After being the first to market a 'full size' electric motorcycle, the LiveWire, the American brand took new strides and entered the trail and streetfighter segments as well with the Pan-America and the Bronx. Looking for low displacement fishing grounds, they got on board with a Chinese firm Qianjiang to produce small, affordable, low-power bikes. They are the same chaps who now also own the Italian Benelli->ke1925.

MV Agusta->ke947, however, will be developing its own 350cc machines that will carry a twin-cylinder setup. Confirmed by Asphalt & Rubber, this Italian fashion house will set up a new lineup of small-displacement premium motorcycles, especially for the markets wherein affordability is a key factor. The same engine will serve as a platform for several genres of motorcycles within the brand.

We still are trying to figure out if the new motor will be built on a v-twin or a parallel-twin configuration, either way, expect the baby Agustas’ to be some of the most beautiful looking 350cc machines ever made. A&R also says that these machines will come with a €6,000 to €7,000 price tag ($ 6,600 - $ 7,700) and will come in both faired and naked versions, maybe an ADV too.

This strategy falls in line with MV’s plan of being able to produce 25,000 motorcycles per year in the next five years. The 350cc machines should sell pretty well in Asian countries and we really hope they make it to our shorelines too. We’ll have to wait another year or two as this story develops.

What will definitely make it here are the Harley->ke300 babies. Dubbed as the “HD350 Project”, they will be powered by Benelli’s 338cc mill and will be manufactured in China or Thailand to be marketed purposefully within the Asian markets, mainly China and India. Some render even suggest that the baby Harley will share the same chassis platform along with the Benelli 302S, which would probably be bumped up to a 350S moniker.

It will come to the American market post studying the trends. Harley says that this move is for “broader distribution intended to fuel Harley-Davidson’s customer access and growth in India, one of the largest, fastest-growing markets in the world, and other Asia markets.” This strategy is part of its brand new “More Roads to Harley-Davidson” growth plan through 2022. It is expected to be launched in India and China by 2021, with the first looks will come in mid-2020.

This will pave the way for potential brand adherents who then will jump into the more traditional models of Milwaukee