Harley-Davidson XR 250 Render Surfaces Online

There seems to be a paradigm shift in the two-wheeler market with most big bike manufacturers planning to take a crack at the growing small capacity motorcycle segment. One such manufacturer is American bred Harley-Davidson which recently revealed its future plans with its five-year roadmap. And a portion of this proposal included working on smaller capacity motorcycles ranging between 250-500cc. While we are still waiting for more information from the company, a recent render of the XR 250 gives us some crucial insights into Harley-Davidson's upcoming small capacity motorcycle.

It was previously unclear if the Milwaukee-based manufacturer would stick to its conventional V-twin or go for an air-cooled single-cylinder motor to keep costs in check. The render though, suggests that it will most likely be the latter with flat track design elements. So, we could be looking at a bike that features dual-purpose tyres, minimal bodywork, a wide handlebar and a pretty basic instrument console, say something along the lines of the Harley-Davidson XG750R. The render also suggests that the bike could share some of its underpinnings like the frame and telescopic forks with the locally manufactured Street 750, which would further reduce costs.

The XR 250 is expected to be designed and developed for the younger generation and price-conscious markets. Also, in order to keep the prices competitive, Harley-Davidson is likely to partner with local brands based in India or South-east Asia. That said, it will probably collaborate with an Indian brand considering Harley-Davidson already has a manufacturing facility and a supplier base setup for the Street 750 in the country. Besides, the rising costs of production in countries like Thailand and Indonesia are pushing auto manufacturers to shift their production facilities to India.

If Harley-Davidson plans on being competitive in the 250-500cc segment, it will have to price the upcoming bikes under Rs 2 lakh (ex-showroom). We expect Harley-Davidson to reveal these motorcycles at the 2019 EICMA along with other future offerings like the Streetfighter, Pan America and the Custom 1250.

Picture Courtesy: YoungMachine