Harley-Davidson 338R Revealed in Design Filings

Earlier this year, we revealed design filings for the Chinese motorcycle that was supposed to share a platform with a new small-displacement Harley-Davidson model. That design, filed in China and marketed by Qianjiang as the QJ350, but we noted the parallel-Twin’s engine casing was stamped with the Harley-Davidson name.

A blurry spy photo of the Harley-Davidson version began to circulate online last month, revealing the label “338R” on its tail. Today, we get a better look at how the bike will look as a Harley from multiple angles, thanks to another design filing from China’s National Intellectual Property Administration. The designs were filed Dec. 10, 2019, with only Harley-Davidson listed as the rights holder, with Harley designers given credit.

The designs reveals a flat track-inspired motorcycle sharing the same engine and a similar frame as the QJ350, but with some significant differences.

The Harley-Davidson 338R has a much lower, flatter one-piece seat for both rider and pillion. The fuel tank is also significantly smaller (at least its shape is; we don’t know what the fuel capacity for either bike is) with a more traditionally Harley shape. The Harley-Davidson design has a radiator shroud, but it has generally less bodywork than the Qianjiang version.

The 338R’s footpegs are in generally the same neutral position as on the Qianjiang, but the Harley’s handlebars are lower and reach farther back for a more upright riding position.

Up front, the Harley-Davidson uses a single circular headlight. Above the headlight sits a round instrument nacelle, mounted just slightly left of center. At the rear, the 338R users a tail-mounted license plate holder integrated with rear lighting rather than the tire-hugging holder found the QJ350 (which, by the way, bore the logo for Benelli, which Qianjiang owns. We expect the the QJ350 will lead to a Benelli version as well).

The Harley-Davidson and the Qianjiang bikes both appear to share similar suspension, with an inverted fork up front and an offset rear shock that runs in line with the trellis frame. The Harley designs don’t show any brake calipers but we expect them to be similar to what’s used on the QJ350’s dual disc brakes.

Harley-Davidson has been fairly quiet about its collaboration with Qianjiang, especially after announced its Rewire plan. We asked Harley-Davidson about the partnership last month and the company confirmed the development was continuing on the small displacement motorcycle, re-iterrating that it is intended for sale in China.

Earlier, Harley-Davidson announced it was ending all operations in India, the world’s largest motorcycle market, but it looks like its plans for China will be moving forward.