LIVEWIRE HARLEY-DAVIDSON Test Ride Report – The First Electric Harley-Davidson

Harley-Davidson has ushered in a new era, the new LIVEWIRE Harley-Davidson's electric motorcycle is now approved for use on German roads, and the first orders are scheduled to be delivered to customers in December 2019.

HARLEY-DAVIDSON POLARIZES WITH THE LIVEWIRE

An electrical pole is one of two points between which there is electrical voltage. The LIVEWIRE itself also generates plenty of polarity between it and old-school bikers.

However, they are certainly already at the twin cam models and still use their Nokia cell phones today. If the company had taken this into account, the legend of Harley-Davidson would have ended years ago.

Some of them have long forgotten what the values of real bikers actually are. First and foremost is time—a real biker is timeless. The next is tolerance, simply letting others do what they want and allowing everyone the freedom they want to live! Tolerance in particular is often forgotten!

E-bikes do not appeal to the V2 faction, but rather to the new generation that will grow up with e-mobility. In order not to miss out on this trend, companies must engage with e-drive technology. Another reason for the change that manufacturers must adapt to is the EU emissions regulations that have been approved by the German government. This will become a particular problem for the German automotive industry in the future.

Ten years of development went into Harley's electric motor.

They spent ten years researching electric technology and are now bringing the LIVEWIRE to the road following successful homologation. The LIVEWIRE will not remain alone for long; in addition to pedelecs (Harley bicycles), we will certainly see further models from the electric Harley series in the near future.

Perhaps not immediately the E-Glide, but when you see how passionate the engineers responsible for the project are, yet are not allowed to talk about it openly, it's clear that they are fully immersed in the subject. However, secrecy at Harley is more effective than at Apple.

Willy G. Davidson said, „The Harley-Davidson V2 will be around as long as there is gasoline.“

WILLY G. DAVIDSON

More Roads to Harley-Davidson

Willy G. Davidson's statement already makes it clear that Harley-Davidson will not be discontinuing the V2 engine. Harley-Davidson already set the course for the future in 2017 with „More Roads to Harley-Davidson“The goal was set to bring 100 new models onto the road over the next 10 years.

The current Softail models with the Milwaukee-Eight engine are already included there. A slimmed-down Softail (Street Bob) is expected in 2020, along with a surprise for the Road Glide, which wasn't actually supposed to happen, but strictly speaking, the expected version is not new.

THE LIVEWIRE TEST DRIVE

And now we finally come to the actual topic. I was invited to a LIVEWIRE test ride in Spain to find out what the LIVEWIRE is really all about. After a technical presentation, we headed north of Barcelona, where the road planners were motorcyclists, because great curves and even S-curves await you here, similar to those in the Pyrenees.

The test drive takes us into the mountains, and to get a feel for everything, we drive on the highway and through the city to gain experience in traffic jams.

SHE IS ALIVE

In city traffic, you really notice how easy it is to drive without shifting gears. Just turn the electric tap and it whirs away as if powered by a turbine. It no longer has a gas tap, as it is now called in German, but it was not yet clear whether they would stick with „throttle“ in the USA.

When the LIVEWIRE is stationary and in riding mode, which can be set using the switch, there is a pulse at the rear end that feels like a heartbeat.

The pulse can be adjusted via the menu on the 10.9 cm touchscreen, and as long as it is in drive mode, you can feel the pulsation when stationary.

This is also the moment when no one standing next to you should get the idea to turn the handle, because you'll be gone in no time. You should be careful if you have a joker like that next to you, or deactivate the drive mode for a moment as a precaution. Because in 3.0 seconds it's at 100 km/h, and one flick of the throttle is enough to send it flying.

There are generally lots of settings options, the touchscreen is very easy to read and simple to use, either via the touchscreen itself or via the joystick on the handlebars. It all makes sense, especially as the different riding modes are easy to switch between.

H-D Connect

H-D Connect is naturally included; it is free for the first year, after which there is an annual fee of approximately €160 for the mobile connection.

