We first sampled the X350 last year and have been keen to try out the diminutive Harley-Davidson outside of launch conditions. Check out our 2024 Harley X350 road test... Photos: Jeff Ware

If you like things in small sizes that can still pack a punch, Harley-Davidson has a treat for you in its X350 naked street bike. Like a Turkish coffee, you may not get a great deal, but like this newcomer, it can be hell satisfying in small portions. Here’s our Harley X350 review…

“Manufacturers need to attract potential buyers through aspiration, model range, history, performance, ease of use, affordability, and image among other things”.

Bikereview first sampled the X350 last year and have been keen to try out the diminutive Harley-Davidson outside of launch conditions. A couple of weeks and several hundred kilometres later, we reckon that it can fight above its weight class. In fact, we are keeping one as a long termer!

Read Simon’s Launch Report on the X350 and X500 here…

The learner motorcycle market is as complex as it is simple, so to speak. Manufacturers need to attract potential buyers through aspiration, model range, history, performance, ease of use, affordability, and image among other things. H-D is well known for its hard-edged outlaw persona machines and mega-cruisers in its stable, however, want more penetration in the first-ride segment. Subsequently, and with the success of its previous Street 500 as proof of concept, H-D decided that, in conjunction with the equally new and impressive X500, building a small capacity semi-sports naked that is distinctively and obviously styled on its beloved XR750 dirt track racer of the ’70s was axiomatic as a means for further enticing new riders to the brand. And, perhaps more importantly, gaining brand loyalty as early as possible in riders’ evolution.

For a competitive $8,495 price tag, you get a well engineered machine that is distinctively designed and built for rider satisfaction as much as it is for street cred. Like its X500 sibling, manufacturing of the X350 has been commissioned to the reputable Chinese Qianjiang Motors (QJM) factory, which has been producing enormous quantities of motorcycles for almost forty years. The H-D / QJM partnership for developing the liquid-cooled 353cc parallel twin powered bike began in 2019 and over the course of its development has resulted in a machine that matches performance with quality and value very well.

“The H-D / QJM partnership for developing the liquid-cooled 353cc parallel twin powered bike began in 2019″…

The Ride
Most of us innately despise traffic and this bike scythes through queued car chaos like nothing else. It is very narrow, with the mirrors in-board of the grips, and matched with its agility, willing and able engine and featherlight controls, it is a real urban jungle weapon. The gearing is obviously pretty short, with first gear getting the engine zinging from idle to redline very quickly but also making the bike less prone to being stalled.

“Most of us innately despise traffic and this bike scythes through queued car chaos like nothing else”…

The subsequent ratios are well spaced to provide breathing room for the engine and, when you get used to the engine characteristics and gearbox, allow the bike to be very easily manipulated. To be blunt, you need to enjoy dancing up and down the ‘box to get the best out of the X350, but is that not one of the joys of riding in itself?

The engine, which although is very over-square, is tuned more for flexibility at 27kW and 31Nm and feels just right for this machine and market segment. The motor is fully exposed and has clean lines, ending in twin pipes that meet at a neat underslung silencer that produces engaging notes. A cowling just ahead of the cylinder-head keeps much of the liquid cooling hardware from sight.

A clumsy, slow and boring bike the X350 is definitely not. Even though the spec’ sheet may not necessarily set the world on fire, the combination of drivetrain and chassis is capable of delivering plenty of reward. For me, this was instantly apparent once we were able to shed the skin of the urban crawl and let the motorcycle do its natural thing. For a bike with such a light feel (195kg wet), the feedback afforded through the steel trellis frame and asymmetric swingarm, handlebars and seat is confidence inspiring. I found that being relaxed when setting up and pointing the bike into corners led to a solid sense of tracking and stability that was really impressive.

Changing line mid-corner is but a nudge on the ‘bars away and made it easy to dodge state-sponsored booby traps and roadkill without necessarily unsettling the bike or preventing it from returning to the desired radius. The footpegs are surprisingly rear-set, but not uncomfortably so when considered in tandem with the seat and ‘bars – the combination of which made it reasonably comfortable for longer stints but also made changes of direction practically effortless. The sporty riding position will tempt all comers into pushing through the corners and the X350 will most definitely oblige. A potential >50 degrees of lean is not something one normally expects from an H-D, but this design, being XR750 inspired, is well equipped in the chassis department to take advantage of its ample ground clearance.

“The agility on hand to flick the bike side-to-side made it quite a joy to ride through tight and twisting roads”…

The suspension is adjustable for rebound damping at both ends and spring preload for the rear. Ride is pretty plush on factory settings and I did not find the need to change anything to improve comfort or sharpen up the handling at all. That said, the side-stand mount would occasionally dig in (which was a bit unsettling truth be told) due to mid-corner bumps and my 70kg bulk, so the rear preload could be jacked up a little. Overall, the agility on hand to flick the bike side-to-side made it quite a joy to ride through tight and twisting roads and, for me, this is really where the X350 shines.

The dual front “petal” disc setup looks horn and was certainly adequate in terms of hauling the bike up but felt a bit lifeless in feedback due to a lack of lever required to apply maximum brake pressure. The brakes are ABS equipped, so this is not necessarily a game-changer, but for the sake of rounding off the whole rider experience, could be improved by softer pads. The rear brake works well and comes into its best light when used in conjunction with the throttle for balance and control when manoeuvring the tight stuff. Instruments are a simple speedo with multi-function LCD that, although functional, could be improved by being larger.

“It is definitely a bike that has excellent dynamics and will provide not only loads of smiles on the weekends but will perform excellently as a commuter machine”.

The X350 is very well proportioned in terms of size, weight and balance that makes it super user friendly and an interesting option for learner riders, especially those of smaller stature. The styling is unmistakably XR and very attractive, with a quality of finish in the welding and paint that is up to the Harley-Davidson badging. Servicing is every 7000km, more regular than usual, with valve clearances at 13,000km. It is definitely a bike that has excellent dynamics and will provide not only loads of smiles on the weekends but will perform excellently as a commuter machine.

Stay tuned for our monthly updates on our long term X350 here on BikeReview, and keep an eye out for our posts on social media as well, follow #BikeReviewX350 

 

2024 Harley-Davidson X350 (LAMS) SPECIFICATIONS
harley-davidson.com.au

Price: $8,495 Ride-Away
Warranty: TBA
Colours: Dramatic Black, Dynamic Orange, Supersonic Silver, and Pearl White
Claimed power: 27kW@9500rpm
Claimed torque: 31Nm@7000rpm
Wet weight: 195kg
Fuel capacity: 13.5L
Fuel Consumption (Claimed): 4.95L/100km

Engine: Liquid-cooled, in-line two-cylinder, four-stroke, DOHC, four-valves per cylinder, 353cc, 70.5 x 45.2mm bore x stroke, EFI, 11.9:1 compression ratio, six-speed gearbox, wet clutch, 2-1 exhaust.

Chassis: Steel tube trellis frame, steel swingarm
Rake: 24.8º Trail: 140mm
Suspension: 41mm USD forks, rebound adjustable, lateral rear shock, preload & rebound adjustable N/A travel.
Brakes: ABS, dual semi-floating petal rotors, twin calipers, single rear rotor, single piston floating caliper
Wheels & Tyres: Aluminum alloy, 3.50 x 17in, 4.50 x 17in, 120/70 – R17, 160/60 – R17, Maxxis SuperMaxx tyres.

Dimensions:
Seat height: 777mm
Wheelbase: 1410mm
Overall Length: 2110mm
Overall Height: N/A
Ground Clearance: 143mm

Instruments & Electronics: LCD display, ABS

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