Harley-Davidson confirmed the development of a small capacity motorcycle earlier this year and now the American bike maker has officially released details of what will be its smallest motorcycle yet. Harley has joined hands with China-based company – Qianjang Motorcycle – and willl be building a 338 cc naked motorcycle. The bike will be manufactured in China, one of the biggest auto markets in the world, and will be exported to a number of countries including India. Harley has also released a render image of the 338 cc motorcycle, which is more of an aggressive street-naked than the traditional cruiser design that the manufacturer is known for.
Speaking about what will be most affordable offering from the company, Matt Levatich, President and CEO, Harley-Davidson said, “Harley-Davidson has always been about inspiring riders around the world. Our More Roads plan is all about bringing our brand of freedom to more people, in more places, in more ways. We’re excited about this opportunity to build more Harley riders in China, one of the world’s largest motorcycle markets, by creating new pathways to our brand.”
The upcoming Harley-Davidson 338 cc naked will be co-developed by the US-based manufacturer and Qianjang. The styling is a mix between a street-fighter and a scrambler, and is more of an urban naked. Considering that a lot of potential buyers for the upcoming offering will be young first-time Harley owners, the company will aim to provide a mix of old and new in design and technology. Although not much has been said about the underpinnings of the new motorcycle, the bike is likely to be underpinned by a Trellis frame with possibly a liquid-cooled, parallel-twin motor, telescopic front forks, dual disc brakes and an analogue instrument console with a digital readout.
The new Harley 338 cc motorcycle will be launched in China first by the end of 2020, and is likely to make it to other parts of Asia and other emerging markets by 2021. That’s also when we expect the India launch to take place with the model likely to be locally assembled at the company’s Haryana-based facility. With its smallest offering, Harley will be taking on Royal Enfield as well as the models to be produced under the Bajaj-Triumph alliance in the 350 cc cruiser segment. Royal Enfield currently rules this space growing aggressively in the middleweight motorcycle segment worldwide. Expect prices to be around the ₹ 3.5 lakh (ex-showroom) mark for the entry-level Harley-Davidson motorcycle.