A HARLEY-DAVIDSON REVELATION,
You know something huge is afoot when the revelation Harley Davidson is about to launch a production version of its Live Wire electric motorcycle prototype is not the biggest news out of Milwaukee this week.
But that is indeed the case. The Motor Company’s “More Roads to Harley-Davidson” growth plans to 2022 are a real Revelation.
(In case you’re wondering why I’m repeating myself, it’s not early doddering disease but the fact the first electric Harley is expected to be renamed the Revelation).
Besides the expected marketing bump — there will be a complete overhaul of the current retail network here in Canada — there is news of “broader access” to new riders through newer, urbanfocused “pop-up” outlets. Think New York City’s Union Garage or, closer to home, Toronto’s Studio Cycle.
Mostly focused on apparel and “lifestyle” gear, these urban outlets will probably feature Harley’s LiveWire/ Revelation electric bike when it arrives and could possibly even retail some of Milwaukee’s smaller-displacement machines as well.
Speaking of smaller displacements, the news that North America is a mature market has finally reached Milwaukee, and there will be a forthcoming range of 250to 500-cc machines destined for Asia.
OK, now to the big news. Thanks to an entire new range of V-twin engines that will displace anywhere between 500 and 1,250 cc, Harley will, in short order, unveil a Pan America adventure tourer — yes, a Harley-branded competitor to BMW’s iconic GS — a 975-cc Streetfighter (think Triumph Speed Triple here) and a 1250 Custom (forget the boring name, this thing is the full “steampunk”).
From what we can see, the Pan America is the real deal, powered by a double-overhead-cam four-valve narrowangle V-twin — a 1250 will be available in 2020 and a 975-cc version will follow in 2021 — complete with radially disposed four-piston Brembo brakes and some truly serious knobby tires.
The two-part front windshield looks to be electrically operated and the seat, unlike the multi-contoured perches in its cruiser, is simple, broad and flat. Besides the off-road tires, a robust skid plate and substantial crash bars would seem to indicate the Pan America is meant for serious bush bashing. As an avid adventure touring bike enthusiast, this thing has got me more than a little hot under the collar.
As for the Custom, it is pure steampunk. The Oxford dictionary defines “steampunk” as “a style of design and fashion that combines historical elements with anachronistic technological features inspired by science fiction.” Whatever the appellation, there are the de rigueur high pipes, a truly butch rear swing arm and enough attitude to get you sent home from school.
The Streetfighter, meanwhile, is a little more traditional. Think Triumph Speed Triple meets V-Rod, with just a twist of Ducati Hypermotard and you have an idea of what HD is after. Whatever the look, this is a serious foray into motorcycling’s second hottest market (after adventure bikes).
As for Harley’s electric motorcycle revolution, besides the LiveWire/Revelation intro in 2019, Milwaukee is promising a complete lineup of battery-powered “twist and go” electric two-wheelers, that may or may not, according to the Los Angeles Times, include some electric scooters for that expanding Asian market.
Now, one can say some of this expansion has been a long time coming. Indeed, those less kind might point to Harley’s tepid sales here in North America — second-quarter sales are down 6.4 per cent from the same period in 2017 — as the necessity that was the mother of these inventions. Indeed, in part of the presentation that Milwaukee’s management made to international investors, they see international business soon growing “to 50 per cent of annual volume.”
This is, according to Karen Mayberry, Harley-Davidson’s consumer experience and public relations lead, “the most transparency HarleyDavidson has ever given into its future product portfolio.”
And what a portfolio it is. Like I said, when your least exciting news is a whole new line of electric motorcycles, you’ve got my attention. I can’t wait to throw a leg over the Pan America.