Harley-Davidson has reintroduced the Breakout 117 at a price of Rs 30.99 lakh (ex-showroom).

Hero MotoCorp has launched the 2024 Harley-Davidson range in India. A total of 10 bikes will be available in India priced between Rs 13.39 lakh and Rs 41.79 lakh (ex-showroom).

On the lower end of the price spectrum are models like the Nightster, Nightster Special and Sportster S. These are priced at Rs 13.39 lakh, Rs 14.09 lakh and Rs 16.49 lakh, respectively.

Harley-Davidson offers four models in the Rs 20-30 lakh price bracket. These include the Fat Bob 114, Pan America Special, Fat Boy 114 and Heritage 114.

Besides these, the recently updated Street Glide and Road Glide models have been introduced priced at Rs 38.79 lakh and Rs 41.79 lakh, respectively. Both models get the updated version of the Milwaukee-Eight 117 V-twin engine with a new cooling system, revised intake and exhaust ports and tweaked suspension.

The Breakout 117 has been reintroduced in the Indian market at a price of Rs 30.99 lakh (ex-showroom).

Having owned the Himalayan 411, we did consider the new Himalayan 450 - but decided against it.

BHPian Thmh recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I would like to thank Team-BHP for creating a platform for moto-enthusiasts and most of my moto-gyan comes from this site. Hence, took the plunge to share my experience to help other riders like me!

(The below narration will keep switching between me and my wife’s point of view)

A quick background:

I got my first bike in 2010 which won the Motorcycle of the Year - Apache RTR 180. It was mostly used for my office commute for the first two years and then the usage reduced drastically after I got my car (Punto). The bike was ridden for about 10,000 km before I gave it to my uncle 10 years later.

In 2019, my wife told me that she always wanted to own a Royal Enfield and I wasn’t sure if I ever wanted to ride a bike again as I was comfortable travelling in a car. After watching YouTuber Noraly's videos (Itchy Boots) we wanted to test ride the Himalayan and a few days later it (BS4) was home. We did a lot of rides in Karnataka and a few places in Kerala.

Meanwhile, my wife wanted to learn to ride. So on our way back from the gym, I used to sit behind as a pillion on RTR and my wife used to ride till back home. And Covid happened, in 2022 wife rented an Avenger for a month and we did small rides on two separate bikes. After this she wanted to buy her own bike, although I wasn’t too convinced as at that moment I thought she wasn’t going to be a serious rider and I would end up having two bikes to wash now! She took a test ride of CB300 and H’ness and booked her H’ness!

While we were just trying to get used to having two bikes in our parking lot, back of my mind I had this urge to upgrade my Himalayan. Coincidentally one of my friends shared an ad of a used Suzuki V-Strom 650 up for sale. We went for the test ride and we now had three bikes in our parking lot which was hard for me not to be worried about. Luckily managed to find another biking enthusiast to whom I could hand over my Himalayan for a decent price which by then had done 15,000 km. We had a great time on the V-Strom. I managed to add 17,000 km in 1.5 years where I did a Bangalore-Spiti-Bangalore ride (wife as pillion) covering 6,150 km in 15 days! We used to frequent Goa as well.

My wife was getting comfortable with her H’ness and she started doing the longer rides (250+ km/per day) with me. And a few months later she was on her own doing solo rides to Mangalore, Coorg and finally Goa!

Her longest was a South India ride covering 1,500 km in 6 days.

Riding V-Strom was super fun and it was super comfortable on long rides. However, was finding it overkill for rides when me and wife were riding on two separate bikes. Had to always slow myself down to match my wife’s pace. And also developed an interest towards trekking which reduced my bike usage and didn’t want to spend much on maintenance knowing my circumstances have changed. Hence, off it goes to another set of safe hands for a decent deal!

Although the plan was to take a short break from riding, after a week of not having my V-Strom 650 any more, I was doing test rides!

Test Ride experience

Criteria:

• A single-cylinder bike with enough grunt to cruise at 90-110 km/h and has to be comfortable for highway touring.
• Should be comfortable for my wife too as the plan was to swap the bikes as and when needed.

RE Himalayan 450: I Felt at home sitting on this bike and the ride brought memories of my previous Himalayan 411. It also reminded me that nothing much has changed when it comes to vibration and I was spoilt by Suzuki’s smoothness and the vibrations felt more prominent on the new Himalayan. Although I never had a puncture in my previous Himalayan, the fear was always there and I didn’t want to have the same now. Hence, had to skip this.

Triumph Scrambler 400 X: Skipped Speed 400 due to its size. Scram felt intimidating when I sat on it. Although I am 5’11, found the bike too tall and difficult to manoeuvre in traffic. Just couldn’t connect well with this bike.

Skipped the KTM 390 Adventure as it was nearing a replacement.

Harley-Davidson X440: The bike’s ergonomics were relaxed and the bike had a great pick-up just like my old Himalayan. The engine was smooth and the sound was sweet. Overall, the Hero Premia showroom experience was great. The wife was comfortable riding the bike as well. All in all, it felt like a nice companion to the H’ness.

The bike was ready for delivery on the same day of the booking/full amount. I received it in just two days. The dealership is RT Krishna which is a Hero Premia showroom. The SA Gaurav was super helpful throughout the process.

