In Harley-Davidson's 120-year reign as one of the biggest motorcycle brands in the world, there have been countless models that have come, gone, and gone through tremendous evolutions. While many Harley-Davidson riders have their own favorite models, there is one in particular that is favored among those in the Sportster, Cruiser, and Touring classes... the Street Bob. First appearing in 2006 on the Dyna platform, the Street Bob has become a favorite among both beginner and veteran riders. It is almost as if Goldilocks was shopping for a motorcycle. It's not too big. It's not too small. It's easy and fun to handle, regardless of how experienced you are. Not too pricey, but you're still getting your money's worth. You can customize it to your wildest imagination, or you can just leave it alone. Everything about it is just right.

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The Street Bob's Predecessors Were Durable WW2 Army Motorcycles

If you were wondering why this is, here is a little history lesson. In World War 2, the U.S. Army implemented Harley-Davidson motorcycles to transport equipment like rifles, ammunition boxes, medical supplies, etc. They needed to be small and nimble enough to quickly travel through trails in one piece. But, they also needed to be big enough to carry gear, as well as travel long distances with a medium-sized fuel tank. Lastly, they needed to adopt a minimalist design so that both of these goals could be achieved. What they ended up getting was a solid, medium-sized motorcycle that had what it took to get the job done without any features that it doesn't need.

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The Street Bob Is Ideal for Beginners

Fast-forward to the year 2023 and that same mindset can be seen in the modern Street Bobs of today. We still see the roots of its bobber predecessors in its low seat, lean tires, 3.5-gallon fuel tank, and mini-ape handlebars, all while built on Harley-Davidson's reliable Softail frame. When it is fresh out of the factory, a fully-stock Street Bob is made up of only the bare essentials. It is because of this approach that the Street Bob is such a hit among beginner riders. While a smaller Sportster (like the Iron 883 or Forty-Eight) is attractive to some new motorcycles, the Street Bob offers a little more size and muscle without being too burdensome to hold up. And, even though it weighs in at approximately 655 pounds, it is still considered on the "lighter" side when compared to its other Softail brethren, like the Fat Boy and the Heritage Classic.

Its size, along with a low seat are also contributors to why the Street Bob is just as big of a hit with female riders as it is with males. While many Softails like the Lowrider S and Fat Bob have slightly taller seat heights, the Street Bob's seat height of 25.8 inches gives many women the confidence they need to mount their bikes without having to stay on their tippy-toes the entire time. Plus, the bike's mid-mount foot controls let users access the brake and gear shifter while keeping their legs in a relaxed position. Lastly, the mini ape hangers compel their riders to keep their backs straight and their shoulders relaxed. As the result, the bike is shown to improve the rider's posture instead of having them slouched and hunched over. Another attractive feature of the Street Bob is its handling. Much like how its WW2 ancestor was able to weave in-and-out of trails, rocks, hills, holes, and other obstacles, the Street Bob boasts that same kind of precision and maneuverability on city streets and country roads. Thanks to its front tire being slightly skinnier than its larger rear tire, the Street Bob is just as easy to control as a Sportster, but with utilizes the size and comfort found in the Softail family.

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Experienced Riders Love the Street Bob's Range of Customization

If you ask more experienced riders what they love about the Street Bob, chances are you are going to get a much different answer than from beginners. The bike's size, handling, and affordability are all great reasons to love the Street Bob. They'll be able to understand how the bike rides and behaves after the first few days of taking it out on the road. But there is something else that gets a veteran rider's gears going - it being one of the most customizable motorcycles on the market. We're not just referring to adding new handlebars and lights, we mean all of it. There is definitely a large rabbit hole to fall down when it comes to OEM and aftermarket parts for the Street Bob. So much that in the right hands, a stock Street Bob can be transformed into a high-performance work of art. T-bars, fairings, saddlebags, Stage Four engine upgrade, and a forward control conversion are just a short list of things many motorcycle enthusiasts can do to make their Street Bob a one-of-a-kind. In case you were wondering, the Street Bob is also the same motorcycle ridden by Jax Teller (Charlie Hunnam) in the hit FX series Sons of Anarchy.

As previously mentioned, the Street Bob is a very beginner-friendly bike. Because it is easy to learn, for veteran riders, it is also easy to master. Plus, with the newer models coming equipped with the Milwaukee-Eight 114 V-twin engine, this bike offers the speed demons all the torque and power they could ask for in a lighter softail. And for the serious adrenaline junkies, the 2023 Harley-Davidson Street Bob 114 has a maximum factory upgrade of up to 131 cubic inches. So that much power housed inside a medium-size motorcycle is more than enough to satisfy even the most aggressive riders. A bike that is based on simplicity has the potential to be customized for any kind of riding style. Are you more of a long-distance cruiser? Do you prefer taking the curvy back roads around town? Would you rather ride on a high-performance bike that favors speed and power? Or do you just want something easy to get your feet wet? Whatever kind of riding style suits you, the Street Bob can do it all.