Harley unveils production-ready electric motorcycle
No clutching or shifting will be required with LiveWire model
A production version of Harley-Davidson Inc.’s electric motorcycle was unveiled Tuesday in Milan, Italy, a milestone for the bike that’s expected to be available for sale next year.
Few performance details were shared, but Harley said there’s no clutching or shifting required, and the bike produces a tone that increases in pitch and volume with speed.
The LiveWire can be charged from a standard household electric outlet, with a power cord that stores below the seat, according to Harley.
All dealerships that sell the bike will offer a public charging station with a fast-charging system, the company says.
A color touch screen above the handlebar is tiltadjustable for the best viewing angle. The instrument screen also allows access to a navigation system, music and more.
A small, 12-volt lithium-ion battery powers the controls, instrument display, lights and horn. The bike’s suspension has seven riding modes to choose from, four set as standard at the factory and three that can be customized by the rider.
The electric motor is positioned low in the frame to lower the bike’s center of gravity and help with
handling at all speeds and when stopped.
The LiveWire ought to be quick, with a prototype showing that it could go from zero to 60 mph in less than four seconds. And, earlier, Harley said it wouldn’t bring an electric motorcycle to market until the battery technology improved to allow for longer driving distances.
Harley has logged thousands of public test rides on LiveWire prototypes, but this is the first look at a production model of the bike.
It was shown Tuesday at an international motorcycle show in Milan, along with new bikes from Ducati, Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha, Royal Enfield, KTM and other manufacturers.
Social media has been a big part of Harley’s plan to introduce an electric motorcycle. Early in the campaign, in 2014, a LiveWire prototype garnered hundreds of millions of social media impressions.
After about a 10-minute test ride on the street, riders would park the bike, have their picture taken by a Harley photographer, and receive an access code for downloading the picture and posting it on Facebook and Twitter.
Then, they were interviewed on video to record their first impressions, followed by a survey on an iPad.
Growth plans
LiveWire comes as Milwaukee-based Harley-Davidson says it plans to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to stimulate growth through new motorcycles in the next four years, including smaller bikes built through an alliance with an Asian manufacturer.
In addition, Harley is introducing new midsize bikes, including the company’s first adventure touring model capable of off-highway use.
Through its new plan, called More Roads to Harley-Davidson, the company says it expects to spend between $675 million and $825 million as it looks to generate more than $1 billion in additional annual revenue in 2022.
Harley says it will fund its plans, expected to benefit the company for years, by cutting costs and reallocating previously planned investments.
Some of the cost savings will come from the closing of the company’s manufacturing plant in Kansas City, Missouri, in mid-2019 and moving the work to the company’s plant in York, Pennsylvania.
Also, this fall the company is opening an assembly plant in Thailand.