The bike has done 500 km so far (4 days after the delivery) and was ridden keeping the run-in in mind. The bike was ridden on highways, unpaved roads and city traffic conditions.

Positives

• Amazing torque and riding in the city is a breeze
• Very easy to manoeuvre and the weight doesn’t pose a problem
• Smooth engine with very negligible vibration
• Engine doesn’t radiate much heat despite riding under harsh sunny conditions and even in city traffic
• Can cruise comfortably although I was keeping it under 4,000 rpm
• The headlight is great with very good visibility at night
• MID indicates 35 km/l which is nice but will check thoroughly after the first service when the bike can be ridden at 100 km/h speed constantly.
• Gear shifts are smooth and the clutch is light.
• Braking feels adequate

Negatives

• Front suspension could have been better. It sends a jolt when you hit a pothole or speedbreaker at high speed. But we need to remember that this isn’t an adventure bike to have a longer suspension!
• The seat’s contour isn’t very comfortable for longer rides and so are the mirrors as they cover less area. Both can be fixed with touring-specific accessories
• Fuel gauge isn’t very accurate

Neutral

• The Console could have been better and the app requires bug fixes
• Limited availability of accessories
• Buttons could have been slightly better but I like the soft feel of the indicator reset button

Accessories installed

1. Crash Guard, Bash Plate from Harley (Rs. 1,400 I think)
2. I skipped the centre stand to avoid ground clearance being reduced
3. Saddle Stay from Royal Customs (Rs. 3,600)
4. Top box rack with Backrest from Royal Customs (~ Rs. 4,000) - If you are installing the top box then the backrest becomes useless. Hence, save yourself some money and opt for a top box rack only
5. Sidestand shoe from royal customs (Rs. 600)
6. JB racing 45L top box (Rs. 10,500). I got this from Htrz mods and felt stupid when I found out the same was sold in other stores for Rs. 7,500. So try JB Racing Automotive for any accessories near JC Road.

Pending accessories due to unavailability - full-size Windshield and angular handlebar risers. Please let me know if this is available anywhere in Bangalore.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

It's been more than 3 months and 2,000 kms since I took the delivery of the x440. I am fairly in a better position to word my overall experience and thought of sharing with all BHPians.

BHPian CoreDeduction recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Overall Experience - 2.000 kms

• Engine & Thermals: Both the engine and thermals behave the way you ride the bike. My commute on weekdays is mostly to office in peak Bengaluru traffic around noon. The engine feels more refined post the oil change in 1st service and the gear-shifting is now smooth. Initially, I was unable to find the neutral and now it's just a quick click. The low end torque is ample to drive you through the city without frequently changing between (1-2-3). However, with the temperature touching 37-38C, you will feel the heat in traffic on your legs. One Saturday afternoon, I was riding within city limits for long (around 2-3 hrs) in shorts and the heat was horrible. The engine and silencer was literally suggesting me to wear Denim/Shoes, if I want to ride in Bangalore dry heat this summer. Clutch is now smooth and always a two-finger operation. It feels good to lead immediately after the signal turns green, that's the level of torque it delivers. Now, the story is quite different in my weekend highway rides. The engine is quite calm with the 5th/6th gear at around 3000-4000 rpm. The calmness continues till 5500 rpm may be. Vibrations post 5500 rpm can be felt on mirrors, legs and handlebars to some extent. But who cares, you will be riding at 115 kmph before the vibration starts. I will never recommend touching those 120+ on Indian highways. Who knows when the stylish-auto sir, my bullock-cart bro, that smiling-uncle or some fast-furious tommy appears out of nowhere. The thermals are pretty well managed, when you are on highway at any speed. I never felt the heat on highways. The torque & power distribution is very well managed across the revv range.

One thing I would like to highlight on the cold-start of the engine and my experience/learning. I was getting unexpected engine cut-offs during my ride just after 30-45 seconds of the 1st start in the morning. I reported the issue to service executive and they have suggested to keep the bike idle for a minute before 1st ride of the day. And this trick seems working for me.

How can an Indian rider discuss about the engine, without discussing on Mileage? The mileage is in-sync with what was committed by the manufacturer. Bengaluru city ride in 1st, 2nd & 3rd gear with frequent operation of the clutch gave around 25 kmpl. The mixed city+highway ride returned around 32 kmpl. The highway-only rides with rpm maintained around 3000-3500 rpm returned around 37 kmpl and high revv highway rides returned around 33-34 kmpl. All mileage figures mentioned, are the figures from display console. The display console has error around ~0.5 kmpl from tank to talk method. The mileage error in display console is more, if you are taking more short trips (2-3 km trips). I observed that the mileage figures were much better after the 1st service.

