So only a little over three more weeks until Harley Davidson astound the world with their product launch for 2024 on January 24th…but will any of it peak your interest?
As usual there have been rumours leading up to January but much is pure speculation and assumption with little in the way of hard evidence, albeit there have been some logical prognostications along the way.
2023 has been less than stellar for the American motorcycle brand in terms of unit sales and income generation and they will certainly be looking to improve their position during the coming year. So what are we likely to expect?
For the overseas markets, especially those in the far east, the collaboration with QJ Motor f China should spurn another love child or two to add to the current X350 & X500 motorcycle currently on sale. There has been growing speculation that a smaller adventure bike will be released as well as a cruiser style too.
For the collaboration with Hero MotoCorp of India which gave birth to the X440, there is also talk of a Scrambler style motorcycle coming soon as well as another two in 2024.
So for the small displacement engine bikes, there appears to be growth and more motorcycles on the way, but what of the mainstay Cruisers, Tourers and the Rev Max bikes?
Well this is where it has been less abundant with rumours. We are expecting styling changes for the Street Glide and Road Glide in the Touring line up to match the 2023 CVO models. There has also been speculation of larger engine sizes for both Softails and Tourers where the 117 would replace the 114s. The 107 being phased out completely and replaced with the 114 and some models getting the 121 or the 117 getting VVT that is currently in the 121 CVO bikes.
Another strong rumour that began to gather momentum has been that Harley Davidson will be releasing a race replica bike of that which is used in the King of the Baggers race series. Whether this will be a ready to race track bike, similar to the Indian Challenger RR track bike that was released in 2023, or whether it will be a fully road legal motorcycle Road Glide and or Street Glide up to racing spec?
As for the Revolution Max engine bikes, well there has been rumours that more bikes with different engine sizes will be announced. From 750cc Cafe Racer style to more 975cc and 1250cc models in the offerings. A Softail Rev Max and a Touring Rev Max is also been on the drawing board but whether that will see the light of day in 2024 is yet to be determined.
So whilst there have been some good guess work going on, there is still nothing concrete apart from colour changes which have been let slip and carry over models that will continue to be sold but without any changes.
So apart from Vivid Black becoming an custom colour rather than standard, and the standard becoming a grey…is this what we can expect for 2024?
Nothing really to wet the appetite, colours that dull the senses and motorcycles that suffocate the flames which the price tags continue to soar to an ever decreasing customer base? Certainly Harley Davidson would not wish the latter but there marketing strategy may continue in the same manner.
We shall find out on January 24th…
Leave a Reply