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Tag: motorcycle

  • Tokyo Motorcycle Show Cancelled

    Tokyo Motorcycle Show Cancelled

    The 48th edition of the Tokyo Motorcycle Show has been canceled due to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak, the Tokyo Motorcycle Show Association has announced. The Tokyo Motorcycle Show was scheduled to be held in the spring of 2021, but considering the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the organizers have decided to cancel the event. The organizers hope to hold the next show in 2022. According to the Japanese publication, Young Machine, the original theme of the 2021 event was meant to be “seeing, touching, and experiencing.”

    The Tokyo Motorcycle Show is one of the biggest motorcycle events around the world, and the Japanese big four manufacturers usually save some of their biggest new models, as well as the most exciting innovations, and the most important launches for the event. The decision to cancel the show will be a disappointment for motorcycle manufacturers, with several other international shows for the year already canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The most popular European show, the EICMA show in Milan, has been canceled, as well as the Intermot show in Cologne, Germany. The UK’s Motorcycle Live show has also been canceled for this year.

    Instead of a physical event where OEMs usually showcase new models and technologies, manufacturers and organizers are expected to host a series of online reveals and ‘shows’ of their own. The change from a physical show has its advantages, of reaching to a wider audience around the world. But there’s nothing like an actual show, where the latest designs and models are on display to be seen up close and make a more personal connection with upcoming motorcycles.

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  • Harley-Davidson Street 750 To Be Discontinued

    Harley-Davidson Street 750 To Be Discontinued

    Harley-Davidson has announced the brand’s decision to discontinue sales and manufacturing operations in India, as part of the brand’s ‘Rewire’ strategy. Harley-Davidson India has released a press statement saying that the company will shut down its manufacturing facility in Bawal, and the sales office in Gurugram will be significantly reduced in size. The made-in-India Harley-Davidson models, the Harley-Davidson Street 750 and the Harley-Davidson Street Rod will now be discontinued. According to a source, a decision to discontinue the Street range was taken months ago, and that is why Harley-Davidson India was offering massive discounts on these models.

    Only last month, Harley-Davidson announced massive price cuts on the Street range of motorcycles. The Street 750, India’s highest-selling Harley-Davidson motorcycle, is also the most affordable, and the company announced a price cut of ₹ 65,000, lowering the price to ₹ 4.69 lakh (Ex-showroom). The Harley-Davidson Street Rod, on the other hand, was offered with price cuts of ₹ 77,000 with prices starting at ₹ 5.99 lakh (Ex-showroom). In fact, Harley-Davidson Street 750 used to Harley-Davidson India’s highest-selling model, accounting for over 80 percent of Harley-Davidson’s sales in India for several years in a row.

    According to one source familiar with the developments, the price cuts for the Street range were announced to liquidate existing stock of motorcycles. With Harley-Davidson planning to shut down manufacturing operations in India, both the Street 750 and Street Rod would have been discontinued anyway. Now, Harley-Davidson has said that the dealership network in India, totaling 33 across the country, will continue to support existing customers through the contract term. But each dealership will have a different contract term and there’s still no concrete announcement on how existing customers will be served in the future, in terms of service and spares.

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  • Benelli May Launch A New Four-Cylinder Motorcycle

    Benelli May Launch A New Four-Cylinder Motorcycle

    Benelli may showcase a brand-new sportbike with a new inline four-cylinder engine at the China International Motorcycle Trade Expo (CIMA) which will take place at Chongqing from September 19, 2020 till September 22, 2020. CIMA is set to be one of the only large motorcycles shows to be held this year, with both the EICMA and Intermot shows being canceled. Benelli, which is owned by Chinese giant Qianjiang Group, is set to showcase several new and upcoming motorcycle models at the CIMA.

