Harley-Davidson has a clear and concise plan and this goes through “return to the origins” with new models that excite. The latest patent registrations requested by the brand are along these lines. Under the internal acronym RMCR and RMXRthose from Milwaukee would be developing two future mounts Café Racer and Tracker style respectively, both assembled on the Revolution Max platform.
RMCR and RMXR: What we know
Just a few months ago Harley surprised two-wheeled fans with the presentation of the spectacular RMCR Concept. In essence we are looking at a carbon fiber Café Racer prototype combined with the brand’s most advanced technology. Inspired by the iconic XLCR of the 1970s, it became de facto a clear declaration of intent of how far the Yankee firm can go if it sets its mind to it.
Far from remaining a “simple style exercise”, everything indicates that the initial prototype will end up becoming a street model in just a few months. That is at least our perception of the matter after learning about the registration, requested at the end of last July by the brand itself, of the aforementioned acronym RMCR, together with the name RMXR. The latter, most likely, associated with a Tracker style mount.
At the center of the project is the well-known and versatile Revolution Max platform in its 1,250 cc version. In fact, the initials “RM” confirm this theory, although finally there could also be the possibility of a variant powered by the 975 cc V2 engine, something that has not been confirmed by the brand. This and the rest of the details are likely to be revealed over the coming months.
Maximum expectation for years
The idea of incorporating two saddles clearly inspired by Café Racer and Tracker into the Harley-Davidson range has been in the works for several years within the brand. In fact, in 2020 we were aware of the registration of two design patents for a flat-track style model and another with a clear cafe racer appearance. Both would share a platform with the Harley-Davidson Bronx Streetfighter 975, another of those exciting projects that ultimately did not come to fruition.
What is interesting now is precisely the moment that the North American firm is going through and its need to generate expectation and excitement among its staunchest followers. In fact Artie Starrsthe current CEO of Harley-Davidson, showed his enthusiasm about the official presentation of the RMCR Concept during the assembly where he announced his strategic business plan “Back to the Bricks”:
“At the Mama Tried Show here in Milwaukee, and later at Daytona and the MotoGP race in Austin, we presented a modern version of our iconic cafe racer”Starrs commented at the time. He concluded by stating: “It’s generated a lot of buzz and received an extraordinary response from our riding community, and I think that would be the type of motorcycle – in terms of large displacement engine – that we can expect to get feedback from riders, and we might see it on the market.”
2027 a key year for Harley-Davidson
Some international media, such as Motorcycle colleagues, have already published their first estimates of how and when the new RMCR and RMXR could be presented: “We can expect more details on a possible RMCR in the fall, as a 2027 model. We could also see the RMXR then, but it’s possible that Harley-Davidson will unveil a prototype first, with a production model planned for 2028.”
What there is no doubt about is the interest that both models arouse among the global community of harlists. After the recent presentations of the long-awaited Deadwood and Super Glide, it is clear that those from Milwaukee have decided to pull the nostalgia wild card. Not only that; Also recovering the intrinsic spirit of the brand has become one of the primary objectives of the new directive and everything indicates that it could give them excellent results.