• Suspension & Comfort: Wow- that's the one word answer. I loved the suspension setup and riding posture. The rear suspension is an adjustable one and was preset in step-2. I felt that too soft for my weight. The Headlight Dipper felt like the Upper with my pillion. Adjusted it to step-3 and it feels nice now. The front suspension is soft and travel could have been better for a bike of this weight (with a heavy rider as well). The suspension manages small potholes and speed breakers really well. I can easily ride over the regular speed breakers on 3rd gear. However, the story is quite different for large speed breakers or potholes at moderate speeds (30 kmph). I felt, the front suspension travel getting bottomed-out multiple times in moderate speeds. Better to reduce the speed and use 2nd gear for better ride quality. The straight posture is awesome for long rides. No pain on wrist, back or legs at all. However due to the straight posture, the wind-blast was horrible at higher speeds during highway rides. Installed a taller after-market windshield and the issue is resolved. Installed the OEM touring seat and it feels so good, specifically for long rides. Feels much more comfortable for rider and pillion both, than the preinstalled one. I would recommend everyone to switch to OEM touring seat and feel the difference. The thump is prominent, while accelerating. It gives a pleasant and calm feeling while cruising at 80-110 kmph in highways. The backrest is a necessity for pillion and I don't know why Hero-Harley has not yet come up with any accessory. Got one after-market and it's working fine for me. The OEM horn was the worst part of the bike. I felt, the exhaust sound is louder than the horn. I can recall the Hero-Honda CD100 horn was far better than this. Again, installed the Roots Smartone -dual horn and now it gives a big bike feel. The weight distribution is well managed and manoeuvring is okay for the size & weight of the bike. The display is small but crisp. Provides all relevant information and can be read easily in midday as well. Tyres have good grip on normal roads and I am yet to test the rainy season performance. The front brake has nice bite, but the rear one is weak. I always apply both the brakes simultaneously and experienced the emergency braking too, which works well.

• Build Quality: The build quality of x440 feels sturdy and reliable. Most of the parts are made up of metal, which makes it heavier. The machine-cut alloy wheels look premium. Paint quality is good. I have read a lot of negative reviews for the initial lot of x440. However, I don't find any major flows in my bike. The position of the throttle wire and clutch wire could have been better. The headlamp is powerful and gives good visibility at night. The all LED setup is a bonus.

I would like to highlight the issue, I faced for my fall-detection sensor. Somehow, I got a faulty fall-detection sensor on my bike. I was commuting to my office and suddenly the bike engine was cut-off. I rested it for few minutes and somehow managed to get the ignition. But it hardly lasted for 1-2 minutes and again was cut-off. I was worried as I was getting frequent calls from my emergency contacts. Later, I realised that the app triggered the fall-detection and accident alert to my emergency contacts multiple times. I called the service centre and they suggested to tow the bike to their centre. I was really worried and never expected, that I would have to tow a brand new Harley bike to service centre. My office was just 500m away and I preferred to push and park the bike there. Next day when I started the bike, it was all well. But I preferred to drive it to service centre and get it checked. The executive checked the bike and informed that the fall-detection sensor was faulty and have to replace it. It was sending misleading signal to ECU that the bike has fallen and that's the reason, it was not allowing the bike to start for safety reasons. The sensor was not available with the service centre and it may take 7 days to get it from factory. They suggested to leave the bike in the centre. I was not convinced and suggested for alternatives. I asked them to disconnect the sensor and try to start the bike. Hola! It started and ignition was stable. That day I realised, too much technology is not good. I came back home with my bike (without the fall-detection sensor). After 7 days, I called the spares executive and he asked me to come to the service centre to get the sensor replaced. It was claimed under warranty (1 year).

I am attaching few pics before and after installation of some after-market accessories and the day, I faced the sensor issue.

I covered multiple trips in and around Bengaluru and enjoying the rides with my x440. Will keep sharing my experience.

Click here to read BHPian comments & insights.

Unlike the Harley, the Mavrick 440 could be positioned as a roadster.

There have been reports of Hero MotoCorp working on a new bike based on the Harley-Davidson X440. Now, spy images of what is believed to be the rumoured 'Mavrick 440' have surfaced online.

As per these images, the Hero Mavrick 440 is likely to feature a circular LED headlamp with an H-shaped LED light signature. The test bike is equipped with bar-end mirrors and black alloy wheels.

Unlike the Harley, the Mavrick 440 could be positioned as a roadster. The test mule appears to have a different fuel tank with tank extensions and a revised riding position.

The Mavrick 440 is expected to use the same 440cc single-cylinder oil-cooled engine as the X440. In its current spec, the engine produces 27 BHP @ 6,000 rpm and 38 Nm @ 4,000 rpm. It will be paired with a 6-speed gearbox.

Source: Gaadiwaadi

The Mavrick 440 will be unveiled at the Hero World event later this month.

Hero MotoCorp is gearing up to debut a new bike based on the Harley-Davidson X440 platform later this month. The bike was initially expected to be called Hurkan 440, however, the latest rumours suggest that it could be named "Mavrick 440".

While the Mavrick 440 is expected to share its underpinnings with the Harley, some reports suggest that it might even get a different chassis. Unlike the X440, Hero’s version could feature a sporty look and might be positioned as a roadster.

The Hero Mavrick 440 will be powered by the same 440cc single-cylinder oil-cooled engine as the X440. In its current spec, the engine produces 27 BHP @ 6,000 rpm and 38 Nm @ 4,000 rpm.

The Mavrick 440 will be unveiled at the Hero World event later this month. Media rides have been planned for February.

