Photos of a Harley-Davidson electric motorcycle on a Hollywood movie set began circulating a few days ago. Harley wouldn’t comment at that time, but now we have an official press release describing Project LiveWire, Harley’s development electric motorcycle that it will invite consumers to test beginning next week.
According to Harley, their electric bike offers a “visceral riding experience with tire-shredding acceleration and an unmistakable new sound.” Here is the Harley-Davidson press release (followed by a video), with more information about the bike and the Project LiveWire Experience tour.
H-D Invites Consumers to Ride, React and Shape the Future of this New Bike
MILWAUKEE, June 19, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Innovation, meet heritage. Today, Harley-Davidson (NYSE:HOG) reveals Project LiveWire – the first Harley-Davidson® electric motorcycle.
HARLEY-DAVIDSON REVEALS PROJECT LIVEWIRE™, THE FIRST ELECTRIC HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLE
In keeping with the company’s customer-led product development approach, starting next week select consumers across the country will be able to ride and provide feedback on the bike, helping to shape the future of Harley-Davidson’s first-ever electric motorcycle.
While not for sale, Project LiveWire is specifically designed for the purpose of getting insight into rider expectations of an electric Harley-Davidson motorcycle.
“America at its best has always been about reinvention,” said Matt Levatich, President and Chief Operating Officer, Harley-Davidson Motor Company. “And, like America, Harley-Davidson has reinvented itself many times in our history, with customers leading us every step of the way. Project LiveWire is another exciting, customer-led moment in our history.”
Spurred by this heritage, the Project LiveWire Experience invites customers to test ride, provide feedback and learn more about the story of the motorcycle. Even those who don’t yet ride will have the opportunity to feel the power of Project LiveWire through Jumpstart – a simulated riding experience.
A 2014 U.S. tour – kicking off with a journey down Route 66 – will visit more than 30 Harley-Davidson dealerships now through the end of the year. In 2015, the Project LiveWire Experience will continue in the U.S. and expand into Canada and Europe.
“This builds on many recent reinvention successes for Harley-Davidson,” said Levatich. “In just the last few years, we’ve broadened our reach to serve an increasingly diverse society, as well as reinvented our approach to product development and manufacturing. This has resulted in cutting-edge products like the recently launched Project Rushmore touring bikes, Harley-Davidson Street 500 and 750 models and this reveal of Project LiveWire.”
An Innovative Approach to Advance the Possibilities of Personal Freedom
This exciting new ride blends the company’s styling heritage with the latest technology to deliver a new expression of the signature Harley-Davidson look, sound and feel.
“Project LiveWire is more like the first electric guitar – not an electric car,” said Mark-Hans Richer, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Harley-Davidson Motor Company. “It’s an expression of individuality and iconic style that just happens to be electric. Project LiveWire is a bold statement for us as a company and a brand.”
The bike offers a visceral riding experience with tire-shredding acceleration and an unmistakable new sound.
“The sound is a distinct part of the thrill,” said Richer. “Think fighter jet on an aircraft carrier. Project LiveWire’s unique sound was designed to differentiate it from internal combustion and other electric motorcycles on the market.”
Longer term plans for retail availability of Project LiveWire will be influenced by feedback from riders along the Project Livewire Experience tour.
“We offer a no excuses riding experience in everything we do and we are led by what our customers tell us matters most,” said Richer. “Because electric vehicle technology is evolving rapidly, we are excited to learn more from riders through the Project LiveWire Experience to fully understand the definition of success in this market as the technology continues to evolve.”
Helping Preserve and Renew the Freedom to Ride for Generations
As riding in the great outdoors is one of the best elements of motorcycling, sustainability remains a core strategic focus at Harley-Davidson.
“Preserving the riding environment is important to all of us,” said Levatich. “Project LiveWire is just one element in our efforts to preserve and renew the freedom to ride for generations to come. As a company that has seen success for 111 years, we think in generational terms about our great riding environments for the next 111 years.”
Fans can learn more about Project LiveWire, as well as specific dates and locations for Project LiveWire Experience stops at projectlivewire.com. Harley-Davidson also invites anyone who is interested in the possibilities of the future to follow and engage with the company on its social media channels, including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Harley-Davidson Motor Company produces heavyweight custom, cruiser and touring motorcycles and offers a complete line of Harley-Davidson motorcycle parts, accessories, riding gear and apparel, and general merchandise. For more information, visit Harley-Davidson’s website at www.h-d.com.
Will they be made in India?
Went over to the Broadway showroom yesterday to check out this bike. Nicely executed considering they’ve only produced thirty so far. Tough sell here in Manhattan since since charging would be nearly impossible for apartment/co-op/condo dwellers.
The interesting thing now is that, depending on how seriously H-D is about their project, the other heavy hitters are going to have to reallocate some resources and answer this smack across the face. Times might get tough in the next few years for Zero and Brammo… as if they weren’t already.
Things might get really good for Zero and Brammo if the bigger brands legitimize their movement. They are already producing and selling bikes. They are ahead of the big makes so if electric takes off, they’re poised to have developed products already in the market, or they could be acquired for big $$ by a bigger company looking to accelerate their own development.
That is certainly a possible scenario, but neither Zero or Brammo have anything cutting edge built into the bikes. Everyone could very cheaply replicate. Honda’s automotive line has plenty of electric tech much more cutting edge than anything used in the moto world. With the Big-4 and H-D dealer networks, it would be so hard for Zero and Brammo to stay in the game. I don’t see anyone buying one of these little guys, but it certainly could happen.
Do you have an e-bike? That isn’t a loaded question. I just notice you are a pretty staunch supporter of them and wonder how you might use yours, what you like, what you would change, etc.
I don’t have an e-bike. Like many others, the cost of entry is still too high to justify for me. I commute ~20 miles each way to work and rarely ride over 60 miles at a time so in their current state, the range and re-charge situation would work for me. I have been watching transportation infrastructure demands change for the past 10 years (check out Manhattan’s bike lanes sometime) and can see that short-medium range electrics are near a tipping point.
I think Brammo and Zero have more than what they appear to on the surface. They have years of testing and development in their products so they know where potential pitfalls are. that kind of knowledge is what would accelerate other company’s time to market. They also have alternative dealer networks. I could the an acquisition working much like a large tech company picking up a start-up with tech they want.
re: ” it would be so hard for Zero and Brammo to stay in the game.”
for them to stay IN the game, doesn’t there first have to BE a game…? I mean Vectrix went chapter 7 for a reason. who’s buying these things…? there’s even less take rate in this segment than there are for 250 ICE.
