More stories

  • in

    First Hero Harley Motorcycle To Launch In 2024 – Royal Enfield Rival ?

    Expected to be available in showrooms by March 2024, the first Hero-Harley bike will challenge Royal Enfield in 350cc segmentNew Hero-Harley Motorcycle For IndiaHarley-Davidson’s decision to exit Indian market has turned out to be an opportunity for Hero MotoCorp. As per their collaboration, Hero is taking care of sales and service of Harley-Davidson bikes across the country. Hero is also managing network expansion of Harley dealerships.Hero-Harley partnership also entails development of entirely new motorcycles. The first of these new products has now been confirmed by Niranjan Gupta, CFO at Hero MotoCorp. Along with mass-market products, Hero-Harley will also be targeting the premium segment. An entirely new platform is also being developed in collaboration with Harley.First Hero Harley Motorcycle – new 350cc bikeHero-Harley new 350cc bike is currently in advanced stage of development. The new product has to be really good, as it has been almost impossible to dent the cult-like following and popularity of Royal Enfield bikes. Harley nameplate could be an advantageous factor, but it is too early to make predictions about how consumers will react to Hero-Harley 350cc bike.Not many details are available about Hero-Harley 350cc bike at this point of time. It is expected to have a retro profile and Harley’s signature design aesthetics. To ensure it does not get branded as a cheap rip-off of Harley, the new bike will be sold via Harley dealer network. The new 350cc bike will create history, as it will mark Harley’s re-entry into the middleweight motorcycle segment. As may be recalled, Harley had discontinued Street 750 and the Street Rod 750 in 2021.Harley Davidson 353cc Motorcycle – Design PatentJust a few years back, the options available in 350cc segment were largely limited to Royal Enfield bikes. This space has become a lot more competitive with new product launches from Honda, Jawa, Yezdi, Keeway and most recently QJ Motor. It’s another matter that Royal Enfield continues to dominate with market share of more than 80%. In future, OEMs like Triumph and Bajaj are also expected to launch their respective products in 350cc segment.Hero upcoming bikesApart from the new 350cc bike, Hero is also working to expand its own portfolio. Among the most awaited are Xpulse 400 and Xtreme 400S, which were spotted on road tests earlier this year. These new bikes could be equipped with a 421cc motor that generates around 40 bhp of max power.While the faired version will target rivals like TVS Apache RR310 and BMW G310RR, the ADV will lock horns with KTM 390 Adventure, Yezdi Adventure, Royal Enfield Himalayan and BMW G310GS. Launch is expected sometime next year.Hero is also stepping up focus in EV space. Its first electric scooter Vida is available for sale in Delhi, Bengaluru and Jaipur. More cities will be covered in a phased manner. Hero is also developing an electric motorcycle in collaboration with California (USA)-based Zero Motorcycles. Hero will be investing up to US$60 million in Zero Motorcycles, which will be used for the development of electric motorcycles. Hero has similar collaborations with Ather Energy and Gogoro as well. More