Source: Autocar India

Hero’s new bike will be powered by the same 440cc single-cylinder oil-cooled engine as the X440.

Hero MotoCorp has been working on a new bike based on the Harley-Davidson X440 platform and according to latest reports, it is likely to debut later this month.

It has been reported that Hero is set to unveil the Harley-based bike at the Hero World event, while media rides will be held in February.

Details of Hero’s upcoming model are scarce, but reports suggest that it could feature a completely different look compared to the X440. There’s also a possibility that it could be called ‘Hurikan 440’.

Hero’s new bike will be powered by the same 440cc single-cylinder oil-cooled engine as the X440. In its current spec, the engine produces 27 BHP @ 6,000 rpm and 38 Nm @ 4,000 rpm.

I think Harley-Davidson India did a shoddy job on the motorcycle's electronics and connectivity side - implementation as well as testing.

BHPian rustyg recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

2 weeks on and the bad experience continues with Harley and one of its dealers (basically a Hero dealer, not even trying to be an HD dealer by actions).

Dealer

• 2 weeks passed and no contact or response on issues raised earlier from the dealership.
• No update on the Connect issue / accessories, not even a call.
• Registration which was promised in 4 days - before making the payment, is still going 19 days on since payment. On calling the Hero sales person (don't have the number for the Primea showroom as it was never shared), on this and other issues- I am straight away told to contact their GM - if I may.

Harley Davidson India and Vehicle

• I called HD customer care 2 times in the last 10 days, they asked me to send mail and mentioned that they would raise a concern with the dealer to higher management. Nothing yet and they even cut the phone call this evening when I was not taking excuses being made.
• No update on the HD connect issue, I was today asked to contact another dealer to discuss this- I seriously don't know the reason to contact a dealer who didn't sell it to me. They even declined to arrange the call.
• Bike- I skidded in the parking at 10 KMPH. These are sports + performance tubeless tyres with fewer threads.
• According to me, the placement is cruising, easygoing, responsible biking and not high-speed sport profile. I think it mismatches the bike, but maybe it's just me and hope the product managers have done the target segment needs and riding habits analysis. These are different profiles of tyres and suggest to be careful on low friction surfaces if there is any water.
• Bike has a little bigger turning radius and comes with a wider handlebar. I would prefer a little smaller one and if it was - it would make it a great city traffic manoeuvring bike. Hope there would be a reason for bigger handles for the weight and width of the tank.
• The sound is growing much sweeter and awesome with every 10 KMs.

If only they had chosen a decent professional dealer for me to pick the vehicle and not rushed into taking out the bike with no sign of accessories being available yet and problems being acknowledged or resolved.

Update

More on the issues and points I mentioned about the dealership

Dealership issues

Post my mail to HD and / or the posts here, I heard from the MD of the dealership. (I am withholding the name as I am not sure if I should name him)

He acknowledged all issues and took immediate steps for:

• RSA-  He was surprised by sales messaging on RSA being sold as mandatory. Acknowledged and refunded the amount within an hour of the call.
• Registration and Number Plate - on hearing about the problem and delay - Followed up and got the number plate delivered on the same day and fitted at my place. Service to fit at home was an unheard-of thing. Great.
• Contact - Acknowledged and provided his own contact details and has been responsive to all my messages and calls since then.

Bike Issues

• Connect and App - There is an acknowledgement from HD for this issue with iOS. No ETA is given. Hopefully, a firmware upgrade can be expected by the end of the year. I am still waiting for a response to my mail from HD or any call from them.
• Heating problem - I have been promised to do a detailed check during the next service in 10-12 days, to see if there is more heating than other bikes. However, looking at the vlog in the above thread it seems the issue is in lower gears with all bikes. Let's see what is found.
• No information on accessories etc - This is for anyone waiting for it. The back rest is expected in a few days while merchandise from HD is expected by Dec end. I think this is true for all dealerships. There is no timeline or info for mud flaps etc for the splashing issue.
• Display issue - Those are genuine issues and the delay in updating of fuel level or incorrect info all of a sudden is there. I think Harley did a shoddy job on the electronics and connectivity side - implementation as well as testing. I don't mind that for a primarily mechanical item- but I do have a problem with making it as a point of differentiation between variants and charging for that but not taking enough pains to walk the mile.

All in all, so far the dealer has attempted and fixed the easy things. The reason for my long post is when I have named anyone for insufficient / lack of service - I need to acknowledge any effort to fix that. And I have seen genuine attempts in the last 2 days. Let's see how it goes from here but it's Harley's turn to fix bigger issues.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

India Bike Week 2023 will be held in Goa on December 8-9, 2023.

Harley-Davidson is planning to showcase a new version of the X440 at India Bike Week 2023. It is likely to be a custom scrambler-style bike built by Rajputana Customs.

The X440 scrambler is expected to share most of its components with the standard X440 that is currently on sale. It could use the same tubular chassis with an upside-down fork at the front and twin shock absorbers at the rear.

The bike will be powered by the same 440cc, single-cylinder, oil-cooled engine that produces 27 BHP @ 6,000 rpm and 38 Nm @ 4,000 rpm. The engine is paired with a 5-speed gearbox.

