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Harley Plans to Build Smaller Bikes?

by Steve
Tuesday, September 09, 2008

cagiva raptor 125The State Journal-Register, a newspaper serving Springfield, IL, reported a couple of weeks ago that Harley may be planning to build smaller motorcycles, perhaps to sell overseas...

Hall predicts Harley-Davidson will roll out smaller bikes than Sportsters with 883-cubic-inch engines, currently the smallest available. With smaller models, Harley would be in a position to appeal to a broader segment of the market, he said.
Harley brand certainly is very strong in the Asian markets, and folks over there actually have a love affair with everything American.

The person quoted above is actually the owner of a Harley dealership, not anyone from corporate. I don't believe that even the dealers know what The Motor Company is up to. But it makes sense.

The Chinese, Japanese, Indians, and all them out there will buy up Harleys if they could afford them. Harley doesn't have to price their bikes competively, they just have to bring them within reach of the masses.

But second, many countries make it difficult for residents to register large displacement motorcycles.

Harley actually has a small displacement motorcycle already, the Cagiva Raptor 125. They acquired it through their purchase of MV Agusta last July. All they need to do is slap the Harley name on the tank, and start shipping them.

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7 Comments:

  • I ride behind my husband on our Dyna Wide Glide. I have considered learning how to ride alone but am afraid that the Dyna is too big. I think even the sportster would be too big. A smaller bike and I might try it. I have started my own website. I really like the layout of yours. Mine is http://www.thebikersvoice.com/. Give me a vist. Thanks

    By Blogger master, at 9/11/2008 11:10:00 AM  

  • Hooray for HD! I hope they do start producing smaller bikes and I hope they sell them in the U.S. as well. HD may need to make the step to stay competitive for the long term. I think that it's only a matter of time. They've got all their eggs in the nostalgia basket, it's time for some new ideas from The Motor Company.

    By Blogger Kano, at 9/13/2008 08:53:00 PM  

  • This is good.

    The smaller bikes won't be as hard to push when they fall apart.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 10/07/2008 12:17:00 PM  

  • History repeats itself. HD purchased Aermacchi in 1961. Now another Italian motor co? Maybe the gobment could step in and help them again? Thank God for AMF!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 10/22/2008 04:27:00 PM  

  • Even more funny is that AMF sold Cagiva the factory in Italy in 1978. Because HD made a bad investment in 61. Thats OK, the gobment will save you again HD

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 10/22/2008 04:37:00 PM  

  • I only hope they are as strong as the big ones. I would hate to find that they are disposable.

    By Anonymous Motorcycle Fairings, at 11/20/2008 05:08:00 PM  

  • As a woman with a smaller frame, I'd be interested in seeing what Harley brings to the table in a smaller cc'd bike.

    I'll keep an eye out although I love my Kawasaki 250 and am racking up the miles currently!

    http://www.squidoo.com/womenmotorcycleriders

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 9/22/2009 04:59:00 PM  

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