The emergence of the Chinese-made Qianjiang X350 Harley-Davidson and the upcoming H-D "4XX" project by Hero MotoCorp in India has caused a stir this year. While die-hard fans may not universally embrace these small-capacity machines manufactured thousands of miles away, Harley-Davidson has a solid business case for collaborating with major manufacturers in Asia and India to create these bikes.

Similar to the Qianjiang X350, the Hero-made Harley has been in development for years. The Qianjiang project was announced in 2019 as part of Harley-Davidson's "More Roads to Harley-Davidson" product plan, initiated by former CEO Matt Levatich. It took until this year for the project to come to fruition. The partnership with Hero MotoCorp was announced in October 2020, following Harley's decision to withdraw from the Indian market after a decade-long struggle to establish a foothold there.

The agreement with Hero MotoCorp granted the Indian company, one of the world's largest motorcycle manufacturers, a distribution agreement to sell and service Harley-Davidsons, parts, and accessories in India. More importantly, it included a licensing agreement for Hero to develop and sell "a range of premium motorcycles under the Harley-Davidson brand name."

In essence, the bike teased in India has little Harley DNA beyond its branding and some styling cues. It is a machine developed by Hero specifically for the Indian market and will compete primarily against brands like Royal Enfield. Being an Indian-designed and -manufactured product, it does not face the hurdles of competitiveness that an imported bike would encounter.

Export prospects for the Hero-made Harley seem slim. While the Chinese-made X350 is being brought to the USA, albeit for use only in Harley-Davidson's Riding Academies and not for general sale, the Hero-made Harley, referred to as "4XX" on its license plate to indicate a capacity between 400cc and 500cc, is likely to remain exclusive to India. Harley-Davidson's investor-relations documents emphasize maintaining a productive relationship with Hero MotoCorp as a distributor and licensee of the Harley-Davidson brand name in India.

Regarding the bike itself, the name suggests a capacity of approximately 400cc, but it differs significantly from the 354cc engine used in the X350. While the Chinese-made bike features a liquid-cooled parallel-twin design shared with Benelli models, the Hero-developed Harley employs an air-cooled single-cylinder engine. This engine appears to be new, as Hero's existing lineup of air-cooled singles does not come close to a 400cc capacity. Hero is set to launch a 421cc liquid-cooled single later this year, but it seems unrelated to the engine used in the Harley-branded machine.

An air-cooled 400cc single may not promise high performance, but that's not the bike's primary focus. The H-D 4XX aims to compete with Royal Enfield in the Indian market, particularly targeting the RE Classic 350, the bestseller in the country's midsize class. To gain a performance advantage, the Harley only needs to surpass the Enfield's modest output of 20 hp and 20 lb.-ft. of torque.

Images published in India, presented as "spy" shots but likely provided by Hero's PR agency, reveal several details of the new bike. It features a similar headlight design to the X350, with an LED strip dividing the traditional circular lamp. The overall styling leans more towards flat track than cruiser, with low, straight handlebars, a slightly elevated and flat seat, and a modern-looking tank. The black alloy wheels with polished metal accents on the spoke edges evoke a look seen on various Harley models in the past. The rear wheel is

a 17-incher with a 140-section tire, while the front wheel appears larger, possibly 18 or 19 inches, with a 100/90 tire. It is equipped with a single brake disc and a four-pot ByBre caliper, with an ABS sensor ring visible in the pictures.

The instrument cluster comprises a single circular digital gauge that combines a rev counter, speedometer, fuel gauge, clock, and trip meter. The tachometer indicates a redline of 8,000 rpm, suggesting that the Harley will rev higher than its target competitor, the Enfield 350.

In the long run, the strategy to have Hero produce Harley-branded bikes and sell them alongside genuine Harley-Davidson motorcycles in Indian showrooms makes sense. It increases brand awareness in India and appeals to customers who may not be able to afford a larger, imported H-D. However, the likelihood of Hero-Harleys being sold in the United States is extremely low.

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