    The brand is teasing the new bike and new engine on the Chinese language website, and there are no details available yet, other than what we can see from the images. And from the looks of it, Benelli will be unveiling a new motorcycle, as well as a new four-cylinder engine, although if both are related is not clear at this stage. The bike may not come fitted with the new engine and has been teased with the image of a covered motorcycle. And considering the image is not of a real motorcycle, it’s difficult to ascertain what kind of bike it will be. But one of Benelli’s most anticipated bikes is the slightly bigger adventure tourer, with a 800 cc parallel-twin engine, and it could very well be that, the new Benelli TRK 800, which will be unveiled at the show.

    If it’s indeed the TRK 800, which will be showcased at the CIMA, then the engine will probably be a standalone unveil. From the pixelated image, it’s not easy to make out the details of the engine, but what is clear is that it’s a four-cylinder motor with double overhead cams and liquid-cooling. From what we can make out, the engine doesn’t look like Benelli’s existing 600 cc inline-four, which is used in the Benelli TNT 600i, so this could be a new engine. The only question that remains is what kind of bike will this new four-cylinder engine be used on? From all indications, Benelli may be planning a new model offensive, apart from updating its existing line-up with new styling and feature updates. More details will be revealed at the CIMA.

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  • Honda Motorcycle And Scooter India To Launch A New Premium Motorcycle This Month

    Honda Motorcycle And Scooter India To Launch A New Premium Motorcycle This Month

    Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India are all set to launch a new premium motorcycle on September 30, 2020. But which motorcycle is it exactly, is still a mystery. For all you know, it could be the Honda CBR1000RR-R, whose bookings started in July itself. But our sources suggest that it is likely to be an all-new model, which will have a displacement between 300 cc to 500 cc and the model is likely to go up against Royal Enfield, the king of the segment in that range.

    Honda has updated its 500 cc range of motorcycles for 2021 featuring all-new color schemes, as well as other minor changes to bring them in line with the latest emission regulations for global markets. These include the Honda CB500X, Honda CBR500R, and the Honda CB500F. So the new model could be one of the updated 500 cc models too.

    We suspect that Honda is likely to use an existing international model, set it up according to India (specifications and equipment), and introduce it as a new model. The company did something similar with the Honda Hornet 2.0. It is based on the CB190R, which is an international model.

    Though, the one detail Honda confirms is that the new motorcycle will be an all-new model for India. The new model will be retailed through Honda’s BigWing network which exclusively caters to sales and after-sales of Honda’s premium 300 cc plus bikes. Expect the company to release more information closer to the date of the launch.

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  • Ducati Panigale V2 India Launch Date Revealed

    Ducati Panigale V2 India Launch Date Revealed

    Ducati India has revealed that the Ducati Panigale V2 will be launched in India on August 26, 2020. The Panigale V2 will be the first Bharat Stage 6 (BS6) compliant Ducati bike to be launched in India. It will replace the Panigale 959 and is designed in a way that it resembles its elder sibling, the Panigale V4. The fairing has been redesigned and the headlamp cluster has been slightly tweaked as well. The other substantial change is that the Panigale V2 now gets a single-sided swingarm like the Panigale V4 while the 959 Panigale had a conventional swingarm.

    The Ducati Panigale V2 gets a 955 cc super-Quadro L-twin motor that makes 155 bhp at 10,750 rpm and has a peak torque output of 104 Nm at 9,000 rpm. The peak power and torque go up by 5 bhp and 2 Nm. The USP is that the motorcycle has a dry weight of just 176 kg, which means the power to weight ratio will be incredible. The engine is Euro V or BS6 compliant and gets a few new components as well.

    The electronics package includes 6-axis inertial measurement-assisted traction control, called the Ducati Traction Control EVO 2, wheelie control, and cornering ABS and ABS. There is a bi-directional up/down quick-shifter as well along with engine braking control. There are three riding modes on offer, which are Race, Sport and Street. The settings for each riding mode can be adjusted via the new 4.3-inch TFT instrument console.