Indeed. I believe Zero produced approximately 1,500 bikes in 2013 for worldwide consumption. If the rest of their dealers are anything like my local dealership, then I’d guess most of those 2013’s are still sitting on the sales floor. I swear the sales manager of the local dealership chokes back a few sobs every time I ask him how the Zeros are selling. Zero clearly has a lot of private equity at its disposal to keep this up. Don’t know about Brammo.
Jeremy..have you ridden one?
Mickey, I have ridden the 2013 FX and a 2011 DS.
if you wanna know where they got the idea for the sound of this bike watch the movie GATTACA. the electrified cars used in this story set in the “not too distant future” sound identical (hint, RWD cars have a differential). great flick btw, regardless of the tie-in.
the very first thing that had me scratching my head when i saw this bike was what in the Tom T. Hall is that aluminium casing…? it seems to elude that the motor is positioned lengthwise like the crankshaft of a BMW or a Guzzi…? okay why in the hell would they do that, you’d have to turn the power path 90 degrees…?
reading the cycleworld link below confirmed my suspicions and why i immediately recognized the sound.
OK, so why can’t they put the V-rod motor in this thing, and actually give us a harley for the motorcyclist, not for the biker?
Two items for sure that will kill production of this or any other electric motorcycle is price and range. So before anyone gets too excited about this “portable drill on wheels”.. Harley needs to spill the beans on it’s full specifications, and don’t say we don’t have that information because our hard drive crashed.
Tesla is selling all the Model S cars they can make against both of those obstacles.
Since the Tesla’s are considered luxury goods, the economics behind them operate under a completely different governance than other forms of personal transportation. They are the latest Gucci handbag. I am not slamming them: that is exactly the game they need to play to sell this technology right now.
Which might be exactly where H-D is going with their e-bike?
Premium brand? Check
Exclusive? Check
Fashionable? Check
Utility? Minimal requirements if above three boxes are checked
re: “that is exactly the game they need to play to sell this technology right now.”
YAAHHHTZEEE…!
I have to give HD kudos for floating a product that is so far outside its normal comfort zone. Nothing on this electric bike looks anything like a Harley except for the name and insignia on the tank. And look – USD forks, an actual swingarm with modern suspension configuration, and footpegs that are not 3 feet in front of the rider.
I won’t get into the relative merits / demerits of electric vehicles – we all know the challenges of charging time, range, and weight. However, I can’t help but wonder if HD isn’t using the electric drivetrain as a red herring to introduce a new design mentality.
Whatever. I’m impressed and HD has not impressed me in… forever.
The patent infringement lawsuits will keep this product tied up for years!
Harley has an electric motorcycle not an electric Harley…
HaHA! Harley Haters always make me laugh.
Always cocked and ready with the disparaging comments, the instant the opportunity arises.
Guess what? The company everyone loves to hate just surpassed 10 years of work that Zero and Brammo have done in one fell swoop…and the best part is, they’re not even selling it yet HAHAHA.
They’re market testing a bike that’s already better built, better looking and more finely developed than the products that the other MoCos are already taking your money for.
but, y’all just keep hatin’
http://www.cycleworld.com/2014/06/19/harley-davidson-livewire-electric-motorcycle-first-ride-review-photos-video/
Most Harley haters have never even ridden a Harley. I see comments about how the still lleak oil, have poor quality or are technically behind. Their heads must have been hiding in a dark, smelly place for
The last 30 years. Give me a break.
Very true
Are you honestly contending that Harley’s quality is comparable to Honda’s?
Perhaps a bit better in some ways. No broken frames (gold wings), bad rectifiers (VFRs) plastic fenders/rocker boxes (Fury) and generally poorer fit and finish than any Harley. I’m actually a Suzuki fanboy but my Harley is no less reliable than ANY Japanese bike I’ve ever owned.
Seriously? How about rattling top ends, faulty cam chain followers, no ride recalls for hydraulic clutches, radiators leaking, radios that don’t work right, throttles that go limp, bad regulators, rear cylinders seizing
There is a reason they are ranked so low by consumer reports.
I have had 6 Harleys. Never again.,
Mickey- it took you 6(!) bikes to find out you don’t like them? It only took me 2 Hondas to find out that they’re not perfect as some would lead you to believe. No bike is. Q: How CBR600’s did Honda sell last year?
Quoting Harley sales figures is like saying McDonalds makes the best food because they sell the most. It’s advertising that sells Harley’s, just like Big Macs.
Gronde 6 bikes over a 29 year span. first one in 1965 last one in 1994. Kept thinking they had to have improved. They didn’t. 1 Italian rebadged, 2 Sportsters, 3 big twins. None of mine were unreliable so to speak, they just weren’t very good motorcycles. Heavy, slow, poor handling, poor braking, a lot of vibrations.
Seen mechasnical nightmares in all brands…been in the business for 30 years…A Harley is just as reliable as any other brand in todays market. Believe it or not the brand i saw the most issues with in my experience as a salesperson was Yamaha and pricey to fix.
That’s funny since consumer reports finding on reliabilty and necessity of repairs from 2009 to 2012 found Yamaha to be the best,followed by Kawasaki, Honda, Harley and lastly BMW
guess consumer reports dont see everything that may go on in a motorcycle shop and is probably based on warranty claims which is a small percentage of actual mechanical work done in you average service department. I am basing it on customer complaints and heard plenty of that at Yamaha. Im not biased…had a few yamahas and were good bikes..same goes for the other brands.
I, for one, am glad to see Harley building an electric bike.
It’s good to see their experience with the latest technology combined with their proven record of reliability brought to this emerging new market.
So, does it really work, or are they just sticking their thumb in the eye of the established motorcycle community? HD is the company that leads the way with “Our way or the Highway”. I like the machine, I think the design is flowing but I cynically doubt their conviction. Snooty pretenders/poseurs buy their products because they want to “be seen”, are these the Avant guard of the upwardly mobile? Oh, how chic(!), from bad biker to Mr. Electron. How encompassing, give me a break.
My comments always “await moderation” because I question lemming mentality. March along little drones….
Well then, you should probably ride a Harley and have a nick name like Lone Wolf or something being all anti establishment and all lol
I get moderated often, and I rarely ever say anything bad about lemmings, the poor little bastards.
That comment got moderated, BTW. 🙂
Lol. The awaiting moderation seems to happen a lot. Why? I have no idea. And who is doing the moderating?
