The 975cc super-naked was unveiled at the Milan show (EICMA) last November alongside the new 1250cc Pan America adventure bike, both based around a new, liquid-cooled 60° V-twin intended to spearhead the US company’s ‘More Roads Lead To Harley’ initiative to diversify the range.
However, a catastrophic first quarter 2020 profits crash of 46% led to the resignation of CEO Matt Levatich even before the full effects of Covid-19 were felt. His replacement, Jochen Zeitz, announced in April a new ‘Rewire’ strategy to refocus the company and cut costs.
While in July, a similarly catastrophic $92m second quarter loss, the first in over a decade and prompting a 27% drop in share price, led Zeitz to announce an even tougher ‘Hardwire’ strategy would be announced at the end of the year.
It was suspected then that radical new models such as the Bronx, Pan America and even the electric LiveWire might become victims of this change. Then, in early August, the Bronx quietly disappeared from the ‘Future vehicles’ section of Harley’s website.
The company has said in a statement: “Harley-Davidson’s immediate new product focus in 2021 will be on the launch of Pan America, our first Adventure Touring motorcycle. We will not be launching the Bronx next year.”
Whether one of H-D’s most exciting new bikes in years will re-surface remains to be seen…