    The new Panigale V2 gets Showa Big Piston Forks upfront, a fully adjustable Sachs monoshock at the rear, with a steering damper. The electronic suspension is not offered on the Panigale V2. The travel for the front and rear suspension is 120 mm and 130 mm respectively. Braking is handled by Brembo M4.32 monobloc calipers and Brembo master cylinders with twin 320 mm discs on the front wheel. The front and the rear get a 5-spoke alloy 17-inch alloy wheel. The front wheel is wrapped in Pirelli Diablo Rosso Corsa II 120/70 ZR17 rubber while the rear wheel gets a fatter Pirelli Diablo Rosso Corsa II 180/60 ZR17 unit.

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  • European Motorcycle Industry Appeals For Extension Of Euro 5 Deadline

    European Motorcycle Industry Appeals For Extension Of Euro 5 Deadline

    The global motorcycle industry has been hit hard by the novel coronavirus outbreak. In Europe, brands like Ducati, KTM, BMW and MV Agusta have all halted production in the battle against the COVID-19 outbreak. A few European motorcycle brands are citing supply chain slowdowns and retail shutdowns, in order to justify delaying the Euro 5 emission standards by as much as six months, or up to even a year. From January 1, 2021, every new motorcycle sold in the European Union will have to comply with the Euro 5 regulations.

    The European motorcycle industry association, ACEM, is working on possible solutions but has also appealed for an extension of the Euro 5 deadline. The ACEM has reportedly started pushing the EU to postpone the final adoption date of Euro 5 by a full 12 months, giving manufacturers, as well as dealers, another year to clear stock of Euro 4 models and prepare their Euro 5 successors. In a statement, the ACEM said that it has pushed for the delay in the deadline.

    “The ongoing pandemic o 5 models. This disruption, in addition to virus containment measures taken in factories, has led to a near-complete standstill of the industry in many countries. The recent lock-down and stringent measures to contain the pandemic have also paralyzed motorcycle retail business activity. This is progressively affecting all European markets, creating unsettling uncertainties for the motorcycle sector. The COVID-19 crisis is placing dealerships, most of which are small family-run operations, under extreme financial hardship. Immediate cash flow concerns will need to be addressed through support measures in every impacted country.

    “Against this background, the motorcycle industry urgently calls on the European Commission and national administrations to swiftly adopt all necessary measures to help the sector come through this unprecedented crisis. The motorcycle sector is ready to work with all policymakers to achieve this aim, protecting the 300,000 jobs linked to this industry.”

    Unlike the BS6 regulations in India, in Europe, manufacturers have been given a lot of time, with the deadlines chalked out well in advance, with the final implementation laid out in 2013. But now it seems that a lot of modern motorcycles have yet to be approved to meet the Euro 5 standards. Some of those motorcycles will need minor updates, but others will need to be completely revamped, and in the current situation it appears to be difficult that these models will be allowed to be sold after December 31, 2020

    Many current motorcycle models, across brands like Ducati, BMW, Kawasaki, Yamaha and Suzuki still don’t meet the Euro 5 regulations, although some are described as “Euro 5-ready”, meaning they will still need to go through final testing to get the Euro 5 certification. What is clear is that the motorcycle industry across the world will be under pressure, even if, and when, the world moves out of the coronavirus pandemic. So far, it’s still not clear how the European Union will react to pressure to delay the introduction of Euro 5. Either way, the industry will be under pressure and will take several months to make a turnaround, that is certain.

  • Honda Motorcycle And Scooter India To Start Testing A New Electric Scooter

    Honda Motorcycle And Scooter India To Start Testing A New Electric Scooter

    Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI), the second-largest two-wheeler brand by volume in India, is all set to start testing an electric scooter. While HMSI has time and again maintained that there’s no plan for developing electric two-wheelers, the latest development does seem to indicate that Honda will now test waters to possibly develop an electric two-wheeler. The development comes after we brought you an exclusive report about India’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer, Hero MotoCorp, working on the Hero eMaestro electric scooter. Now, it seems Honda is not averse to working on an all-electric two-wheeler after all. While electric vehicles do seem to be the next growth of the automotive industry, Honda has not confirmed a timeline, or if at all an electric scooter will be developed and launched in India.

