Motorcycle Diaries: Harley-Davidson Project LiveWire

Harley-Davidson Project LiveWire Experience Tour Visits Wine Country

Photo credit: Maurice Liang | photovisionOne.com
Updated: Oct 28, 2014

Harley-Davidson made an electric motorcycle? One doesn’t equate the all American machine with anything electric, but that’s exactly what they designed with the idea of allowing motorcycle riders test ride and then provide feedback. Harley named the experiment “Project LiveWire Experience Tour.”

LiveWire is considered a proto-type/production motorcycle, which is not available for sale, and perhaps will never be depending on the overall reception of it. This is a way for HD to attempt to be innovative, but not necessarily commit 100 percent to the e-motorcycle market. HD is starting off the experience by traveling all over the U.S. and then proceeding to Canada and Europe in 2015.

The LiveWire e-moto harbors a longitudinal mounted, three-phase oil-cooled induction electric motor. It’s also supplied with a bevel gear and a Gilmer belt. These components give the e-moto it’s unique sound. LiveWire produces 74 horsepower and 52 lb.-ft. of torque, is pretty light (for a Harley) at 460 pounds, and has a top speed of 95 mph. The current range is around 53 miles and can be fully charged after 3.5 hours when connected to a 220 volt source. Other features include: cast aluminum frame and swingarm, TFT dashboard, LED headlights, a 7 kWh battery, and a single disc 2-piston front brake. Since this is a concept motorcycle, these specs aren’t set in stone.

The Project LiveWire Experience Tour stopped by Sonoma County Harley-Davidson store in early October with a fleet of the concept motorcycles. Tents were set up outside and underneath them housed one of the LiveWire bikes on a stand where guests could hop on to get a feel for it as well as rev the motor to hear the relatively high-pitched whirring sound it creates (see video).

In order for someone to do a test ride, they had to pre-register online and were then selected by HD to partake in the experience. Once at the event, riders checked in, watched a brief video about LiveWire, and a staff member explained in depth how the ride was coordinated.

On this particular ride, the route was five miles long and there was a lead follow and a sweeper. Once on the bike and turned it on, it flashed numbers “111,” which meant it was in neutral. This number also signifies the number of years Harley-Davidson has been around. Pressing a start button (display shows the number “0”) takes the bike out of neutral and gets you rolling.

Photo credit: Maurice Liang | photovisionOne.com

After the ride, you were brought back to a row of iPads on display to take a survey. Again, this is the most important part of the whole “experience” since consumer feedback is the decision-making factor on whether HD produces the bike, and if so, what sort of changes would be made.

So what was it like riding a Harley-Davidson electric motorcycle?

My personal experience was an overall good one. I feel they created this motorcycle for sport bike riders (such as myself). On the LiveWire website it does say, “racing was a key inspiration for its design.” The sporty look is quite different (in a good way) from HD cruisers and the Showa suspension appeals to me as well (I have the same suspension on my Suzuki GSX-R 750). Also, it was lower than a lot of motorcycles I’ve ridden with the foot pegs right underneath. This was interesting since I ride with the foot pegs a bit further back, so when we stopped and a light for example, when I put my feet down, I always hit one of the pegs (Again, it’s just a matter of getting used to, and not necessarily a bad thing).

Either way the ride itself was very comfortable, the suspension was pleasantly compliant over road bumps, and once rolling on the throttle, the bike smoothly took off. It was easy to maneuver and overall easy to ride motorcycle.

Photo credit: Maurice Liang | photovisionOne.com

Now, for some of the cons. The first con I’ll mention isn’t particularly against the LiveWire bike, but to electric motorcycles in general: the sound, which in my opinion, it is way too quiet. It’s difficult enough for a driver to see someone on a motorcycle coming through traffic or switching lanes. It’s even more difficult to be aware of the rider if the driver cannot hear them, and this is a bit dangerous. So this is the first Harley someone won’t be able to hear barreling through!

The second con again has to do with safety: the brakes. I was asked in the survey and by staff members how I liked the brakes, and I have to admit, I didn’t use them at all during the ride. The bike pretty much comes to a complete stop once you roll off the throttle. Without hitting the brakes, the lights don’t light up and the person behind you can’t see if you’re slowing down. The final thing that was bit annoying were the mirrors. Both were angled low and in an odd way where I had to bend my head completely down for a good minute to see to the side of me as well as behind me. Again this was too much time with my eyes not up on the road ahead.