[MMRanch]

Hay , any of you fellers caught wind of Harley's  moving into the 350 market ? 

https://www.motorcycle.com/new-model-preview/what-we-know-about-the-2023-harley-davidson-x350-and-x350ra.html

Not really the RE's competition , but the way I understand it ... in parts of the world a 350cc is a big bike.
............ .............

I wouldn't trade my Meteor for two of them , but its good to see more companies jumping on the 350 band wagon.

[AzCal Retred]

QJ is now sold in the USA thru SSR Motorcycles: http://www.ssrmotorsports.com/

They even offer their own 300 V-twin: http://qjmotor.ssrmotorsports.com/models/srv300.php
QJ is building the +400 pound X350 and also worked with HD on the SRV300 development a few years back. The SRV300 is a 6-speed, 350 pound, 6-speed, 30 HP low seat height/CG machine, I doubt that HD aficionados will settle for a portly "modurne" anemic 23 HP parallel twin with the SRV300 out there.

350ccs are plenty to get you point to point. Modern designs deliver +30 HP, and that coupled with a 6-speed make for a nicely competent motorcycle that'll comfortably hold 65-75 MPH. The frugal +400 pound pre-unit Bullet lived for decades on 16-22 HP, I'm not seeing QJ have any issues selling 350 pound 30 HP low CG machines.

The machine HDs X350 is based around is QJs SRK400 being sold thru SSR: a 40 HP, 6-speed, 410 pounds dry, 3.5 gallons of fuel sportbike.
http://qjmotor.ssrmotorsports.com/models/srk400.php

Depending on final MSRP, the SRV550 (a parallel twin...?) Benelli Leoncino overbore looks fun. 50HP, 6-speeds, 450 pounds, 16.5L of fuel capacity. 
<<<  http://qjmotor.ssrmotorsports.com/models/srv550.php  >>>

[Ivy]

I am sure the marketing men at HD know what they are doing but remember the Street 750 is or was made in India and now a Chinese tie up.

I would have thought the biggest appeal of HD is "all American iron". I reckon almost all HD riders are super patriotic or at least love the American dream.

Just my thoughts.

[AzCal Retred]

I would have thought the biggest appeal of HD is "all American iron".
I'm thinking a more "Easy Rider"/ "Wild Ones" mindset prevails judging from the HD garb sales. << https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easy_Rider  >>

This is the fabulously pricey "entry level" HD. At $4500 the upcoming 350 looks to be quite the bargain, assuming they can move them off the showroom. Historically both the shrinking customer base and the dealerships are very resistant to change. HD has put their name on several nice small bikes that have all failed at the dealership level, so there's a consistent pattern. In business if you don't grow, you die.

https://ridermagazine.com/2022/06/29/2022-harley-davidson-nightster-first-ride-review/

2022 Harley-Davidson Nightster Specs
Base Price: $13,499 (Vivid Black)
Price as Tested: $13,899 (Redline Red)
Warranty: 2 yrs., unltd. miles
Website: Harley-Davidson.com
Engine Type: Liquid-cooled, transverse 60-degree V-Twin, DOHC w/ 4 valves per cyl.
Displacement: 975cc
Bore x Stroke: 97 x 66mm
Horsepower: 90 @ 7,500 rpm (claimed, at the crank)
Torque: 70 lb-ft @ 5,000 rpm (claimed, at the crank)
Transmission: 6-speed
Final Drive: Belt
Wheelbase: 61.3 in.
Rake/Trail: 30 degrees/5.4 in.
Seat Height: 27.8 in.
Wet Weight: 481 lb
Fuel Capacity: 3.1 gals.

https://www.businessinsider.com/the-rise-and-fall-of-harley-davidson-motorcycle-company-2020-2
" But today, Harley is facing challenges reaching new customers. Without new riders, the company might slowly erode. "

[3oro]

In Europe for 4500 dollars you can hardly buy a new good 125cc aka KTM, Yamaha, Honda, maybe Benelli

[olhogrider]

H-D says these are for their Rider Academy training program. The idea that someone will learn on a Harley branded Chinese bike and then go into the store to buy a $14k Sportster is pretty silly. They filed paperwork with CARB for three variations. The speculation is that one of those will be sold as the street legal 350 for new customers. The 500/750 Street failed because it was still heavy, underpowered and expensive. This should do better.