  • in

    Harley Davidson ADV Motorcycle Gets A Price Cut Of Rs 4 Lakh

    Harley-Davidson aims to bring almost all of its model lineup to India and in that regard, we also get Pan America ADVHarley Davidson Pan AmericaHarley-Davidson has been the most iconic American motorcycle company in the world. Okay, Indian Motorcycles exist. Still, Harley-Davidson has its own charm. It has a cult following even today and has spawned thousands of custom choppers by modders too. Harley-Davidson is seen with high regard when it comes to cruisers around the world.But there is rising popularity in ADVs and for a good reason. Just like SUVs are getting more popular among cars. Even manufacturers like Lamborghini, Ferrari, Bentley and Aston Martin make SUVs now. Sticking with ADVs, they can do most things that genre-specific motorcycles can only dream of. Touring, cruising, trail-riding, even off-roading? No problemo for ADVs.Harley Davidson has set its foot into EV world with models like LiveWire and others. With Hero MotoCorp backing the American brand in India, Harley-Davidson has managed to do a lot better in FY2022 over FY2021. The Milwaukee based company even sold out its new electric offering S2 Del Mar in just 18 minutes.Harley-Davidson Pan AmericaTo cater to this rising ADV popularity, Harley-Davidson launched Pan America. This is Harley’s first ever ADV who has been only manufacturing big, brawny V-twin cruisers till now. With changing times, Harley-Davidson, as a company, has grown longer in its tooth and has been branching out to cater to various genres.Harley Davidson Pan AmericaPan America ADV came with a new Revolution Max engine that is only offered with Pan America (1,250cc) and Bronx Streetfighter (975cc). This engine is a lot more performant than the company’s Milwaukee-Eight engine range. Even though it displaces almost as much as an Evolution engine, Revolution Max, like its name suggests, is a revolution to the max in terms of Harley-Davidson engines.Pan America ADV was on sale in India as well and got two variants. Standard and Special. Pan America Standard was priced at Rs. 16.90 lakh (ex-sh) and Pan America Special was priced at Rs. 21.11 lakh (ex-sh). But if we look at 500cc+ sales charts, Pan America has been a hard sell. Especially in 2022. Hence the company has slashed Pan America prices by Rs. 4 lakh. Effectively, Pan America Standard now costs 12.91 lakh (ex-sh) and Pan America Special now costs 17.11 lakh. With new pricing, Harley-Davidson aims to sell more units in India.Specs & CompetitionHarley-Davidson Pan America comes with a 60-degree V-twin Revolution Max engine that displaces 1,252cc while generating 150 bhp at 8,750 RPM and 128 Nm of torque at 6,750 RPM. It is coupled with a 6-speed manual gearbox while Honda Africa Twin offers an option for a DCT automatic. Pan America ADV comes with a large 21L fuel tank for the long hauls. It weighs a hefty 258kg and can hit a top speed of 200 km/h.Pan America Special gets brawny points like a semi-active suspension, adaptive lights, TPMS, spoked 19” wheel at front and 17” at the rear and even gets an option of adaptive ride height as well. With new pricing, Pan America ADV Standard rivals BMW F850 GS, Triumph Tiger 900 and the likes. While Pan America Special rivals Honda Africa Twin, Triumph Tiger 1200, and the likes. Harley-Davidson Pan America seems to be a better priced motorcycle now. More

  • in

    Hero Gets Harley Davidson Back As No 1 In 1000cc+ Motorcycle Segment

    Hero MotoCorp has sold 601 units of Harley Davidson motorcycles in India in FY2022 which is nearly triple the volume recorded in FY2021New Harley Davidson NightsterAmerican motorcycle giant Harley Davidson has regained leadership in the premium motorcycle segment in India which has been propelled by its partnership with Hero MotoCorp. This comes as a truly remarkable feat considering the iconic brand quit independent operation in India back in September 2020.According to data shared by Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), Hero MotoCorp managed to sell 601 motorcycles from the Harley Davidson brand in FY2022. The American manufacturer has nearly tripled its sales as compared to FY2021 when it managed to retail only 206 units.Harley Davidson Takes Top Spot – 1000cc+ Motorcycle SegmentOut of the 601 units sold last financial year, 531 units were above the 1,000cc mark, making Harley Davidson an overwhelming market leader in the 1,000cc and above segment. The iconic brand took control of 37 percent of market share in the last financial year for motorcycles in the 1000cc and above space. In comparison, Harley recorded a market share of 27 percent in FY21.The company’s sales were mostly driven by its latest flagship models Pan America 1250 Special and Sportster S. In process of gaining back the throne, Harley Davidson went past other premium motorcycle brands like Triumph and Kawasaki with respective yearly volumes of 336 units and 283 units recorded in FY2022.1000cc+ Motorcycle Sales FY22Other prominent Japanese brands like Suzuki and Kawasaki registered a volume of 233 units and 71 units respectively. Most of the company’s current success has been attributed to Hero MotoCorp which took over retail operations from Harley Davidson in October 2020, after the latter quit independent operations in the country. The Milwaukee brand’s Indian operation seemed to be in a state of disarray even after 11 years of existence in the market.Possible Reasons for Sales GrowthSince Hero MotoCorp took charge of operations for Harley Davidson in India, the latter has benefitted from the former’s wide distribution network across the country. Since then, Hero has also expanded Harley’s in India network to comprise 13 showrooms and 10 service centres. Further, Hero also restarted customer interaction events like HOG rallies across the nation.The last such HOG event was conducted in Mahabaleshwar between April 9-10 this year, after a two-year hiatus that saw participation from more than 540 Harley-Davidson owners across the country. The next H.O.G Rally has been scheduled to take place in Hyderabad between August 26-27. Harley Davidson has now set up a separate vertical to drive its new business of products and merchandise distribution in the country.Previously, some Harley Davidson models were locally assembled at its rented facility in Bawal, Haryana. The American brand currently retails fully imported models brought to the country via the CBU route which includes models like Sportster S, Iron 883, Forty-Eight, Fat Bob and Pan America 1250. More

