A manufacturer most known for its classic touring bikes is showing off a racy battery-powered prototype it hopes will lure younger enthusiasts into the fold. One of the most recognized brand names in the world, Milwaukee-based motorcycle manufacturer Harley-Davidson, is not exactly known for its leadingedge products. Though it has added contemporary VSRC and Street model lines in recent years, the company’s product line essentially consists of updated classics with bad boy names like Electra Glide, Road King and, yes, Bad Boy, that date back as far the 1940s.
Which is why Harley stunned bikers of all stripes recently by pulling the wraps off a dramatic new electric powered motorcycle — codenamed Project LiveWire — that it’s taking across America on a 30-city tour to gauge market interest. Not only does it leverage an electric motor and rechargeable battery for propulsion, rather than a burly Vtwin gasoline engine, it looks like no other Harley ever built. Sleek and low slung, it’s styled more like an energetic racing bike than the big highway cruisers the brand is best known for. “America at its best has always been about reinvention,” says Matt Levatich, the company’s president and COO. “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.”
While the idea of a battery-powered motorcycle itself might not be new — Wikipedia says a patent for the first one can be traced back to 1895 — they’ve become more plentiful in recent years. Available models range from affordable around-town electric scooters at the lower end of the market to upscale high-performance plug-in models coming from makers like Mission One and Zero Motorcycles.
Harley has yet to release technical details on the new model, but by all accounts it should deliver exhilarating performance. Electric bikes are typically quicker off the line than comparable conventionally powered models since an electric motor delivers 100 percent of its torque immediately. With no gears for the driver to shift or clutch to work the power gets to the pavement even quicker, enabling a 0-60 mph Harley says is around four seconds. And that’s without using a single drop of gasoline.
Since electric motors essentially do their work without so much as a low-level hum, Harley promises its e-cycle will come equipped with technology that gives it a healthy dose of aural excitement. “The sound is a distinct part of the thrill,” says Mark-Hans Richer, Harley’s senior vice president and chief marketing officer. “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.”
On the downside, as with other EV types, electric bikes suffer from a limited range per charge, which reports suggest will be about 130 miles here. That’s sufficient for most commutes and around town use, but would require a certain amount of planning — specifically to locate public EV charging stations along a set route — to undertake a crosscountry journey. Fortunately, an electric motorcycle’s battery takes far less time to refresh than in an electric car; a full recharge might be accomplished in as little as 30 minutes to an hour.
While a racy electric motorcycle might not appeal to Harley-Davidson’s core market of middle-aged male bikers, the company hopes Project LiveWire will draw younger and more environmentally conscious buyers to the brand. “Preserving the riding environment is important to all of us,” says Levatich. “Project LiveWire is just one element in our efforts to preserve and renew the freedom to ride for generations to come.”
The company says any plans to move forward with the e-bike will be determined by feedback from riders along the Project LiveWire Experience tour.
© CTW Features