It looks like it weighs as much as all the other HD boat anchors they build! And if that’s the case as I’m sure it is it probably won’t have more than a 100 mile range before needing a recharge, how impractical! And if it stays consistent with everything else HD it’s probably overpriced as well! I say tie a rope to it and throw it overboard so it will be in its true element or at least build it a custom matched trailer so it can be towed everywhere like most HD bikes. This reminds me of something a friend who has always been loyal to the HD brand told me. He said that 90% of all HD bikes were still on the road today………….the other 10% made it home. Just an FYI I have also tried several HD bikes over the years starting in 78′ and all were a disappointment to say the least. I did my best to defend this American built machine and it’s heritage but just couldn’t do it any longer when there is so many more brands that offer reliability, performance, performance, performance, comfort and value.
easy, again this is just a marketing exercise. we’ll be lucky if this bike ever sees the light of day. and if it does…? it’ll be limited production numbers, like maybe 1 or 2 per store tops. think “halo” model like the desmosedici or superleggera and of course with a “halo” price to match. something they can point to and say, “hey look at what we did”. sometimes that’s all you need.
rest assured, nobody in Harley world or their dealer network is interested in this bike beyond that. in the remote area I was riding yesterday, couldn’t throw a rock without hitting something sporting the Bar and Shield. even if their WERE an electric infrastructure, this bike would struggle to make it even a 1/4 of the way there. riding really is FREEDOM for these guys.
Lot of research $ going into capacitor based electric power storage. This means very fast charging times. Personally I see bulk energy generation through renewable energy sources with allied hydrogen production assisting with base load plus providing a transportable fuel source for vehicles. Further down the track perhaps but eminently doable.
my first comment about the bike was a bit abrupt. it is important for h-d to stay current with new technologies, for a new customer base.
OK.. I give up.. what does it cost? What does it weigh? What is it’s rating in HP? What is it’s top speed and range? How long does it take to re-charge? What are it’s dimensions? Forget the surprise hype and get to the chase.
There is no price yet, as it’s not in production yet. This is market research. They are doing a tour of the US, and eventually Canada, to let people ride it and give their impressions.
By the way, the motor is rated at 74hp and 52 ft lbs…0-60 in under 4 secs
3.5 hours to charge and a range of 86 Klms.
imo they’re f***ing with the brand. nothing wrong with harley as a business making e-bike. ideally top-of-the-line e-bikes. im just saying, have it branded as a SUBSIDIARY brand. call it American E-Wheels, call it TopBike, call it XYZ, call it whatever you wanna call it. to me the issue is NOT one of e-bikes vs gas bikes. to me the issue is BRAND NAME. i dont even ride a harley (YET), but when i WILL say “i ride a harley” i’ll want anyone and everyone to know what that means. NOT the electric virtual reality sound. the sound of the 2 f***ng cylinders, going thump thump thump. H-A-R-L-E-Y. thank you.
It is brand name that gives this particular e-bike some serious buzz and credibility.
I predict Harley will do for electric motorcycles what they did for pin setters during the AMF years!
Best looking HD ever.
A guy I work with just picked up a new Tesla yesterday. Everyone at work including his boss and bosses boss were jealous. I mention this because public perception of e-vehicles is changing from green powered eco-boxes to lust filled works of art. There is no denying the Tesla is drop dead sexy even if it were powered by a traditional motor. The more the manufactures invest into this alternative power the better it will be for consumers. Did you watch the IOMTT? See the electric bikes do their lap? Listen to McGuiness talk about how much fun it was to ride his 117.336 lap?
I would LOVE an e-bike but I want it to be as good as the Tesla. Sexy with performance and give me range. This bike along with Mission R hit the mark on style. No need to make electric powered transportation only appeal to a Prius owner.
The other side of e-anything is charging time. Along with high capacity to go longer distances, having to stop for a mandatory hours long recharge is a negative. We have a number of Teslas running around the Seattle area and they do catch the eye and for what they go for not too far out of reach of many up and comers who might want to break from the norm. We just bought a new Honda Accord Hybrid which was just introduced last year. Unlike the Prius but more like a Chevy Volt, it’s a series hybrid in that the gas engine serves as the power to generate juice for the main traction motor most of the time and only hooks up mechanically through a clutch beyond 45 mph or so. There isn’t a transmission as such as the electric motor provides the motive power. In practice it’s uncannily smooth and quiet and reportedly easy to achieve real-world combined EPA numbers of 50 in town and 45 hwy. We’ve only had it a week and we see 42 mpg. Combined power is 196hp and torque of 226 lb-ft. Much more roomy inside than a Prius, except for cargo, and drives and behaves much like a standard Accord. I like that it doesn’t scream HYBRID as the Prius family does. I like saving resources but I don’t need to shout it to the world.
So, advancements are here, they’ll improve and for those looking toward the day they can have a Tesla, or other e-machine in their garage, that day won’t be too far away. (I saw where Tesla is working on a smaller, less costly design) 🙂
yes a Tesla is $100,00. No gas..save $$$…2 moving parts in the motor…less maintenance $$…brakes and tires…only maintenace…the batteries probably cost a mint though . Someone told me the other day that Tesla have released theyre patents for the world to see…is that true ?
Well.. I will say a couple of things. In order to sell anything you need to get it out to the public so they can see, touch and maybe even test it for themselves, and Harley has the dealer network to do this. Second.. in the absence of any spec’s, from the picture it does appear to have a fixed rear axle with belt drive, like the XB Buell which will eliminate any need for rear belt adjustments.
On this bike the Harley bar and shield logo appears ghostlike. There but not there. It fades into the dark as a deminishing memory of a long ago dream.
Hardly, but what exactly are you trying to say??
oh boy…is that all you got..lol
There is more. I misspelled diminishing.
Looks more like a marketing ploy. H-D has nothing to lose to make noise on this bike. Getting people’s attention to get into the HD dealership and end up buying their other money maker machines. With the way HD prices their motorcycles (up high vs others), if this electric bike can make into the real world market, its pricing is probably in $50-60k. Who buys it? Hollywood does. It might be the reason it advertises in the Hollywood in the first place. No anger or complaints from current HD customers. It’s nothing to do with them.
50 -60 k…dont be ridiculous…20k
with an electric motor you can have any sound you want. In Holland Domino Pizza delivery scooters have a sound system that says Dominos over and over so when they are surrounded by bicyclists they don’t collide with any. It sounds pretty cool. How about the General Lee horn or whatever blasting out of your bike? 8 ^ 0
the first thing that came to mind is how cool the Vrod woulda been if they stuck that engine in this package!
Not oil, electrons.
That’s a very cool looking bike. A parallel twin could fit in that frame, don’t you think?
Congratulations to HD for giving its engineering talent a challenge like this to work on. If the range was triple what HD says it is, it would have some possibilities as an around-town bike. An expensive around-town bike, no doubt.
