The new mini Harley Davidsons, created in partnership with Qianjiang (the parent company of Benelli), are revealed in approval documents submitted in China. 350 and 500 cc parallel-twin engines power the HD350 and HD500 (X350 and X500).
The iconic cruiser bikes from American manufacturer Harley Davidson are renowned for having a thundering V-twin engine. When it comes to cruisers and choppers, it has been one of the most sought-after and popular motorcycle manufacturers. Unfortunately, its products are rarely affordable for anyone looking for a cruiser on a tight budget due to its excessive pricing.
In order to match prices, Harley Davidson is now procuring motorcycles from Qianjiang Motor, the company behind the Indian motorbike brands Keeway and Benelli. Both manufacturers are currently developing two motorcycles with the HD350 and HD500 codenames. These motorcycles' initial photos have recently surfaced online.
They are quite likely to go by the names X350 and X500, which were revealed in the stolen spy photos. The smaller X350 resembles the 2019 338R concept design quite a bit. It was planned to have a 338cc Benelli 302S engine. However, there is a new 353cc version of that engine in production because times have changed. And therefore, the X350 name.
The frame for the X350 is pretty similar to the QJ SRK350 offered abroad. Both motorcycles appear to have the same alloy wheel design, petal disc brakes, and USD forks up front. However, when the 195 kg weight is taken into account, the 36 bhp that this 350cc engine produces doesn't seem sufficient. In contrast, the SRK350 weighs only 176 kg.
The one that is most likely to create a lot of buzzes is the new 500cc Harley Davidson motorcycle. The Benelli Leoncino 500, which is sold in India, and the Harley Davidson X500 are very similar bikes. This motorcycle has a 500cc parallel-twin engine that generates 47 bhp. With its displacement, the 207 kg weight of the X500 looks appropriate for the market.
Both the Leoncino 500 and the X500 will utilise the same chassis, braking system, and suspension. However, instead of the X350's tiny petal discs, the X500 wears a bigger traditional dual disc arrangement. In addition, four-pot callipers provide stopping power. With these bikes, Harley Davidson plans to enter the market for low-cost cruiser bikes. However, anyone hoping for a V-Twin with a belt drive will be a little letdown. It's anticipated that both of these motorcycles will debut in India the following year.
Previous
Next