All American Harley Davidson goes EV

Just for the record, Harley bikes are not 100% "American". The parts they are made from come from all over the world. I think I remember that the American content was about 40%. And yes, NASCAR might not be far behind. Don "Big Daddy" Garlits of NHRA fame is testing an all electric dragster.

 

The easy part is making them, the hard part is selling them. I would imagine Harley would try marketing them to a new crowd.

 

The LiveWire is a good looking machine. Many HD riders don't go that far anyway, so this might be a great bike to just unplug and go. No stinky gas or engine oil could open the market to those without a proper garage, just pull it in the living room.

 

Not sure if that passes the wife test

Mike

 

There is an optional sound system for those that still want to broadcast noise.
Or you can also select from the sound files a '66 Beetle with a misfiring cylinder !!

 

They have been.....since 2002.
MY Harley:
Liquid Cooled.
Metric 60-degree V-twin (Porsche design assist)
Definitely NOT 'old school' HD.

 

I rode Harleys for years. My last one was a '85 Low-Glide, which dealers used to argue with me that there was no such thing. No one around here is riding V-Rods, so I doubt an Electric-Glide is going to go over.

 

Does one carry a multimeter instead of a tool box? It is after all a Harley.

 

Should be interesting. I have a 2003 Ultra, and can't imagine any of the other H-D owners (I know) clamoring for one of these.

All of the characteristics of a H-D bike is everything. It's heavy, clunky, rough, rumbling, guttural... tons of personality.

This new electric bike appears to leave all of that behind.

 

Maybe it will appeal to those who want a good ride.......instead of "personality".

 

All of that personality is what makes the H-D a good ride.

To each their own, but I guess some might prefer a woman who is quiet and just lays still on her back.

 

I guess they'll have to bring this back.

 

Did you guys not listen to it?
While you don't get the clumsy guteral roar, you get a very cool "Blade Runner"-esk sound.
I like it a lot, but to each their own.

Project LiveWire™ Experience Tour | Harley-Davidson® USA

 

i desperately wanted one of those mateo vrooooms!

 

You weren't the only one.

 

had to settle for the baseball cards. notice how hill has playing cards?

 

I guess some people will settle for an electric or mechanical substitute when they can't get the real thing, but I'm thinking that Ye Olde Bar and Shield company is just trying to fill out the "me too" block in its resume.

Motorcyclists are an interesting bunch.
Most of them are fiercely independent in some areas, but I also see a lot of people with 10-year old bikes and $5000 worth of leather and tassels who only put a few hundred miles on their bikes a year.
I get the occasional good nature jibe about my "gawdammed Water cooled ferign bike" not being a "real" Harley but I've never been much of a follower.
My usual rejoinder goes something like this:
"Your right. It's good looking. It's fairly fast, and it's dependable........It can't be a real Harley!"

Personally?
I think it will go over like a fart in church, but I've always viewed my Harley as a wonderful way to convert 2.5 gallons of gas into noise, smoke, and some blurry country roadside scenery on a weekend.

If I just want to go someplace?
I'll take something like my Kawasaki or a Prius.

YMMV.

Most real riders don't view gas as a stick but rather as a scent....part of the visceral experience of riding rather like the wind in your face, the vibration and the noise.

 

It's clean, quiet, and it can corner. Yeah, who'd want one of those?