[AzCal Retred]

You have to wonder at the thought processes of these board members making these decisions. I guess having a $1,000 suit gives you delusions of grandeur. The QJ 300cc V-twin HD "developed" seems a better candidate for an "HD Trainer" if that's the intent. As OlHogRider says the leap to a +$14K machine is a big jump for someone fresh from the rider academy. Carrying the QJ product line might make more total motorcycle sales sense, but likely the existing dealers and regular customers would have a hemorrhage; "Change is Bad".

[MMRanch]

Hay ,

These are nice looking , very practical bikes ... Harley should bring them to America and sell a lot of them ... if they would only wake-up to do it !   

 https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/auto/bikes/three-new-qj-motorcycles-price-and-details-of-indias-only-300cc-v-twin-a-500cc-and-srk/articleshow/95940694.cms

I'd go get one of those SRC500 my self , provided it being "Air-cooled"  , and tubeless wheels.

Maybe RE will put a 500cc on the Meteor 350 frame ? 
And bring it to the States ??

[Leofric]

Hay ,

Maybe RE will put a 500cc on the Meteor 350 frame ? 

That is the first thing I thought when I saw a Meteor at a dealer's showroom. 

[axman88]

This project has been on the radar since at least June 2019, when it was announced that Harley would partner with QuiangJiang to produce a Harley branded model for the asian market.    https://newatlas.com/chinese-harley-davidson-qianjiang-china/60225/

We started discussing it here on the forum no later than July of 2019, but I'm not sure it's ever had it's very own thread.   https://forum.classicmotorworks.com/index.php?topic=27327

Back then the articles were saying it would be out in 2020.  The date keeps getting pushed back and speculation about exactly what it will be as well.  It seems to me that it's really more of a QJ than it is an HD, I've read that QuiangJiang owns 80% of the deal, Harley is the junior partner. 

I doubt the model will sell well here in the USA, but might be good as a trainer bike, better than the Street 500 that Harley was using.  500 lbs of curb weight seems a bit much for a rank beginner.  Besides, dealers were finally able to sell their old stocks of HD Streets off, thanks to it being discontinued and high vehicle demand during the pandemic.  What a time to choose to discontinue their lowest priced vehicle!

I hope that HD manages to get what they want out of this deal before things get ugly over Taiwan.

I don't think our old friends from Milwaukee are got one penny from having engineered this:
        https://bikereview.com.au/carbon-copy-shineray-replicate-harley-davidson-evolution-1200/

Or created the styling for this:
        https://www.topspeed.com/motorcycles/motorcycle-news/the-chinese-have-cloned-a-harley-davidson-and-may-have-one-up-d-it/

Or this:
         https://www.topspeed.com/this-chinese-clone-of-the-harley-davidson-sportster-s-is-just-disturbing/

But, Harley isn't alone, everybody who is anybody gets to feel the sincerest form of flattery, even Royal Enfield:
         https://www.visordown.com/features/general/big-trouble-big-china-10-shamelessly-dodgy-chinese-motorcycle-rip-offs

[Electra Steve]

Many years ago I had a 350cc Harley Davidson. It was a rebadged Aermacchi with a single horizontal cylinder.

[Ivy]

Many years ago I had a 350cc Harley Davidson. It was a rebadged Aermacchi with a single horizontal cylinder.

Ex. British army Harley Davidson, it's a rebadged Armstrong. Armstrong bought CCM, CCM acquired the rights to build an Italian SWM enduro for the British Army.

These tie ups are not new, but I still think Harley buyers are at least very much traditionalist and won't like it. I read somewhere, "it dilutes the brand". I understand that comment although not really agree with it.

[3oro]

SWM Italia=Shineray China
The Chinese are making motorcycles for the British Army?

[Ivy]

SWM Italia=Shineray China
The Chinese are making motorcycles for the British Army?

No, this happened along time ago, 1980's or 90's when SWM was a fully Italian company.

[Leofric]

No, this happened along time ago, 1980's or 90's when SWM was a fully Italian company.

Nice one . We don't want people thinking the British Army uses Chinese bikes.