The first IC engines were probably expensive buggers to build, and the cost of refining petroleum into gasoline was also no doubt expensive when the concept was new. Electric bikes are in their infancy; it’s reasonable to expect costs to come down as the technology improves.
I have to say it’s a really nice machine, the styling is impressive, but it probably should have been a cruiser. With that said, if I went out to buy an electric Harley, I’d want something looking like a Dyna or FLH, not a Brammo. It should have chrome everywhere and at least one fat fender. Electric bikes are here and I doubt they will go away. All we need now is a better battery, and a manufacturer that will put it in our favourite style ride. For those whom would miss the ICE sound, (God knows I would) you can tune the noise of that bubble gum card by moving it closer or further from the centre of the wheel. Barely a placebo I know….
cruisers are heavy…chrome is heavy…wouldnt be feasible
Like the electric car bandwagon this is not ready for the real world. The limits of recharging availability, then time on the charger and severely limited range due to battery life will keep all electric vehicles from being practical…. Unless you are a flaming greenie without buyers remorse.
They are practical now. It is very small minority of drivers/riders who require or use current I.C.E. vehicle’s range today.
I am one of those minority types 🙂
Yea me too. Just returned from a ride from Ohio to Monteray California and back. 5424 miles in 11 days. There were times when gas stations were pretty rare. Never saw a charging station and they’d have to be what, every 60 miles or so when traveling 80 mph on an electric bike? Heck, my average ride around home is over 100 miles.
I WOULD ride an automatic electric cycle if it were practical. I am not hung up on the ICE as a means of transportation per se. But electrics are just not there yet, and at 64 years old, I don’t expect them to be in the years I have left to ride.
Maybe my son who is 35 will have a truly practical E bike to ride some day.
Sure, an electric bike is not capable of a cross country trip. But again, of all of the two-wheeled motor vehicles on the road, how many are used in that application even once, let alone regularly.
There are fantastic ICE bikes for this but these applications (touring and basic transportation) couldn’t be much more different if we were comparing airplanes and row boats. It’s the reason lots of motorcycle owners have more than one.
Dave, many many many motorcycles are used for touring. Apparently you don’t read magazines such as Rider, or Road Runner. As a matter of fact I can’t imagine how few motorcycles are purchased to be ridden less than 65 miles on nearly every ride. That would be 32 miles out and back home. Maybe people who live in a city like New York, San Francisco, or LA, but in the rest of the country we have to ride to get anywhere. My wife and I rode out to dinner and back last night round trip it was 74 miles. Any PRACTICAL motorcycle should be able to do more than that IMO… A LOT MORE!
” As a matter of fact I can’t imagine how few motorcycles are purchased to be ridden less than 65 miles on nearly every ride.”
According to the US census, 80.7% of Americans live in urban areas so the “rest of the country” is 19.3%. If you look up the statistics, you will find that the average trip for motor vehicles is far shorter than that, car or motorcycle.
Yours is a very unique use case. There is much protest of bikes with shorter range/smaller tanks on enthusiast sites, but very little reaction from the motorcycle industry offerings. If it were such a common requirement, wouldn’t they react to their customer’s demands?
“Urban” as defined by the Census Bureau can be a pretty small town. Even if one lives in a large metro, the short range of electrics may not be sufficient. That is certainly the case where I live.
For me, the utility of being able to go as far as I want for as long as I want far outweighs any long-term cost/benefit from an electric bike with current tech. You refer to this as fringe requirements, but after 20 years of riding and living in lots of different places, I couldn’t disagree more. The fringe is the rider who buys a bike because he she will never ride it more than 60 miles per day.
I believe I could – and probably will in the next few years – replace my dirt bike with an e-bike, but I personally couldn’t justify the cost of an e-bike as a commuter-only tool while ICE bikes are just as competent in that regard, cheaper and more capable. Apparently the current market agrees.
Nearly all riders I know are one of those minority types. That has held true everywhere I’ve lived – LA, TX, SC, MS, IL, CT and CO – except for Europe where many riders could indeed use an electric motorcycle for practically all of their riding.
Yes, can be practical in specific uses but look how much squawking goes on over ICE bikes with smaller fuel tanks. Complaints galore about how that’ll never do because it forces too many stops. An e-bike would require that plus charge time.
gotta be honest, the limiting factor when I’m riding isn’t how much liquid’s in my tank, but how much liquid’s in my BLADDER.
so if I’m going to stop, may as well make it a gas station with a restroom like a civil human being. the fact that I can take on gas and grab a snickers is really a bonus, but it’s not necessarily what brought me in.
Norm, if you were on an e bike you could take your time, potty, eat a meal, take a nap while it’s charging….a much more relaxed way to travel.
I have a pretty large tank on my Norge and would likewise need a potty stop generally before a refueling. But depending on where I am I might just top off (both) tanks before pressing forward! 🙂
I think we’ll see some improvements in batteries, or super-capacitors, in time but a bike has rather limited extra space to place it all. Maybe a solar array and wind generator attached to one’s helmet would help? 🙂
See Tesla…
See practical…
I guess they are selling all they can make to impractical people.
wonder how many Teslas they have sold in Kansas or Iowa, or Nebraska ..or my home state of Ohio for that matter? yet to see one on the road.
In the 3 states you mention it looks like between 10 and 39 units per state. This article from Edmunds has an interesting graphic showing Tesla’s sales by state.
http://www.edmunds.com/industry-center/analysis/drive-by-numbers-tesla-in-all-50-states.html
I presume the older the H-D fan, the more likely is strong negative reaction to this bike. But the older the H-D fan the less likely are they the target demographic for this bike. So H-D risks little to nothing by alienating these fans.
IMO the best example of the target demographic for this bike is gender neutral, high 20s to early 40s, highly skilled professional such as might be found working for Google in Silicon Valley.
Good arguments exist to support the belief in peak oil as past event. The USA is a strange country that does not exist without oil, yet the insane war mongers who run it seem hell bent on insuring oil rises constantly in price by our military excursions abroad. In addition, fifty years after the first ME oil embargo, we still are not energy independent. So as each day passes we grow only closer to e-bikes being the norm, not the exception.
H-D seems only interested in making sure they are ready and prepared to exist when that day arrives. This bike will only help to insure that is the case. Whether this bike ever makes the show room floor or not, I perceive it as one of the most important milestones in motorcycle history (worth what you paid for that opinion).
