The Street Bob is Harley-Davidson’s purest, simplest, and cheapest ‘Big Twin’ cruiser. Originally launched in 2006 as a basic, pared-back ‘Bobber’ (hence the name), it proved popular for its affordability and also for being a great blank canvas for customization. The original was a twin-shock ‘Dyna’ with 1449cc, but it later grew to 1584cc, then 1868cc, and, in 2018, gained the new ‘hidden shock’ Softail chassis.

For 2026, it’s grown and been updated again, with the result still a great, pure, unfussy Harley cruiser that’s surprisingly impressive dynamically and also an impressive £6K less than any other Big Twin Harley.

We took a half-day ride on the latest example of Harley UK’s press fleet, in and around rural Gloucestershire, to see how it measures up today…

The Street Bob is the ‘back to basics’ big twin Harley cruiser influenced by the minimalist ‘Bobber’ look of the post-WW2 era.

That era saw disgruntled, demobbed US GIs arriving back in the US, snapping up cheap, war-surplus Harley WLA military bikes and customizing them by chopping off unnecessary bits like fenders. It was also the beginning of both biker gang and chopper culture with painted, personalized ex-military leather jackets and groups, like the Hell’s Angels, named after US Bomber crews. 

For 2026, the Street Bob has gone from the Milwaukee Eight 114 engine to the 117 version (i.e., from 1868 to 1923cc). There are now four riding modes, ABS and traction control, but the essence and spirit are unchanged. Our test bike also featured accessory wire wheels, Dr Jeckill and Mr Hyde pipe, and a small screen.

The 2026 Street Bob starts at £13,995, which is impressive value when you realise the next cheapest ‘Big Twin’ Harley is the £19,495 Low Rider S – or £5,500 more. 

Unfortunately, however, that’s not the end of the story. If you want the Street Bob in any colour other than flat grey (ie metallic black, red, green or this blue), it’s £600 extra, while our test bike also came with optional wire wheels (c.£750, standard it has cast aluminium items), an accessory screen (c.£400) and a Dr Jeckill & Mr Hyde electronically-adjustable exhaust which, basically, allows you to have an illegally loud – or street legal quiet – exhaust at the press of a button (for around £2000).

Like all current Harleys, the Street Bob is available now from H-D UK’s current network of 15 dealers across the country and comes with the Milwaukee firm’s standard manufacturer-backed warranty, lasting 24 months with unlimited mileage, covering all parts and labour. Regarding servicing, like others, the Street Bob also requires its first ‘break-in’ service at 1000 miles with regular check thereafter every year or at 5000 miles, whichever comes first. 

The big news for 2026 is Street Bob’s upgrade from the old 114ci (1868cc) Milwaukee Eight V-twin to the slightly larger 117ci (1923cc) version, which benefits both power and torque slightly (although probably not so much as you’d notice). The result produces claimed peaks of 98hp (73kW) at 4600rpm and 120ftlb (163Nm) at 2500rpm. 

There are also four riding modes (Road, Sport, Rain, and Custom), a six-speed transmission, and a final drive, as with all big, air-cooled Harleys, is by traditional, fuss-free belt.

Obviously, the Street Bob is in no way a performance machine, but in the context of what it’s trying to deliver, it’s more than capable.

Although peak power and torque are both up slightly, power is still under 100bhp. More significant are the low rpms at which those peaks are delivered. While there’s ultimately enough oomph for fairly thunderous acceleration, for day-to-day riding it’s all about lazy, characterful, lumpy drive accompanied by Harley’s classic ‘Big Twin’ soundtrack. 

It’s not for everyone, but it’s evocative, effective, and tremendously authentic. The six-speed gearchange is authentically lumpy, too, to the point of making finding neutral at a standstill a regular chore (but, again, if it was too slick and neat it’d detract from the experience).

The four modes are welcome, too, with Road sufficient most of the time and Sport adding a touch of zing and urgency when, say, hustling down twisty back roads. 

