Harley-Davidson announced that they will introduce a smaller, more affordable motorcycle priced at US$ 6,000. The company says the new Sprint will be available for sale in the U.S. market in 2026. It will be shown to dealerships this fall.
The bike has been in development since 2021, Harley-Davidson Chairman, President and CEO Jochen Zeitz said last 30 July during a conference call with industry analysts.
One of the goals is to attract younger customers who will stick with the sport long enough to trade up to more expensive models.
"We believe that how we’ve engineered this product, it will be profitable," Zeitz said.
In the last five years in particular, Zeitz said, Harley has learned a lot about making a more affordable entry-level bike.
Harley has struggled to make its smaller motorcycles, even the iconic Sportster, profitable for the company known for its large cruiser and touring bikes.
The Street 750 was produced from around 2014 to 2021 but never gained much traction in the U.S. where it was used for rider training classes.
At the time of the Street 750’s introduction, then Harley-Davidson CEO Matt Levatich said the US$ 7,500 bike "fills a need for people who want to identify with a brand but have a motorcycle that is less intimidating and more inviting. The bike is easier to ride and easier to learn to ride."
Currently, the company’s least expensive motorcycle, the Nightster, has a suggested retail price of US$ 9,999. At the top of the price range is the CVO Street Glide at US$ 46,000.
Harley isn’t saying what the Sprint will be like, only that it’s going to be priced at US$ 6,000 and that there’s a companion cruiser model also in development.
Harley hasn’t said where the new bikes will be manufactured, although it has a manufacturing presence in Asia including a factory in Thailand that makes the company's popular Pan America motorcycle.
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