Why get exercised about something Harley may (and probably will) do in order to compete in foreign markets? It has absolutely nothing to do with the usual types of bikes they produce for the American market. And so what if at some point they decide to bring those bikes here? Again, this has nothing to do with whatever they decide to do in future with their $20k plus big V-Twins. They will keep making those, of variations thereof, until people stop buying them. All in all, much ado about nothing.

 

It looks more modern than motorcycles from India's other motorcycle manufacturer, Royal Enfield.




Not sure how dealers will deal with a bike like this as I suspect it will not appeal to the traditional HD buyer and the type of buyer it will appeal to does not normally venture into a HD dealership.

 

and given the choice between the 2, i would opt for the enfield anyday. course, that other bike would run circles around it, but it just doesn't have the 'cool' factor the royal does.

 

after we are under 5% unemployment in this country a factory outside of the u.s. would make sense but not now.

 

Not a 750? so your trying to tell us that you can tell the size of an engine just by looking? I'm willing to bet you can not tell an 883 Sportster from a 1200 just by looking at the engine. Or a 88 from a 96 from a 103 or a 110 by just looking if someone swapped the labels around. Just sayin.

 

As a dual-sport it has potential.

 

Rice burner enthusiasts would say it looks more like a Harley; look at the suspension, not even monoshock in the rear. And the rider would be able to sit up taller than race bike style. Looks more Harley to me than a V-Rod. Finned engine cylinders, but is that a thin radiator in front? Looks like it ought to whip a Sportster in the twisties, but I suspect most folks that wanted that would get a real rice burner, Ducati, or Beemer. I doubt this bike would get many sales from Harley owners, but might get a piece of the action from the others, and if Harley builds it, that's probably why. I'm sure it wouldn't be, not with "Harley" on the tank, but it's so simple looking it should be cheaper than most equivalent metrics. Harley could sell this for a few years at little or no profit to build a new customer base. This could easily be upgraded, and, being Harley, imagine the customization possibilities. Think low center of gravity (always a Harley strongpoint), exotic suspensions, 75-150hp - would be a real contender in the performance market. Doesn't matter if traditional iron lovers wouldn't want it - including me.

 

Read it again my good man. I said its not a 750cc unless they kept the same physical size as the original VRSC platform. Notice the relation of the thermostat housing to the cylinders/jugs and you can plainly see it shares the same exterior dimensions. Now they could have reduced the internals, which wouldn't make much sense since the wow factor of that particular powerplant would be gone due to weight/power ratio. I seriously doubt that they would produce smaller poweplants that mimic the full sized unit since it isn't particularly cost effective.
Is that easier for you to grasp?

 

I posted this pic a few months ago. It's supposedly the first thing Harley of India will produce. slap a sport fairing on it, paint it orange and black, and it'd be a nice little VR replica

 

Doesn't make any sense since they just off loaded Buell. Why would they do another bike dealers don't support? Buell was treated like the red headed bastard step child.