Harley-Davidson and Hero MotoCorp have unveiled the X440 in India, the smallest and most cheap Harley-Davidson bike to arrive in the country since the Street 750. The bike was conceived and built collaboratively by Harley-Davidson and Hero, and bookings begin on July 4th, with deliveries coming soon. At Rs 2.29 lakh (ex-showroom), the X440 competes with the recently released Triumph Speed 400 and the future Royal Enfield Hunter 450.
“We will do whatever we can to win in the premium segment,” said Niranjan Gupta, CEO of Hero MotoCorp. Pawan Munjal stated that the X440 will provide Indian customers with a true Harley-Davidson riding experience, and that he is very proud of the team that designed the X440. The X440 marks the beginning of a new era for Hero MotoCorp and Harley-Davidson, and it is a key component of Harley-Davidson’s hardwire strategy. The X440 is available in three trim levels: Classic, Vivid, and Pinnacle. The Classic trim, which includes spoke wheels, single-tone hues, and blacked-out engine fins, costs Rs 2.29 lakh. The Vivid trim, which includes alloy wheels and dual-tone paint, costs Rs 2.49 lakh. The Pinnacle grade, which costs Rs 2.69 lakh, adds alloys, more luxury colour schemes, and machined engine fins.
The X440 is Harley-Davidson’s latest small-capacity motorcycle, so here’s a quick rundown of what it has to offer: All-LED lighting, Neo-retro style inspired by the Harley-Davidson XR1200, and a sleek monopod TFT with Bluetooth connectivity for turn-by-turn navigation, music control, and more. It is powered by a 440cc, 2-valve, air-cooled engine with an oil cooler, producing 27.4PS at 6,000rpm and 38Nm at 4,000rpm. It’s mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission with an assist and slipper clutch. To put this in context, the QJ Motor SRC500 produces 25.8PS and 36Nm. The bike is supported by a 43mm inverted fork and gas-charged, preload-adjustable twin shocks. It rides on 18-inch front and 17-inch rear MRF Zapper Hyke tyres. Both ends have ByBre disc brakes and dual-channel ABS. The ergos appear erect and comfortable enough to tour on thanks to the flat handlebar.
The introduction of this bike heralds a new era for both Hero MotoCorp and Harley-Davidson as they compete for supremacy in India’s luxury motorbike category. The X440 is critical to HeroMotoCorp’s premiumisation path because it has never previously been present in the 440 segment. Hero MotoCorp will also launch the X440 platform under its own brand name. The X440 will not incur tariffs because it is produced for India by Hero MotoCorp.
