2021 Harley-Davidson Street Bob 114. (Harley-Davidson/)

Ups

• Powerful Milwaukee-Eight 114 engine is standard
• Tons of aftermarket accessory options to choose from
• Low seat, easy handling, more power
• Added passenger pad

Downs

• Ergonomics can be tight for tall riders
• Limited range from small tank
• ABS still not standard

Verdict

The good-looking, bobbed cruiser gets a bigger engine this year and remains a good place to start a custom project or serve as a comfy around-town rig with attitude.

2021 Harley-Davidson Street Bob 114. (Harley-Davidson/)

Overview

If you think the Street Bob looks like the spitting image of Harley’s other bare-bones cruiser, the Softail Standard, well you’re not wrong. Although it adds more meat to its bones than the more basic Standard model—fork gaiters! Chrome! Ventilator air cleaner! etc., etc.—and is priced a bit higher, it’s pretty much the same bike. The biggest difference this year resides in the engine bay; the Standard comes only with the Milwaukee-Eight 107 engine, while the Street Bob comes standard with an M-8 114 engine. Otherwise it exudes that same stripped-down vibe, which makes it best for quick hops around town or as an excellent platform from which to launch your next custom build. Despite (or maybe because of) its stripped-down appearance, the Street Bob handles well in most street situations, which makes it an engagingly fun ride.

Updates for 2021

For 2021 the Street Bob is called the Street Bob 114 as it now gets the Milwaukee-Eight 114 engine as standard equipment. This year it also adds a freer-flowing Ventilator air cleaner with an exposed element and 114 badging to the mix, as well as four new unique color options, different finishes, and a passenger pad.

Pricing and Variants

The FXBBS Street Bob 114 rings in as the lowest priced Big Twin to carry the 114 engine, with an MSRP that starts at $14,999 in Vivid Black; colors other than black add $400 to the list price.

Competition

Head-to-head comparisons aren’t easy to find but Indian’s new Chief Bobber model probably comes closest to the Street Bob’s ergonomic and powertrain layout. The Indian comes with a slightly smaller 1,818cc engine and is priced about $1K more.

Powertrain: Engine, Transmission, and Performance

The Street Bob is powered by the air/oil-cooled eight-valve Milwaukee-Eight 114 engine, which all the current Softails carry (in either 107 or 114 variation). When we last put an M-8 114 engine on our dyno, we recorded 82.32 hp at 4,660 rpm and 111.39 pound-feet of torque at 2,260 rpm, which is fairly close to H-D’s claims of 119 pound-feet of peak torque at 3,000 rpm.

Harley claims the M-8 114 engine in this application is 9 percent quicker during 0-to-60 mph runs and 13 percent quicker from 60-to-80 mph in fifth gear than the outgoing model equipped with the Milwaukee-Eight 107 engine. It’s likely helped by the fact that it’s the lightest Softail with the 114 engine too. And there are all kinds of aftermarket add-ons available from H-D or Screamin’ Eagle for riders in search of even more power.

Handling

Although we haven’t extensively tested a 2021 Milwaukee-Eight 114-equipped Street Bob yet, we had plenty of positive things to say about its smaller-engined predecessor, citing its overall light steering and relatively) nimble feel. The tall mini-ape handlebars also provide great leverage in turns.

Brakes

With the more powerful and slightly heavier 2021 Street Bob 114 model keeping the same single-disc front and rear brake setup as 2020′s 107 engine version, there’s no reason to think that its overall stopping power is any better; at the time, we said last year’s model was only “average” in that department. Unfortunately antilock braking is an optional, extra-cost item.

2021 Harley-Davidson Street Bob 114. (Harley-Davidson/)

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

No real-world fuel mileage testing is available at this time.

Ergonomics: Comfort and Utility

With no ergonomic tweaks this year, the Street Bob’s riding position is best described as somewhat cramped, especially for riders taller than 5 feet, 9 inches. The low 26.8-inch seat and a mid-mount control layout (technically, forward-biased mids) can make for a tight hip-knee-foot triangle for those with longer inseams, though the tall bars will please riders with greater wingspans. Solo riders looking for companionship will also appreciate the fact that there’s actually a pillion pad out back this year.

Electronics

The Street Bob 114 comes equipped with an electronic LCD gauge to handle basic bike info, and keyless ignition and a Security system is standard; ABS is a $795 option.

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

Twenty-four months, unlimited mileage.

Quality

Although it does carry a minimal aesthetic, the Street Bob’s new paint and finishes are especially impressive this year, sporting rich colors with lots of visual flair. What few details there are are nicely positioned and applied, adding contrast without bombast.

2021 Harley-Davidson Street Bob 114. (Harley-Davidson/)

2021 Harley-Davidson Street Bob 114 Claimed Specifications

Source: MotorCyclistOnline.com