Side bar: NPR talked today about this bike’s “sound.” It’s funny, because no known independent person has ever actually “heard” this bike (nor any microphone recorded it). The “sound” quality attached to the bike in the moving image could be and IMO most likely is 100% synthesized (I am ex-pro synthesizer programmer). IOW, talking about the “sound” of this bike is like qualifying the “look” of a vehicle based on viewing a 100% synthetic computer “rendering.” I could justify such qualification, but only if/when qualifying the qualification with full disclosure that we’re reporting on something that does not exist in 3-D space.
ah…lets get away from the Road Pirate biker mentality….Harley just released the first motorcycle with a touch screen..the new Rushmore bikes…now stepping forward to the future with electric power…i would say Harley are fore runners into the technological age……remember all the haters when the V-Rod was released in 2003…what a great bike. Seems Harley want to build bikes to please everyone..all ages…thats true passion in my opinion.
“We at H-D make motorcycles to please everyone – so long as everyone is pleased by cruisers.”
do you think the Livewire looks like a cruiser ?
Not in the least. It is a beautiful bike. But H-D has certainly never demonstrated a product line that would imply that they want to build bikes that please everyone. The LiveWire is a shock to me – both in concept and design.
A lot of you think that HD did the wrong thing by doing this. You think that they’re going to piss off the HD masses that has been loyal fans of HDs since the good ol’ days! Well, guess what. To get to this point, HD do what every other companies do before putting out new products. They do detail, intense, research using FOCUS GROUPS to see who wants it, likes it, and what they’re going to buy if HD makes it. So by you saying that they’re screwing up the brand is LUDICROUS. HD has spoke to many many people to find out who’s out there and what’s the interest in a bike like this. To get here, there’s a lot of people that has interest. Do you think HD can survive on the same old customers over and over again? Most of them probably be dead and a whole new generation don’t want to buy big clunkers like the old HDs that’s out there. Oh, you’ll still get the same people that buy it because of the legend that HD created, but there’s not enough of them to keep HD profitable. Hell, I’m surprise that HD hasn’t made a bunch of cool sport bikes that go head to head with the Japanese big 4 and the Europeans exotic sports bikes. Look at BMW, creating the S1000! What a great bike! HD should’ve have done that! Now Buell is out on their own, away from the archaic thinking of HD and has created an AWESOME sportsbike! So yes, I think HD is doing the right thing, listening to the focus group, and creating this electric bike. They look very close of creating their own sportsbike too! I can’t wait to see where they go! HURRAY FOR HD!
HD know theyre Niche…cruisers…build what you know and know what you build.
I can repect that. The s1000 is an awesome bike…havnt seen that many on the road…BMW are known for comfortable touring bikes…thats what they sell most of.
Cool bike wrong brand to build it. This will only piss off the customer base as this bike stands for everything that harley is not. Besides pissing off the current customers its going to dilute and confuse the brand, Harley had an image and sold bikes based 99% on that image alone now they are messing with that in a major way I don’t think that’s smart. Harley def needed to progress but an electric bike? That’s just way out there. They shouldn’t have put the harley name on it rather created a new line with a different name and sold them out of harley dealers. Similar to what bmw does with the mini and Mercedes does with the smart car. The def don’t put bmw and Benz badges on those!
Maybe Harley could also hook up with Buell and sell that brand at it’s dealerships…oh, wait…
Yeah like that but hopeful the product is better, the Buell’s were…Is garbage to harsh?? But electric Harley’s? lol makes me laugh everytime I say that.
re: “Harley def needed to progress but an electric bike? That’s just way out there.”
hey, nobody said it wasn’t a gamble. what you say IS a real possibility, but i think they’re hoping (nay banking $$) the long-term publicity (which is how i really see this) will ultimately cancel out any negatives.
with the gen-Y/millenials movie tie-in and positive initial reactions, they’re off to a good start. they DO need to attract a younger demographic. they’re no different than the other manufacturers engaged in the niche business of motorcycling.
the Livewire’s job is to get ’em through the doors, it’s the salesman’s job to “put them on ICE”. see what i did there…?
The Harley ” Biker” image is fading quickly….think its cool that Harley are leaping forward with electric technology…they are masters at marketing…thats why they are so successfull…there is a huge buzz with Livewire…thats exactly what they intended and you have to admit..judging by the other choices in electric bikes..like Brammo… as far as appearance goes the Livewire is way cool…there are a lot of enthusuasts including bad ass Harley types who want to get theyre hands on one right now…alas but cant have one yet…Harley are testing the waters with demo rides before they become available…to see the feedback before they fully commit to mass production…these days with sales lower in all luxury products is smart thinking….cant wait to try one !
BMW are playing the same games with theyre new Cafe racer style model..the local BMW dealer here has deposits for 35 units…the dealership had to beg BMW for 7 units…..even the Japanese hold back on certain models…for example a few years ago when the Honda Fury was released you could only buy one from a “Powerhouse” store..so the smaller dealers got shut out completely unless they invested millions of dollars to upgrade theyre store to a Powerhouse store ….all manufacturers are playing the same game….want to buy a Ducati Panagale…good luck getting your hands on one…unless you are the first lucky few to put a deposit on one before you have seen it or ridden it. I personally dont buy anything unless i can touch it and test ride it…i think most of us are the same.
I don’t want to: see it, read about it, test ride it, nothing. I hope it never sees the showroom floor. I am amazed h-d would put their name on it.
I know right? Who would have thought H-D was even capable of looking beyond 1960? It is the best looking H-D product ever made in my opinion. Good on them.
Interested to know gaham… why not? One of the coolest looks I think they’ve ever dared to produce. Nice to see some new thinking coming out of Milwaukee for a change. Is it the electric thing? Are you one of the staunch HD traditionalists we have to drag kicking and screaming into the future? All things change… nothing stays the same. Things that try – die.
He’s just pissed his parents named him Gaham…
typo…? possibly Graham like the crackers…?
Perhaps… I guess I’d have a less than positive view on things if I was named after a cracker.
Childish personal attacks get through moderation? Really?
This is easily the best looking electric motorcycle I’ve seen.Probably doesn’t have the range to make my daily commute and with the Harley Davidson name tag will likely be the most expensive electric motorcycle there is.
re: “Photos of a Harley-Davidson electric motorcycle on a Hollywood movie set began circulating a few days ago.”
avengers 2. should post those pics. i wondered why these pics look strange…? these pics look like they’re of a toy model or something made by a 3D printer.
Loud batteries save lives.