Now you should convert everything it offers you. In addition to all the settings that can be made via cell phone, it has a GPS tracking system that, in combination with the standard anti-theft system, ensures security. As soon as someone tampers with the machine without authorization, it sends an alarm via the HARLEY APP.

That alone makes it worth it when compared to other GPS alarm systems.

It has the convenient keyless Keyless-go system and a second electrical circuit with an additional battery. This means that all functions, such as the hazard warning lights, remain active even if the electric drive fails.

LIVEWIRE TEST REPORT: How does it ride?

It rides great, giving you a completely new riding experience. The torque of 116 NM, combined with a weight of 249 kg and approx. 106 hp, pushes you forward. If I had to compare it to a V2 model from the current Harley-Davidson range, the first thing that would strike me is the Fat Bob 114 come to mind.

Who the Fat Bob drives, will be charged with LIVEWIRE Both bikes warm up quickly and are very sporty, feeling right at home on tight corners. While the LiveWire has 120/70-17 tires at the front and 180/55-17 tires at the rear, the Fat Bob has 150/80-16 tires at the front and 180/70-16 tires at the rear.

The tire dimensions already indicate where the LIVEWIRE is most at home. It is a pure cornering wizard; on dry roads, the Michelin Scorcher It performs well, but you definitely have to be careful in wet conditions; wet roads are not its forte. According to my information from Michelin, this is precisely what they are working on right now.

In the photo, you can see how the Michelin Scorcher What it looks like when the LIVEWIRE comes back from the right race track.

The LIVEWIRE's riding modes

The LIVEWIRE has a few extra features, including seven different modes: Rain, ECO, Recuperation, Sport, and three custom settings.

Rain mode is a very relaxed riding mode, in which all riding assistants automatically activate when needed. It's great that you can program your own individual settings, which are saved and can be recalled even after the LIVEWIRE is turned off.

Sport mode is already very sharp, which is really fun, but the engine brake is not active. This can be programmed in the individual settings, because recuperation not only increases range, but is also very well suited as an engine brake.

It weighs 249 kg and accelerates rapidly, with a very low center of gravity, which is one of the reasons why it handles so well. What remains really unfamiliar is the lack of a clutch; you constantly catch yourself thinking that you should shift gears now, but that's not possible here. It does have a transmission, but there is no shifting; it accelerates from a standstill to a top speed of approximately 112 mph.

The driving comfort

It has a sporty feel, the seat looks narrow but is very comfortable and gives the rider excellent support. As a passenger, it seems a little high, but I haven't tried that out.

The gearbox provides the turbine sound

The turbine-like driving noise comes from the transmission; it's not the electric motor that roars like an airplane. The electric drive reaches perhaps 50 degrees when driving sportily, but despite my sporty driving style, I didn't feel any more heat developing during my tour.

LIVEWIRE SOUND

Maintenance of the LIVEWIRE

The LIVEWIRE has a gearbox oil and is very low-maintenance; it has the same maintenance cycles as the V2 engines, but requires significantly less maintenance.

The complex braking system

The LiveWire features Reflex Defensive Rider Systems (RDRS), a technology package for adjusting acceleration and deceleration forces. This technology is also being introduced in the new 2020 model year touring bikes.

Anti-lock braking system (ABS) and cornering anti-lock braking system (C-ABS)

The anti-lock braking system (ABS) controls the front and rear brakes independently of each other and prevents the wheels from locking during braking. The cornering ABS (Cornering Enhanced Antilock Braking System, C-ABS) also works when leaning.

The cornering ABS also includes a rollover prevention system (Rear Wheel Lift Mitigation), which is based on the C-ABS sensors and a 6-axis motion sensor system. It counteracts the rear wheel lifting off the ground during heavy braking and optimally coordinates the deceleration forces with the driver's braking commands.

This significantly reduces the risk of a collision and the braking distance. During the test drive, I encountered a situation where a Spaniard in front of me suddenly turned his car around, and the braking system worked very well.

