Harley-Davidson back in learner market with new X350 and X500

Harley-Davidson Australia has officially pulled the covers off its new learner-friendly roadsters, with the X350 and X500 set to arrive locally in December with affordable price tags under $12,000.

Already available for the Chinese market, the pair of LAMS-approved machines will offer Australian riders an entry point into the Harley-Davidson brand. Both bikes are powered by a liquid-cooled DOHC 4-valve parallel-twin motor that Harley says is designed to produce strong mid-range torque for urban riding.

There are a lot of similarities between the two bikes, although the X500 offers a bigger engine and a taller stance, as well as a beefier front fork and some styling differences. Interestingly, it also has a slightly smaller fuel tank. The bigger engine also allows for more power and torque, providing 46Nm and 47hp compared to the X350’s figures of 31Nm and 36hp.

Both machines feature Maxxis Supermaxx ST tires, mid-mount foot controls, six-speed transmissions, cable-actuated wet plate clutches with chain drive, dual front disc brakes and a single rear with ABS, and adjustable suspension front and rear.

Checking in at $8495 ride away, the X350 will be the cheaper of the two and gives riders a truly affordable option in the Harley range. The X500 carries a price tag of $11,495 ride away. Both bikes come in four colour schemes – Dramatic Black, Dynamic Orange, Supersonic Silver, and Pearl White.

The X pair will be the first LAMS-approved H-D models since the demise of the popular Street 500 model in 2021. The bikes are built by Chinese powerhouse, Qianjiang – the same company that owns historic Italian brand Benelli.

Harley-Davidson also released a mid-capacity single-cylinder model in India called the X440. That bike is built by Hero, however there are no plans for it to be available in other markets just yet.