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Does Harley-Davidson's Electric Bike Live Up to the Hype? We Ride Project LiveWire
Unless you've been living under a rock with no Wi-Fi, you already know about Harley-Davidson's electric bike, Project LiveWire. That bike is so new, it doesn't officially have a name, as Project LiveWire is just that: a Project. The folks at Harley have leveraged the general public to help them promote the bike via social media, while providing input on the final production version. It's a motorcycle even your cager co-workers are talking about.
The first electric bike for the company, it's also the first time they've used an aluminum frame and arguably, the first sport bike from H-D. We've been a bit behind the times on this one, as H-D has offered very limited rides to the media and general public. While at the Progressive International Motorcycle Show stop in Long Beach, California we finally got the chance to take a quick ride on the bike that's been making news all across the globe.
The Ride
Unfortunately, and like so many others', our ride was short - too short in fact. We pulled out onto Shoreline Dr. in Long Beach, the Queen Mary on our left, convention center on the right. The group leader riding a Harley Street 750 shouted, “Wait till that light down there turns green, I want you to feel the acceleration.”
READ MORE: Harley-Davidson Electric Motorcycle Built By You | RideApart
This was after at least 20 minutes of preparation. We signed up, waited for our turn, listened to a long video presentation that said things like "some people are not used to the sudden acceleration, remember to use the brakes." Then we sat through a short coaching session where we heard things like, "no wheelies, no stoppies or the ride is over."
Starting the bike was pretty basic. Turn on the key, touch the LCD display for which mode you want, Range or Power, (of course we're gong for the more aggressive, Power mode) and then 111mph displays on the screen. That number selection is actually on purpose, as H-D is celebrating 111 year anniversary this year. Press the Start button on the right controls, identical to a normal H-D, but this time, no noise, no vibration and no smacking the throttle to keep it running, just silence.
The light turned green and the leader nailed it. With only 3/4 of the throttle pulled, it was a jolt of power that had us hanging on. Torque from an electric engine is so unique, that every time you ride one (unless you ride it everyday) it’s a complete surprise that leaves you giggling with joy.
It feels more powerful than a Zero and similar to the Energica Ego, with an estimated (H-D won't officially release numbers yet) 52 ft/lbs of torque and 74 hp. The guys at H-D said the bike makes power well up over its limited 10,000 rpm, but peak hp comes in at 8,000. As with all electric motors, power is instantaneous, with no torque curve.
We rounded the block and went through downtown Long Beach. Stopped at a red light with eight other motorcycles, we could hear a pin drop. It was a refreshing experience to pull off without a clutch and be able to talk to the car next to us; more than one driver rolled down their window to ask what the bikes were. Riding the LiveWire bike meant no shouting and no sore wrists.
The route had no real twisties or hard corners, but we could tell that the bike was well balanced and has potential to be a performer. Low weight, narrow frame and proper ergonomics made it an ultimately fun, but far too short trip. The low pegs and tall bars made for perfect seating position that's not too aggressive. It would be a nimble, fun bike to run around town or commute on…well, a short commute as estimates say Power mode features a short 30-mile range, and Range mode only offers a mere 53 miles.