    Yadvinder Singh Guleria, Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing, HMSI, said, “We are bringing one of our electric scooters to India which will be basically used for the study. We will be doing a market survey and feasibility survey with this model and decide on the roadmap of future EVs of Honda in India. It’s very difficult to set the next future line-up but the survey will be starting in the next three to four months.”

    However, Honda hasn’t shared any plans about launching the scooter in India yet as the EV industry is still in a nascent stage. Though the industry is trying to speed up the process of EV adoption, there are quite a few complications automakers will have to resolve in a bid to make EVs as viable as any regular two-wheeler. “We see that there is an effort by the Indian two-wheeler makers as well as the Society Of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) and certain talks are there. But there are other challenges as well in terms of the EV infrastructure, in terms of charging infrastructure, the real performance of the vehicle and the range of the vehicle. So, these are the challenges, in the long run, the industry really will have to tackle,” Guleria added.

    Honda is yet to share details about the scooter that will undergo testing in India and chances of it making to production will depend on its real-world performance on the road and how well the industry can deal with the challenges. For now though, there’s no concrete word on if Honda will go on to the next phase of designing and developing an electric two-wheeler for India. The feasibility study with the electric scooter may be the first step in that direction. With more and more mainstream two-wheeler manufacturers going electric, Honda definitely doesn’t want to be left out. TVS Motor Company has already launched the iQube electric scooter, and Bajaj Auto has revived the legendary Chetak name in the company’s new electric scooter. With Hero MotoCorp also planning to launch the eMaestro, Honda certainly seems to be looking to join the electric bandwagon as well.

  • Motorcycle market continues to shrink

    Motorcycle market continues to shrink

    Vietnam’s motorbike sales fell the third straight quarter by 3.8 percent to 831,500 units in Q3.

    Sales for the top five brands, which account for around 95 percent of the market, had fallen 6.13 percent in the first quarter and 4.39 percent in the second, according to the Vietnam Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers (VAMM).

    Honda has a nearly 77 percent market share, with Piaggio, Suzuki, SYM, and Yamaha making up the top five.

    UnitsMotorcyles sales by quarter VAMM membersQ1 2018Q2 2018Q3 2018Q4 2018Q1 2019Q2 2019Q3 20190250k500k750k1 000kSource: VAMM

    In the first nine months together they sold around 2.33 million units, down 5 percent, VAMM data shows.

    Although motorcycles remain the major mode of transport, the increasing frequency of traffic jams and air pollution, especially in big cities, are causing their sales to gradually fall, local experts said.

    VAMM had earlier said that falling motorbike sales were because the market was near saturation. It has decided not to hold its annual motorcycle exhibition this year for this reason.

    With sales of nearly 3.4 million units last year, Vietnam was the world’s fourth-biggest motorcycle market after India, China and Indonesia, according to a recent report by market research firm Motorcycles Data.

    Last year, Vietnam had the highest proportion of people buying new motorbikes, with over 35,000 new motorbikes sold per one million people.

    At the end of 2016, there were 45 million registered motorbikes in Vietnam, a country of over 92 million people, according to the Ministry of Transport.

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  • New Benelli Motorcycle Launch Details Disclosed

    New Benelli Motorcycle Launch Details Disclosed

    Benelli India is all set to launch a new motorcycle in India towards the end of October 2019. We believe that it could be the Imperiale 400. At the launch of the Leoncino 500, the company had confirmed that it will be launching three new products by the end of 2019 which were TRK 250, Leoncino and the Imperiale 400. We believe that it is going to be the Imperiale 400, which will be launched in October 2019. The Imperiale 400 will go up against Jawa and the Royal Enfield Classic 350.

