Harley-Davidson X440 Review - A Hero-ic Effort!

Comebacks aren’t easy. We have seen that in the past with celebrities and popular sportspersons, and when it comes to motorcycles, it’s even more difficult. But that’s exactly what Harley-Davidson plans to do with the new X440. It's developed, designed, and engineered in partnership between Hero MotoCorp and the cult American brand. No wonder then that the X440 is by far the most affordable modern Harley-Davidson motorcycle to go on sale. So can Harley-Davidson as a brand make a strong comeback and statement with this baby Harley? We head to the CIT facility on the outskirts of Jaipur to get you the answer.

Performance 

The big highlight of the Harley-Davidson X440 is its all-new heart. The 440cc engine has been developed from the ground up and its power and torque output are noteworthy at 25 bhp and 38 Nm, respectively. The construction of the engine is simple, with a 2-valve head and air-cooling. Being a long-stroke engine, peak torque is delivered at just 4,000 rpm, and this engine is super tractable, which means commuting speeds will be stress-free. On the high-speed track, I managed to clock a top speed of 134 kmph with my 100 kg heft and that’s really impressive. 

What you would appreciate more is its peppy nature and refinement. I was able to cruise at 120kmph with hardly any vibrations and the X440 has the potential to be a proper mile muncher. What you will also appreciate is the slipper clutch that offers light clutch action and the gearbox is slick as well. The exhaust note is throaty and people will notice you before you pass them, however, personally I prefer more bassy tones. 

Handling & Braking

While the performance is delightful, another aspect that impressed and honestly surprised me is the handling prowess of the bike. Harley engineers have employed a trellis frame, and the X440 loves to corner! I had a ball hooning it around the handling test track and scraping the footpegs. It feels very stable around high-speed corners and this instills lots of confidence in the rider to lean the bike further. The chassis balance and the grip from the tyres are key factors in making this such a fun machine despite its 190kg heft. Handling and Harley-Davidson are two words that are hardly used in a single sentence, but then again, the X440 is here to break convention, and kudos to the engineering team.

What felt a bit lacking was the motorcycle’s braking. It’s not that braking performance is poor, as I did a hard stop at 100 kmph and it came to a halt without any drama. But the bite from the front disc brake (largest in the segment) and the feedback through the levers felt numb, a bit more feel would have done wonders. Since the ride was on the buttery smooth roads of the CIT test track, I can’t comment on the ride quality of the bike, and we will have to wait until a road test to verify whether the Baby Harley offers a smooth ride or not. 

Ergonomics

The riding posture of the X440 is neutral and comfortable owing to its relaxed rider triangle, The handlebar is nice and wide, offering the rider a commanding view of the road, and behind the handlebar, it feels as if you’re riding a high-capacity motorcycle. Being a roadster, the footpegs have been positioned centre-set and they are low, so tall riders wouldn’t be cramped for space. Seat height is accessible at 805 mm, which means shorter riders wouldn’t feel nervous on the X440. However, I am not a big fan of the seat, as I found the padding a bit too soft, which is fine for commuting, but while touring, you will sink into the seat, making the ride an uncomfortable one.

Design & Quality

When it comes to styling, Harley-Davidson took the bold decision of not creating a cruiser, which is synonymous with the brand, but rather opting for a roadster. Personally, I think this is a great decision, as roadsters are the ‘in thing’. The X440 is available in three variants, the one we tested was the top-spec model with diamond-cut alloy wheels, Bluetooth connectivity, and navigation.

Design influences from the Harley-Davidson XR1200 are clearly visible on the new bike, especially in the front section. I particularly liked the large, curvy fuel tank and the stubby headlight unit with the small cowl above it, and the off-set instrument console. However, the rear half of the bike looks a bit confusing, but then again design is always about personal preference.

What I can say with confidence is that the finish levels on the motorcycle are poor. The weld quality on the frame, fuel tank seam, and exhaust muffler looks very crude. Also, there were visible wires on the test bike. Being a Harley-Davidson product, we were expecting a much higher level of finish on the bike. 

Features

Talking about features, all three variants sport all-LED lighting and a rich-looking TFT console. An interesting feature is the auto headlight, which switches on the headlight depending on ambient light, while the DRLs remain on. The TFT screen also has two display modes, distance to empty, real-time fuel efficiency, and gear indicator. The top-of-the-line S variant gets Bluetooth connectivity for call alerts, music control, and turn-by-turn navigation. There’s also a dedicated app that lets the rider locate the bike, use geofencing, receive riding data, and send crash alerts.

Verdict 

Before we get to the verdict, let’s get pricing out of the way, as it’s a critical factor for Indian buyers given our obsession with value. Prices for the Harley-Davidson X440 start at Rs 2.29 lakh and stretch up to Rs 2.69 lakh (ex-showroom) for the top-spec variant. Clearly, one can see Hero MotoCorp’s impact on pricing, and Harley has hit it out of the park with respect to the VFM quotient.

As good as the pricing is, I feel the value proposition shouldn’t overshadow the X440 as a product. I will be honest, I am genuinely surprised by how delightful the performance is and the bike's enthusiasm for cornering is addictive! Yes, it’s not perfect, the finish levels need to improve, and the styling is questionable. But these aren’t dealbreakers in our opinion, as the X440 has the charisma to attract both young and mature riders alike. And let’s be honest, it makes the Harley-Davidson dreams of so many riders attainable without splurging boatloads of cash. 

Hero MotoCorp’s effort also needs to be appreciated, as it has never ventured into a mid-displacement segment, and they have delivered wonderfully on its first attempt itself. Whether it will affect Royal Enfield sales remains debatable, but folks at Jawa and Honda should be worried. With the new X440, I see a very high possibility of Harley-Davidson making a Hero-ic comeback into the Indian market.

Photography By: Prashant Chaudhary