Being a scrambler, expect the custom bike to feature a shorter tail section, a different exhaust, wire-spoke wheels shod with knobbly tyres and a flat handlebar with knuckle guards. It might also get an engine bash plate; among other changes.

India Bike Week 2023 will be held in Goa on December 8-9, 2023.

The motorcycle seems good but it appears that the company is experimenting with the first few people who showed faith in the brand and its product.

BHPian rustyg recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I booked an X440 S during the first few mins on the 4th July and took the delivery yesterday - 5th Nov. And here it is, Freshly Baked.

So, now as I have your attention, let me go through the initial experience. I will break it into 3 parts.

Part 1 - Booking and waiting

Me- I used to own a RE 2003 (the older one before all adjustments got made) till 2009. Coming back to two-wheelers which is most likely a midlife crisis-induced buy.

I booked the bike within a few mins of opening and was told I was 7th in the queue (in the dealership or the area from where the phone came- not sure).

As we know there was a delay from the earlier publicized date and then another delay over that.

• All this while there was no communication from the company. The only source of information were public forums.
• I dropped a mail to the only mail ID I had of Hero MotoCorp and Harley eshop India on 29th Aug on the status and wrong vehicle model mentioned on the receipt. No response.
• Checking on this thread, I booked a test drive after downloading the app HD Connect. It took a long time but got the slot for 2nd Oct. Rushed back to Bengaluru and drove directly to the dealership Tusker Harley on Lavelle Road. Guess what? Showroom was closed. Public Holiday.
• Now the app didn't give me the option to book another slot and kept mocking me "You have missed your appointment." I said sorry to the app so many times but it didn't budge.
• Around 10th Oct, got a call from the dealership, randomly selected by Hero/Harley. RT Krishna Hero Motors, Hosur Road for deliveries starting 15th -20th Oct. (Could they have selected a farther store?). Anyway, replied to pick it up between the 28th and 30th. And as usual, when I called up, I was asked to come to the Hero Showroom as the Primea Showroom was not yet ready.
• Took the test drive on 30th Oct, understood the payment structure etc and came back without confirmation.
• Had multiple queries on RTO charges, full amount being considered for Registration etc. All were answered with reason - sooner or later. With all the details, made payment and booked it on my birthday rather than on the showroom opening day for picking it up.

Part 2 - Dealership, Payment & Delivery Experience

All doubts were clarified via messages and calls.

Cost, reg cost and payment

Below is a breakdown of payment done finally as per discount on launch booking, RSA and Bangalore registration costs.

• HOG - I declined the HOG (Harley Owners Group) membership as I am not sure of the utility of the same in my case. It is mostly leisure riding and I don't see myself going in group meets or ride plans. As I mentioned- more of a mid-life crisis buy.
• RSA - I am told that RSA is mandatory - which I didn't object to as it's a new model and I am not sure of widespread servicing / fixing capability just yet. Also, peace of mind which I noticed in the case of my Vento. However, I think people who have good hands-on with bike maintenance may discuss this further with the dealership.
• Road Tax and Registration - The registration will happen at the new price as the older price is being shown as the discounted price in RTO books/system. It's 18% Road Tax + 10% of Road Tax as Cess + 10% of Cess as Infra Cess + Flat Road Safety Cess of 500 + Smart Card etc etc + They charged registration of 8840 for which I don't have a breakup of and seems little extra.

Cost Breakup

Dealership

• They have opened a Primea showroom (think Nexa for Maruti) for Hero 2-wheelers nearby the older showroom but on the other side of the road.
• Only 3 accessories available yet - Side Stand (1400), Bash Plate (450), Crash Guard (880)
• There are just too many teething problems right from the beginning- whatever the question, it is attributed to It's new, we are launching, We still don't have information on that etc. See some e.g below.

Examples

• I was confirmed on the availability of Helmets for sale (going back to biking after 13 years) which had an affirmative answer. Unfortunately while reaching the showroom to take delivery, I was told inventory was not available and I needed to make arrangements. I mean, I am right at the showroom now. Had to borrow my driver's helmet to take the bike back home.
• All other accessories and other merchandise are to be available only after a month or so. I mean the bike delivery was delayed 2 times, there was a good amount of time in between but seems like one of our software projects keeps stretching and missing timelines or features.
• Most of their actions on delivery day were focused on Photo-ops while delivering the vehicle. That seemed the primary motive- Like when nothing was moving there and I was waiting, I went for a coffee next door. I was called back from there without letting me wait for the coffee to come to get delivery with my photo clicked (with that large photo session key). That was without explanation of anything on the bike, no walk-through, no feature demo- Nothing.
• The papers were being given to me without any seal of dealership or signature, just a printout. On enquiring, I was told to take delivery and then go to the older Hero MotoCorp showroom and get it done. Seriously!. When I declined, I was told that we would arrange - You take the delivery etc, but someone will have to go to our other showroom where the seals are kept. Wow, and we say things for Govt offices in India.
• It goes further - After 10 mins, I was again told to wait as the team from Harley was stopping by and RM wanted another Photo op. This is where I mentioned nothing to do. I need details on the vehicle and am not going to work for your picture snapping.