  • in

    New Harley Davidson Electric Motorcycle S2 Del Mar – Sold Out In 18 Minutes

    New electric motorcycle from Harley Davidson under the LiveWire brand is based on a modular EV platformNew Harley Davidson Electric Motorcycle – S2 Del Mar will be their most affordable yetHarley Davidson ventured into the electric mobility space back in 2019 with the launch of its electric motorcycle named LiveWire. Since then LiveWire has gone to become a separate vertical within the American motorcycle giant specifically dedicated to the company’s upcoming lineup of EVs.The first model under this spinoff brand was LiveWire One which made its debut in July last year. The iconic motorcycle brand has now revealed its next offering in the EV space – called S2 Del Mar Launch Edition. This new electric Harley Davidson is the second EV offering under the LiveWire brand.Harley Davidson LiveWire Electric S2 Del MarSince LiveWire One is a very costly affair at USD 22k (about INR 17 lakh), the brand needs an affordable EV offering to create a space among mass-market buyers. S2 Del Mar will be priced in the USD 15k region upon launch. This will be about Rs 8.9 lakh as per today’s currency conversion rates.The battery-powered motorcycle is based on a new modular Arrow EV architecture. This new platform will serve as a base for upcoming LiveWire electric bikes like S3 and S4. S2 Del Mar has been built on a monocoque frame that employs the battery pack with aluminium casing as the stressed member. Hence, the steering head, as well as the swingarm pivot, are linked to the battery pack.[embedded content][embedded content]Expected Motor & Battery DetailsThe company is still tight-lipped about exact details of the motor. That said, images reveal the motor sits just behind the pack, near the swingarm pivot. S2 Del Mar is expected to use an air-cooled setup for the battery considering it’s a relatively low-end offering compared to LiveWire One. The motor used in this bike is expected to return a performance equivalent to that of a 700cc IC engine-powered motorcycle. 0-100 kmph acceleration is achieved in about 3.5 seconds.Harley Davidson will be using “21700” type cells for the battery pack that should offer at least a 100 miles (160 kms) range on a single charge. Since the platform is a modular one, the brand can use batteries and motors of different sizes and specifications on future models. This architecture should also host multiple design styles for upcoming motorcycles.Design & Other DetailsSpeaking of design, S2 Del Mar has carried most of the styling attributes from its concept e-bike which follows a flat track theme. New images reveal the bike’s rear end that features the rear wheel, a stubby tail section and a tyre-hugger with an integrated number plate holder. Harley is also expected to equip this electric motorcycle with plenty of gizmos that will be updated OTA.Bookings for S2 Del Mar Launch Edition had opened earlier today. But had to be closed, as the entire first lot of 100 units got sold out in under 18 minutes. India launch of this new Harley Davidson electric motorcycle is not yet confirmed. Debut of the production bike is in 2023. More

