Harley-Davidson has been working on a range of accessible motorbikes. These will feature lower capacity 300-500cc engines making the American brand more accessible to a larger audience. Now, the X350 and the X500 have been revealed ahead of their Chinese market launch.
As seen in the video, the X350 and larger X500 will come with a liquid cooled parallel twin engine. This is a stark change from the conventional big bore V-twins of the typical Harleys. These bikes have been made in partnership with Chinese company Qianjiang Motorcycle.
In terms of appearance, the bikes can be said to have a neo-retro design language. We can even see hints of similarities with the XR1200 of the yesteryears.
Coming to the kit, the bikes get all-LED lights, upside-down front fork suspension and an off-set rear mono shock and disc brakes on both ends. Driver information is taken care off by a small analogue speedometer.
While power outputs are not yet known, based on other QJ Motor engines of similar capacity, we can expect the smaller X350 to develop around 30-33 HP while the bigger X500 could make around 50 HP.
In terms of rider aids, expect only ABS to make its way to the feature list. In a bid to keep prices in check, other electronic aids could be left out.
In India, American bike maker Harley-Davidson and India’s Hero MotoCorp have partnered to develop a range of premium motorcycles. The first bike from this partnership could see the light of the day by March 2024.
India is one of the largest two-wheeler markets in the world. The duo plans to enter the middleweight segment initially, that is, the 350-850cc engine capacity motorcycles. Hero will sell the new bike via both the brand’s outlets. In terms of timeline, the company has eyed the next two years to develop the first bike, targeting the volume segment and developing a new motorcycle platform.
Also Read – Harley-Davidson motorcycle developed with Hero MotoCorp launch in 2024.