    What’s interesting to know is that the Benelli Imperiale 400 will see a lot more local content going into it than the TRK 502 and the Leoncino, which should help keep the prices competitive. While the company did not confirm the percentage of local content on the cruiser, we should get a fair idea on the same at the time of launch. The local assembly will help the Imperiale 400 stay accessible to bigger customer base with a price around the ₹ 2-2.5 lakh (ex-showroom) mark. It may not undercut the locally manufactured Royal Enfield Classic 350 or the Jawa at this price point, but certainly will be a compelling alternative.

    The Benelli 400 gets a 373.5 cc single-cylinder engine with fuel injection that churns out 19 bhp at 5,500 rpm and 28 Nm of peak torque at 3,500 rpm. The motor is paired to a 5-speed gearbox. The bike uses a double-cradle steel tube frame underneath and is suspended by telescopic forks upfront and dual shock absorbers at the rear. The vintage-looking cruiser comes with disc brakes at either end with dual-channel ABS as standard. The bike has a kerb weight of 200 kg and a fuel tank capacity of 12 litres.

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  • Harley-Davidson Street 750 10th Anniversary Edition Launched In India

    Harley-Davidson Street 750 10th Anniversary Edition Launched In India

    American motorcycle manufacturer Harley-Davidson completes ten years in India this year, and to commemorate the occasion, the company has introduced a limited edition version of its entry-level offering. The Harley-Davidson Street 750 10th Anniversary Edition is priced at ₹ 5.47 lakh (ex-showroom, India) and becomes the first motorcycle in the bike maker’s line-up to meet the upcoming BS6 emission norms. The special model is about ₹ 13,000 more expensive than the standard version, and production is restricted to just 300 units in order to maintain the exclusivity on the model.

    The Harley-Davidson Street 750 10th Anniversary Edition remains largely identical to the standard model, but you do get the new Indian motif on the fuel tank and on the tail section just above the taillight. The bike continues to sport black finished alloy wheels, along with fork gaiters on the front forks. The short seat remains the same too on the 2020 Street 750.

    Mechanically, the Harley Street 750 anniversary edition the same components. The bike draws power from the same 749 cc liquid-cooled, V-Twin Revolution X engine that has been upgraded for the new and stringent emission norms, and churns out 60 Nm of peak torque at 3750 rpm, while paired with a 6-speed gearbox. The bike uses telescopic forks up front and twin shocks at the rear for suspension duties, while braking performance comes from disc brakes with dual-channel ABS.

    Apart from announcing the new Street 750, Harley-Davidson India also unveiled the LiveWire in the country. The production-spec version of the much-awaited motorcycle remains only an unveil for now and there has been no announcement on the launch of the motorcycle.

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  • Honda Deauville Touring Motorcycle May Be Re-Introduced

    Honda Deauville Touring Motorcycle May Be Re-Introduced

    Reports from France suggest that Honda may be working on a new version of its once-popular touring motorcycle with the Deauville name. According to French motorcycle website Motostation.com, the new Honda Deauville will be based on the current Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin. So, according to the report, the new bike will feature the same 998 cc, liquid-cooled engine which puts out under 100 bhp of power and 97 Nm of peak torque and will also feature the automatic dual-clutch transmission (DCT) as well.

    The mid-range touring motorcycle with the Honda Deauville name was in production from 1998 till 2013, and was named after the popular French seaside resort. The old Deauville had a liquid-cooled v-twin engine and featured a shaft drive, with the first generation model featuring a 650 cc v-twin engine. The second-generation model (2002-2005) featured updated bodywork, enlarged panniers and some technical modifications. The third-generation model (2006-2013) got an engine displacement bump to 680 cc, and was eventually discontinued in 2013.

    So far, Honda doesn’t have a pure road-going touring model, apart from the Africa Twin adventure touring model and the Honda Gold Wing at the luxury end of touring. The Deauville could well meet a niche segment which doesn’t seem to have too many models in the touring category from many manufacturers at this stage. So, will Honda go the dedicated touring way and introduce a new model with hard panniers and mini Gold Wing looks? Time will tell. But for now, it’s interesting news to see that Honda is at least looking at possible demand, at least in Europe for now, for such a model, if at all it is introduced.