  • in

    New Harley Davidson Nightster Makes Global Debut – Full Specs

    New Harley Davidson Nightster has been offered in three colour options including Vivid Black, Gunship Grey, and Redline RedNew Harley Davidson NightsterHarley Davidson has officially unveiled the 2022 iteration of Nightster globally. It is the second model in Harley’s Sport range after the recently launched 2022 Sportster S. However, Nightster is more of a roadster than a full-fledged cruiser like Sportster S and there is a good reason for it.Offered at a starting price of USD 13,499 (approx. INR 10.29 lakh), the latest iteration Nightster reaches showrooms across US from April onwards. It is also expected to go on sale in India soon. Nightster has been listed on the Harley India website.2022 Harley Davidson Nightster -DesignVisually, Nightster hits all the right notes that a traditional sportster should with its chopped front and rear fenders, a round headlamp, a solo bobber’s seat, a peanut-shaped fuel tank and a round air intake cover. That said, the iconic American bike maker has incorporated some modern touches to the motorcycle like seven-spoke black alloy wheels and a single-sided exhaust canister that looks beefy.Dig deeper and one notices some intricate details like the visible fuel tank which is actually an airbox cover while the actual fuel tank is located under the seat behind the side covers. Placing this 12-litre fuel tank this way has allowed a lower centre of gravity for the bike while also allowing Harley Davidson to maximise size of the airbox. One needs to lift the hinged locking seat while refuelling.New Harley Davidson NightsterHardware SetupNightster is based on the same steel trellis frame as Sportster S thus showing its versatility. However, the former’s aluminium tail section and welded rectangular steel swingarm are different in comparison to the latter. The chassis is mounted on 41mm Showa dual bending valve telescopic forks at front and dual twin emulsion shock absorbers at rear which are directly attached to the swingarm.New Harley Davidson NightsterThe low-slung roadster rides on 19-inch front and 16-inch rear cast aluminium alloy wheels. Anchorage is handled by a 320mm disc in front with an axially mounted 4-piston calliper and a 260mm disc at rear with a floating single-piston calliper. An accessible seat height of 706mm accompanied by centre-set footpegs and a wide handlebar pulled towards the rider should provide comfortable riding ergonomics.Powertrain Specs & FeaturesPowering the new Harley Davidson Nightster is a new Revolution Max 975cc liquid-cooled 60-degree V-twin engine that produces 90 bhp at 7,500rpm and 95 Nm of peak torque at 5,000 rpm. This engine is linked to a six-speed transmission via an assist and slip mechanical wet clutch. This 975T is basically a downsized version of the 1252cc powering Sportster S.Harley Davidson Nightster SpecsUnlike Sportster S which comes with an LCD display, Nightster is equipped with a 4-inch analog gauge with a multifunction LCD display. It offers three ride modes including Rain, Road and Sport each increasing in performance and response. Other notable features on offer in Nightster are all-LED illumination, ABS and a traction control system. More

  • in

    2023 Harley Davidson 500cc Motorcycle Spied – Royal Enfield Rival

    New 500cc roadster is one of the many upcoming entry-level models from Harley Davidson developed specifically for developing marketsNew Harley Davidson 500cc MotorcycleIn recent times, Harley Davidson has been working on developing a wide range of new entry-level models for its lineup. The iconic American brand joined hands with Chinese automaker Qianjiang, parent company of Benelli, a few years back for developing affordable small- and mid-capacity engines and platforms.Recently, some concrete details of the upcoming Harley Davidson 338R were revealed online. Although no spy images of this model have been published yet, this upcoming bike is expected to be the first model to come out of this Sino-US alliance. The next bike to be developed as part of this joint venture has also been caught on camera recently.2023 Harley Davidson 500cc Motorcycle SpiedAs per a media report, this unnamed motorcycle has been caught undergoing a dyno test at a closed testing facility. These latest spy shots have been grabbed from a video uploaded by QJ Motor, a subsidiary of Qianjiang Group, and uploaded on a Chinese website. In all probability, this is a new 500cc bike that has been spotted for the first time.From looks of it, the motorcycle shares an uncanny resemblance with a typical Harley Davidson roadster. For starters, it gets a familiar retro design with signature styling highlights like a round headlamp with a silver-colored bezel, a teardrop-shaped fuel tank and a single-pod instrument console. Other visual highlights include circular rearview mirrors, a single-piece seat and a broad bobber-style fender at rear.New Harley Davidson 500cc MotorcycleFurther solidifying its significance is the fact that ‘HD 500′ has been scribbled on the rear registration plate mountings placed on the rear tyre hugger. While the prototype doesn’t boast of a Harley Davidson branding anywhere, it does flaunt its new orange logo on the fuel tank which has been seen in recent models like Pan America and Sportster S.Internals borrowed from Leoncino 500However, underneath its retro design, the bike shares a lot in common with Benelli. For instance, the exposed steel trellis frame has probably been borrowed from Leoncino 500. Same is the case with other hardware components like a suspension setup comprising upside-down forks up front and a mono-shock at rear, radially-mounted brake callipers, alloy wheels and swingarm.In all probability, this upcoming Harley Davidson motorcycle will be powered by a 500cc parallel-twin, liquid-cooled engine that has also been lifted from Leoncino 500. This unit belts out 47 bhp at 8500rpm and a peak torque of 46 Nm at 6000rpm. The 8-valve motor is paired with a six-speed gearbox.New Harley Davidson 500cc MotorcycleExpected LaunchAs seen from the latest spy shots, the prototype appears to be nearing its final production stage, courtesy of a number plate mount and turn indicators. There could be minute changes at the time of its launch like some more chrome touches which make it look more like a Harley Davidson.While the bike’s market launch is expected sometime in 2023, we can expect Harley to show a glimpse of this model at EICMA later this year. It is likely to rival Royal Enfield 650cc motorcycles.Source More