Funniest quote on MC Daily in months…
Too funny. You slay me GR.
re: “Loud batteries save lives.”
and possibly TAKE lives in the event of explosion. hey, don’t say it can’t happen…
http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/12/five-people-hurt-in-gm-lab-explosion-a123-battery-reportedly-re/
Thank god gasoline NEVER explodes..
re: “Thank god gasoline NEVER explodes”
yes thank God. I believe the cool kids call it “the vapours”…? but the 100 level chemistry prof’s call it “volatility” and understand it simply as one of the physical properties of matter.
this threat’s usually limited to the Darwin candidate who thinks it’s a smart idea to use a lighter (instead of some form of vapour safe torch) to spy down the dark hole of a fuel tank to check fluid level.
hey, don’t say this can’t happen either…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgjI4PacHgk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RS7s7CNWS4
boys and girls, this is why it’s important to be on time to and not fall asleep in lecture.
This bike isn’t complete until it has a 5 billion Watt Stereo system that broadcasts the word, Potato.
The new electric Audi R8 has a soundbox that sounds like the gas powered one…i see it now…multiple choices in sound bytes when you buy an electric vehicle…want an electric Honda to sound like a Harley with Thunder headers…no problem…cool
Ha! Reminds me of movies where they overdub 4-cylinder engine sounds when the bike in the scene is a Ducati (and in absolutely no need of sound enhancement).
Personally, I am much more interested in KTM’s FreeRide E, or the Zero FX. Why on earth would HD deliberately try to make an E bike noisy? The HD motor/drive system does not appear to be as torquey as other E-Bikes. Other E-Bikes have moderate HP ratings, and monstrous torque.
Put the new 750 engine in that frame and we would have something.
Just buy a 750 and save your money..you obviously dont get the point !
That guy will never buy a 750 Street. But he might by an ergonomically correct, cleanly designed 750 “NotSoLiveWire”.
If Harley had been producing bikes that look like this one with real engines in them, I would have probably owned a few Harleys in my time as would many others who don’t now.
The LiveWire is a stunning bike, which just makes many of us wonder why H-D held out producing appealing (to the rest of us) bikes like this all along.
Re; “If Harley had been producing bikes that look like this one with real engines in them,”
They called those “Buell”. I rented one for a long day ride once, it was interesting but pretty strange too.
H-D tried with Buell but failed to really understand their market. Buells were quirky, and not particularly pleasing to the eye with a few exceptions. And until the 1125s came out (terribly ugly bikes), Buells lacked a decent engine.
The LiveWire is designed for an entirely different kind of customer. I think they nailed it.
and where is the…. (unbalanced) rumble? It cant’ be H-D.
Get rid of the DumboEars(tm) integrated mirrors and turnsignals. Then talk to me about (1) sticker price and (2) effective range. And keep those handlebars and footpegs where they are!
But congrats, HD, on beating all the other major manufacturers (with the sole exception of Yamaha) in at least showing an interest.
You must have missed…
http://www.gizmag.com/hondas-electric-superbike-shown-but-wrapped-in-secrecy-or-apathy/20676/
KTM has a finished electric motocross bike. It’s been done since 2008, they shelved it during the economic downturn but are moving forward again.
Yamaha have one too…..its inevitable in the future…no worries you can still drive your 69 Camaro unless all this technology will someday change our pollution laws…an electric 69 Camaro…cool !
Dang my hide! The great conservative two-wheel HD dinosaur has seen the future, bless them. Giant torque, low maintenance, home-charging ‘sickles for everyday use with reliability that defies high-component machines, all the fuss and feathers of internal combustibility finally relegated … migod, even the idea of battery development as promised over the next five years makes this a winner for gentleriders – who maybe do all their running and profiling just around town.
Applause for HD designers, engineers and directors for this giant step for ‘sicklekind.
Oh, BTW, that’s one beeyatchin H-D!
I am E-bike novice. Would a bike such as this have or require gears? Or do electric motors make so much torque that gears are unnecessary?
If no gears, I’m curious what is the relationship between motor noise pitch/motor RPM/vehicle velocity. We are all familiar with ICE pitch rising with RPM through each gear, then pitch reducing with each gear shift, then rinse and repeat for each gear. If E-motors don’t shift, or shift only once instead of five times (6 gears), this whole gestalt is tossed out the window, and replace with…exactly what?
Anyone who wasn’t impressed by the sound of this bike, check your pulse. Wow, very, um…interesting and appealing, not just different (though is it ever different).
E-motors are inherently quiet vs. ICE, for obvious reason (no combustion for one). There’s really no “scale” to judge SPL (the noise could have been 100% synthesized), but it seemed louder than I’d otherwise expect. I also am very curious if H-D expects to generate part of the sound with an amp and speaker, which would drain electric power.
People keep commenting that they are jumping into the future, more like the present. They (electric motorcycles) have been for sale for a few years now, as have electric lawn mowers. Looks like they are trying to play catch up to the lawn mower industry again. Now they will have to put charging stations in at every bar in ‘Murica to charge them while their owners polish off some pitchers. I bet their insurance will be sky high too, this will be the quickest production bike they make, it’s bound to confuse the sheep.
H-D would not have gone to this effort and investment if they didn’t see a reason to do so.
If this machine evolves into a showroom product, it won’t be for the faithful/sheep. They already have them covered. This thing is to attract new blood.
I’m glad to see this bike — i would buy a Harley — if it was the bike i wanted– and E bike buyers have a great option here–
Funny, that not only is this the best-looking electric bike by a wide margin, but also the best-looking Harley, period.
And one of the best looking naked bikes out there, I’d say. The design is simple and stunning.
From HD web page
“WHEN WITH PROJECT LIVEWIRE™ MOTORCYCLES BE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE?
Project LiveWire™ motorcycles are not for sale. This is a journey we’re taking with our customers to discover how good we can make the ride. We’re taking the Project LiveWire™ motorcycle experience around the country this year, and continue in the US, Canada and Europe in 2015. We’ll gain feedback from real riders on what they are looking for in this type of vehicle from Harley-Davidson® Motorcycle. Any final decisions about whether to bring an electric motorcycle to market – and when – will be made at a later date.”
so don’t hold your breath
re: “so don’t hold your breath”
no worries.
This is so far from the leather chaps and “if you can read this, the Bitch fell off” t-shirt crowd…. they will kill it like they did the XR1200
I think of this bike as HD entering the sport bike market not just the electric bike market. That sure looks like a sport bike to me.
What are the chances that the (Electric) Motor Co has been developing technology borrowed from Tesla patents which Elon Musk conveniently just released into the public domain.
Didn’t they just release those patents recently?
If so, H-D had a busy week!
No e-bikes are ready for prime time yet due to their limitations but Id bet 50 years from now you’ll be hard pressed to find a new gas powered anything, gotta start somewhere. Although Im not a fan of HD’s bikes I applaud them for being the first major mfg to give it a shot.
