Bike Review | Harley-Davidson X350 Long Term | Staff Bikes, Month 2

Harley-Davidson definitely nailed it with its X350 naked street bike. It is small and is super fun and punchy and handles really well too. Simon has been commuting and weekend scratching for two month on his long termer. Here’s his Harley X350 part two review. Words & Pics: Simon Harris

The X350 has ticked past the 3000 kilometre mark and the engine seems pretty much bedded-in. The torquey nature of the little 350 twin is putting on a good show, with improved tractability in the low and mid operating ranges especially, so much so that first gear is rendered all but redundant.

Simon has 3000km clocked up on the BikeReview X350 now and says it has run-in nicely.

Using second for take off presents little problem, saving that first inevitably clunky change, which comes perhaps a little too soon, and gives you zero to about 80km/h without hassle. The motor is quite unfazed with tooling about at low revs and is pleasantly unhesitant in delivering whatever drive it can muster. Very user friendly.

The gearbox is a bit smoother, too, I reckon, although neutral can be extremely evasive when trying to select at a standstill. To the point where I have had to shut down the engine in order to select neutral at some of them long-winded traffic lights. Other than that, the ‘box and clutch are all good.

I lied about playing with the suspension and have not gotten around to that yet, partly due to requiring a bit of disassembly to get clear access to the preload collars. Prior to doing that, I need to investigate why I was getting a temperature warning light in the middle of winter.

Read Simon’s Harley-Davidson X350 Road Test here… and Read Month One of our X 350 Long Term test here…

I topped up the coolant reservoir, which was to the low mark but have not noticed any signs of leakage or loose clamps. This occurred not long after being thrust into a heinously cavernous pothole whilst evading very dense traffic that almost swallowed the front wheel whole. Turns out the fan connector was loosened by the ensuing enormous jolt. Shocking.

Smooth gearbox.

Fun, punchy twin-cylinder engine.

Basic shock but well set-up.

Decent brakes and forks.

The bike continues to be a heap of fun to dart about my local twisties on. I, and it, seem unable to get enough of it and take every opportunity, weather and time permitting. It is faster than it looks on the tight stuff, that is for sure and it has been a boon to hoon with some brawnier and more sport-based bikes at times, wearing away bits of undercarriage in the process.

I know I have whinged a bit about the brakes, however, they came to a reckoning when a buffoon in a Subaru “all wheel drive” ahead of me in traffic smashed on the brakes to avoid a camera facing the opposite direction while I was still on the gas, knowing full well (I thought) that I was behind him.

I had to grab every bit of brake possible and simultaneously take rapid evasive action to avoid being embedded in the arse-end of the teapot’s vehicle. I ended up stopped a couple of feet ahead of the car bonnet – it is only due to the ABS and ability of the bike to unhesitantly snap-change direction on full brakes that saved me. Lesson learned again to never, ever predict what a cage driver is going to do nor underestimate driver stupidity.

Fuel economy seems very good and I guesstimate that you can do circa 300km on a tank, which is pretty handy. I am feeding it plain 91 unleaded and it does not mind this drop at all. It has been pretty much all smiles so far, so let’s see what the last month of X350 ownership brings…