Traction Control System (TCS) and Cornering Traction Control System (C-TCS)

These two systems ensure directional stability. The power of the electric drive should not be underestimated. As soon as you need power, it is there at your fingertips—that is the special feature of electric motors.

HARLEY LIVEWIRE RANGE

That's probably the most exciting topic in the discussion about the LIVEWIRE. At Harley-Davidson, they are doing everything they can to achieve the greatest possible range. Range is my area of expertise, and I noticed that this was repeatedly underestimated, especially with the Milwaukee-Eight engines – in complete contrast to car manufacturers.

I often used less fuel than Harley-Davidson specified when riding normally. Now I have the same feeling with the LIVEWIRE, because we rode about 60 to 70 kilometers on different routes and I still had a capacity of 70 %.

I drove a third of the route in Sport mode without recuperation, which would have recharged the battery in coasting mode. Unfortunately, I couldn't test this out properly, but I reckon you can get a good 200 kilometers out of a single charge. If the battery just needs to be recharged, my experience so far suggests that up to 80% is most effective.

A range of 200 km is definitely possible, unless you're planning a long trip. It's certainly enough for a sporty workout after work to clear your head.

Insurance for the LiveWire

The Harley-Davidson Insurance Services has the new insurance Electrical Plus module launched to promote LiveWire with comprehensive coverage. This even covers towing to the nearest charging station if your battery is empty!

The conclusion!

It's difficult. I myself am not at all a fan of the current e-hype, Greta is annoying, and when it comes to cars, I love big diesel engines. And now Harley-Davidson, of all companies, is coming out with an electric motorcycle.

The problem is, it doesn't need gas, but it's still fun!

It's something completely different, and I'm sure we'll be seeing them on our roads more often than we think. This turbine on wheels is impressive, and once it becomes available, no one will be concerned about sound or range anymore.

You've done a great job. It doesn't feel like the LIVEWIRE is just another test candidate; it really seems to be finished.

Harley offers a four-year warranty on the LIVEWIRE, but I haven't been able to find out whether it's unlimited mileage. They offer a five-year warranty on the RESS main battery, but if it breaks, the entire RESS unit has to be replaced.

In five years, the technology will certainly have advanced several steps further, so this will probably not be an issue anyway, and the engineers at Harley-Davidson believe that this RESS system is very durable.

It has a good chassis, all the lights are LED, and the cockpit is tidy and easy to operate without having to study it.

It doesn't really have any flaws, except that the mirrors are too close together, so I can see more of my jacket than the person behind me. Heated grips will probably only be available with the next special models, and no one has thought about luggage yet. But there are already some sporty accessories available. Carbon fiber parts and handlebar grips, for example, can already be found in the 2020 P&A catalog, which you can find here download.

Harley 3.0 is not yet available.

I would have thought that Harley-Davidson would start offering the LIVEWIRE via an online configurator, allowing customers to order it with the appropriate custom parts and pick it up at one of the thirteen LIVEWIRE Harley-Davidson dealers in Germany. Austrians have to go to Vienna, where the only LIVEWIRE dealer is currently located.

You want to target this particular group, but perhaps that's too political, because every authorized dealer has their own territory.

You can order the LIVEWIRE from any Harley-Davidson dealer, but servicing and maintenance require special training and a workshop equipped with the necessary electrical technology. You should check with your dealer about this.

The journey into a new Harley world has begun

It's a completely new Harley world, it's interesting, and unfortunately you can only participate if you pay the admission fee of 32.995€ has at hand.

If you want to have a say, you should test them first!

Nevertheless, you should give it a chance, and most importantly, if you want to have your say, you should simply test it at one of the thirteen Harley-Davidson authorized dealers—it won't cost you a thing!

Personally, I'm glad that we can continue to ride V2 engines for a long time to come, but the LIVEWIRE will certainly help ensure that we can still ride V2s tomorrow and attend Harley events with our bikes. As long as politics doesn't throw a spanner in the works, we should enjoy it and see the LIVEWIRE more as a supporter of our other old Harley world!

External link to the manufacturer: LIVEWIRE

Let's move on to the technical data