1975 Harley-Davidson SS-250
The 1975 Harley-Davidson SS-250 was a mid-size motorcycles based on a Yamaha design and featured a two-stroke single engine. The Harley-Davidson SS-250 was the largest two-stroke single-cylinder street bike Harley offered. |
Harley-Davidson had formed a partnership with Aermacchi of Italy in the early1960s to sell mid-size four-stroke singles under the H-D badge. These were soon joined by a host of two-stroke models as small as 65 cc, and even some minibikes.
But while the larger singles were fairly successful, the times prompted something a bit more modern.
One of a quartet of new mid-size two-stroke singles based on a Yamaha design and introduced by Harley-Davidson in the mid-1970s, the SS-250 appeared in 1975 and was the largest street version offered.
On/off-road models carried the SX prefix, and both bikes were eventually available in 175- and 250-cc sizes.
However, the Environmental Protection Agency was beginning to frown on all two-stroke bikes as a major source of pollution.
As a result, the switch to two-strokes was -- in retrospect -- perhaps not the best choice, and Harley-Davidson quit offering singles of any type after 1978.
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1975 Harley-Davidson SS-250 Pictures
Harley-Davidson didn't find long-term success with two-stroke bikes, including the 1975 Harley-Davidson SS-250 motorcycle, due to pollution issues. Harley advertised the 1975 Harley-Davidson SS-250 as ideal "For the discriminating road and highway rider." |
 The Yamaha-based engine provided decent performance, but its emissions eventually ran afoul of the EPA. |
 Sporting-goods maker AMF purchased Harley-Davidson in 1969, and display of its logo never sat well with Harley die-hards. |
 Tachometer (left) and speedometer used nearly identical gauge faces. |
 A sign of the times: The 1975 Harley-Davidson SS-250 came from a company that made bowling equipment and had an engine by Yamaha. |
 On/off-road Harleys carried the SX prefix, and were eventually available in 175- and 250-cc sizes. |
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