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  • Harley-Davidson LiveWire Electric Motorcycle Unveiled

    Harley-Davidson LiveWire Electric Motorcycle Unveiled

    Harley-Davidson has unveiled the production version of its first electric cruiser and it is expected to go on sale in 2020. The Harley-Davidson LiveWire made its debut as a concept at the EICMA 2018 motorcycle show and at the Consumer Electronic Show (CES) 2019, the American motorcycle maker had announced that it will take pre-orders for its first electric model. Harley-Davidson intends to work on a complete range of electric motorcycles and the LiveWire will kick things off for the company in the electric mobility space. The bike maker has also revealed the pricing on the Livewire that costs $30,000 in the US (around ₹ 20.56 lakh).

    The LiveWire is powered by a new electric motor which Harley-Davidson calls the “Revelation” drivetrain. The new drivetrain uses a belt drive to power the motorcycle forward. The electric bike also comes with a number of advanced features like a telematics system called H-D Connect which gives data about the motorcycle’s battery charge and service reminders to the owner via Harley’s connected app. Harley-Davidson aims to make LiveWire the first cellular-connected electric motorcycle.

    The company has already revealed the specifications and details about the performance of the LiveWire and claims that it can clock triple digit speed in just 3.5 seconds along with a top speed of 177 km on a single charge. The manufacturer claims a range of 235 km on a single charge. Ride assist features on the LiveWire include traction control and anti-lock braking system (ABS) which will be assisted by an inertial measurement unit (IMU). Moreover, it also features a signature Harley-Davidson sound as it accelerates.’ Additionally, the LiveWire gets rear-set pegs, Brembo calipers and a steel trellis frame with inverted Showa forks and a monoshock at the rear. It is also packed with equipment like multiple rider modes, Bluetooth connectivity and a full-colour TFT instrument console.

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  • Official Designs Reveal Aprilia RS 660

    Official Designs Reveal Aprilia RS 660

    The Supersport class may not be getting much interest from consumers, across all brands, but now Aprilia seems intent to introduce a new 660 cc motorcycle, the Aprilia RS 660, which was showcased as a concept at the EICMA 2018 show in Milan, Italy, last year. Aprilia has revealed production drawings of the RS 660. From the concept showcased at the EICMA show, the design is nearly identical, but a closer look reveals that the production drawings show reveals that almost every body panel has been completely redesigned.

    The powerplant and other elements though remain the same as the concept, including the 660 cc, parallel-twin engine. The bike’s fairing has undergone some changes in design on the production drawings, with reshaped side panels as well as some changes in the cycle parts. The production design reveals the bike will sport Sachs suspension and Brembo Monoblocs, while the concept featured Ohlins suspension and Brembo Systema calipers. A top-spec production variant could also feature the Ohlins and Systema hardware which could be introduced at a later stage once Aprilia introduced the production model of the RS 660. The wheel design is also different on the production drawings.

    The triple clamp on the steering is a straight lift from the Aprilia RSV4, while the clip-on handlebars have a less aggressive riding position – placed higher and are significantly straighter than the ones shown on the concept. The swingarm seems to be completely new, but the single seat design has remained the same on the production model. We expect the production-spec Aprilia RS 660 to be showcased at this year’s EICMA 2019 show in November.

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  • BMW Concept R18 Revealed

    BMW Concept R18 Revealed

    While BMW Motorrad has a motorcycle or two for almost every occasion and enthusiast, what it lacked was a retro-styled, chrome-laden, laidback cruiser motorcycle, something similar to what Harley-Davidson motorcycles have to offer. But that is set to change. At this year’s Concorso, d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, BMW took the wraps of the Concept R18. It is a beautiful cruiser concept and the design language is similar to that of a bobber motorcycle. The good news is that BMW Motorrad confirms that the Concept R18 will go into production come 2020. In fact, BMW will be launching more such cruiser motorcycles in the future, although exact details are very sketchy at the moment.

