For a few months now, there has been open talk about the new open era within Harley-Davidson with an eye on the short and medium term. Within the future range, different access options will be included, among which would be a new Sprint. The same one that the American company has recently registered with the Australian authorities using the acronym “SP440”, as the initial name of the model, before the final version that would arrive in 2027 at the brand’s official dealers.
Harley-Davidson SP440 Sprint: “Back to the Origins”
Last May, Harley-Davidson presented “Back to the Bricks”, the strategic plan with which they will try to recover lost commercial performance and achieve profitable growth. Among the measures that were included There is the long-awaited return of the emblematic Sportster and Sprint acronyms. So Artie Starrspresident and CEO of Harley-Davidson, explained:
“Having defined the motorcycle industry for more than 123 years, Harley-Davidson remains one of the most iconic and respected brands in the world. Back to the Bricks builds on our core strengths and competitive advantages, leveraging the passion of our riders to generate profitable growth for the company, our dealers and shareholders.”
Just a few days after this announcement, the brand’s intention to develop a range of entry-level models for less than 6,000 euros was confirmed. It would be headed by the aforementioned Sprint, a model based on the current X440 that is sold in India, designed and manufactured by Hero MotoCorp, definitively confirming that those from Milwaukee are not up to inventions. The idea is clear in this sense: to launch an already tested model on the market that will serve as an initial platform for the financial and commercial project that they have been devising in recent times.
The SP440 Sprint will arrive in 2027
The latest news we have had on the subject comes to us from AMCN. The Australian media has confirmed the registration of the initials SP440 with its local patent office. We cannot say that the document reveals too much information on the matter in question. However, it becomes the starting point of a new stage for Harley-Davidson, where the aforementioned access range led by the expected Sprint, will give the possibility of enjoying the brand’s saddles to a new generation of fans.
Everything points to next year as the time chosen by the company to launch its new medium-displacement model. It is not clear if it will arrive alone, or accompanied by some other novelty developed on this same platform. This is something that has not been confirmed at the moment. What we do know are some of the main aspects that would shape this SP440 Sprint, both mechanically and as part of the cycle, as well as those relevant details that would be part of its general design.
SP440 Sprint: what we know
Leaving aside the brief general information shown in the attached patent document, we can get an idea of what to expect with the future launch of the SP440 Sprint, based on the information provided by the brand in the official presentation of “Back to the Bricks”. Then they included a slide confirming an air-cooled engine or a final price less than $10,000.
As for the mechanics, the block currently mounted on the X440 will most likely remain unchanged. We are talking about a single-cylinder, 4-stroke, 2-valve, 440 cc SOHC, air and oil cooled and associated with a six-speed gearbox. It offers a final power of 27 HP at 6,000 rpm and a maximum torque of 38 Nm at 4,000 revolutionsfor a brand order weight of 194.5kg. Figures, in short, that will probably be similar to what the SP440 Sprint declares.
Regarding the chassis, 19” wheels at the front and 16” at the rear, a tubular steel chassis, as well as a suspension system consisting of an inverted front fork and a pair of lateral shock absorbers at the rear are expected. For braking we would have a disc on each axle, 320 mm at the front and 230 mm at the rear.
Likewise, if we talk about equipment and finishes, the SP440 Sprint is expected to mount a front fork that lengthens the suspension travel at the front, helping in turn to lower the seat height. In general terms, this configuration would offer a more chopper-style driving position than the brand’s classic models. Finally, mention the circular headlight with a classic design, wide handlebars and a teardrop-shaped fuel tank, all of them equipment elements that could end up being part of the final packaging of the expected SP440 Sprint.
