Posted on 01/19/2023 10:05:47 AM PST by 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.
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(Excerpt) Read more at jalopnik.com ...
I’ll have to join you on that one. And trucks. The law here says the exhaust can’t be modified to produce sound louder than as equipped from the factory. NO ENFORCEMENT of that here. I never did understand the fascination with loud obnoxious cars, trucks and motorcycles even in my misspent youth.
Well you’re apparently a better rider in the city. He did not exhibit any signs I normally look for.
I prefer Windy country roads and great scenery. I’m happy no longer riding busy city streets and highways.
What an idiot. Let me guess. This CEO is an MBA holder who doesn’t even know how to ride a motorcycle. Just what a motorcyclist wants as he rides with his club on a poker run. Wait in a line with 20 people, as it takes an hour to charge each bike. And that’ll be especially fun at the Sturgis rally. A half a million bikes all needing to charge on a Sunday before heading home.
Harley tried brand suicide once and nearly went bankrupt. May as well finish the job. Hey How about mopeds.
My car has tunable exhaust.
I refer to them as:
Quiet: Wife mode
Legal: My mode
Open: Revenge (on HD’s)
” I’m happy no longer riding busy city streets and highways.”
I no longer ride at all.
Loud pipes save lives.
The farts and exposed armpits from HD riders are worse on the environment than the gasoline engine exhaust. Besides, the unmistakable sound of a HD engine is 90 percent of the reason for their popularity. I just can’t see any self respecting biker pulling up to a red light and sitting there in silence trying to look tough while people in cars snickered at the sight. Heck, may as well go for an electric three wheeled bike with a decal saying something like “My other bike is a Harley but I’m too embarrassed to ride it.”
I’m glad I’m old. Fake folks, fake chicks, fake b@@bs, fake sounds, fake vibration, fake food, fake tans...
“Loud pipes save lives.”
Myth. Loud pipes are more likely to distract other drivers and cause accidents.
Safety reasons?
I've had two, but I would never purchase an electric model.
Not a Harley rider/owner. Do have a ‘rice burner’ that will go faster than I care to go. The Isle of Mann TT does have an electric bike race and the bikes go pretty fast and the only sound is the whine of the motor and the sound of the tires on the pavement. These are state-of-the-art custom built motorcycles. They only do one lap of the course (37 3/4 miles) because, of course, range issues.
How far will this Electric Harley of the future go before it needs recharging? How many are going to pay big money for a high-pitched whine instead of the thumping sound Harleys are famous/infamous for?
I’m just commenting on the brand, I’d never buy a Harley, BMW is more my style.
Many riders will tell you that the noise is a safety feature, in that it alerts drivers who might otherwise not see them.
But why only Harley’s? Why aren’t they used on other motorcycles?
Just a quick search... The guy knows ZERO about motorcycles or America or American motorcycle culture... Harley Davidson is a doomed.
” He served as the chairman and CEO of Puma for 18 years. He also served as board member of luxury goods company Kering, and chaired their Sustainability Committee, for whom he developed its global sustainability strategy”
You won’t ever catch me on a street motorcycle where I live. Someone dies about every three weeks. Either they get t-boned at a light or they go around a corner too fast and hit a tree. I’ll stick with my four wheeler.
Zeitz is a tree hugging cultist who knows NOTHING about America or Motorcycles. He came from the fashion industry.
” He served as the chairman and CEO of Puma for 18 years. He also served as board member of luxury goods company Kering, and chaired their Sustainability Committee, for whom he developed its global sustainability strategy”
Is he being held as hostage by someone?
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