Sadly no made-for-India sub 800 cc bike from Harley Davidson

Here comes a sad and depressing news for Harley lovers. All those who were excited about the up-coming sub-800 cc bike specially made for India by Harley Davidson are now in for some bad news. Some time back, news was that Harley Davidson will build a mother plant in Haryana. This supposed plant would have been only the third such plant, with the other two being in United States and Brazil. Expectations were high with this plant as it was supposed to manufacture the tailor made Harley bike for Indian market. So now, here’s breaking the sad news. There will be no Indian market specific Harley motorcycle. No sub 800 cc Harley, that is, as per Harley Davidson India CEO, Mr. Anoop Prakash. Mr. Prakash said that whatever new Harley would manufacture will be a totally global model.

So now the dreams of a Harley being owned for Rs. 3-4 lacs in India, the ones that would have been manufactured in India with India in mind, are crushed. All the earlier news suggesting any such manufacturing are to be ignored. And this not merely a rumor, this has come from the company’s India CEO, so can be easily relied upon and taken as a new development that can be relied upon. Though, there are hopes still breathing for Indian Harley lovers, as the company might still build motorcycles in India. Sportster Iron 883, if Harley begins manufacturing in India, is one of the bikes from the existing range, that could be owned at around Rs. 3-4 lacs some time soon. With the current news of the sub 800 cc motorcycle from Harley going a blooper, a rather smaller capacity cruiser has lost its chances. This was one of the few cruisers that could have gained an immense market for the company in India, Brazil, South East Asia, etc.

For the time being, lets kick the bad sad news at the back of our minds and think of something that could still rev up the hopes. The plans of CKD line-up expansion is still up! Harley Davidson plans to assemble Harley Davidson Dyna series in India latest by the end 2012. Other than Harley, there many other names that see good business opportunity in India, Triumph, KTM, Ducati, etc. being a few examples. However, it seems, the companies are planning to downsize the engine capabilities to make more affordable and India suiting. Triumph might bring up a 350 cc single cylinder bike for India. KTM, with Duke 350, might create a havoc in the motorcycle market in India. Ducati, now owned by Audi, has already launched a lower price edition of Monster 795 some time back in this year.