By now it has been established that Hero is working on a 440cc motorcycle based on the Harley Davidson X440. For the uninitiated, Hero has co-developed the neo-retro roadster alongside the iconic American brand and manufactures the same in India. It was recently reported that Hero will launch its own version of the X440 later this month on January 22.
Hero 440cc bike: Hurikan or Marick?
Until now, it was speculated that Hero will name this bike Hurikan 440, a trademark for which was filed in August this year. However, it has come to light that Hero MotoCorp has filed a trademark for another name— ‘Mavrick 440’. This has led to a conjecture that the upcoming 440cc motorcycle from Hero will be named Mavrick.
However, it is too soon to predict the same. If one closely observes the applications for both the trademark, the ‘Hurikan 440’ is a more recent trademark filed. Moreover, the status of the Mavrick 400 reads “objected” whereas in the case of the Hurikan 440 it says “Accepted & Advertised”. Therefore, the probability of Hurikan being chosen as the final brand name is a lot higher.
Hero 440cc bike: Expected styling, spec, & features
It is yet to be seen if Hero retains the same design as the Harley Davidson X440. We expect Hero to add its own styling touches to make it more appealing to its loyal fan base. That said, Hero is aiming to have a share of pie in the entry-level middleweight modern retro segment currently dominated by Royal Enfield.
In case of powertrain, the upcoming Hero motorcycle will be powered by the same 440cc single-cylinder, oil-cooled, two-valve, SOHC engine that powers the X440. This motor kicks out 27 bhp and 38 Nm of peak torque and it is expected to carry the same tune as its existing application. The engine will be paired with a 6-speed gearbox.
Cycle parts will include a suspension setup comprising 43mm KYB USD telescopic front forks and dual shock absorbers at the rear. Braking duties will be carried out by 320mm front and 240mm rear disc brakes aided by a dual-channel ABS. We also expect Hero to offer features like TFT instrument panel, Bluetooth connectivity, location alerts, etc. with the upcoming middleweight roadster.
