Harley-Davidson X440 Review: Dawn Of A New Hero?

Photography: Arvind Salhan

It is a great time to be a motorcycle enthusiast in India, and we’re spoiled for choice right now, with options across segments! India is the largest two-wheeler market in the world and with the right product, positioning and price, each new two-wheeler launch has enormous potential!

The H-D X440 is the first model to go on sale, from the Hero-Harley collaboration

The brand recall and legacy of a brand like Harley-Davidson and the R&D and manufacturing prowess of Hero MotoCorp, the world’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer by volumes. It is a special partnership and today we are focussing on the Hero-Davidson, I am sorry, Harley-Davidson X 440. It is the most affordable Harley to go on sale in India and yes, time to get acquainted with the motorcycle, that holds the key to shaping up the Hero-Harley partnership.

Also Read: Harley-Davidson X440: All You Need To Know

Design and Dimensions

The Harley-Davidson X 440 looks the part of a modern-classic roadster, with the design inspired by the XR 1200, rather than being a full-blown cruiser. We believe the millennial and Gen-Z audience is likely to relate better to that. The exposed trellis frame, along with the blacked out bits and the flat handlebar along with the round LED headlight make for a motorcycle with a muscular stance and likeable appeal. But the overall proportions of the motorcycle could have been better.

The fender at the rear doesn't look in sync with the front end

The rear section for example, especially the rear fender, could have been designed a tad better. There is a slight disconnect between the front and the rear of the bike. To our eyes, the front definitely looks better than the rear. Let us know what you think!

Also Read: Harley-Davidson X440 Launched In India

What could have been also better is the quality on few areas. For example, the plastic heel plate feels rather flimsy as does the part between the headlight and the console. A metallic unit should have been offered, especially in the segment it operates in.

With a ground clearance of 170 mm, the bike should be able to tackle whatever Indian roads have to throw at it.

We rode the motorcycle within the premises of Hero’s Centre for Innovation and Technology in Jaipur, so, it was a controlled environment, yes.

Also read: Harley-Davidson X440: Variants Explained

Engine Specifications & Cycle Parts

Getting the numbers out of the way, the bike gets a 440 cc single-cylinder engine which is oil-cooled and gets a 2-valve SOHC configuration.

The engine makes 27 bhp at 6,000 rpm and 38 Nm at 4,000 rpm.

It is is paired to a 6-speed gearbox and comes with a slip and assist clutch. The bike gets 43 mm dual-cartridge upside down fork from KYB and 7-step preload-adjustable twin shock absorbers at the rear.

Braking duties are handled by a 320 mm disc up front and a 240 mm disc at the rear, with axially mounted ByBre calipers, Brembo’s made-in-India brand.

The Harley makes use of an 18-inch wheel up front and a 17-inch unit at the rear, shod with MRF Zapper Hyke tyres. The ergonomics on the bike is comfy. At a seat height of 805 mm, I was able to plant my feet firmly on the ground and I am 5 feet 8 inches tall. So, you won’t feel off-balance on the bike when you are seated.

The seat itself is nicely padded and will serve you well even on daily commutes and on long distance highway road trips. The handlebar is nice and flat. So, you feel in control at all times. And yes, the overall ergonomics of the bike, like I said, is very comfortable and you will enjoy riding this motorcycle. As is with all Harleys, you actually hear one before you see one and the bass-laden exhaust note on the X 440 is something that Harley fans and enthusiasts will enjoy.

Performance & Handling

Our first impression of the performance on the motorcycle is quite good! There is a nice, thick spread of torque right at the bottom end and in the mid-range, which propels the motorcycle forward with a sense of urgency, thanks to a sporty throttle.

Harley says that up to 90 per cent of the torque comes in at 2,000 rpm. Yes, that’s right.

And, this isn’t the fastest or the most performance oriented bike out there, but there is this friendly vibe that the bike offers which is something that most riders will enjoy. What we would have liked is a tad more smoothness at the top end.

The flickability of the H-D X440 is something that took us by surprise.

On the whole, the engine and the gearbox combo is smooth and will work well in the urban scheme of things. The way the motorcycle handled was pleasantly surprising. We rode the bike on Harley’s test track at the CIT and I have to say that the motorcycle feels quite flickable for its kerb weight of 190.5 kg.

With the kind of grip on offer from the MRF tyres, scraping the footpegs felt like a cake walk and the feeler bolts were completely destroyed. If you want to ride this motorcycle like a true enthusiast, the bike is capable of doing that.

The only thing that we could have asked for is more cornering clearance. But that is just the enthusiast in us talking. We will reserve our judgment on the suspension once we ride the bike out in the real world, but initial impressions suggest that it will be on the firmer side, but not harsh. Braking seems to be on point too, with decent bite and progression.

Features

In terms of features, the bike gets full LED lighting, and we must mention that the Harley-Davidson badge on the LED headlight and the indicators is a neat, premium touch.

Then, you have a 3.5-inch colour TFT display which is housed in a circular pod and offers crisp output.

The readouts on the console are nice and big and offer decent information such as real-time efficiency, range, speed, gear and so on. The top-spec model also gets Harley’s connectivity system, which includes features like turn-by-turn navigation, call and message alerts, music controls and so on.

Pricing & Rivals

Harley offers three variants on the X440 – Denim, Vivid and the ‘S’. Yes, three names which are not so related to each other. The denim variant is the base model, that gets wire-spoked wheels. The Vivid gets alloy wheels along with few added features. The top-spec S variant gets diamond-cut alloys, machined fins on the engine head cover and Harley connectivity tech.

Seen above is the base ‘Denim’ variant of the H-D X440. Gets wire-spoke wheels and misses out on a few features. Offered in just a ‘Denim Mustard’ colour.

The big rival to the Harley-Davidson X 440 will be the Royal Enfield 350s, as well as the Honda H’Ness 350. You could also include the Yezdi Roadster and the Jawa Forty-Two in the line-up against the H-D X 440.

The H-D X440 punches above its weight and is likely to do well in India

Verdict

Excellent pricing, decent performance and a good set of features, the Harley-Davidson X440 comes across as a well-rounded package. And it serves as the perfect entry point into the Harley-Davidson family.

The H-D X440 is a well-rounded product and yes, you won't be wrong in putting your money down for it. It has enough chutzpah to give a few scares to the likes of Royal Enfield

I mean, the idea behind launching this motorcycle was to garner volumes and make Harley-Davidson as a brand more accessible to customers in India. And with the kind of product that the Harley-Davidson X440 is, I think it will do well in the Indian market.

Photography: Arvind Salhan & Hero MotoCorp