HARLEY DAVIDSON
It’s hard to believe but Harley-davidson will be the first major bike manufacturer to sell an electric bike…
The first major motorcycle manufacturer to produce a production electric bike will be Harley-davidson and for them to beat the likes of Honda, BMW and Ducati to an electric motorcycle is an astonishing achievement. Lest you scoff cynically that it’ll never happen the final production prototype of the Livewire was revealed at the Milan Motorcycle Show. Prices will be announced in January when first orders will be taken. It’s happening. ‘There will be 250 global dealers with charging stations and support – a network will be created for the launch,’ Harley spokesman Nick Elwood told us in Milan. ‘Info about weight, power output and charging times will be revealed in early 2019. Today we’re talking about chassis spec – it’s a rigid ally cast frame, there are Showa forks and shock absorber and Brembo brakes. ‘It’s a permanent magnet motor that is mounted longitudinally. You get 100% torque from zero rpm, there are seven rider modes of which four are set by the factory and three can be programmed. ‘We know people have a thing with sound and motorcycles. On the Livewire it will increase in pitch and volume as you accelerate. You can charge it from a house socket, or a DC fast charger cable.’
Nick Elwood, Harley says: ‘There will be 250 global dealers with charging stations and support – a network will be created for the launch’