Harley-Davidson’s new 440cc platform was never going to be limited to just the impressive X440 roadster that it debuted with. We already know that Hero’s own bike powered by this motor will arrive next year, and now, there are clues about what Harley’s second 440cc bike will be. Hero MotoCorp has filed a trademark for the Nightster 440 nametag in India, suggesting that it could be used on Harley’s next.
The Nightster moniker isn’t new to Harley-Davidson – the Milwaukee Giant already offers a larger liquid-cooled Nightster powered by a 975cc liquid-cooled V-twin that’s derived from the Pan America’s 1,250cc mill. This bike sits under Harley’s ‘Sport’ line-up, along with the Sportster. And so, if Hero and Harley decide to build a Nightster 440, it is likely to be a sportier motorcycle than the X440.
Differentiating factors are likely to be seating position and perhaps some chassis tweaks – our brief first experience with the X440 revealed that it runs out of cornering clearance rather quickly. As for the air- and oil-cooled 440cc engine, it’s expected to remain largely the same. Perhaps, Hero might play around with the state-of-tune and gearing to offer a slightly more engaging experience to go with the sportier nature of the bike.
Ved Janve
Vishal Venugopal
Dinshaw Magol
