What to expect from made-in-India Harley-Davidson bike
Delhi : Harley-Davidson upcoming bike (designed together with Hero MotoCorp) have emerged, and while it is an entirely new machine, the design is quite relatable.
What can be seen on the Harley-Davidson motorcycle built in India?
The main development here is a brand-new 400-odd cc single-cylinder engine that is air/oil cooled. The Hd 4xx number plate that is clearly visible on the bike may be a hint that the engine size is greater than 400cc. This might only turn out to be a 440cc single given Harley's renowned 883cc V-twin.
Although the output estimates are currently unknown, given the engine's low redline, torque and mid-range performance are likely to take precedence over high output numbers.
This motorbike appears to be attractive and rather substantial from a distance. The bike has a big, muscular-looking gasoline tank that flows down to the seat, giving the design a nod to the vintage XR1200 roadsters. This is less of a conventional long and low cruiser and more of a roadster.
This new Harley has a USD suspension rather than a telescopic fork, which fits with the way it looks. At the back, two shock absorbers with progressive springs and piggyback reservoirs make things more conventional.
The bike is equipped with dual-channel ABS and Bybre disc brakes on both ends. It is possible to see a round, totally digital display, albeit it is unclear if it is an LCD or a TFT. LED lighting is installed everywhere on this new entry-level Harley. The rectangular taillight looks extremely similar of the Yamaha FZ-X, but the large circular indicators are quite Harley-Davidson. The LED headlamp has a horizontal DRL in the centre.
It has 140-section rear tyres and rides on CEAT Zoom Cruz tyres, which can be seen on many RE versions. The alloy design is identical to what you'll find on Harley's bigger cruisers, and the front wheel appears to be larger than the rear. The footpegs don't seem to be very far forward, and the rider triangle appears to be rather neutral. It appears that in addition to the RTO-mandated saree guard, it will also receive a pillion seat (at least as an additional). This should be a great bike to ride because one of the photographs given shows the bike leaning over quite a little without the footpegs scraping.
The fit and finish qualities on this bike are significantly above those on early prototypes or unfinished test mules, indicating that it is almost ready for production. The fact that this bike appears to be quite close to production specifications leads us to believe that it will be released very soon.
This new entry-level Harley-Davidson is expected to be priced fairly aggressively when it is introduced, and based on how it now appears, it has Royal Enfield squarely in its sights. It would be fascinating to watch how closely Harley is able to place this bike against the Royal Enfield Classic 350, which is now priced between Rs 1.93 lakh and Rs 2.21 lakh. Anticipate a price range around or below the Rs 2.5 lakh mark (ex-showroom, Chennai).