All in all, the Hero Attitude of decades keeps coming out from under the outer clothes of Harley. It's just not the fancy showroom which transforms the service to Primea- It takes more Ps (Marketing Mgmt 101 thing).

Part 3 - Post Delivery: Vehicle Observations, Yays & Nays

So with the vehicle in hand, let me share my observations, hits and misses and downright irritations, Value offered vis-a-vis Value delivered.

But first, a family photo

Hello, I am HD 440S and I am with my Big Uncle

Hits / Pros

• Stability - Have just driven it for 35 KM + Test Drive of 3-4 KMs - In both vehicles I found the handling and stability to be amazing. Be at low or high speeds, going over the road bumps, pretty grounded bike. I just got back to bike riding after 14 years (and also crossing over from young to a middle-aged guy), never for a second I felt any balancing, handling issues after the left foot click. It's really a well-balanced bike which is easy to ride and manoeuvre for anyone new to bikes or returning to riding. Target segment for bikes in India is generally not the mid-aged folks but the youth, but the bike caters to a wide segment here.
• The sound - I contemplated cancelling during the Test Drive as I felt it was not that distinguishable sound and thump under (drove RE 2003 earlier). Even gave this feedback to Harley folks who were visiting the showroom and spoke to me when I was taking delivery. But, how I was wrong! Really loved it when riding back home and after a few KMs. Once you go to 3rd or 4th gear you get that stable sound and thump which is pretty distinctive - more so in Parking where it echoes. It grows on you and I love it within 35 KM of riding.
• Gives a stable, monotonous cruising-like feel just at 4th gear around 45-50 KMPH and quickly picks up if you accelerate. So mix of cruise feel with power burst as needed (I don't mean this power is sports bike power). Really loved that- it's a more personal feeling thing but yay!
• The sitting/riding stance and the comfort for the height of Avg Indians. You don't need to be tall to be comfortable when stopping at red lights. For reference- I am 5ft 6.5 inch (right around avg as per multiple studies -5'5" - 5' 8")- and providing my pics below (face redacted to not steal the beauty of the bike) from the front and side when balancing on 1 feet. No stretch of arms or legs. Also, I have knee issues owing to running in past and I didn't feel any pressure when balancing on that leg for long.

Things That Could Have Been Better / Nuances

• Size of indicators- I find them smaller with the logo in the middle.
• The reminder of indicators being on is easy to miss- no sound and somehow it doesn't stand out on display during the daytime drive. You keep missing that it's on.
• Rear view mirrors are round and small - mostly for aesthetics - but rectangular or trapezium shape would be of more utility. The visibility in mirrors is less. One needs to turn to be assured nothing is there while changing lanes or turning.

Problems / Issues / Cons / Irritants

These are real problems that made my experience go sour with the bike and how the company - both Hero and Harley have handled things. Seems rushed to deliver and sell without proper engineering and quality checks. Seems like there are a lot of operational issues in the supply chain, vendor & order management.

Variant - Value for Money

With 3 variants at 20K diff each and a total 4 colors. There are limited options. I chose the top variant mainly for the black color. The only difference between mid (Vivid) and Top (S) variants are:

• The Display system and HD Connect - Electronics
• The silver notches on Rim - Aesthetics mainly
• A chrome/Copper polish on top of the engine - Pure Aesthetics

I paid 20K for this- I don't think it's worth it at all, especially with the issues below.

The Connected features and HD Connect app and all shebang on the display unit in the bike just don't work if you are an iPhone user. I repeat- one reasonably sized segment in Urban centers can't use the only differentiating feature in Top End for which they pay 20K extra (+ extra on Road tax, insurance as it is all %). You install the app, it connects, you move away, it disconnects and you are done. You can't do anything unless you reinstall the app- do connection again for using it just 1 time. There are multiple such instances reported in App store reviews.

This was not told to me when purchasing the vehicle on what phone I use. What is worse- it is a known problem for Harley as accepted by Harley folks who were there during delivery. But it is not a known issue to dealership folks explaining or trying to demo or deliver the vehicle. The Harley execs casually mentioned it's because of an iOS issue- Seriously - you want Apple to fix it for your inability to create and handle security features when connecting with iOS. He stopped giving security reasons on coming to know I have spent 20+ years in the cybersecurity domain and have little understanding.

I was surprised when Hero Delivery Exec showed connecting with Android and - Voila, see, It works. The showroom manager was least interested and concerned about the issue.

Heating problem - It might be only my vehicle but it has a huge heating issue on the right side. To the extent that my ankles and shin are almost burning despite wearing denim and shoes. The exec mentions it is 440cc sir, that is expected. I don't think it is expected to this level. I seriously don't know what would be the experience for people who go on long rides. Again it might be with my vehicle but you can't just brush it off with a wave of the hand.

No additional accessory available for another 1 month- Again this is for a premium segment bike in your showroom and moving delivery 2-3 times. They are still not able to sort things out. No merchandise available. This means you can't get the central stand, Mud flaps, guards for big gap-throwing water. Again no commitment and just brushing things aside.

