Harley-Davidson introduces $6,000 motorcycle for 2026
- The company aims to make the Sprint profitable, unlike previous attempts with smaller models like the Street 750.
- The Sprint has been in development since 2021 and a companion cruiser model is also being developed.
- Harley-Davidson hopes the Sprint will attract younger riders who may eventually upgrade to more expensive models.
Harley-Davidson is aiming to accomplish something it’s largely failed at over the years by introducing a smaller, more affordable, profitable motorcycle.
The company says the new Sprint, priced at around $6,000, will be available in the U.S. market in 2026. It will be shown to dealerships this fall.
The bike has been in development since 2021, Harley-Davidson Chairman, President and CEO Jochen Zeitz said July 30 during a conference call with industry analysts.
Harley has struggled to make its smaller motorcycles, even the iconic Sportster, profitable for the company known for its large cruiser and touring bikes.
“We believe that how we’ve engineered this product, it will be profitable,” Zeitz said.
The Street 750 was produced from around 2014 to 2021 but never gained much traction in the U.S. where it was used for rider training classes.
At the time of the Street’s introduction, then Harley-Davidson CEO Matt Levatich said the $7,500 bike “fills a need for people who want to identify with a brand but have a motorcycle that is less intimidating and more inviting. The bike is easier to ride and easier to learn to ride.”
Harley isn’t saying what the Sprint will be like, only that it’s going to be priced at $6,000 and that a companion cruiser model is also in development.
Currently, the company’s least expensive motorcycle, the Nightster, has a suggested retail price of $9,999. At the top of the price range is the CVO Street Glide at $46,000.
In the last five years in particular, Zeitz said, Harley has learned a lot about making a more affordable entry-level bike. One of the goals is to attract younger customers who will stick with the sport long enough to trade up to more expensive models.
Harley hasn’t said where the new bikes will be manufactured, although it has a manufacturing presence in Asia, including a factory in Thailand that makes the company's popular Pan America motorcycle.
(This story was updated to add a video and photo gallery.)