There is no official tally of the number of motorcycles sold to nostalgic fellows with Steppenwolf’s “Born to be Wild” playing in their heads but, if one is ever compiled, most of the bikes will be Harley-Davidsons.

The company is indebted to Easy Rider, a middle-aged movie that, for millions of men of a similar vintage, remains a generation-defining classic. The downside is that it is a generation that is passing into old age.

Bohemian dreams of escaping to the wilderness with a mighty V-twin throbbing beneath your buttocks still shifts Harleys but the fantasy is fading

This is the first Harley to combine power and chassis… no appointment needed for corners. There are plenty of fiftysomethings who realise that classic Harleys are slow, heavy and primitive.

Younger romantics do not need to be told.

The original Harley-Davidson V-Rod was aimed at riders not content to be humiliated by Suzukis with engines half their size. Its Porsche-designed unit delivers ample power for the job and its sleek, silver looks separate it from Harley’s leather-and-studs image.

Predictably, the V-Rod appals many Harley traditionalists.

They should be less offended because, at its heart, the V-Rod is still a Harley-Davidson. Despite its high-tech, modern looks it retains the cruiser feel, raked forks and forward-riding controls. The V-Rod has the engine to go very fast but lacks the handling.

Its new partner, the 2006 VRSCR Street Rod, has both.

This is the first Harley to combine power and chassis

The Street Rod is too heavy to be a sports bike but it handles exceptionally. On a Street Rod the rider does not need an appointment to negotiate corners. The fork legs are set more upright than on the V-Rod. The handlebars are narrower. The seating position is the most sports-orientated Harley has yet designed, while the lean angle has been enhanced and the wheelbase shortened.

I first rode the Street Rod around winding B-roads. It felt sumptuous cornering at legal speeds but hinted that it could do more. So, at the Motorcycle Industry Association’s test day at Bedford Autodrome, I broke the habit of a lifetime and rode a Harley on a track.

The Street Rod is too heavy to be a sports bike. It is not as nimble as similarly powered naked machines such as the Triumph Speed Triple, Ducati Monster S4R and Honda CB1300 but it handles exceptionally for its weight and is tremendous fun to ride.

You can push it into bends and emerge smiling and unruffled. Its braking is excellent and delivered without fuss, even at track speeds. I found myself braking later into the Bedford hairpin with every lap. That is not an experience I would have contemplated on any previous Harley-Davidson.

The power difference between the Street Rod and V-Rod is just five brake horsepower but it feels bigger. The Street Rod’s grunt is useable. It is as stable at high speed on a straight as its cruiser cousin but miles ahead when the going gets twisty.

Spin the engine beyond 4000rpm and the top-gear acceleration is exhilarating. Hold it all the way to the 9000rpm red line in second and the sensation is comparable to a jet fighter approaching take-off.

Plant the bike in third through a series of bends and the velvet flexibility of this V-twin is succulent. This is a machine that will climb alpine passes without constant clutch work.

It will also devour urban miles. The upright riding position affords a decent view and its low-speed handling is another clear step forward from the V-Rod. The residual Harley-Davidson personality is clear from the engine note – the guttural bellow is still there, but now it’s not just sound without substance.

Obdurate traditionalists will sneer as they did at the V-Rod. Let them. This Harley is the most advanced machine the company has produced. Even more than the V-Rod, it is built for serious riding, not posing at the weekly meeting of the Harley Owners’ Group.

“Born to be Wild” is not the only song in the Easy Rider soundtrack. The Byrds’ “Wasn’t Born to Follow” better captures the Street Rod’s feel. It’s a distinctive machine designed for riders in search of performance and style.

This is not the fastest bike on road or track but it is beautifully engineered, tremendously comfortable and sufficiently thrilling to get the heart pumping. Bikers who admire Harley-Davidson’s charisma but are not ready for their carpet slippers should try it.

It’s not cheap but it costs less than a V-Rod and Harleys are legendary for holding their second-hand value.