The Harley-Davidson X440 T is a substantial step ahead for the American motorcycle brand in India. At a time when the Indian Government’s GST 2.0 regulations are favouring sub-350cc motorcycles, Hero Motocorp and Harley-Davidson are pressing ahead with their 440cc platform to woo customers in the premium segment. With a new rear end and lots of refinements, the Harley-Davidson X440 T seems to be a result of taking customer feedback seriously.
Unlike the old (and now more accessible) X440, the X440 T is aimed at a slightly different crowd. If the advertisement featuring Bollywood actor Ahaan Pandey (of Saiyaara fame) isn’t your clue, the X440 T is aimed at young riders who want a sporty yet comfortable flavour of the Harley cruiser experience.
Hence, when Harley-Davidson invited Express Drives to get on the saddle and take a feel of its latest creation, we were curious, considering whether Harley and Hero have traded in some of the cruiser-like properties of the X440 in favour of a sporty profile.
But before we head into our account of the first ride with the Harley-Davidson X440 T, let’s clarify where the X440 T stands in Harley’s single-cylinder lineup.
Harley-Davidson X440 T: Where does it fit in the lineup?
Even though Harley-Davidson calls it a new model, consider the X440 T as more of a new variant that sits atop the existing X440. The Denim variant with spoke wheels is gone, and Harley is keeping the Vivid and S variants around as entry-level variants, with prices starting at 2.3 lakh ex-showroom. The X440 T comes in as a more premium variant with refinements and new features, starting at Rs 2.79 lakh ex-showroom.
Harley-Davidson X440 T: What’s new on the skin
The original X440 was a good motorcycle to begin with, and Hero-Harley had to only address the quality niggles that raised customer concerns. A closer look at the X440 T reveals that the Harley team has significantly upgraded the build quality and made the design more pleasing.
The old cruise-style rear fender has given way to an angular one that is more reminiscent of the Harley-Davidson XR1200 roadster. The rear sub-frame and tail section mask the gap to the rear wheel, and with the integrated LED tail lamp, it looks a lot more pleasing. It is possible that this design treatment may not appeal to everyone, but the new rear section gives it a dynamic look, especially in the bright colour schemes (Red and White).
Harley has also used better quality nuts and bolts all around the chassis frame, gone for a matte paint on the trellis frame, tucked the wires away on the handlebar neatly and added new bar-end mirrors. New heat shield on the exhaust system adds to the premium detailing, giving the motorcycle a hefty road presence.
While the rider’s triangle still remains comfortable with an upright posture and wide, low-set handlebars, new additions like the forged aluminium footpegs, a new metal heel plate, and standard bar-end mirrors add to a superior ride experience. A small plastic panel fills the gap between the tank and the handlebars to reduce the visual awkwardness.
Harley-Davidson X440 T: What’s new in tech?
One of the major reasons why you pay a premium of Rs 63,000 for the X440 T is the addition of a ride-by-wire (RBW) throttle system. Other than quickening up throttle response, the RBW system introduces ride modes to alter the engine behaviour. The ‘Road Mode’ provides instant throttle response and spirited mid-range acceleration, making quick overtakes enjoyable. The ‘Rain Mode’ dampens the throttle response for easier control, aimed at making it easy in conditions where traction is a luxury (or when you want a lazy, leisurely ride). We preferred keeping the X440 T in the ‘Road Mode’ for our ride session.
Along with switchable traction control and switchable rear ABS, the Harley-Davidson X440 T promises a versatile ride experience for all kinds of riders in most common situations. The process of changing the ride modes isn’t easy, and we would have preferred Harley to add a dedicated button.Â
Harley-Davidson X440 T: How is it to ride
As with most media events, we could only do limited riding to gauge the nature of the motorcycle, and hence, a full review will come after we get the motorcycle for a longer term. Based on our limited interaction with the X440 T, the first impressions seem good.
Harley has left the engine mechanically unchanged, which means that the 440 cc air-oil-cooled single-cylinder engine continues to produce 27 bhp at 6,000 rpm and 38 Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm. The abundance of torque in the mid-range allows for brink acceleration, especially between 2,000 rpm and 4,000 rpm. If you are a rev-happy rider, you can easily do 100 kph at 4,000 rpm, which sounds exciting. However, you have to be mindful of the vibrations on the handlebars and the footpegs.Â
In city driving conditions (slow-moving traffic and jams), the Harley-Davidson X440 T is tractable enough in the 3rd gear, pulling past commuters easily. At speeds under 30 kph, we felt the need to downshift to 2nd gear for gaining the momentum. The slip-and-assist clutch makes life in urban setups easier, and the shifter itself is easy to slot in. We didn’t notice any false shift errors or had trouble finding neutral. The nicely-engineered exhaust sound adds to the ‘big-bike’ feel, especially while accelerating at lower revs. You also get to hear a lot of pops and bangs while coasting from higher revs.
As a 5 feet 4 inch rider, I was worried about the 192 kg kerb weight and the 805 mm seat height. Note that shorter riders may struggle to move the motorcycle around while parking or manoeuvring on inclines. However, once on the move, the X440 T feels surprisingly light and agile. Harley-Davidson has retained the 43 mm KYB USD front forks and gas-charged twin rear shocks (with 7-step preload) but tuned the front forks for better damping. This allows the motorcycle to soak up potholes and nasty speedbreakers without dislodging the stability. Navigating through the narrow streets of North Goa, the Harley-Davidson X440 T felt at home tackling bends and sudden changes in elevation.
However, we feel that the Harley-Davidson X440 T behaves its best on open roads, where you keep cruising at 100 kph in 6th gear effortlessly. The single-piece seat is well-padded and comfortable for long hours, which, paired with the plush suspension, makes life easy on the move. The ByBre disc brakes offer ample bite in emergency situations, and the custom MRF tyres impart confidence on dry terrain.
Harley-Davidson X440 T: Our first impressions
In our brief ride on the Harley-Davidson X440 T, it becomes clear that Harley-Davidson has built upon the strength of the original X440 while addressing some of the concerns from customer feedback. The motorcycle rides like a comfortable cruiser that isn’t shy in tackling corners, similar to its predecessor. The addition of electronic aids like ride modes and switchable ABS adds to the safety factor, thereby making it a better value than ever. The updated rear-end improves its road presence, and the overall quality upgrade makes it more desirable over the standard X440 models.
Should you buy the Harley-Davidson X440 T? While we await more hands-on time for a proper road test, we can recommend taking a test drive, especially if you are considering torque-heavy, cruise-friendly options like the Royal Enfield Meteor 350 and Triumph Speed T4.
