Harley-Davidson Sprint 440: What the 5,700-euro Harley inherits from the X440

• 440 cc single-cylinder with 27 hp (20 kW) and 38 Nm, making it A2-compliant
• Germany from 5,700 euros and from November 2026, USA in spring 2027 with final assembly in York
• 189 kg ready to ride (DACH figure) and 671 mm seat height with rider

A single-cylinder engine with the Harley-Davidson name on the tank was hard to imagine for a long time. With the Sprint 440, the Milwaukee brand is now slotting a model below its big V-twins that is meant to appeal to beginners, returning riders and holders of an A2 licence. The motorcycle was developed together with Hero MotoCorp from India. It makes its first public appearance at EICMA, which takes place in Milan from 5 to 8 November 2026. The Sprint 440 is therefore one of the new arrivals for the 2027 model year and one of the two entry-level models that Harley-Davidson announced in May 2026 with its “Back to the Bricks” strategy plan.

How much does the Harley-Davidson Sprint 440 cost?

According to media reports, the Sprint 440 starts at 5,700 euros (around 6,390 US dollars) in Germany. The reports also name November 2026 as the start of sales, a four-year warranty and a choice of three colours.

Harley-Davidson itself does not state a price in its press releases, neither for Europe nor for the USA. They only speak of an attractive price, along with a note that dates and availability vary by country. For the USA, it is confirmed that the Sprint 440 will reach dealers in spring 2027. The US models will undergo final assembly at the Harley plant in York, Pennsylvania. Harley-Davidson’s Asia-Pacific website also lists the Philippines and Malaysia as planned markets.

The price has shifted considerably over the course of the project. When the Sprint was first made public, the talk was still of less than 6,000 US dollars. Later, Harley-Davidson only positioned the model below the new Sportster 883, for which around 10,000 US dollars is being discussed. The 5,700 euros for the German market are now the first concrete figure.

How much Hero X440 is in the Sprint 440?

At its core, the frame and engine of the Sprint 440 come from the Harley-Davidson X440, which Hero MotoCorp has been building in India since 2023 and which is also sold there as the technically similar Hero Mavrick 440. The Sprint 440 for Europe also rolls off the line at Hero in India.

The naked bike was turned into a cruiser without the base having to be developed completely from scratch. The frame was slightly modified, the suspension travel is shorter and the wheels are larger. At the front, the Sprint 440 runs a 19-inch wheel instead of an 18-inch one, and the tyres grow from 100/90-18 and 140/70-17 to 100/90-19 and 150/60 ZR 17. The tank has become smaller: instead of 13.5 litres on the X440, the Sprint 440 holds only 9 litres.

The single-cylinder engine, on the other hand, is identical to the powertrain Hero uses itself. For Harley-Davidson, the partner is a big lever. Hero MotoCorp sold around 5.7 million motorcycles and scooters in 2025 alone, making it one of the largest two-wheeler manufacturers in the world.

What engine does the Harley-Davidson Sprint 440 have?

The Sprint 440 is powered by an air-oil-cooled 440 cc single-cylinder engine that delivers 27 hp (20 kW) at 6,000 rpm and 38 Nm (28 lb-ft) at 4,000 rpm. That keeps it well below the 35 kW limit for the A2 licence.

The engine’s long-stroke design is typical. The piston travels 88.4 mm of stroke, while the bore measures only 79.6 mm. This layout provides pulling power even at low revs, which helps when pulling away and in city traffic. A single overhead camshaft operates two valves, one each for intake and exhaust. The electronic fuel injection controls the mixture and adapts itself to changing ambient conditions. A gear-driven balancer shaft counters the vibration of the single.

Power goes to the rear wheel via a six-speed gearbox and a chain. Fifth and sixth gear are tall, so that the engine turns more calmly and uses less fuel at higher speeds. The clutch has two additional functions. An assist function reduces the required spring force, making the lever easier to pull. A slipper function helps maintain rear-wheel grip during hard downshifts.

Why does Harley-Davidson quote different figures for Europe and the USA?

The press release for Germany, Austria and Switzerland and the international version differ in weight, compression ratio and fuel consumption. Harley-Davidson does not give a reason for this. It may be due to the different emissions standards the motorcycle has to meet in Europe and the USA, but this has not been confirmed. The manufacturer itself also points out that consumption figures can vary depending on the market and measurement method.

