Harley-Davidson Will Go All-Electric, Says CEO

Jalopnik ^ | 2023-01-18 | José Rodríguez Jr.

[Salman]

Harley-Davidson is planning to phase out motorcycles powered by its storied internal combustion engines, and will slowly but surely transform into an all-electric brand. Harley CEO Jochen Zeitz tells Dezeen that after 120 years of being famous for its big gas-powered models, electrification is the logical next step. That is, if the company plans on sticking around for another 120 years.

Harley-Davidson’s EV transition “needs to happen,” according to its CEO, and not just on a small scale with a brand like LiveWire. No, we’re talking H-D dealers selling EVs exclusively, although it isn’t going to happen overnight.

...

[mykroar]

Yep, they already are in Cali.

[TexasGator]

Statistics don’t back up the claim

Some riders will still believe they avoided a crash when a car heard their exhaust, and maybe that really did happen. But North America’s best-known study on motorcycle safety, the 1981 Hurt Report, found motorcycles with loud pipes were not less likely to be involved in crashes — if anything, they were a little more likely to crash. As the report states on page 421:

https://canadamotoguide.com/2016/07/29/the-truth-about-loud-pipes/#:~:text=The%20theory%20is%2C%20loud%20pipes%20automatically%20make%20the,more%20cautiously.%20However%2C%20the%20Doppler%20Effect%20mutes%20

[TexasGator]

Statistics don’t back up the claim

Some riders will still believe they avoided a crash when a car heard their exhaust, and maybe that really did happen. But North America’s best-known study on motorcycle safety, the 1981 Hurt Report, found motorcycles with loud pipes were not less likely to be involved in crashes — if anything, they were a little more likely to crash. As the report states on page 421:

https://canadamotoguide.com/2016/07/29/the-truth-about-loud-pipes/#:~:text=The%20theory%20is%2C%20loud%20pipes%20automatically%20make%20the,more%20cautiously.%20However%2C%20the%20Doppler%20Effect%20mutes%20

[Fury]

Talked to a couple of Harley riders at work about this. They just laughed.

[Antoninus]

Translation: "We plan to be out of business in 20 years."

If you've got HOG stock, maybe sell now while you still can.

[vpintheak]

Yeah. Screw this crap. That guy needs fired. Yesterday. With extreme prejudice!

[rfreedom4u]

If true then I predict the death of Harley-Davidson.

[vpintheak]

I hear you. On the other hand, the VAST majority of Harley owners love them for their history, sound, and style. The CEO is telling us all that HD doesn’t give 2 craps about us, and why we own an HD. Effectively, get on board or get out.
This is a gut punch. I am PO’d.

[vpintheak]

You obviously have no idea what you’re talking about. So, you just should listen and read up.

[pepsi_junkie]

Zeitz is a tree hugging cultist who knows NOTHING about America or Motorcycles. He came from the fashion industry.

It's almost as if Harley Davidson sees themselves as a lifestyle brand where their clothing and decor items are the core and the bikes are just because they have to have them but would rather not and don't care that much about them.

Almost just like that.

[Jimmy Valentine]

Exactly correct. This turnip brain will kill the company.

[hanamizu]

I love my electric chainsaw

---

I love mine. I find that the battery has had enough at about the same time I have and I’ve been wise enough not to buy a spare battery.

[T.B. Yoits]

The difference is labor PER PART. If a part made in the USA costs $100 then the labor is around 7% on average or $7.00 per $100.00. Manufacturing is NOT labor intensive no matter where it is done THAT IS THE WHOLE POINT OF MASS PRODUCTION. It is degrees of cheapness.

It's more often due to tariffs than the cost of mass production. In particular China, which is half of Harley Davidson's market, has restrictive tariffs on imports.

President Trump rightly called out all these countries for restrictive tariffs on U.S. items in a scale far outweighing what tariffs we place on their goods. Cars with Germany, milk with Canada, everything with China, etc. RINOs and Democrats have been paid off by foreign interests for years.

Members of Congress should be compelled to wear uniforms like race car drivers so the people can identify who's paying them off.

[Donnafrflorida]

Exactly. I rode a 1200 sportster. It’s all about the pipes.

[Right Brigade]

Yes me too!
No more pulling that cord.
Sometimes I would be wore out before that damn thing would start(and fully run).
Electric/battery instant run.
Love it.

[M_Continuum]

What brand would you recommend?

[SaxxonWoods]

I have an electric saw called an EGO. It will keep going until I’m worn out and still have some charge left. It also charges pretty quickly.

So, my take on electric chainsaws is get an EGO.

[LeonardFMason]

Very shrewd.

Absolutely NO firm time commitment.

WE ARE WORKING ON A PLAN.
WE ARE GATHERING A BLUE RIBBON PANEL.
NO TIMETABLE YET.

Harley will be cranking out internal combustion motorcycles for 20-25 years at least.

This CEO will be long gone. His successor will be long gone before this ever happens.

Sleep well. That great sound a Harley makes will be with us for aanother 50 years.

[traditional2]

BINGO. Value of ORIGINAL real HD’s is gonna skyrocket, when the two-wheeled rascal scooters that used to be “Hogs” are not purchased by the common sense folks. Same thing with electric vehicles, where indoctrinated yewts are the market; not REAL men.

[steve86]

That is a good-looking XT250. I have quite a few restored or just like-brand-new trail and MX bikes from the 70s, 80s, and 90s. One weighs a little under 200 pounds.