I hate to sound so negative, and this is an interesting “CONCEPT” bike, but will their be Ape Hangers, Fishtails and Skulls in the factory accessory catalog for it? And maybe Sound Racer will make a potato – potato – potato sound track for it also. After all, how many Harley guys are “Green” enough people to spend their hard earned beer money on something like this? Stick to what you know Harley and don’t go the way of the Tesla.
I like it but it’s too long and the seat is largely useless. I’m sure they will make the real one even worse and it will cost a ridiculously high sum anyway so……it’s interesting to view but little more, I expect.
The HD mechanics are gonna be jumping out of windows – no chrome AND learning how to use an amp gauge – aggggggghhhhhhhhhh???!!!!
Honey, HIDE the kids – there’s a group of Humm’s Angels coming through town!!
….ha ha ha – and I thought my Buell was the service department’s red-headed stepchild –
But like I posted eariler, As much as I wouldnt own a cruiser HD, I found myself sitting and saying “wow” repeatedly.
Just like the BMW SR1000R come to own every litter bike in production with their first try HD just beat to the dust every electric bike on earth on the first try.
Kudos to HD
100 years from now…. what, still the same old 2014 electric design booooooring, fussion bikes are all the rage
Please put both brakes at the hands. Similar to scooters hand brakes.
The seating position looks a little too tight. So have optional forward pegs. I have a prosthetic right leg, so the fetal position and the right foot brake as you have it would not work for me.
Otherwise, good job!
Wow, I’m impressed I would definitely consider buying one. ‘course I’d have to personalize it with some 24’in APEs!
Wow, didn’t see this coming. I know it is “just” a prototype, but what a stunning way get people’s attention back to H-D., and not just those who were momentarily distracted by Polaris/Victory/Indian a few months back. This will raise eyebrows even among the Prius crowd.
Even though I personally want nothing to do with past or current Harley Davidson models, the company is far from obsolete. I sense that they are gearing up for an interesting and successful future.
re: “it is “just” a prototype, but what a stunning way get people’s attention back to H-D.”
full stop.
It looks to be a very production-ready prototype even down to the DOT reflectors. I’d be very surprised if they actually start selling it anytime soon, but stranger things have happened: like Harley Davidson making an electric bike that isn’t even a a real cruiser.
OK, now that HD has truly surprised us with this E-bike, can we request a true sport tourer with the Revolution engine? Something to compete with the FJR’s, RT’s, etc? I know, probably not gonna happen but what a machine it would be!
Agree, agree, agree. Concours 14, Norge, FJR, RT, Ninja 1000 ABS, Trophy, surely there must be a smidgen of a market here to go after? Match or exceed the seating position, comfort and control of my Thunderbolt S3T – they already have everything they need to do it. My brother just moved from a Road King to an FJR, no going back. I just picked up a Thruxton as my second bike, why wasn’t this a cafe style Sporty? Two lost sales. Of course when you sell over two hundred thousand bikes to the faithful, who cares about anybody else?
You just know that the pegs and bars will be moved on this new electric bike before it ever sees production.
As long as HD’s traditional legacy bikes continue to outsell everything else they have very little incentive to go after other markets for conquest sales. But it would show their competitors that they have the design & engineering prowess to challenge them all for sales. Is there enough demand for a HD sport tourer?? And if so, would it sell in sufficient numbers to make the venture worthwhile (profitable)? I don’t have those answers…sure would like to see them do it, though.
New 4v water cooled entry level bike? Now an electric bike? Good Lord, what’s next a sport bike? All the Harley traditionalists will be crying in the their beers in the bar tonite fo sho.
As long as traditionalists have access to core Harley products, they’ll hardly be “crying in their beers” (as you’d like to believe) over this.
Clearly you missed the collective whining when the water-cooled “Streets” were introduced.
I love it. I love the riding position more than the bike itself. Finally put the pegs and bars where they belong! Finally!
Has someone been preventing you from buying one of the many sport bikes out there?
To a degree, yes. I would love to buy a made in the US H-D sport touring bike, but aside from the new EBR, there is nothing available. I have a 2000 Thunderbolt S3T that I bought new. When it comes time to replace (soon as my kids are getting their motorcycle licenses, and I will hand it down), I’ll probably end up with a Japanese made Concours 14, Ninja 1000 ABS, or FJR. H-D will eventually lose a potential sale. I realize I am not their target, and they don’t care if they don’t make a bike like and FJR or RT. They think they have a sport touring bike in the Street Glide, and maybe they are right? If I remember, the Street Glide is their most popular single model, and it probably outsells all of the Japanese and European sport touring models combined?
As a side note, I just bought a Thruxton as a second bike after toying with the idea of buying a new 1200 Sporty and turning it into a modern day XLCR. Buying a new, made in Thialand Thruxton was easier, and just as cool. (And almost as ancient technology, but with a great seating position that H-D just does not want to do.).
So no, no one has ever prevented me from buying one of the other sport bikes out there, I just sometimes wish that H-D would offer one on a semi permanent basis.
Awesome looking bike. I own a V-rod specially for its performance and great looks, and this time again Harley nailed it on the design studio. I had not even consider owning an electric bike, but this one just draws me to start saving now…
Have to wait and see what Screamin’ Eagle parts they make for this. May need to select a new Screamin’ Hummingbird with this thing.
Look’s great,This is coming from someone who in the past used to love H D and owned several of them ,only to be disappointed in their lack of power poor handling ,poor braking terrible engine noises etc.and the lack to update anything,plus a top management person saying we don’t want to compete with the Japanese or Europeans and build any thing for the adrenaline market (that is what they call the sport bike market) the only Harley I now own is an XR 1200x among my KTM BMW and Buell I have also owned Ducat’s in the past. the point I am making is I think it is great to see H.D. branching out and once again showing innovation, like they did in the past, so I say bring it on Harley and show the world that you surley are the MOTOR company
That…..is a bad ass looking machine. Love it HD !!!! Kudos to you !!! Sorta looks Wakan (Avinton) in profile. Love the headlight, very distinctive while maintaining the traditional round shape.
Now…..can you keep that look, and put a fire breathing gas burner in there with sound to match??
Pretty nice for a first attempt at building an E- Bike. I don’t care for Zero’s electric bikes, but this Harley I would consider.
My immediate response is to say something negative about this bike since it is a Harley. For the life of me, however, I can’t come up with anything but kudos. The Motor Company seems to have been taken over by escapees from Tesla. This bike is just about as expected as Hillary in a skirt…
I would like to invest in skulls and lightning bolts please!
