Harley-Davidson goes electric with the LiveWire concept motorcycle

Harley-Davidson goes electric with the LiveWire concept motorcycle

LIVEWIRE IS POWERED BY A 55-KW ELECTRIC MOTOR THAT PRODUCES 75 HP. MIX THAT WITH ITS 52 LB.-FT. OF INSTANT TORQUE AND IT'LL HIT 60 MPH IN UNDER FOUR SECONDS. REGEN BRAKING ON THE REAR CAPTURES ELECTRICITY TO RECHARGE THE BATTERY DURING DECELERATION, WITH TOTAL RANGE TOPPING OUT AT AROUND 53 MILES.

BUT AS RICHLEN REITERATES, THOSE NUMBERS WILL CHANGE BECAUSE LIVEWIRE ISN'T A PRODUCTION BIKE JUST YET – IT'S A TEST MULE. A FEW DOZEN BIKES WILL EMBARK ON A TOUR AROUND THE UNITED STATES, AND EVENTUALLY EUROPE. THE OBJECTIVE WILL BE TO SEE HOW BUYERS RESPOND TO THE BIKE, AND WHAT MIGHT NEED CHANGING IF AND WHEN IT GOES ON SALE: "SO

FAR, RIDERS HAVE BEEN STOKED," RICHLEN SAYS. "THE RESPONSE HAS BEEN PHENOMENAL, BUT THE TECH IS STILL MATURING. IT'S NOT THERE YET, AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF RANGE WILL BE EXPECTED – IS 50 OK, OR WILL WE NEED 100, 200 OR EVEN 300 MILES TO MAKE IT WORK?"

BY NOW, WE'RE ALL WELL AWARE THAT FUELING CARS AND BIKES WITH ELECTRICITY IS THE WAY OF THE FUTURE, BUT IF THERE'S ONE BRAND THAT YOU'D IMAGINE WOULD VEHEMENTLY OPPOSE THIS CHANGE, IT'S AMERICA'S OWN HARLEY-DAVIDSON. ITS CUSTOMERS ARE SYNONYMOUSLY FREE-SPIRITED "EASY RIDERS" – A FAR CRY FROM GOOGLE GLASS-WEARING TECH GEEKS — CALLED TO DUTY BY THE THUNDER FROM THE V-TWIN ENGINES. AND YET HERE'S PROJECT LIVEWIRE, THE FIRST EVER ALL-ELECTRIC HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLE – PROOF THAT EVEN THE MOST TRADITIONAL OF BRANDS CANNOT IGNORE THE REVOLUTION.