Harley-Davidson just unveiled the cheapest gas motorcycle in its lineup, and it wears a name the company hasn’t used in 52 years. The Sprint 440 starts at $5,999, runs a 440cc air/oil-cooled single making 27 horsepower and 28 pound-feet of torque, and pairs a 26.4-inch seat height with a 417-pound wet weight. That combination makes it the most approachable gas Harley you can buy, and the first one aimed squarely at new riders in a very long time. It launches in Europe and Canada this November, with US bikes following in spring 2027 after final assembly in York, Pennsylvania. I haven’t ridden it, so this isn’t a review. It’s a first look at why a $5,999 Harley matters. The Sprint name alone will pull longtime fans in, but the spec sheet is what should keep them there.
A 440 single built for the street
The engine is a 440cc air and oil-cooled single co-developed with Hero MotoCorp, with roots in the X440, and it sends its 27 horsepower and 28 pound-feet through a 6-speed gearbox with a pressure-reducing assist clutch. Mid-controls, ABS, and a 19-inch front wheel on 10-spoke black cast wheels round out the chassis picture. The pressure-reducing assist clutch keeps the lever light in traffic, and the mid-controls put feet under the rider rather than stretched forward, which suits the bike’s city-street brief. The tank holds 2.4 gallons, and Harley claims 80 miles per gallon, which works out to roughly 192 miles of range on a full tank. At 417 pounds wet with a 26.4-inch seat, it is a bike most riders can flat-foot at a stoplight, which is exactly the point.
Modern equipment, retro styling
The retro styling gets modern backup. The round 3.5-inch color TFT display sits ahead of the bars, all the lighting is LED, and a USB port above the headlamp keeps a phone charged. The Sprint badge dates to the 1960s Aermacchi-built Sprints, unused for 52 years, and the new bike earns the throwback honestly: a teardrop tank with a warped checkered center stripe, a black powertrain with machined fin highlights, and a rabbit motif decal on the side panel. Three colors make the launch lineup: Dark Billiard Gray, Vivid Black, and Teal Thunder.
What $5,999 buys against the rest of the market
The price is the story. At $5,999, the Sprint costs roughly a quarter of the Triumph Tiger 1200, which starts at $22,995, and it undercuts everything else with a Harley badge and a gas engine. It is not a power play: 27 horsepower against the Tiger’s 155.8 is a different class of motorcycle entirely. It is an access play, a Harley that a new rider can afford, flat-foot, and ride every day. The used market offers bigger Harleys for the same money, but not new ones with a warranty and a 26.4-inch seat. Harley’s electric direction, the LiveWire project, points at a different future. The Sprint points at the front door.
The catch: America waits until spring
Europe and Canada get the Sprint first, in November 2026, while US bikes arrive in spring 2027 after final assembly in York, Pennsylvania. The York final-assembly detail matters to the faithful: the bike’s roots are shared with Hero MotoCorp, but US bikes are finished in Pennsylvania. Gear Patrol’s first look from its Barcelona ride is worth reading while the US wait runs. When the Sprint lands here, the question won’t be whether a $5,999 Harley sells. It will be whether Harley can build enough of them.
Frequently asked questions
When will the Harley-Davidson Sprint 440 be available in the US?
US bikes arrive in spring 2027, with final assembly in York, Pennsylvania. Europe and Canada get it first, in November 2026.
How much does the Sprint 440 cost?
$5,999, making it the cheapest gas motorcycle in Harley’s lineup.
What engine does the Sprint 440 have?
A 440cc air and oil-cooled single making 27 horsepower and 28 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 6-speed gearbox.