    With its ‘factory-custom’ bobber styling, BMW has ensured that it catches the eye of the cruiser motorcycle enthusiast. It says that the R18 is a tribute to the original R5 which made its debut in 1936. The stance of the bike is similar to the 1936 R5 and there are other stylish retro touches such as a teardrop shaped fuel tank, open shaft drive, cantilever suspension et al. The bike gets a 21-inch wheel up front and an 18-inch wheel at the rear, shod with Metzeler Rille tires. Taking the retro quotient higher is the leaf-shaped single seat.

    The BMW Concept R18 gets a massive 1,800 cc boxer-twin engine which has been newly designed and the engine block and transmission are built out of blasted Aluminium. The engine badge bears the name of the concept bike and emphasizes the overall quality. In addition, Solex dual carburetors – similar to those in the BMW 2002 – hark back to the company’s construction history and add the final touch to the motorcycle’s heritage. Will it be coming to India? We are not quite sure at this point in time. But when it does reach international markets, it could very well take on other premium cruiser motorcycle manufacturers such as Harley-Davidson, Indian and Triumph.

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  • Harley-Davidson To Enter 250-500 cc Motorcycle Segment In 2020

    Harley-Davidson To Enter 250-500 cc Motorcycle Segment In 2020

    American motorcycle maker, Harley-Davidson has an expansive plan to enter newer segments in the years to come, one of which will be the entry-level 250-500 cc space that will arrive as early as next year. While the manufacturer has already shared plans of an adventure motorcycle, electric bike and other offerings, the latest development confirms that the company is also eyeing the entry-level premium motorcycle segment, which will give it a boost in emerging markets across the globe. The announcement comes Harley’s President & CEO – Matt Levatich, who confirmed the development as part of the “More Roads to Harley-Davidson” growth plan. The new small capacity motorcycles will cater to several high emerging growth markets including India.

    Speaking at the recently held earnings call, Matt Levatich said, “More Roads progress in Q1 included steps towards a partnership for a premium small displacement offering in Asia, to expand our reach in that region. We are just over a year away from launching our first model that will help provide access to millions of customers in emerging markets in the region.”

    It was a bold move when Harley-Davidson introduced the Street 750 and Street 500 globally as its most affordable offerings in 2013. The entry-level cruisers gave the manufacturer better presence in several emerging markets where the aspirational brand was now reachable. With the 250-500 cc segment, Harley will be taking on a number of players most important of which is Royal Enfield that currently rules this space in India.

    Globally too, the Chennai-based bike maker has been expanding its presence and has been vocal of its plans to lead the middleweight motorcycle segment. The new Interceptor 650 and the Continental GT 650 come close to the Harley Street range in pricing and displacement. In addition, there are also the offerings that will be spawned under the Triumph-Bajaj partnership which reportedly includes a small capacity Street Twin. BMW, KTM, Yamaha, and Honda are already present in this space.

    Smaller capacity offerings then certainly will be an exciting space in the years to come and offer a big room for Harley-Davidson to grow. The company’s smallest motorcycle globally is the Street 500, and the new 250-300 cc motorcycle could be a smaller Street badged bike. Expect to see Harley’s trademark V-Twin layout for the motor that will be Euro 5/BS6 compliant, with the motor high on torque. Expect it to look like the quintessential Harley in design, which is a big part of the sell for the buyer.

    Speaking of which, the smaller-capacity Harleys will be targeted at young buyers looking to establish a connection with the iconic brand, without spending too much money. It will also help the brand build volumes globally, which means standardized production for better economies of scale. More details on the new Harley will be available in the coming months and we do hope to hear something official at the Intermot or EICMA motorcycle shows later in the year.