Harley-Davidson SS250
Mon, January 25th, 2010
IT’S 2-STROKE WEEK!
Featuring a different two-stroke street bike each day.
| 1974-76 Harley-Davidson SS250 | |
|---|---|
| Performance |    |
| Ah, the poor 'spaghetti hogs' of the mid-'70s. The forgotten Aermacchi 175/250cc 2-strokes were lighter and more compact than the archaic, horizontal-cylinder four-strokes they replaced, but nowhere near as tractable. On the other hand, despite a wider powerband, the motor's claimed 20 HP (at the crank) was laughable compared to the hottest 250 two-stroke twins and triples coming out of Japan at the time. | |
| Handling | |
| The best thing that can be said about the SS250 is that its handling is typical for a mid-'70s small-bore. Its light weight and low power are the only things preventing the wholly unsophisticated components from being completely overwhelmed. | |
| Looks | |
| I rather like the straightforward looks. The engine is elegantly shaped, there are no styling gimmicks—it's nothing remarkable, but it is pleasing. | |
| Reliability | |
| The SS250 was among the very last of the Harley imports, manufactured at at time when both Aermacchi and Harley were in quality-control hell. The dealers that initially assembled and maintained them didn't like two strokes or care about the customers who bought them. Harley's small-bores were abandoned by the factory after a few short years, and parts are very scarce today. It's a recipe for disaster and heartbreak. | |
| Practicality | |
| An agreeable bike if it's running right—but that's a very big 'if.' The small size and light weight would be attractive for short jaunts, but the noise and smoke of the two-stroke exhaust would be considered downright anti-social nowadays. | |
| Desirability | |
| Among the last Italian Harleys, and one of the last full-sized, two-stroke, single-cylinder roadsters ever made by anybody, it doesn't deserve to be as maligned and overlooked as it has been. | |
| Overall | |
|---|---|
| Any surviving SS250 is like a stray puppy: they tug at your heartstrings out of pure pity for their pluckiness. Take my word for it: even though you'll feel like a callous jerk, think long and hard about what you're getting yourself in for and don't take it home. | |