In 2019, just before the Covid-19 pandemic, Harley-Davidson announced the idea of producing a mid-displacement, parallel-cylinder motorcycle called the 338R . This model borrowed parts and an engine from the Benelli 302S (a brand owned by the Chinese manufacturer Qianjiang).
The production model
This project has resulted in a 350cc model, the X350 (HD350) , manufactured in China by Zhejiang Jisheng Motor Vehicle Co., Ltd., a joint venture created by Harley-Davidson and Qianjiang.
As we can see in the photographs submitted for homologation (in China for now), the aesthetics are inspired by flat track competitions.
Although not much detail has been released yet, it's known that the tires are 120/70-17 at the front and 160/60-17 at the rear. The suspension and brakes are sourced directly from the Benelli 302S, including petal-style front discs and inverted forks.
The older sister
At the same time, a similar, but larger displacement model, the Harley-Davidson X500 (HD500) , is in the works. It is based on the frame and engine of the Benelli Leoncino 500. Similar to the X350, it features larger brake discs and radial-mount calipers (directly taken from the Leoncino 500) and has more traditional styling than the HD350, especially the rear end.
Both models corroborate the "Motor Company" (as Harley-Davidson is often called in its home country) policy of penetrating more markets and consumer segments. But, after Harley-Davidson recently announced the unveiling of the new models for January 18, 2023 (coinciding with the brand's 120th anniversary ), the question on everyone's mind is:
Will these models be available in the United States, Europe, and the rest of the world?
For now, its introduction in the United States has already been confirmed for 2023.
Frank Burguera
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