Harley-Davidson has introduced the X440 T in the Indian market, and the brand invited us to Goa for a first ride experience. I rode the motorcycle through scenic sections and a short highway run as part of a group ride planned by Harley-Davidson. After covering around 60 kilometres, here is what I liked and what can be improved on the X440 T.
Harley-Davidson X440 T: What I like and what can be improved
| Harley-Davidson X440 T | Details |
|---|---|
| What I Like | |
| Cleaner design and better quality | Redesigned fuel tank, bar end mirrors, improved rear section and overall higher fit and finish |
| Sharper throttle response | Ride by wire improves precision, enables traction control and riding modes |
| Strong road manners | Stable on highways, confident in corners, smooth torque delivery |
| What Can Be Improved | |
| Weak braking feel | Lacks initial bite, braking performance does not inspire full confidence |
| Higher pricing | Costs significantly more than X440 Vivid and S variants, tougher value proposition |
Harley-Davidson X440 T: What I like
• Cleaner design and noticeably better overall quality
Harley-Davidson has put real effort into refining the design. The bar-end mirrors, redesigned fuel tank and especially the reworked rear section look far more cohesive than the X440 that has been on sale for a while. Quality levels also feel improved, with better welds, footpegs and overall finish, including tidier wire routing.
• Ride by wire brings sharper throttle response and added features
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The switch to ride by wire has made the throttle crisp and precise. If you like punchy, torque-rich motors, this one will keep you happy. It pulls strongly, stays smooth and has a likeable exhaust note.
{{/usCountry}}The switch to ride by wire has made the throttle crisp and precise. If you like punchy, torque-rich motors, this one will keep you happy. It pulls strongly, stays smooth and has a likeable exhaust note.
{{/usCountry}}(Also read: Royal Enfield Scram 440 ridden: 3 things we like and 2 we don't)
Ride by wire also enables traction control and two riding modes, Road and Rain. In Rain, throttle response is softened, and torque comes in later. ABS on the rear wheel is also switchable.
• Stable highway manners and confident cornering
The X440 T isn’t the lightest bike in the class, but it is enjoyable in corners. The torque helps it carry speed smoothly, and the motorcycle feels planted on the highway. I enjoyed flicking it through Goa’s narrow stretches and it remained composed at higher speeds too.
Harley-Davidson X440 T: What can be improved
• Brakes lack initial bite and feel weak under hard stops
Disc brakes front and rear get the job done, but they lack initial bite and don’t inspire much confidence. The dual-channel ABS functions well and is mostly unobtrusive, but the braking hardware itself needs more feel.
• Higher price makes it harder to justify over the standard X440
The X440 wasn’t the most aggressively priced motorcycle to begin with, and the X440 T now sits at the top of the lineup. It costs ₹45,000 more than the Vivid and ₹24,600 more than the S variant of the X440. While it definitely looks better, feels more polished and offers more features, the premium still makes it a tough sell.