The new single rear shock is only preload adjustable (and doesn’t have, for budgetary reasons, a remote adjuster) while the front forks are Harley’s current, standard, 49mm Showa ‘Bending Valve’ telescopics, which, although unadjustable, are competent.

Wheels, meanwhile, are cast alloy with a narrow 19-incher at the front plus a broader 16-inch rear, both fitted with fairly basic, Harley-branded, Dunlop tyres. Our test bike, as already mentioned, was instead fitted with optional (£750) wire wheels.

As a result, there’s nothing particularly sporty or sophisticated about the Street Bob’s chassis, but, being a ‘bobber cruiser’, there was no need for it to be; you can still have fun.

The ride is fine (although potholes catch out the short travel rear end, which, with the laid-back riding position and thin seat, jars your spine), and the steering is light and sufficiently accurate. It’s no Sportster, obviously – in fact, the Street Bob is getting on for the polar opposite – but it’s also willing and surprisingly capable of bend-swinging fun. 

Braking, meanwhile, although comprising only a single front 300mm disc grasped by a fairly basic four-piston caliper (with a matching 292mm/twin piston affair at the back), is enough, just about, especially if used in combination, and is certainly more powerful than on other, heavier Harleys, which also have a single front set-up.

As Harley’s most basic, budget-oriented (and also ‘Bobber’ influenced) ‘Big Twin’, the Street Bob’s not intended to have much by way of equipment. There’s no luggage, weather protection, not much by way of pillion provision, and only a basic, 4inch analogue style clock. 

But there’s also more than you might realise. There are now four riding modes, the dash has a new USB-C charging socket, and Harley’s ‘Rider Safety Enhancements’ pack, of traction control, cornering ABS, etc., is now standard. 

There are also rubber fork gaiters, new colours, and our test bike came with optional wire wheels, accessory screen, and, most impressively of all, a Dr Jeckill & Mr Hyde electronically adjustable exhaust. This allows you to have an illegally loud or street-legal quiet exhaust at the press of a button and is absolutely brilliant. When I turned onto some twisties, I prodded into Sport mode, thumbed the exhaust button into Loud, and, quite literally, had a blast!

The Street Bob’s riding position is classic, high-barred cruiser. Its seat is an ultra-low 655mm, the saddle is on the skimpy side with an extra small, pillion pad; the footpegs (not boards) are set slightly forward, and the ‘mini ape hanger’ bars, although raised, aren’t as extreme as they look. Overall, it feels like a classic - but mild - Harley chopper, which is part of the appeal - but it won’t be for everyone.

All of that also means it’s not particularly practical, being instead a posing, cruising machine. But even so, the Street Bob is far more versatile than it looks. The low seat, slimness, and light steering make it fine around town. Although comfort is marginal, it’s happily capable of a couple of hours before a stop, and the Street Bob is also more fun down a windy road than it really has any right to be. 

Sure, there’s no weather protection, luggage, or sophisticated features, but it’s also an affordable ‘blank canvas’ for accessories or customisation. So, if you do want to add practicality, maybe in the form of our test bike’s screen, or a pillion back rest, or even soft luggage, it’s easier than on most. That all said, we’d still probably recommend a Harley with those things already fitted, such as the £21K Low Rider ST or £24K Heritage Classic instead...

If your idea of a Harley is for a pure American bobber (or chopper) with no frills or excess at the most affordable price possible, the Street Bob is for you. Harley’s bobber has probably the most straightforward proposition of all its ‘Big Twins’. It succeeds, not just because it delivers precisely on that promise, but because it also actually exceeds expectations – it’s dynamically more fun and surprisingly more versatile than it looks. And all for £6K less than any other Harley. 

The Street Bob also, by definition, has lots of accessorizing or customizing potential, which is part of Harley’s whole appeal.  In my book, that not just makes the Street Bob good, but great value. Which is handy because if I bought one, I’d also have to have the Dr Jeckill & Mr Hyde pipes, probably the wire wheels, and possibly some other stuff, too!

Thanks to Harley-Davidson UK for the loan of the press bike. Check full specs and information at Harley-Davidson.