Why now you may ask?
When Victory came with the Ignition concept model last year, after they had used the same engine in the Roland Sands Pike's Peak racer, the internet exploded. It looked like Polaris was broadening their range and would be the first big twin American manufacturer to make a serious attempt to build a bike outside the cruiser segment. Harley got nervous and decided to have an answer ready. Just compare these 2 bikes, the similarities are striking.
A few weeks after Harley started working on the Street Rod 750,Victory presented the Octane production model, a very much watered down version of the Victory Ignition concept bike. The reception of the production bike was underwhelming to say the least. And a few months later Polaris closed down Victory, coincidence?
So now Harley beat Polaris in this new American big twin segment. This battle will continue.
Polaris/Indian will respond. They will make a faster, better handling street/standard bike that will crush the XR750 Street Rod in a few months from now, no doubt it will happen.
The question is.. How will Harley respond to that? And so on, and so on,... This is going to be exciting! :))))