In comparison to the X440 neo-retro roadster bikes, the upcoming Sprint 440 has a more conventional Harley-style cruiser design
Harley-Davidson currently offers the X440 bikes in India, as part of its broader goal to target the mass market segment. To provide more options to enthusiasts, especially those who prefer the traditional cruiser aesthetic, Harley-Davidson is working on a new bike named Sprint 440. The first teaser has just been released, providing a glimpse of the bike’s key features.
Harley-Davidson Sprint 440 – Design and features
With its distinctive design that is more closely aligned with conventional Harley cruiser bikes, the Sprint 440 could appeal to an entirely different segment of users. Key features include a circular headlamp, a higher-set, pulled-back handlebar and oval-style rearview mirrors. The bike appears to be using a circular instrument console, mounted a little high with support brackets.
This setup could enhance visibility, especially when accessing functions like turn-by-turn navigation. Turn indicators at the front and rear have a circular design. Sprint 440 is using a single-piece seat with a scooped design for the rider section. Fuel tank has a classic teardrop design, likely paired with a metallic-finish fuel filler cap.
The bike has alloy wheels with cruising tyres, dual rear shock absorbers and a horizontally placed exhaust pipe. Even with the limited information revealed in the teaser, it is clear that the upcoming Sprint 440 has a distinct design compared to the existing X440 bikes. User experience will also differ with the Sprint 440’s more cruiser-oriented body style.
For context, Sprint 440 appears to have a low seat height, relative to the X440. The latter already has a close-to-optimal seat height of 805 mm, but Sprint 440’s could be even better in terms of cruising. Riding stance is expected to be more relaxed with Sprint 440. The new 440 could also get exclusive features, necessitating changes across the switchgear and instrument console.
Same hardware with some tweaks
Several parts will be common for Sprint 440 and existing X440 bikes, although there could be some tweaks to suit Sprint’s cruising character. For example, the suspension setup could be offered in a different state of tune. Or, a completely exclusive setup is also possible for the Sprint 440. As seen in the teaser image, the dual rear shock absorbers of Sprint 440 appear more slanted than the ones used on the X440s.
While the X440 has 18-inch front and 17-inch rear wheels, the upcoming Sprint 440 could have a greater size difference between the front and rear wheels. The rear subframe could be redesigned as well for Sprint 440. Coming to performance, Sprint 440 will be using the same 440 cc, single cylinder air-oil cooled engine.
On the X440 bikes, this engine generates 27 bhp and 38 Nm of torque. Fuel efficiency is rated at 35 km/l. The engine is paired with a 6-speed gearbox. On the Sprint 440, this engine could be offered in a slightly different state of tune. Similar to the X440 bikes, the Sprint 440 will be manufactured in India by Hero MotoCorp as part of its alliance with Harley-Davidson.
