LAMS Harley-Davidson ready for take-off?

Harley-Davidson will be launching a new model in Australia on Melbourne Cup Day – and we’re putting two-bob each-way that it will be the mid-capacity V-twin bobber that the company’s president and chief operating officer Matthew Levatich announced was on the way just a few months ago.

Of course, we could be blindsided during the Melbourne launch with something else out of left field, but considering that Harley-Davidson has already unveiled its traditional brace of 2014 models – including the Project Rushmore touring range – there’s probably nothing else left in the cupboard.

And Levatich, during a press briefing at the company’s recent 110-year anniversary celebrations in Milwaukee, intimated that the bike wasn’t far off – he’s already ridden it – and that it represents a real “global opportunity” for Harley-Davidson. He said: “It’s nimble, light weight, has a low seat height and supple throttle and braking. It looks great, sounds great, it’s a Harley, and it’s priced right.”

Harley-Davidson, like a number of other manufacturers, is keen to tap into emerging motorcycle markets like India and China, and it will certainly have high hopes that the new middleweight bobber – still nameless -- will drive future sales growth in those regions.

And in a boon for Australian consumers, the V-twin will also meet our learner approved motorcycle scheme (LAMS) rules, but the biggest intrigue remains the likely capacity and configuration for the new power pack.

A number of reports have suggested it will be 500cc – a tack that we followed – but local LAMS laws allows a capacity ceiling of 660cc so there’s still plenty of room to move. And a 650cc-ish bike wouldn’t make it such a big step for riders continuing their journey into the traditional Harley-Davidson fare, including the 883 Sportster range (pictured).

And what angle will the ‘V’ be? Levatich has already said it has a low seat height, and a wider V could provide the mechanical means to make that happen.

Harley-Davidson Australia's Director of Marketing, Adam Wright, is excited by the prospect of a LAMS bike for Australia.

“It opens up a whole new market segment for Harley in Australia and we look forward to attracting as greater number of younger adults into the Harley family,” he says.

The new bike will be launched in simultaneous events around the globe, with the biggest audience reserved for the EICMA motorcycle show in Milan.