Is Harley-Davidson Building A Faired Sportbike?

• Upcoming sportbike could be based on the upcoming HD Streetfighter 975.
• Easter eggs in Harley’s promotional video also show a faired sportbike.
• It could be a faired retro sportbike like the Suzuki Katana.

 

Harley-Davidson has been working in other directions away from its traditional cruisers. Last month, the Milwaukee-based bike maker launched the LiveWire electric motorcycle in the US. Its upcoming products are a sports naked and an ADV! Now, it has filed patents for a fairing and headlamp, indicating that it could be building a faired sportbike.  

This development should not be surprising for our eagle-eyed enthusiasts, especially those who have watched the ‘More Roads to Harley-Davidson’ promotional video. This video shows two easter eggs. The first one is of a design sketch on the wall next to a larger sketch and a clay model of the upcoming Streetfighter 975 naked sports bike. This implies the faired sportbike could be a faired derivative of the Streetfighter 975 and use its 975cc V-twin motor and underpinnings but with a sportier riding stance courtesy the clip-on handlebars.  

The second one is that of a designer working on a clay model of a faired sportbike, incidentally next to a Harley VR1000 faired superbike. Yes, Harley-Davidson used to sell faired motorcycles. Not just that, the bike maker even used to race in the AMA Superbike racing series in the 90s. 

We reckon Harley-Davidson could be working on a half faired retro motorcycle based on the Streetfighter 975. They could even resurrect the VR1000 name in the same vein Suzuki brought back the Katana. These are definitely interesting times for Harley-Davidson enthusiasts. 

Source: Bennets

VR1000 courtesy Oddbik