Harley-Davidson is all set to begin a new chapter in India with the launch of its most affordable cruisers for the domestic market. The company has dropped the first teasers of its upcoming HD 4XX prototype, a new retro-styled offering that will be made in India in partnership with Hero MotoCorp. This is the first project to come out of Harley’s partnership with Hero and the images show a great deal of information on what we can come to expect from the motorcycle.
For starters, the 4XX name promises a 400-450cc offering, which means Harley is going to take on Royal Enfield directly with the upcoming model. Local production gives the bike maker a competitive edge in pricing but the crucial detail will be retaining the brand ethos of the iconic American manufacturer. The teaser images show the bike in the near-production-ready guise at Hero’s Centre of Innovation and Technology (CIT), Rajasthan.
Some of the details that stand out include the LED headlamp and overall lighting, while the roadster styling takes inspiration from the Harley-Davidson XR1200. The tear-drop fuel tank provides a retro flare to the design language, while we also see a partially exposed tubular frame, machined alloy wheels, and a stubby tail section with a LED taillight. The blacked-out exhaust feels rather boring but is upswept, presumably for better cornering clearance.
The upcoming Harley-Davidson 4XX is expected to get 18-inch front and 17-inch rear alloy wheels, and while the rear tyre does not seem to be a wide unit, as Harleys tend to be, this one promises more ride-ability and better cornering too. We also see USD front forks on the prototype and twin shock absorbers at the rear with piggyback reservoirs. The bike gets ByBre disc brakes at either end with dual-channel ABS. Both wheels are wrapped in Ceat tyres.
On the performance front, the motor is expected to be an all-new unit developed by Harley and Hero. The unit will be between 400-450cc and a single-cylinder engine that should produce about 35PS and 30Nm. Another image of the round digital instrument console shows a redline marked 8,000 RPM in the teaser images. That said, Bluetooth connectivity is likely and possibly turn-by-turn navigation too.
The 4XX is a big moment for Harley and Hero MotoCorp and will be a welcome addition to the midsize motorcycle market that already has offerings from Royal Enfield, Honda, Jawa, Yezdi, Benelli, Keeway and the like. Prices should be between Rs 2.5 lakh and Rs 3.5 lakh (ex-showroom), while the launch will be around the festive season later this year. Expect exports to be a strong part of the business for Harley and Hero with the upcoming offering.
Spyshot source: Post office
