Harley-Davidson is planning to develop new adventure touring and naked streetfighter model to add to their portfolio. Also as reported earlier, Harley-Davidson is planning on developing a small capacity entry-level model soon which means the company is aiming for the quarter-litre segment, a middleweight naked segment and the adventure tourer segment to expand itself. The new models are expected to start their arrival from next year onwards.
Harley-Davidson is expected to launch the 250-500cc motorcycle in India, not confirmed though. The middleweight category bikes are popular and comprise of nearly 90% in the global market. Harley-Davidson will first bring the streetfighter followed by the adventure tourer starting next year as the brand wants to make its presence in the profitable middleweight market globally.
The engine specification are scarce at the moment but it is expected that the brand will use a 975cc engine on the Streetfighter. The company also plans to introduce the Pan America 1250 and a 1250 custom motorcycle in 2020.
The quarter-litre Harley Davidson that is expected next year will be powered by a 250cc V-Twin engine and is likely to be liquid-cooled and the engine is expected to make around 30 Nm of torque and will be coupled to a 6-speed gearbox and it is also expected to come with basic features such as a semi-digital display, conventional forks, alloy wheels, etc. The bike is likely to get disc brakes on both wheels and come with ABS
The current entry-level motorcycle in India is the Street 750 which is powered by a 749cc V-Twin motor which belts out 59 Nm of torque and comes with dual-channel ABS for the brakes. The Street 750 in India is priced starting at INR 5.33 lakh ex-showroom.
Details about the engine and price is expected to be available in a few months, once the brand starts testing these bikes for the global markets.. All three motorcycles are likely to be introduced in the Harley-Davidson ‘More Roads to Harley-Davidson’ growth plan. While entering new segments sounds like a good plan, will Harley-Davidson loyalists relate to the new bikes when they have been associated with the brand primarily for the cruisers and chopper motorcycles? Time will tell…