• Weight ready to ride: 189 kg (417 lbs) according to the DACH figure, 187 kg (412 lbs) in the international version
• Compression ratio: 9.8:1 according to the DACH figure, 9.65:1 in the international version
• Combined consumption: around 3.1 l/100 km according to the DACH figure, 80 mpg in the USA, which converts to 2.9 l/100 km

The US compression figure matches the one known for the X440 engine. Both versions agree on all other data.

Chassis, brakes and technology of the Sprint 440

At the front, a dual-cartridge upside-down fork with 43 mm stanchions and 130 mm of travel does the work. At the rear, two shock absorbers with external reservoirs suspend the rear wheel. Their preload can be adjusted mechanically in seven steps to suit load and rider weight, and travel is 76 mm. The frame is made of steel tubing, with the engine used as a stressed member.

Braking is handled by one disc per wheel. At the front, a two-piston caliper grips a 320 mm disc, at the rear a single-piston caliper grips a 240 mm disc. ABS is standard. The new cast aluminium wheels have ten spokes.

The Sprint 440 keeps its electronics simple. A round 3.5-inch (8.9 cm) colour TFT display sits above the handlebar and shows speed, revs, total and trip mileage as well as warning lights. All lights use LEDs, and above the headlight there is a 5-volt USB-C port for charging a smartphone. Harley-Davidson does not mention any further electronic aids.

Who is the Harley-Davidson Sprint 440 aimed at?

Harley-Davidson is aiming the Sprint 440 at newcomers, riders returning after a longer break and experienced riders looking for an uncomplicated second bike. CEO Artie Starrs calls it an invitation to ride and compares the feeling to flying without leaving the ground. Riding schools are also among the potential customers.

The seating position is the main argument for this. With a rider on board, the seat height is just 671 mm. Together with the slim silhouette and the seat that narrows towards the front, most riders should be able to put both feet firmly on the ground when stopped. The light clutch and the clearly arranged handlebar switches are meant to make getting started even easier.

How does the Harley-Davidson Sprint 440 ride?

The Sprint 440 is made for relaxed riding rather than high speed, even if its name might suggest otherwise. In first test rides, the single pulls well from around 2,000 rpm, and above roughly 5,000 rpm the power drops off noticeably. In sixth gear, an indicated 100 km/h equals only around 4,000 rpm. The listed top speed is 129 km/h (80 mph).

Overtaking on country roads therefore requires downshifting more often, as sixth gear is very tall for that. In town, on the other hand, the Sprint 440 stands out for its agility, and in corners it offers a lot of lean angle for a Harley. Depending on the rider, the thin seat padding makes a break sensible after about an hour. Build quality and function give no cause for criticism.

What does the new Sprint 440 look like?

Visually, the Sprint 440 clearly follows the line of the big Harley cruisers. Design chief Bjorn Shuster explains the silhouette with the steering head angle, the ride height and the wheel and tyre sizes, which together create the typical cruiser stance.

On top of that come familiar brand features: a headlight that seems to hang freely in front of the fork and carries the Harley logo in the centre, the tank shape, a short bobbed rear fender and a fastback seat that tapers flat towards the rear. Surfaces on the engine and wheels are machined bright, and the silencer tapers towards the rear.

The colour options are Dark Billiard Gray as the base colour, Vivid Black and Teal Thunder. All three feature orange tank graphics with a distorted checkerboard pattern and the Harley-Davidson lettering. A new figure sits on the side covers, the “Harley Hare”. The hare is meant to stand for agility and riding fun. The graphics may differ depending on the market.

What accessories are available for the Sprint 440?

At launch, Harley-Davidson offers nine genuine accessories, with more to follow soon. Most of them revolve around the seating position.

For tall riders there is the Tallboy seat, which puts you around 5 cm higher and 6.4 cm further back. The Reach seat brings smaller riders around 2.5 cm closer to the handlebar and footpegs, and its stepped profile stops them sliding back under acceleration. Anyone who only rides alone can fit the Brawler solo seat.

For luggage there are removable saddlebags made of black textile with a combined volume of 7 litres and a load capacity of 2.7 kg (6 lbs) each. A sissy bar with backrest pad supports the passenger and can also be used to strap down luggage. A clear windscreen shields against wind and insects on fast roads and can be removed quickly. A black steel-tube engine guard protects against scratches if the bike tips over at a standstill or at low speed, and bolts to existing mounting points.

For looks, there is the Moto handlebar, which has a flatter bend than the standard bar, as well as the Willie G. Skull collection with footpegs, bar-end mirrors and grips.

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