Harley seems to be considering a sub-500 cc bike to be made in India ”exclusively for the Indian market" (at least initially) for around $6,000, but almost certainly it will be sold in other similar markets in Asia, South America etc.

http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/rumors/harley-davidson-india-model-2014/

 

i would have one but only if they guaranteed i could get it in that paint job.

Hopefully they'll bump the cubes to 650cc for AU might be a good seller,

Great article thanks for sharing. Globalisation is an intelligent way to prolong the life of any business. Good luck to them I say!

Its the new world of penny pinching. people watch their dollars now and Harley at the moment is not only a luxury spend but a top end luxury spend at that. I agree a cheaper bike will provide them cashflow. The key to all businesses. without it they dissapear no matter how good the product. They need to expand into a cheaper market or larger one. India is both with cheap labour. I think the key to success will be the bike itself. It must suit indian tastes and roads. Still be a Harley but distance itself enough from the current lineup so as not to upset their existing followers. Smart move i think. Adapt and survive or stagnate and die.

Cheers

 I allways wondered why harley didnt produce a small virago type watercooled v twin clone for the head wobble market, in wobble head land, They would have sold shitloads of them, to the head wobblers, particularly in the 250cc range.

I would like to see a harley global 650 watercooled V twin produced in road and road trail format with a little of BMWs technology crossed with kawasakies large fuel tank. Released in two formats. One cheaper tuned similar to theklr650, and one tuned to higher end road trails, reckon they would sell heaps if done right.

Might be a good way for a learner to own a Harley, without having to settle for a look a like.

 if the bike is fast or quick you could call it       curry in a hurry

This is HD`s logical attempt to break into the ever booming asian middle class markets in order to survive another 110 years and totally makes sense !
Seen it coming , all the way from china , india and SE Asia in general where rediculous import tax`s have rendered them unaffordable and impractical to the majority in their high capacity guises .
It will historically , be a very successful venture indeed , what a huge market to target with their much loved and sort after brand !
In Thailand for instance , they call Honda Phantom T200 (police use them) a chopper , unaffordable too most at 3 times the price of a scooter , but whack a HD tag on it and watch the people line up for em i reckon , even at 500cc every policeman in Thailand would have to have one just to maintain status ?
At the moment our country and market demand higher capacity cruiser type motorcycles due to distances travelled , where as the rest of asia don`t , one day though when the population clogs our roads , they will be released here too as more affordable , smaller , lighter , cheaper to run and maintain , city-like transport !
Wondered why the Mo`Co hadn`t done this earlier actually ?

a bit late dont you think ????

Got a feeling this 6k sub 500cc deal is in order to break into and capture the booming asian middleclass specifically , (nothing more), that is a totally different and previously largely unexplored market baring extravagent import tax`s placed on the main lines making them impractical and deffinately unaffordable too most ?
Like the glucky7 pic clearly shows , they`ve been outsourcing for years to take advantage of asian labour markets , now the MoCo wants to enter in a big way to target and cash in on that ever growing asian middleclass market ?

Hope they sell em here.

then you pricks might leave the sportys alone

 Did someone hit a nerve GT?