By design and tyres used - The bike kind of picks up every tiny amount of water on the road and throws it on you. Despite no rain for a day when I picked the bike, and nothing on road, the lowers were drenched with mud. And then no accessory is available or being committed for. See pic of the mudslinger after 35 kms drive without rain.

Display issues- Fuel gauge shows half or 3/4th or full as it pleases and can switch to any state at will. This is one thing which never failed with mechanical meters at least. Now if you are on the side stand it goes down, when straight and you give it 1-2 mins or turn on the ignition again - it might show the correct level. When running - it may show the correct level or may show full for 15-20 mins at its will. On contacting the Delivery Exec - "Sir, it may show empty or half when on the side stand". Seriously, this is the kind of sensor and display implemented and claimed to be a Connected bike? See the 3 pics with different levels below - All taken within 5 kms and 1 in the evening and 2 in the morning. Problem is what if this glitch starts showing full for some duration while on the road trip when actually it needs attention? This is a digital glitch, telling us the value of our older fuel meters.

Tank Full

Tank Half at 38 km next morning

Correct reading of 3/4th at 38 km next morning

Finally, the ride feel is good, but it seems the company is experimenting with the first few people who showed faith in its brand and product and mostly for the tie-up and information asymmetry they have. It seems someone was given a target of taking out the bike and they went with it despite issues and channels and supply chain not set.

Advice for Hero and Harley- While the bike is becoming more digital in features, the attitude and dealing of Dealer and Harley Execs are becoming more mechanical. For god's sake train your execs to understand problems beforehand, invest some effort in software testing, make disclosures for known problems. DO NOT take customers and especially early adopters - for granted. Service and quality matter when positioning a product in a segment which you want to crack. Harley bringing the cheapest bike doesn't mean this is a cheaper segment- It still is a premium segment for the Indian market.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Now that I stepped into my mid 30s, I now feel young again and feel like riding a proper motorcycle.

BHPian pferdestarke recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Just like most of the motoring enthusiasts out there, my passion for motored vehicles started with a humble motorcycle, a Suzuki Samurai (lucky to have experienced a 2-stroke motor) on which I learnt how to ride.

Then Honda Activa happened in 2005, which was a good commuting scooter but lacked that feel we get with a motorcycle.

Rode a Karizma 225 for 4 years (2008-2012) which was a peppy, trendy bike during that period.

Now that I stepped into my mid 30s, I now feel young again and feel like riding a proper motorcycle.

My budget is capped at 5L and I'm currently considering a pre-owned one.

Primarily looking at cruiser style bikes (First Preference = Harley but is it a wise call?)

Kindly pour in your views and share possible options for me!

Here's what BHPian shiv4747 had to say on the matter:

Please share more details with us which would help us to pitch in better suggestions.

Such as

1. Shortlisted bikes

2. Riding pattern (city % + highway %) (weekly ride or every day)

3. With pillion or without

etc if any other.

Just sharing my story for your reference.

I am in my late 30s now. Till 30 I was riding 150CC and then I wanted to upgrade. The one bike I was inclined towards is Yamaha R3 which is still my crush. But due to some reasons I moved to RE 350 Classic gun metal grey. I used it for couple of years. But after multiple long rides and city rides I realised it wasnt my style. Hence I sold RE and bought pre worshipped R3 10k kms ridden. It was an amazing bike. I can ride it all day. I used it for city 60% and 40% for highway rides. Rode with pillion only for grocery. It was a perfect ride with decent maintenance.

Now I am owning a Ninja 300 pre worshipped(5k kms when I bought) 2021 model. Since the Yamaha has stopped selling, the spares take time to come at present. I am glad I sold it last year mid. I am pretty happy with Ninja 300 which is used for city + highways. Also pretty decent for pillion for around 50 kms ride. I have ridden few long rides 1500 kms in 2 days. Not so much tiring. Maintaining 100 to 120 kmph in highways, Fuel economy is 33/34 kmpl which I am really happy about.

Maintenance is pretty high though compared to R3. But the Ninja is worth it.

Let me know your thoughts and details.

Here's what BHPian aargee had to say on the matter:

If you replace Samurai with Rx & Karizma with CBR 250R without changing Activa including the year, we've near identical life with motorcycles; regarding age, I will consider myself in mid 20s hehe

Anyway, when I had to undergo this, I asked one pertinent question - What is the purpose?

Since I didn't cap the budget, I was open to all including Harley & RE. My purpose was simple: To ride far & wide across the nation on roads & some non roads. But then reality kicked in asking: 1. What is that I cannot do with my C250R? Answer: almost none

2. How many Kms am I able to do with my C250R? Answer: None!!

So even that purpose changed to: No single cylinder, something powerful, comfortable, reliable that can do 120 easily all day & push to 160 if needed

Once emotions settled down, PFC kicked in to points such as:

1. Wide spread ASC

2. Motorcycle should not be a girl friend to ensure my wallet stays dry!!

3. Should have a minimum of 3 or better 4 cylinders

4. Should have a forward leaning posture

5. Should not be a crowd magnet

Discussed with friends & TBhp, went for GT650, landed up owning Interceptor 650!!

Did it meet all my requirements? Ofcourse no, but for sure it certainly met many of my expectations. Most importantly, staying practical.