  • in

    Harley Davidson 353cc Motorcycle Launch Nears – Details Leak

    Recent VIN documents filed in USA indicate Harley Davidson 338R to be powered by a 353cc parallel-twin, liquid-cooled engineUpcoming Harley Davidson 353cc MotorcycleHarley Davidson is one of the most well-known motorcycle brands across the globe. Most of their products cater to the large displacement category. The company doesn’t have any significant presence at the lower end of the spectrum.The company tried their hands in the mid-engine segment with Street 500 and Street 750. Unfortunately, that plan did not work as per expectation. The American motorcycling giant is now getting ready to enter an even lower segment of motorcycles – the 350cc segment. A segment where Royal Enfield is the leader with over 90% market share in the Indian motorcycle industry.Harley Davidson shook hands with Chinese manufacturer Qianjiang Motors, parent company of Benelli, for developing an entry-level bike around the 350cc mark. This motorcycle has now inched a step closer to production as Harley Davidson recently filed documentation for the same in the USA.Harley Davidson 353cc Motorcycle – VIN DocumentsThe document in question is in the form of vehicle identification number (VIN) decoder submitted to U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Automakers usually file such a document to explain the VIN format for an upcoming model. In this particular case, Qianjiang has filed a VIN decoder that mentions some details about the upcoming bike.Harley Davidson 353cc Motorcycle – Design PatentEach individual manufacturer has its set pattern VIN decoder. The one in discussion doesn’t match the pattern used by Qinajiang but corresponds with Harley Davidson. First three characters of a VIN are always reserved for the World Manufacturer Identifier, a globally standardised ID code assigned for each manufacturer. In this case, the first three characters of the VIN are “1HD” which is WMI for Harley-Davidson.Harley Davidson 353cc Motorcycle – Details LeakHarley Davidson 353cc Motorcycle SpecsRest of the characters in the VIN decoder reveal some crucial information about the upcoming motorcycle like engine type, engine displacement, year of manufacture and more. Based on this information, we can deduce that the upcoming Harley Davidson 338R is expected to be powered by a 353cc, parallel-twin, fuel-injected liquid-cooled engine. This unit is expected to dish out around 40 horses of power.Expected DesignThese documents also reveal that there will be two derivatives of this motorcycle W3 and W4 with respective VIN codes LWZX350 and LWZX350RA. Patent images of 338R were earlier leaked on the internet around eighteen months back which revealed design of the bike. By looks of its, these patents suggest that Harley Davidson has adopted a neo-retro design on a modern scrambler-like naked roadster.Harley Davidson 353cc Motorcycle – Design PatentProminent styling highlights of Harley Davidson 353cc Motorcycle include a round headlamp with an integrated LED DRL, a chiselled fuel tank, short front and rear fenders, a flat tail section, a single-piece step-up saddle and an offset single-pod instrument console. Patent images also reveal an exposed trellis frame suspended on telescopic forks at front and mono-shock at rear.Harley Davidson would be looking to target developing markets like India and other South Asian countries which have a thing for 350cc modern classic roasters. In India, retail operation for Harley Davidson is currently carried out by Hero MotoCorp. An exact date for its global premiere isn’t known yet but we expect 338R to make its maiden appearance sometime this year.SOURCE More

