X350 ‘Baby Harleys’ Debut March 10
So, when will the X350 be available to the general public?
OK, so more Baby Harleys are on the way. Haven’t we been down this road before?
This time may be different. First of all, the new 350cc and 500cc machines, though smaller, don’t look as dorky as the recent Street 500 and 750 that failed so miserably to catch on with the public.
Secondly, Harley is partnering on these bikes with a giant Chinese motorcycle maker and both models will be primarily sold in China and other Asian markets, at least initially.
Thirdly, neither of these two bikes will have, you know, actual Harley Davidson engines.
Cheaper & Liquid-Cooled
The big announcement on the two new machines will happen in China.
Though the Motor Company has been tight-lipped about how available these new, tiny displacement bikes will be to the general public in the U.S., it is possible they may be counting on them eventually to bring a new generation into the House of Harley.
As it stands now, the smallest HD you can buy new has a relatively large 1200cc displacement engine, and the cheapest HD now on the new market costs $13,499.
These new bikes should have a much lower price point, would be much easier to handle for beginners and have relatively advanced technology like liquid-cooling and LED lighting.
Harley/China Collaboration
The Motor Company is collaborating with a Chinese company called Qianjiang, which sells motorcycles under the brand names Benelli, Keeway Motors, QJ Motors and KSR Motor.
Both of these new bikes will be based on previous platforms, so Harley is saving a bundle on research and design. That’s why neither bike will be powered by a V-twin motor that you will find in nearly every other Harley Davidson motorcycle.
HD Riding Academy to Employ the 350
The X350 is based on Benelli’s 302S and the X500 is based on the Leoncino 500, which is a six-speed Benelli product that has a street and trail version.
The X350 is said to weigh 430 pounds and is powered by a 353cc, liquid-cooled engine that churns out 36 horsepower. A variant of this bike, the X350RA, will be used in HD’s Riding Academy where it will be toned down to 23 horsepower.
The X350 will also have dual disc brakes, a nice little feature that even the Harley sportsters don’t have. It will also have inverted forks and alloy wheels.
Natural Competitors
The new Harley/Chinese models will have some natural rivals when they enter their markets, according to marketing experts.
The smaller of the two bikes is expected to go head-to-head with the Royal Enfield Meteor and another Benelli bike called the Imperiale 400.
Motorcycle publication Top Speed says the X500 will do well against the likes of the Honda Rebel 500 and the Royal Enfield Interceptor 650. That’s why they are also saying the X500 has a much better chance of entering the U.S. market rather than the X350.
The X500 is capable of cranking out 46 horsepower with a top speed approaching 100 mph.
Photos: Harley Davidson