Electric motor aside… I can’t believe this chassis and styling is coming out of Milwaukee! If they were to put their new Street 750 engine into a bike that looks like this… They would sell every one they could build, and probably 90% of the buyers would be people who would never have considered buying a Harley previously. Myself included! I’m shocked, amazed, impressed – and extremely skeptical. HD has never not disappointed me before…
I would have liked to have been a fly on the wall in the board meeting where the decision was made to undertake this project!
How the hell did they come up with this, when you can’t even buy an ICE Harley with standard mount foot controls and a real suspension and chassis??? In fact, all indications are that they are backsliding. They took away the XR1200R and made all the current sportsters with 2″ suspension travel and forward controls (ridiculous). They have been missing the boat for so long for a huge portion of us, then they just skip right over the modern bike design with ICE and go right to battery powered. W….T…F.
Looks great! Good on them.
Elephant in the room: range?
New breed of HArley..no more potato, potato, potato. Now it will be whir, whir, whir
Surprising move by The Motor Company
Wonder if “real” Harley riders will wave to guys riding these?
Love to test ride one.
As much as I wouldnt own a cruiser HD, I found myself sitting and saying “wow” repeatedly. Interesting…
I think this makes all the sense in the world. Harley’s management isn’t stupid and they realize the past isn’t the future. At some point selling nostalgia isn’t going to work any more. Since they won’t be marketing these to the traditional pirate crowd they aren’t constrained to build yet another Kookie Kutter Kustom Kruiser Klichè. Hope this goes into production and they sell a boat load of ’em worldwide. Congratulations HD.
Is that a bird, is that a plane, no…. it’s Harley-Davidson jumping
from the past into the future in a single bound!
Ah, but can they make it leak oil ?
Think of all the money you will save in oil with no leaking rocker box covers.
This is absolutely awesome. I hope it spurs other major manufacturers to follow suit. As a commuter, I would love to have an electric in my garage; especially one that looks as cool as this. With competitive market offerings and higher production volumes, these bikes will one day be affordable. I’m thrilled that a major American manufacturer has taken the leap. It will benefit us all. It truly changes my perception of Harley-Davidson. Zero and Brammo should rightfully be recognized as the true pioneers in this field, but Harley has the heft and skill to bring the technology mainstream. Very cool.
I absolutely never would have expected this out of Harley, but I am truly impressed. For the first time in my life, this is a Harley that I would seriously consider purchasing. Thinking about it a little more, this is by far the most interesting new motorcycle I have seen in the last few years from ANY manufacturer. Amazing!
First time HD has given me a reason to pay attention to them…
Nice, can I have one with a V-rod motor please.
And make it a 600.
They built the Street 500 and Street 750 motorcycles. The engines are descendants of the V-Rod motor… So, no 600, but reasonable and way lighter.
Yeah give me a Street 750 with nicer suspension and get rid of the hideous looking tail. The designers clearly were not designers. I like the looks of this new E bike. Now just give me a place to charge it since I live in a 3rd FL condo and I’ll be all set. E outlets at commuter rail stations would be nice. I see a few here and there. My commute is 50 miles round trip tops so this bike would work well for that. And with what is happening in the middle east, getting away from fossil fuels would be nice. Saw that half of German power is solar now. New solar grid in my town on top of an old asbestos dump. The Fossils are getting out of Washington I see! Har har!
I guess hell has finally frozen over, HD has produced a bike I would consider owning. If this machine actually comes to market and the price/performance numbers are reasonable, I will seriously consider purchasing one.
indeed hell is frozen (hope that contributes to global warming (the frozen hell that’s it))
Best looking electric bike I have seen so far. Really great looking motorcycle altogether frankly, electrons aside. And it has a REAL riding position. Who would have thought HD had it in them? I am surprised and delighted.
They did a great job of avoiding the “nerd factor” typically associated with electric bikes. It looks like a real motorcycle with just enough hardware showing to make it look like an actual machine, not a two wheeled smart phone.
+1
Yes indeed. I wonder if this means we’re old?
Wow for Harley – taking the step into the future. It’s just the way things are going and damn the hit the nail pretty good. Really cool looking ebike for the first try. About time the Harley looks forward, just like EBR is doing! I’ll probably never own an ebike but I am glad to see Harley planning for the future.
@Craig Jackman: This isn’t intended for the choir. It’s an effort to build a new choir, since the old choir is getting just that: old. This and the Street line are clearly focused at diversifying the HD audience and so far, they look like solid efforts. I just finished riding around Texas on a 2009 Nightster 1200 and while a fine bike, it rode poorly (compared to my Honda) and seemed…. well, old. I still enjoyed it, but there was a lot of “if they would only ________” while riding. These new Street and LiveWire bikes and Project Rushmore reflect that HD gets it and should they follow through, could be a much bigger player in the market. While this is a huge gamble, I think the timing is right. I’ve never been a big HD fan, but gotta say I admire the balls to do something 180 degrees removed from their hardcore fanbase.
Agree with your idea, come to play with the right product once the tech is mature is a smart play, these can even benefit with apple and a lot of other fields from the super factory that Tesla is planning to build for batteries
Defines “oxymoron”.
Will never sell to the choir. Not loud enough/at all, doesn’t vibrate, no highway pegs and ape hangers, not enough chrome, can’t see the engine.
I on the other hand like it, but then I liked most Buell’s and look what Harley did to that.
Haven’t you noticed? They “choir” is about 65~70 years old now and singing a little off key.
Buell was a different dynamic. Eric likely never saw eye-to-eye with HD management. The first thing he would have done given the choice would have been to ditch the ancient Sportster engine for a modern v-twin. Which probably pissed off any number of movers and shakers in the MoCO proper. This thing is from inside HD itself. Big difference.
Good for Harley – stuck in the past no more ! This will be good for HD, e-bikes and motorcycling overall. And a pretty darn good first attempt at an e-bike.
So US looks like the Eden of electric vehicle with Tesla and now HD
Dang! That is the best lookin’ electric bike I’ve seen yet!
It does look sweet, but it doesn’t look light. In fact it doesn’t really look electric at all, which is a great thing!
Very nice styling, love the entire front end and the rear hugger/mudguard/license plate holder… how about something that looks like this but with the Revolution motor and an all-up weight under 450 lbs?
I think a Revolution motor weighs 450 lbs. They would need a purpose-built engine to be worthy of such a design in ICE flavor.
“I think a Revolution motor weighs 450 lbs” Touche
This IS exciting. I’m a fan of motorcycles. Bring it on!