Harley Announces New ADV Motorcycle, Streetfighter, And Custom
Back in 2017 Harley-Davidson announced that it planned to introduce
100 new models over the next 10 years. It seemed like a lofty goal
from a company poised to celebrate its 115th anniversary
the following year. Many figured the majority of these "new models"
would consist of the standard bold new graphics and slight cosmetic
or mechanical tweaks strategy that automotive and motorcycle
manufacturers like to employ.
[caption id="attachment_69420" align="aligncenter"
width="300"]
Harley-Davidson Pan America
(prototype model)[/caption]
The MOCO quickly proved they were serious about that plan with the
introduction of the totally new Softail line. Well, now things are
getting really interesting, because Harley has just announced its
plans for not only all new models but it's entrance into new market
segments (they've actually been in a few of these before) through
its "More Roads to Harley-Davidson" growth plan that was announced
in a
press release today.
So what's coming down the pipeline? How about a Harley Adventure
bike, a Harley naked bike aka hooligan machine streetfighter, and a
new 1250cc Custom that falls more in line with the company's
traditional styling. All three will be part of a new modular 500cc
to 1250cc middleweight platform of motorcycles. In 2019 we will
also finally be introduced to the production version of the
enigmatic, all-electric Harley-Davidson LiveWire.
Since it was toured around the country as a concept bike back in
2014, the interest and intrigue of H-D offering an electric
motorcycle has been exceptionally high. Further details on the
project since that time on the other hand have been scarce with
only a few vague details emerging. The company's CEO, Matt
Levatitch, announced back in January that the bike was a go and we
would see it hit the streets in 18 months. A few weeks later the
company filed a trademark application for the name "H-D Revelation"
in regards to engines, batteries, and powertrains based around
electric technology. And then in March we learned H-D had made an
equity investment in electric motorcycle manufacturer
Alta Motors.
[caption id="attachment_69426" align="aligncenter"
width="300"]
Harley-Davidson
LiveWire[/caption]
Again with today's press release we are told the bike will be
coming in 2019 but we also learn that the LiveWire will be the
first of several electric motorcycles. "LiveWire will be followed
by additional models through 2022 to broaden the portfolio with
lighter, smaller and even more accessible product options to
inspire new riders with new ways to ride," the press release
stated. Lighter? Smaller? More accessible? Are we talking electric
scooters and bicycles? According to
Cycle World, that's a yes.
Probably the biggest news is the announcement of the company's
"first" Adventure Touring motorcycle, dubbed the Pan America 1250.
As exciting as this is, the MOCO already traveled that path more
than a decade ago with the Buell Ulysses XB12X. Granted, the Pan
American looks more offroad worthy than the Ulysses, the Uly came
out before the current ADV boom, and technically it wore the Buell
badge, it was still under the H-D umbrella and considered an
adventure tourer.
[caption id="attachment_69423" align="aligncenter"
width="300"]
2018 KTM 1290 Super Adventure
R[/caption]
Within recent years the heavyweight ADV segment has seen some
pretty impressive machinery come to market outfitted with the
latest in technological features and gadgetry, most notably the
Honda Africa Twin and the
KTM 1290 Super Adventure R. Not only do these bikes offer a ton
of features that help with handling and performance, they deliver
excellent power. So unless H-D plans to focus on power output,
incorporating the latest and greatest in electronics, as well as
keeping the price and weight manageable, they are going to have an
uphill battle slicing off a piece of that dirt pie from the
established competitors in the ADV segment.
[caption id="attachment_69421" align="aligncenter"
width="300"]
Harley-Davidson Street Fighter
(prototype model)[/caption]
For 2020 Harley says it will expand its middleweight lineup with
the first Harley-Davidson®
streetfighter. Described as "unapologetic modern style with
enough performance and agility to carve through city streets," the
prototype shown is a sporty and aggressive naked bike with a 975cc
V-twin engine. Again Harley's short dance with the Buell line comes
to mind in regards to this bike.
The 1250cc
Custom model is billed as a "new custom motorcycle with a
muscular stance, aggressive, stripped down styling and 1250cc of
pure performance." While this is another prototype image, they've
definitely hit the custom part on the head with this bike as it
looks like something a professional builder would transform a stock
Harley into. Early opinions say it could be the revitalization of
the Sportster, which is easy to see in the bodywork. However I'm
more inclined to say that it's Harley's attempt at another muscle
bike a-la the recently deceased V-Rod-it even has muscular in the
brief description and there was a V-Rod Muscle model at one point.
It's like they mated a V-Rod Muscle with a Sportster XR1200.
Aside from these specific models, Harley says it plans to introduce
a host of new 500cc to 1250cc middleweight motorcycles to expand
the offerings in these new ADV, streetfighter, and custom segments.
There will also be a larger focus on the Asian market with an
emphasis in both India and China to serve the massive demand for
small displacement 250cc-500cc motorcycles.
There are big changes on the horizon for Harley and they have quite
a bit of work ahead of them to meet their goal of 100 new bikes in
10 years. One of their other goals for that same time frame is to
gain two million new riders, and while that's a lot of butts to put
into seats, if they can get the pricing, styling, and performance
right branching out with these new offerings and a strong emphasis
in the Asian markets could be the fuel H-D needs to achieve their
goals and to ride on another 115 years.