  • in

    Harley Davidson 2021 Sportster S India Launch At 2021 IBW

    Harley Davidson 2021 Sportster SThe 1250cc V-Twin motor in Sportster S has been tuned to produce more torque and offer more low-end and mid-range grunt
    The Sportster brand has been an iconic range of cruisers under Harley Davidson’s portfolio which has been in continuous production since 1957. Harley Davidson unveiled its latest sport custom motorcycle named Sportster S earlier this year.
    Now it is getting ready for India launch. Today, Harley Davidson India revealed that the motorcycle will be launched at the 2021 India Bike Week, which is scheduled to take place near Lonavala in Maharashtra on 4-5 Dec 2021.
    Harley Davidson 2021 Sportster S – Custom-like Design
    The final production model of Sportster S made its first appearance as a Custom concept almost four years back and still stays very much similar. The silhouette of production-spec Sportster S is retained with beefy twin-can exhausts, chunky tyres and a single-piece seat.
    The bike gets a large skid plate underneath and a nice flat line from tank to seat whereas the massive front tyre and a short fender lends it a classic bobber look. Upfront, Sportster S flaunts a capsule-shaped headlight which looks a little quirky. Other styling highlights such as the flat tail section, with a cowl, single-piece saddle and upswept golden-coloured exhaust mufflers draw inspiration from Harley Davidson XR750 flat tracker.
    Harley Davidson 2021 Sportster S
    The powertrain is highlighted by the use of a Chocolate Satin finish on the magnesium engine covers. The cruiser will be offered in three colour options namely Stone Washed White Pearl, Midnight Crimson and Vivid Black. Overall, the cruiser has been crafted in a manner to make it look like a custom-built bike.
    Hardware Configurations
    Harley Davidson has also updated the chassis of the new Sportster S where the engine now acts as the stress member. This is done to reduce the weight of the bike. Further, the use of lightweight materials has helped achieve an optimum power-to-weight ratio. The company also claims that a stiffer chassis has improved the handling of the motorcycle. The tubular steel frame is suspended on Showa 43mm inverted forks at front and a SHOWA Piggyback mono-shock at rear.
    While the front suspension unit is fully adjustable, the rear unit features hydraulic preload adjustment. The motorcycle rides on 17-inch front and 16-inch rear lightweight cast-aluminum wheels with a staggered, five-spoke design. Braking duties are handled by a 320mm disc chewed down by a four-piston, radial monoblock Brembo caliper at front and a 260mm disc held by a twin-piston Brembo caliper at rear.
    Harley Davidson 2021 Sportster S
    RE-Tuned V-Twin Motor
    The powertrain features a 1250cc Revolution Max 1250T engine at its mechanical heart. This unit is the American bikemaker’s latest iteration of a liquid-cooled 60-degree V-Twin engine which has been derived from Pan America 1250. However, in Sportster S, it makes 121 bhp and 125 Nm of torque which is 30 horses less than what is offered in its hardcore adventure bike sibling. The engine is married to a six-speed gearbox with a slipper clutch.
    While the output is on the lower side, Harley says the engine has been tuned to offer more grunt at low-end and mid-range. The engine also offers 10 percent more torque between 3,000 and 6,000 rpm. The 1,250cc unit also features other modern technologies such as VVT (Variable Valve Timing) and DOHC (Dual Overhead Camshafts).
    Features on offer
    Speaking of technologies, Sportster S is laced with modern electronic amenities including a 4.0-inch-diameter TFT digital console with smartphone connectivity, a six-axis inertial measurement unit (IMU), cornering ABS, traction control, tyre pressure monitoring system, cruise control and many more. It also offers four riding modes- Road, Sport, Rain and Custom.
    Sportster S has been offered at a starting price of USD 14,999 (approx. INR 11.18 lakh). India launch price is expected to be in the range of Rs 15-20 lakh. More