2020 Harley-Davidson Streetfighter Preview

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arley-Davidson formally announced a number of new motorcycles, including this upright naked-style streetbike. Dubbed a streetfighter, The Motor Company says this prototype will make its way to production for the 2020 model year. The engine is a version of Harley’s new multi-purpose water-cooled V-twin that powers both the Pan America adventure-bike and the company's new roadster-looking custom, only smaller, with an 975cc capacity according to Harley. Similarly to the other three models, the engine appears to employ a 60-degree vee with large cylinder heads hide a pair of double overhead camshafts. This will help give the necessary power and performance that a modern naked bike needs to compete in this red-hot segment. A low-mounted slash-cut exhaust looks tough and sounds the part, too, based on what we heard during Harley-Davidson’s promotional video. The tubular steel frame also appears similar to the custom/roadster unit, but the streetfighter gets a stubbier and more rigid-looking swingarm, most likely to boost maneuverability and rear grip during fast-paced rides. The prototype rolls on conventionally sized (within the class) 17-inch spoke alloy wheels shod in Michelin’s older-style Pilot Power 2CT rubber, in traditional sizes (120/70-17 front, 180/55-17 rear).

A pair of cross-drilled discs are pinched by sturdy radial-mount Monoblock calipers from Brembo. The braking setup is further complemented by stainless steel brake lines. Rear braking duties are taken care of by a Harley-Davidson-branded opposed-piston caliper and single cross-drilled rotor.

Unlike its 1,250 custom brother, we can’t tell if the streetfighter uses a cable or hydraulically actuated clutch. We can see that it uses a belt final drive rather than a chain/sprocket setup—just like the discontinued Buell 1125CR.

Suspension-wise it uses an inverted fork and vertically mounted shock absorber, but it’s unclear whether it operates through a linkage or not. The Buell 1125CR utilized a linkage-less direct-mount setup that was renowned for its high level of rider feel.*

Ergonomically this bike gets sportier rear-mounted foot controls and a tallish handlebar with rearview mirrors integrated neatly into the bar ends. The bike’s overall lines are sharp, with pronounced vees used to emphasize the tail, swingarm, and, of course, the streetfighter’s 975cc heart. Equally as noticeable is the fuel tank’s deep cutouts for the rider’s knees—a must during heavy braking maneuvers.

Technical specifications, pricing, and availability are still unknown as of the publishing of this article. Be sure to bookmark this page for updates as they come.