- Unveil date set to 10 March, 2023
- 350cc and 500cc cruisers incoming
- To be based on the QJ Motor cruiser
The Harley-Davidson cruiser twins finally have a debut date. The American brand’s most affordable bikes, the X350 and the X500 are set to be unveiled on 10 March, 2023. Here’s what we know about them.
It’s no secret that the new Harley-Davidson cruisers will share the platform with the Benelli 302S while the X500 will share it with the Leoncino 500. This is a result of Harley’s ties with Qianjiang where the latter owns Benelli, Keeway, and QJ Motor. So, it makes sense for Harley-Davidson to borrow the same platform rather than build one from the ground up.
The X350 will be powered by a 353cc twin-cylinder motor dishing out 36bhp. Meanwhile, the X500 will house a 500cc unit belting out 47bhp. The smaller bike is likely to weigh 195kg and could get a top speed of 143kmph while the 500cc twin can get a top speed of 159kmph. Both bikes will get USD front forks, a monoshock at the rear, disc brakes at both ends, and LED illumination as well.
The overall design has been leaked in these images, and we can see that both bikes get round LED headlights, butch bodywork, single-piece seat, and wide handlebars. Apart from the branding and the colours, the entire structure has been borrowed from the Benelli bikes.
Once launched, the X350 will rival the Royal Enfield Meteor 350, Honda CB350, and the Benelli Imperiale 400. Meanwhile, the X500 will have the Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650, Benelli 502C and a few other names in its crosshair.
