Harley Davidson is gearing up for the official launch of its entry-level bikes today. These would include the Harley Davidson X350, expected to be the most affordable Harley ever, while the other one would be the Harley Davidson X500.
Harley Davidson X350: New Details
The X350 was recently spotted at the US-based Bert’s Harley Davidson dealership, which was being used in the academy for its training purposes. The Harley Davidson X350 was seen equipped with an aftermarket engine crash guard and swing-arm sliders to prevent it from any damage in case of a fall.
Harley Davidson X350: Design
The production-spec Harley Davidson X350 looks similar to the design sketches that the bike maker had shared over a year ago. It features an LED headlight, a peanut-shaped fuel tank, a raised tail section, and a scooped seat. The motorcycle features a wide handlebar and mildly rear-set foot-pegs, thereby suggesting that it gets comfortable ergonomics. As mentioned earlier, the engine crash guard and the swing-arm sliders look like they are aftermarket fitments for the training academy.
Harley Davidson X350: Engine specifications
Although official information about its mechanical specifications is bleak, regulatory documents suggest that the Harley Davidson X350 is likely to sport a 353cc parallel-twin motor that will be paired to a six-speed gearbox. Now, QJ Motor (Harley’s Chinese partner) uses this motor in the SRK 350 and is tuned to produce around 36.2bhp and 31Nm.
Harley Davidson X500: Engine specifications
On the other hand, the Harley Davidson X500 is likely to use the Benelli Leoncino 500 sourced motor. The 500cc liquid-cooled, parallel-twin engine produces 47bhp at 8,500rpm and 46Nm at 6,000rpm. It is mated to a six-speed gearbox. We expect Harley to offer the same state of tune for the X500, although we can expect slightly different gear ratios and a tweak in its power delivery.
Harley Davidson X350: Suspension, chassis and brakes
The Harley Davidson X350 will feature a trellis frame that will be suspended on USD forks up front and a mono-shock at the back. Meanwhile, the braking duties will be shouldered by dual petal disc brakes at the front and a single disc at the rear. Dual-channel ABS is likely to be standard. Leaked documents have suggested that the kerb weight will be around 193kg.
Harley Davidson X350: Launch date and competition
While the X350 and X500 will be officially unveiled today in global markets, we expect Harley Davidson to launch these motorcycles in India sometime in early 2024. Once launched, the X350 will rival the likes of the Royal Enfield Meteor 350 and Honda CB350 RS, whereas the X500 is expected to compete against the Royal Enfield Interceptor 650.
