Harley-Davidson joined forces with Hero MotoCorp and launched its smallest and most affordable bike in India, the X440.
It’s available in three trims and we recently rode the top-spec, X440 S at Hero MotoCorp’s R&D facility in Jaipur. Here’s our first impression of it.
Though the pictures may not convey, the Harley-Davidson X440 is a reasonably large motorcycle in person. However, it’s lighter than the rivalling Royal Enfield Classic 350, but it also has a large wheelbase and similar seat height.
The X440 takes its design inspiration from Harley’s XR1200 and is a good-looking motorcycle in that sense. The attention to detail is evident and even the proportions are uniform for the most part.
However, there are areas of improvement in terms of the finishing. The plastic piece between the headlight and console looks flimsy and even the finishing could be better in the same area. Even the finishing on the frame is not up to the mark.
Harley-Davidson has powered the X440 with a 440cc single-cylinder motor, putting out 27bhp and 38Nm of torque. The engine is linked to a six-speed gearbox and it’s a long-stroke unit. So, there’s a good amount of low and mid-range pull, making the X440 easy to ride.
Even the throttle response is likeable and the gear shifts are crisp too. The tractability quotient for the X440 is met very well too. While the bike has a nice and brawny exhaust note, we feel the motor could have been a tad quieter.
For the time we spent with the X440 at the track, its handling left us impressed. Even with the 190kg weight and 18-inch alloys, the bike changes directions very well. However, the same is yet to be found out since we only tested the X440 at a track.
Harley-Davidson has offered LED illumination, a fully digital console with smartphone connectivity, music control, turn-by-turn navigation, and call alerts too. However, these are only available on the S trim.
But what about the brakes, suspension, and comfort? We recommend you read our first ride of the Harley-Davidson X440 to find your answers.
