I tested the Harley-Davidson X440 T in Goa and heres what I liked and what can be improved

Published on: Dec 11, 2025 05:00 pm IST

Harley-Davidson X440 T offers cleaner design, better quality and sharper throttle response but weak brakes and a higher price affect its value against the X440.

Harley-Davidson has introduced the X440 T in the Indian market, and the brand invited us to Goa for a first ride experience. I rode the motorcycle through scenic sections and a short highway run as part of a group ride planned by Harley-Davidson. After covering around 60 kilometres, here is what I liked and what can be improved on the X440 T.

The X440 T uses the same engine as the X440 but gets ride-by-wire.

Harley-Davidson X440 T: What I like and what can be improved

Harley-Davidson X440 TDetails
What I Like
Cleaner design and better quality Redesigned fuel tank, bar end mirrors, improved rear section and overall higher fit and finish
Sharper throttle response Ride by wire improves precision, enables traction control and riding modes
Strong road manners Stable on highways, confident in corners, smooth torque delivery
What Can Be Improved
Weak braking feel Lacks initial bite, braking performance does not inspire full confidence
Higher pricing Costs significantly more than X440 Vivid and S variants, tougher value proposition

Harley-Davidson X440 T: What I like

• Cleaner design and noticeably better overall quality

Harley-Davidson has put real effort into refining the design. The bar-end mirrors, redesigned fuel tank and especially the reworked rear section look far more cohesive than the X440 that has been on sale for a while. Quality levels also feel improved, with better welds, footpegs and overall finish, including tidier wire routing.

• Ride by wire brings sharper throttle response and added features

The switch to ride by wire has made the throttle crisp and precise. If you like punchy, torque-rich motors, this one will keep you happy. It pulls strongly, stays smooth and has a likeable exhaust note.

(Also read: Royal Enfield Scram 440 ridden: 3 things we like and 2 we don’t)

Ride by wire also enables traction control and two riding modes, Road and Rain. In Rain, throttle response is softened, and torque comes in later. ABS on the rear wheel is also switchable.

• Stable highway manners and confident cornering

The X440 T isn’t the lightest bike in the class, but it is enjoyable in corners. The torque helps it carry speed smoothly, and the motorcycle feels planted on the highway. I enjoyed flicking it through Goa’s narrow stretches and it remained composed at higher speeds too.

The X440 T is offered in four new colour schemes.

Harley-Davidson X440 T: What can be improved

• Brakes lack initial bite and feel weak under hard stops

Disc brakes front and rear get the job done, but they lack initial bite and don’t inspire much confidence. The dual-channel ABS functions well and is mostly unobtrusive, but the braking hardware itself needs more feel.

• Higher price makes it harder to justify over the standard X440

The X440 wasn’t the most aggressively priced motorcycle to begin with, and the X440 T now sits at the top of the lineup. It costs 45,000 more than the Vivid and 24,600 more than the S variant of the X440. While it definitely looks better, feels more polished and offers more features, the premium still makes it a tough sell.

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