Posted on 01/30/2018 11:02:12 AM PST by Red Badger
Harley-Davidson, not always the last word in cutting-edge technology, will enter the 21st century with a possibly LiveWire-based production electric motorcycle later this year.
Harley-Davidson, that supremely American bastion of two-wheeled culture, is building a production electric motorcycle based on its excellent LiveWire concept from 2014 and we're stoked because it's supposed to hit dealers this year.
Let's face it, Harley-Davidson is a weird company. It always just does its own thing and generally manages to just skate by, ignoring the ups and downs of the motorcycle industry as a whole, and that's why its LiveWire concept was both utterly shocking (pun intended) and not, all at the same time.
"The EV motorcycle market is in its infancy today, but we believe premium Harley-Davidson electric motorcycles will help drive excitement and participation in the sport globally," said Matt Levatich, Harley-Davidson's president and CEO. "As we expand our EV capabilities and commitment, we get even more excited about the role electric motorcycles will play in growing our business."
The LiveWire concept seemed odd on the surface, but when you break it down, the design hewed reasonably close to the traditional Harley riding experience, sans that famous potato-potato exhaust note. It didn't produce huge torque numbers, just 58 lb-ft but because that figure was available at zero RPM, it wasn't entirely dissimilar to the low-down torque one gets from a colossal V-Twin. It also didn't make a ton of horsepower, a Harley-Davidson tradition but by Motor Company standards, it was light at under 500 lbs.
In all, the LiveWire was a really good electric bike in 2014, when many of its competitors still felt a little toy-like and under-developed. Hopefully, HD has funneled some development dollars its way in the last four years and brought it in line with the excellent electric motorcycles that can be had today from companies like Zero and Lightning.
So far, details on the new production electric bike are thin on the ground, but we've reached out to Harley-Davidson for further information and will update this story accordingly.
Are they going to use speakers to fake their trademarked sound? And with fewer moving parts will they still manage to break down all the time?
The end is near....
The Sportster “Forty-Eight” with the peanut tank only has an 80 mile range. But at least you can refill it quickly. Not a practical bike, but it looks kind of cool.
The biggest problem Harley has is how good and long lasting its motorcycles are.
Two of my Wife’s male siblings and their wives have/owned the same Harley’s, (4), for at least a decade and a half.
The Harley’s are like my wife’s well over a decade Lexus LS 300E. Their Harley’s and her Lexus still look great and still do an excellent job.
One of younger heirs got my 1996 OJ Simpson Bronco, 10 plus years ago. He was recently told by his Ford service manager, to keep changing the oil, buying new batteries and tires for another 10 years.
I ride Yamahas, Hondas and Suzukis.
I have a ‘collection’ of Harley Parts I have found along the roads..............Eventually, I’ll build my own..........
Let me guess, its mandated they have a DEF type of tank full of oil that periodically drips?
How are dogs like Harleys? They both love riding in the back of pickups.
Yeah, BMW will probably go full dork, just like Chevy did with its cool Batman styled Volt concept, and push out shapeless turd at the other end.
This is great news! Does this mean that I won’t be able to the Harley being driven over in the next county?
WTH?.......................
Harley-Davidson closing Kansas City plant as motorcycle sales fall:
And they both drip stuff all down the road...................
Only on the Full Dress model....................
LOL!
You’ve never seen a motorcycle with a V-10 in it before?
No, is it for real, or a mock-up?...................
Operational concept bike, never sold through Dodge, but Niemann-Marcus sold nine for $550,000 each. Very searchable. Not officially sanctioned for driving (lawsuit fears).
Anybody who’s watched the Isle of Man Time Trials knows that there is an entire division for electric bikes, TT Zero.
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