Harley-Davidson, the iconic American motorcycle brand, has been in the works for a long time with its Chinese partner, Qianjiang Group, which is the parent company of Benelli. This collaboration was done to produce affordable small and mid-capacity platforms and engines. Currently, too, they are working on a new, bigger motorcycle and some spy shots of it have surfaced over the internet.
A new prototype can be seen being tested on the dyno with the Harley-Davidson emblem etched on the fuel tank in the photographs. These photos were taken from a video clip posted by QJ Motor on a Chinese website. This new 500cc bike is said to have a parallel-twin engine and will look a lot like the existing Benelli Leoncino 500. The Leoncino 500 is currently available in both the Chinese and domestic markets.
The motorcycle appears to have an immediate connection to a regular Harley-Davidson roadster. To begin with, it features a distinctive vintage style with characteristic aesthetic elements such as a circular headlight with a silver-coloured bezel, a teardrop-shaped fuel tank, and a single-pod instrument dashboard. Other aesthetic elements include circular rear view reflectors, a one-piece seat, and a large bobber-style rear fender.
The fact that “HD 500” has been scrawled on the rear registration plate mountings on the rear tyre hugger adds to its significance. While the prototype lacks Harley-Davidson branding, it does have the company’s new orange emblem on the fuel tank, which has been seen on previous models like the Pan America and Sportster S.
This next Harley-Davidson motorcycle will most likely be powered by a 500cc parallel-twin, liquid-cooled engine derived from the Leoncino 500. This engine produces 47 horsepower at 8500rpm and 46 Nm of torque at 6000rpm. The eight-valve engine is mated to a six-speed gearbox. This upcoming bike is likely to compete with Royal Enfield’s 650cc motorcycles.
