to keep it standing in my parking but to ride.
"Live to Ride - Ride to Live" but with these brakes? Harley Davidson Motorcycles, please justify this statement of yours.
Owner of 2014 HD street the brakes really lack the bite. & the bike fails to respond in extreme situation had myself in several difficult situations too. I totally agree with each word of mr Hooda & support him till the last breath
Harley is making sub stad bikes in india.my fat bob came out of showroom with a bent handle and they had no explanation. Few minths later had issues with idle air controller and they said its cause of poor air quality in india.recently a spark plug crackes they said its cause of hot indian climate ???????what the hell.if all in india is not meant for this bike then stop selling it in india.
I brought my street in 2015. was in love with this brand wen i first saw it in 2007 and decided to buy one in my life at any cost. it took for me almost 5 years for me to start saving slowly and convincing family to buy such an expensive bike. finally dat happened in 2015 june. but wen i started riding i felt the brakes are completely faulty. i couldnt understand whether i have to b happy of buying my favourite brand or to be sad of buying such a faulty braking bike which is completely worthless. it jus doesnt gve me safety of riding it cos of the faulty brakes . once even had a situation were in was riding at speed of 70 and had to apply brakes to prevent from collision but didnt work and had a very bad fall and ended up with a broken ankel and bruises. when informed at shiwroom and service they said sorry sir cant fo anything as we have issue with the braking for this model. this was the answer given. how do u expect us to ride with such faulty brakes. jus losing the love for the brand because.of the faulty brakes and the response got from the service.
better is to recall the issue with the faulty brakes for the 2014-2015 models or jus leave. we dont want any one else to be hurt or end up in even worst situation cos the faulty brakes.
RECAL THE FAULTY BRAKES. COMPLETELY DISAPPOINTED.
KRISHNA KIRITI
Totally spongy breaks...
Give scary feeling..
Not safe at all... HD Please recall Street
Very true, this bike has not been tested for indian road conditions. The braking is very In-effective and thus dangerous . Not only for the rider/ Pillion but also for other vehicles/ people on the street. Looks like the road safety certification given to this bike is a joke. Even when you ride it as per the traffic norm speeds of 80-100Km/h on highways, the braking is pathetic in preventing collisions/ slip.
# bad breaks( not enough enery dissipation to bring to halt the 250 + 70 kg momentum
# bad tyres
# engine cooling system
Poor design of the brakes on the initial model of this bike. Harley Davidson has claimed that the brakes are adequate but that is not actually the reality on the ground where people are genuinely facing problems with the brakes.
Refusing to accept this and turning a cold shoulder towards owners is utter disregard for their customers.