Harley-Davidson has just announced its product plan for the next few years. On top of smaller bikes for foreign markets, and an electric model next year, Harley is launching its first adventure touring motorcycle, the Pan America.
Harley showed pictures of the prototype for the new Pan America 1250. It's based on an all-new middleweight platform that the company says will allow for engines from 500 to 1250 cc. The photo shows an upright bike with a front fairing that looks to take inspiration from the Road Glide cruiser. It's got knobby tires, an upswept exhaust, and inverted front forks. This is the first adventure bike from the brand, a growing segment where bikes from Honda, KTM, and BMW are popular.
Harley-Davidson isn't giving out any more technical information just yet. All they're saying is that the adventure bike will arrive in 2020, along with a new 975 cc Streetfighter sports bike and a new 1250 cc Custom. Expect two more engine displacements to arrive on the same platform.
Coming in 2019 is the LiveWire, Harley-Davidson's first electric motorcycle. The company says that this is the first electric in "a broad, no-clutch “twist and go” portfolio." Harley says it wants to be the leader in the electrification of the motorcycle. More electric models, including smaller and lighter bikes, will arrive through 2022. The small and stripped-down electric bike in the photos is just concept art, but it looks like a cool twist on urban motorcycling.
For growing markets in Asia and India, Harley is planning new small-displacement (250 to 500 cc) motorcycles through an alliance with an Asian manufacturer. That will give the company more broad distribution in the largest and fastest-growing motorcycle markets.
To help bring their bikes to more riders, the company is also targeting an update of the company web portal and new retail formats like smaller urban stores.
