We’ve been hearing about Harley-Davidson’s plan to whip up an entry-level bike for some time now. And every few months, new details come to light. Now, the latest dirt comes straight from current CEO Jochen Zeitz. It confirms the bike’s name, the platform it’s based on, and the target price. Let’s dive in.
Harley-Davidson’s Upcoming Entry-Level Bike Will Be Called ‘Sprint’
The news comes from Zeitz’s speech during the latest earnings call. He revealed that the bike will be called ‘Sprint’. If you don’t understand the relevance of that name, you’re not alone. But a little digging suggests this could be an ode to the ‘60s and ‘70s. Back then, Harley had a joint product with Aermachhi called the ‘Sprint’.
Name aside, Zeitz has confirmed the Sprint will be part of Harley’s 2026 model year lineup. That means it could debut as early as the first months of 2026, which is just around the corner. Even better, we could see it at the EICMA, since the new bike will certainly be a global product.
Zeitz said:
Inspired by our heritage and the spirit of the iconic Harley Davidson Sprint motorcycle, this new bike embodies boldness, irreverence, and fun, capturing the rebellious energy that defines the Harley-Davidson experience.
The Sprint Will Be Harley-Davidson’s Cheapest Motorcycle
Another juicy detail we know is that Harley-Davidson wants to price its entry-level bike aggressively. The target price is said to be just $6,000, which would position it right in the ballpark of Asian middleweight cruisers like the Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650, Honda Rebel 500, and Moto Morini Calibro. At the same time, this will make it cheaper than Harley’s previous entry-level attempts: the Street 500 and Street 750. The former cost $6,899 at the time, and the latter $7,599.
Other than this, we also know the Sprint won’t be a traditional cruiser. That’s because Zeitz says a cruiser based on the Sprint will debut later. As for expectations, the OG Sprint from the 60s and 70s all had sub-400cc engines. But since that is quite a low capacity nowadays, we expect Harley to whip up something around the 500cc mark. There is a slim chance Harley has taken the help of its Indian partner–Hero MotoCorp–which has already helped H-D whip up a 440cc cruiser-type roadster.
Zeitz said:
Scheduled for release in 2026 and for presentation to our global dealer network in October, I’m pleased to share that we’re targeting an entry price below $6,000 We believe this motorcycle will not only be highly accessible, but also profitable, marking a significant step forward in driving Harley-Davidson’s future profitable growth and opening up a new path in motorcycle segment for the company in future years for its key markets.
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