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Any thoughts on this new bike?

It is apparently 500cc and has a water cooled engine. Harley will import the parts or assemblies from India but do final assembly in the US to avoid duty for NA sold bikes. It appears to have a more modern layout than the Sportster with less rake and likely less trail which would make it more agile and quicker steering bike than the current Sportster. If it is DOHC and modern DFI rather than the old style throttle body FI or carbs it has the potential to produce 60HP and run circles around the current Sportster 883 and maybe the 1200 as well, particularly if they can keep the weight down to a reasonable 450lb. Even with conventional FI it will probably produce 50HP and exceed that marvel of 1960's engineering technology the 883 push rod, air cooled 47HP motor. To keep the price down I suspect there will not be a lot of chrome on this bike or options like spoked wheels and more plastic.

http://rideapart.com/2013/09/2014-ha...on-500-photos/

http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/568/16...-at-110th.aspx

I think HD is going to face some very stiff competition from the Japanese manufactures in this segment. There are are a lot of pretty decent and well equipped bikes already on the market in the $7000 price range. Yamaha's new FZ9 triple is a similar naked standard but has a 900cc, 90HP, triple and higher spec. suspension and brakes for only $2000 more. Honda's new 500cc twins are cheaper and look to have similar spec. components although the Hondas come with a rear disk brake. Hoping it does not turn out to be just an over priced, low spec. budget bike only people who have to have a Harley logo on their tank will buy.

 

They need a bike for newbies. Even HD dealers are telling people to buy a small metric and ride for a month before test driving a Harley. Since they will all be new and no used ones available, they better be competitively priced, and available in a trim that appeals to woman who want to keep it as their own ride. I would be interested in one for my wife who wants to start riding. I was thinking of a Yamaha V Star Silverado 650, for a first bike.

 

Looks like a good way for a Chick to ease into a v-rod. My wife rides a super low 883, I didn't think there was any need for easier handling than that. It's her first bike and she loves it, may just stay on it rather than going to a dyna or softie.

I'd say its more like market share than anything else. Just like the revamped touring bikes, they need to expand the base.

 

Success will depend entirely on price. If they much cost more than the competition don't bother bringing them in. The Japanese have that market saturated with bikes in all colors and styles. Yes, the HD logo will sell some bikes, but enough to justify the cost?

OTOH-I'd go look, and maybe buy. Be kinda nice to have a smaller Harley to run around on.

 

one of the possible side benefits...give harley a bike to run against the hondas on short tracks in the pro/expert classes.

 

Just what we needed...another reason to bash Sporties. I'm starting to feel sorry for those folks. At least it's ugly.

 

i'd rather have a sportster but i'm kinda old school that way . also that small a bike doesn't interest me .
on the other hand as an entry level bike it might be good . as mentioned above price will be very important .
i see them possibly dropping the 883 from the product line if this sells well .

 

This will be good for the motor company. They will sell lots of them in the Pacific rim countries, and if it leaps overseas to the US, I can see it doing well here also. Not everybody wants a big bagger....

 

I thought this was not for North American release?

 

Wasn't there a single cylinder (half a Sportster) entry level, beginner HD a few years ago? Forgot the name of it, Breeze or something like that. It was a complete flop and IIRC the final one off the assembly line was destroyed into a small cube. Why does HD want to repeat history?
That rider above is riding on the left side of the road..not in the USA obviously.