 |
FReeper Motorcycle Hooligans |
| Visit the FMH Swag Store & support FR! | |
| Send FReepmail if you want on/off FMH list | |
| The List of Ping Lists | |
Posted on 06/19/2014 8:12:03 AM PDT by shotgun
Excerpt:
Harley-Davidson will unveil its first electric motorcycle next week, and President Matt Levatich said he expects the company known for its big touring bikes and iconic brand to become a leader in developing technology and standards for electric vehicles
Read more here: http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2014/06/19/3026587/harley-davidson-introduces-electric.html?sp=/99/915/#storylink=cpy
More data at:
Harley-Davidson’s First Electric Motorcycle Surprisingly Doesn’t Suck
http://www.wired.com/2014/06/harley-davidson-livewire/
excerpted:
enge in building the LiveWire was the shift from building a bike around an engine to building one around a battery. A battery is heavy—Harley wouldn’t say what the pack weighs, but one EV expert told us something with the range and recharge time Harley claims would be around 250 pounds—so engineers had to cut weight elsewhere. The cast aluminum perimeter frame wrapped around the battery box weighs just 14 pounds, which makes it a full eight pounds lighter than the Zero’s frame. The wheels have hollow spokes, and Harley claims they’re among the lightest aluminum wheels it’s ever produced...
The high-pitched whir of the longitudinally-mounted, three-phase AC induction motor reverberates through the chassis, amplifying the sound. It starts off quietly, then builds in pitch and volume as the bike gains speed. It’s louder than you’d think...
The LiveWire offers 74 horsepower, 52 foot-pounds of torque and a (governed) top speed of 92 mph. It’s more powerful and quicker off the line than the $13,000 Zero DS, but it’s got less torque and range. That said, it’s got more torque and power than Harley’s Iron 883...
Harley isn’t saying much about the drivetrain beyond saying the bike uses a lithium-ion battery with a range of 53 miles. It charges in 3.5 hours at 220 volts. Assuming the bike has a 3.3 kw charging system like other electric motorcycles, some back-of-the-envelope math suggests the LiveWire uses a 10 kilowatt-hour pack. Twist the throttle and the bike leaps forward with authority. Roll off the throttle and the regenerative braking kicks in, bringing the bike down from speed with due efficiency...
I wonder if they market tested it in carefully selected focus groups of fat, bearded felons who like to ride in large groups making lots of noise.
RIP Harley-Davidson.
They are market testing with a tour offering people to ride it and give feedback. A review at:
Meet the Harley-Davidson LiveWire electric motorcycle, a research project into the viability of an electric two-wheeler for the bar-and-shield brand. Cycle World had the chance to see and touch the bike up close, and also got an opportunity to ride LiveWire on an abandoned runway in Southern California.
PROJECT LIVEWIRE EXPERIENCE & TEST
RIDES AT HARLEY-DAVIDSON OF NEW YORK DEALERSHIP
New York, NY, US
TUESDAY, JUNE 24 - WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2014
RIDES AT BOSTON HARLEY-DAVIDSON
Boston, MA, US
FRIDAY, JUNE 27 - SUNDAY, JUNE 29, 2014
RIDES AT BRIAN’S HARLEY-DAVIDSON
Philadelphia, PA, US
THURSDAY, JULY 17 - SATURDAY, JULY 19, 2014
http://project.harley-davidson.com/
And why not? Most HD riders are over 55. HD needs to expand its market. They added a couple of smaller bikes this year and are test marketing an electric bike.
Harley has been quite successful at market segmentation with its big twins and Sportsters. For the serious distance rider like me, the FLH models are fabulous. For the bar hopper and commuters, the softtail models rule. The Road Kings fit the middle distance rider. The Sportsters are for the ladies and younger, entry-level riders.
The V-Rod and the Buell models didn’t work out very well because the competition had them beat from the beginning. Perhaps an early entry into the electric bike market will work out better.
For short distances, I ride a Stella Scooter and a Yamaha 2-stroke Zuma moped. They aren’t as fast as the new electric model, but they cost about 10% as much and I can park the Zuma at a bike rack. I think they are a better choice for urban short trips.
There is a growing market for “street fighter” models. The electric bike may fill that segment.
The bike would appeal, I think, to folks who have a short urban commute and would like to ride a bike.
I saw no price in the article and having to have 220 volts would be a bit of a disadvantage IMO.
But it is cool looking and if the performance is as advertised I could see them selling a few of the bikes.
But the problem with any electric vehicle is Price, Price and Range.
Regards
alfa6 ;>}
What home does not have 220V available?
My Springer came with the “badlander” 9-inch seat and was cool for running the boulevard but open highway riding was brutal. Replaced it with a 16-inch saddle standard on the Heritage Softtail Classic and was able to ride more than 50 miles without having to get off and get the circulation back in my legs.
|
FReeper Motorcycle Hooligans |
| Visit the FMH Swag Store & support FR! | |
| Send FReepmail if you want on/off FMH list | |
| The List of Ping Lists | |
Most homes do but how many homes have a 220 outlet in the garage?
Then the expense of having to run the 220 to the garage especially if you have to do the permit thing.
Now if they have a 120 volt charger available well there you go. Granted the cycle time would be at least twice as long but 120 outlets are almost everywhere.
On a personal note if the price is not out of this world I might be interested in one as I could ride it to work for almost two weeks before I would have to charge it up.
BUT do I want to tie up $15k on a vehicle that would only go 50 to 100 miles?
Regards
alfa6 ;>}
I do, for my air compressor.
But if you cannot handle the expense of adding a single 220V receptacle, you won’t be buying a new Harley.
Permit to add a receptacle? Where do you live? I would do it myself for less $100.
with a range of 53 miles
huh? - wow - that should have stopped them right then and there
Yes and it comes with SISSY BARS!
Yea it’s not hard to run an outlet but a lot of folks won’t do it for one reason or another.
To the hard core fan I don’r think it is a big deal but for folks on the bubble I can see that being a definite downer.
I think the cost of the bile will be the deciding factor. If the price is reasonable I can see them selling but if the price runs close to what a full blown Harley goes for it is just a toy and sales will be flat.
Just my 2 cents worth.
Regards
alfa6 ;>}
It looks a lot like the Ducati Diavel.
I don’t think this will sell well....
A long time friend with several Harleys rides from Rock Springs Wyoming to Denver to visit every year. We never ride together because our bikes are so different, as are our riding styles. I ride a 1994 Yamaha FZR-1000.
He offered to let me ride his new Harley. It is so different from what I am used to I declined. (I rode a Buell once and was most impressed - The seating position was similar to a sport bike) He rides without helmet or protective gear. I wear race bike gear or I won't get on a bike.
Different strokes for different folks. The young folks want 17,000 RPM sport bikes. Harley needs to explore new ideas.
I think the cost of the bile will be the deciding factor.
- - - -
Yep, spending a few hundred for an electrician isn’t going to be the deciding factor on a $15k bike (number made up).
Cheers
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.