Imagine this: I was longing {and still} to buy Triumph Tiger; I would by crying in blood to see the Tiger idle in garage most of the time. Glad that wasn't the case, wisdom kicked in through friends.

So my suggestion to you will be to ask - What's the purpose? Because the novelty of owning a new {or even used} toy fades with time, but if you really have a purpose, then the novely remains when the purpose is met for a longer period.

Here's what BHPian antz.bin had to say on the matter:

I had similar requirements (apart from the big & bold part) but a budget only permitting up to the RE 650s (which is not too far from your 5 lakh budget if you consider the Super Meteor 650).

TRed everything within that budget and LOVED the Continental GT 650 but eventually went for the Triumph Speed 400 because it felt just right to me.

Anyways seems like the Triumphs won't fit your Big and Bold requirements but the RE 650s definitely will.

Honda and Bigwing Topline motorcycles have a poor track record when it comes to spares availability. Keep that in mind before you cough up for the Rebel.

Harley numbers are just about to start looking up with the launch of the x440 so I wouldn't worry about HD running away again. But you never know with American companies.

If I were you, I would stick to the RE 650s. They are large enough in size and the Interceptor is a good place to start a customization journey and you could make it just like you want it (one of a kind) while still retaining the ability to get service and support from the massive RE service network all over the country.

I understand that a V-Twin engine would make your motorcycle instantly identifiable and bold but it is a risk you choose to take when buying used.

Here's what BHPian Anantinspired had to say on the matter:

You are in a boat that is sailing towards a shore I suddenly find myself on! Having booked a single cylinder Hero-Harley x440 on the booking opening day of July 4th, I realised I wanted my 35th motorcycle to be a bit more special than just practical as always.

I also booked an interceptor then, a logical next step of budget choice, but over many test rides post booking, realised it's an ergonomic harassment that needs effort, expense and adjustment. Adding to that, the weight of both it and the super meteor are inconveniently felt in many urban situations. Cancelled it, felt huge relief!

While considering other motorcycles I started talking to friends who had stood tall with their experience and knew my riding patterns. One of them was Farhan, who is a keen rider of litre class Supersport for over a decade, but is also publicly known for his being the best anchor for Mahindra Mojo, with his showroom NAFS motors, Bangalore that sold the MOJO till the last day. He not only sold, serviced and modified the MOJO as an authorised dealer but also ensured the motorcycle reached eager customers across the country, supporting them with spares and service since the Mahindra network was too weak to do so! NAFS and Farhan therefore are well known across several Mojo and touring groups as the saviours for anything to do with Mahindra Mojo. My relationship with him started when he was with the KTM Kawasaki showroom in 2013, then continued when I bought a Mojo. I was always in touch and found his perspectives most decisively valuable when buying motorcycles across other brands over the past 10 years.

Anyway, upon contacting him for a private chat, I was delighted to know that since Mahindra had closed down the MOJO, he was making use of the showroom and service facility to start a Used Superbike dealership. I headed over that very day. Exactly as I expected, Farhan had a select stock of the best premium brands and motorcycles that were superbly selected by his informed eye for their quality prior ownership, condition and minimal usage.

Over 20 used cars and a few bikes, i have found in my past 30+ years of automotive purchasing, that in the used market, that's really what it is! Not the size or scale of operations, but the perspective of the person owning the used motor vehicle business. If they are passionate automotive enthusiasts, they will never lose their reputation and pride over a reason for profit.

With his trained eye and team, i observed that Farhan ensures each motorcycle is truly a gem in its condition. I was also looking for an easy cruiser, and amidst the many Supersport and ADV out there, was standing a Triumph Bonneville Street Twin 900cc. Elder doctor owned, just 10k done, well maintained and barely looking used. Since I didn't know much about the model, having never considered it previously, I took a week to do thorough research, each time going back to correlate learning, and Farhan was most patient in allowing inspection and innumerable test rides.

I was sold! And in a matter of a week, at a price not far ahead of your budget, I have the motorcycle which is putting a big smile on my face even as I type about owning it, let alone riding. Its quality, finish, feel is all top tier, and I assure you, no RE or any other alternative in this genre, will showcase quality in every cable, weld or bolt, like a Triumph does. To add, the age old saying - there is no replacement for displacement - definitely hold merit, with a staggering 80nm of torque that puts this heads and shoulders above anything else that you may be considering new in a 5 lakh budget. Like you wondered, the only concern is reliablity when buying used, but upon finding the right ally, don't hesitate to step in.

What the street twin 900/speed twin 900 duo do as a cruiser you can get many reviews on, but they are triumphs best selling models internationally for a reason. With triumph opening many showrooms rapidly, promising over a 100 by March 24, I think even the authorised support base should be covered. Not to add these are otherwise mechanically simple motorcycles that are easy to maintain.

As a parting point, I also noticed NAFS motors stocks several TS registered motorcycles...and had customers from across states. Personally, if I was in your state (both mentally and geographically) I would reach out to them once, the nafs.motors page on instagram has a-customer-a-day happiness to view.

I felt like replying in such detail, for your budgets and motorcycling intent at the moment, resonated with mine. I hope you reach a good shore of conclusion soon, cheers and all the best with whichever way you go!

Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.