The iconic US cult bike maker Harley Davidson is set to enter Indian markets tomorrow, two years after it was first granted permission to start operations in the country. Sales will, however, begin only by 2010.

Harley Davidson was first granted permission to start operations in India in 2007 but it had to keep its plans in abeyance because of a crushing import duty of over 100 per cent. However, two years hence, the cruiser’s popularity seems to have far outweighed other considerations like price, which is expected to be multiples of lakhs.

Motorcycle Comparison: 2009 Harley Davidson XR1200 vs. 2009 BMW K1200R Spec Comparison

The 2009 XR1200 gives Harley Davidson a great start into the sports bike market, but in comparison to heavy hitters like the BMW K1200R, the Harley lacks power and weighs too much to keep up on performance.  The XR1200 is a great bike for someone who wants the styling and grunt of a Harley Davidson, along with the ability to enjoy the occasional track day.  When it comes to performance, the BMW is vastly more powerful, lighter, and more refined, but with a price tag starting about $3,000 higher than the XR1200, the Harley Davidson entry makes it a bargain with a mechanic setup friendlier to cruising than racing.