Has anyone gone off road with the street 750 or 500?
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Haven't thought much about that. Mostly concerned about gravel and sandy conditions. Any advice will help.
2016 Harley-Davidson Street 750 in Sunglo Velocity Red
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@Clavinavi is correct that a lighter bike would be better for off road, but people have been making scramblers out of Sportsters and other bikes for decades. I've been looking at making a scrambler out of a Street or Sportster for the last couple of years just to tackle some of the less improved country roads here in Iowa. I've seen some custom built bikes on other forums.
Here are some of my thoughts on building such a bike with mostly bolt on components:
In the thread Rear Tire 170/80-15 member @Cliff showed off the Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR tires (110/70/17 front & 160/60/15 rear) on his Street 750. These aren't true nobbies, but they are a fairly chunky ADV tire. Tubed tires are considered better for off road use, but I'm not really ever going off road.
Spoked wheels tend to have more give when they hit rocks and logs than cast ones which might crack. That makes them preferred for off road use. But laced wheels would run about $2K, which is probably more than all of the other proposed mods combined.
The Tuffside Brat/Scrambler Seat Kit has always been central to my planned build. It includes a tail tidy but does require some frame cutting and welding. I'd probably contract that out.
Progressive Suspension makes some slightly taller shocks which should take care of the back end. I haven't found a good solution for the front suspension.
Biltwell and Burly both make 7/8" MX style handlebars and pegs.
I haven't found many options for a high exhaust other than the Custom garage Full System Exhaust H-D Street Models from DDH Studio, which I kind of like. I think it uses the passenger peg mounting point, so you will be riding solo. They are straight pipes, so it will be loud.
A chain conversion would be nice to have, but there is no off the shelf solution. Since I'm not planning on ever truly off-roading it but just taking the road less traveled I'm OK with the belt.
Here are some of my thoughts on building such a bike with mostly bolt on components:
In the thread Rear Tire 170/80-15 member @Cliff showed off the Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR tires (110/70/17 front & 160/60/15 rear) on his Street 750. These aren't true nobbies, but they are a fairly chunky ADV tire. Tubed tires are considered better for off road use, but I'm not really ever going off road.
Spoked wheels tend to have more give when they hit rocks and logs than cast ones which might crack. That makes them preferred for off road use. But laced wheels would run about $2K, which is probably more than all of the other proposed mods combined.
The Tuffside Brat/Scrambler Seat Kit has always been central to my planned build. It includes a tail tidy but does require some frame cutting and welding. I'd probably contract that out.
Progressive Suspension makes some slightly taller shocks which should take care of the back end. I haven't found a good solution for the front suspension.
Biltwell and Burly both make 7/8" MX style handlebars and pegs.
I haven't found many options for a high exhaust other than the Custom garage Full System Exhaust H-D Street Models from DDH Studio, which I kind of like. I think it uses the passenger peg mounting point, so you will be riding solo. They are straight pipes, so it will be loud.
A chain conversion would be nice to have, but there is no off the shelf solution. Since I'm not planning on ever truly off-roading it but just taking the road less traveled I'm OK with the belt.
Have been offroad many times on Street Rod. The handling is better than I expected, It is only when the sand is very loose and deep, then it gets difficult on street tires. Better convert to chain drive first. I broke the rear sprocket from flying rocks from the front tire, that I think.
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Based on my experience, It's important to note that while nobbies provide excellent traction off-road, they can be noisy and uncomfortable on the pavement. If you plan on doing a lot of highway riding, you may want to consider a tire with a less aggressive tread pattern. Ultimately, the best choice for your bike will depend on your specific riding needs and preferences. For the best result, Shinko 705 tire is a popular choice for dual-sport riders, offering good performance both on and off-road. It has a 50/50 tread pattern and is designed for long-lasting durability. The Shinko 705 is also relatively affordable.
And also the Continental TKC80 is a popular choice for serious off-road riders. It has an aggressive tread pattern that provides excellent traction in mud, dirt, and gravel. This tire is designed to be used both on and off-road, making it an excellent choice for dual-purpose riders.
And also the Continental TKC80 is a popular choice for serious off-road riders. It has an aggressive tread pattern that provides excellent traction in mud, dirt, and gravel. This tire is designed to be used both on and off-road, making it an excellent choice for dual-purpose riders.
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