The offshore activities of Harley-Davidson are hardly a secret to anyone. In an effort to enter the Asian market, the American icon has chosen to enlist the aid of international actors. And certainly, the X350 and X500, which were introduced in China, are some of the spectacular results of this relationship. Harley has contributed more than just the fact that these motorcycles were created in collaboration with the well-known Chinese motorbike manufacturer Qianjiang.
You're surely aware of Harley's collaboration with Hero MotoCorp, an Indian motorbike maker. The latter has long been a highly well-liked brand not only in the Indian market but also in the bordering Asian nations.
The company, which until now has mainly concentrated on small-displacement commuter motorcycles, is breaking into a new market with a cruiser developed in collaboration with Harley-Davidson. Even though the new motorcycle won't be available until July 4, 2023, Harley-Davidson India has chosen to release teaser photographs of it.
It has the same naming pattern as its Chinese brothers and is known as the X440. The similarities in styling between this motorcycle and the bikes from Qianjiang are readily apparent. The X440 is a smaller, shorter cruiser with a more aggressive lean angle than Harley's larger cruisers. It now resembles a bare bike more so than a cruiser. Additionally, the relatively high handlebars and mid-height footpegs create a very neutral riding position.
It is obvious from the styling that this motorcycle is still a Harley. The Harley-Davidson logo is imprinted underneath the circular LED headlight. Even though it is formed in a contemporary manner, the body is simple and rounded. The bike also bears a striking resemblance to earlier Sportster models, particularly in the design of its alloy wheels.
Harley-Davidson India hasn't yet released any information regarding the performance, but we may infer the power source just from the photographs. The single exhaust manifold makes the engine's single-cylinder configuration abundantly visible. Additionally, there are numerous cooling fins that appear to be more useful than decorative, leading us to believe that this block will be oil and air cooled. As the name implies, 440 cubic centimeters should be the displacement.
Once it is released, this motorbike will face off against some of the more seasoned competitors in the Indian retro motorcycle market, including the Jawa 42 Bobber, the Benelli Imperiale 400, the Classic and Meteor 350 from Royal Enfield.