2016 Harley-Davidson Dark Custom review, test ride

Harley-Davidson recently launched its bikes for 2016, upgrading existing models. Of these, we just got our hands on the made-in-India Street 750, Iron 883, and the Sportster Forty-Eight. Riding to Aamby Valley is always interesting, which is where we took these bikes. Here are our first impressions.

The Indian-manufactured Street 750 is the singularly important motorcycle Harley-Davidson has in India. Since production started just a few years ago, customers have reported lacklustre overall quality, apart from suggesting that the brakes for this respectfully quick bike should be improved. Responding swiftly, Harley-Davidson has upgraded the bike, claiming all-round improvements. And this is what we are here to test. The Street 750 has identical 300mm disc brakes front and rear, with mechanical upgrades to the system. Our ride proved these do now work better, never giving us any reason to complain.

Not only are the brakes better, but Harley-Davidson has also made the effort to improve fit-and-finish on the Street 750. As earlier, the Street 750 delights in terms of its perfectly thought-out riding position, good comfort, excellent performance from the powerful, capable and smooth liquid-cooled motor, along with its good handling. The brake and clutch levers have also been replaced with new ones, that look and feel way better too. However, we did find that several parts of the bike still present an eyesore. Apart from other things, you still see exposed wiring on the right side of the engine section, which really should have been inconspicuous. Being red and white against black, your eye keeps going back to it and you wish it would go away. Harley-Davidson really should have addressed these issues by now.