The newly unveiled X440 roadster is the first bike to come from Harley’s partnership with Hero MotoCorp.
A little under two months since we first laid our eyes on Harley-Davidson’s upcoming made-in-India bike, the company has officially revealed the machine. Called the X440, this bike looks more like a roadster than a typical Harley cruiser, sporting a flat handlebar, neutral ergos and a butch design.
- Oil-cooled, single-cylinder 440cc engine
- LED headlight, fully-digital instrumentation
- India launch in early July
Not a lot has changed on the motorcycle since the first pictures emerged, but these new shots do give us a clearer look at the motorcycle. At its heart is a meaty looking oil-cooled, single-cylinder engine that we now know will displace 440cc. Given its displacement, and the fact that it is oil-cooled, it is likely to be a good deal more powerful and torque-y than something like a Royal Enfield Classic 350 (20hp/27Nm). Final drive is in the form of a chain, making this only the second modern-day Harley after the Pan Am to employ chain-drive.
Ergonomics are still fairly neutral, with no forward-set footpegs or swept back handlebar like you see on a typical cruiser. Instead, the pegs are mid-set and there’s a flat handlebar (mounted on some large risers), which should make for fairly upright, slightly sporty seating.
One thing that has changed is the tyres. The X440 was earlier seen on CEAT Zoom Cruz rubber, but has now been revealed shod in MRF tyres that sport a retro tread pattern quite similar to that of the Pirelli Phantom Sportscomp. Wheel sizes are 18-inch at the front and 17-inch at the rear, which gives the motorcycle a nice, commanding stance.
There is a theme of circularity seen across the headlights, indicators and mirrors, while the tail-lamp is an oval-shaped pod that sprouts from the rear fender. The headlight gets an LED DRL bar running across the centre, while the indicators sport some neat detailing, with Harley logos at the centre.
Overall, there seems to be high attention to detail across the motorcycle, and fit levels appear quite good. Areas like the polished cooling fins on the engine, and the fasteners across the motorcycle all point towards this. Though not seen in these latest images, we know that the instrumentation will be fully digital, and take the shape of a round single pod.
The front of the motorcycle is quite chunky, and dominated by the large square-ish fuel-tank, while the rear gets a sleeker look. The single-piece seat kinks up as it flows into the pillion section, and is flanked by some meaty grab rails on either side.
Underneath the bodywork, the X440 is held together by a tubular frame featuring a single-downtube design. It’s suspended on an upside-down fork and preload-adjustable twin shock absorbers. There’s a single disc brake at both ends, and dual-channel ABS is standard.
Given everything we see in these images, the Harley-Davidson X440 should cost between Rs 2.5 and 3 lakh (ex-showroom). Perhaps there will be a slightly different version than the one we see here, which will form the entry point to the range, perhaps with simpler equipment. For reference, something like the RE Classic 350 costs Rs 1.9 to 2.2 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).