Harley Davidson launches Street 750 and Street 500

In a time when global automobile players are finding it difficult to sustain their business, niche bike maker Harley Davidson has unveiled its first all-new platform in 13 years, which will spawn two new products for starters - the Street 750 and Street 500.

The two bikes will offer a new kind of product to possibly a new kind of customer, as it establishes Harley Davidson's step into a lower displacement realm than it has operated in so far.

India gets only the Street 750 initially, with a launch expected at the Auto Expo in February 2014.

The company says it may consider the 500 at a later time, but bases the decision to launch only the 750, on market research that says its potential customers in India want the higher displacement version.

Prices will be announced at launch, but Harley Davidson has promised that the on-road price will stay under Rs. 5 lakh.

For the first time in the company's history, this product will be manufactured outside the United States. So far Harley Davidson has only had assembly operations outside the US - in India and Brazil. But the Street will be made from the ground-up in India and also in Kansas City, US.