ROAD NEWS
HARLEY-DAVIDSON CONFIRMS LAMS CLASS RETURN
We ’ ve been wondering for a while if Harley-Davidson ’ s new smallcapacity motorcycles built in partnership with Chinese giant Qianjiang Motor ( QJ ) would find their way to New Zealand , and finally , we have an answer . Harley-Davidson will return to the LAMS class with the new X350 and X500 officially being sold in New Zealand dealerships from December 2023 . “ The Harley-Davidson X350 and Harley- Davidson X500 join the existing lineup as brandnew instruments of exploration designed to navigate the urban grid with agility ,” said Nigel Keough , Managing Director for Harley-Davidson Australia and New Zealand . “ Both motorcycle models are tailored for adventurous riders – new and existing – who are focused on style , performance , and accessibility to the brand .”
Harley-Davidson has been in a pickle in the New Zealand market since the Street 500 was discontinued , which removed the brand from the popular LAMS market . Ever since then , the Street 500 has become a great investment for learner motorcyclists who have generally been able to do their licencing and sell the bike for essentially what they paid for it when they are ready to move on . However , Harley-Davidson clearly knew that the entry class outside of its home market was an important one , and teamed up with Chinese firm QJ to produce a pair of new entry-level Harleys – the X350 and X500 . Both bikes appear to be based heavily around the existing Benelli TNT300 and Leoncino 500 , with distinct Harley- Davidson styling touches . That should mean reliability is a given as both Benellis have been well received globally .
24 KIWI RIDER