CES 2019: Harley's Electric Bike Isn't for Traditional Fans

CES 2019: Harley's Electric Bike Isn't for Traditional Fans


The Harley Livewire

Back in August, we discussed Harley-Davidson’s electric Livewire and the company’s bid to attract a new generation of riders – the subtext being that Harley’s traditional clientele won’t pull the company out of a four-year tailspin. At CES, Harley put the Livewire up for pre-order, and the hefty MSRP reinforces the company’s bold new strategy.

Harley’s road map, “More Roads to Harley-Davidson,” aims to “inspire future riders who have yet to even think about the thrill of riding” – i.e., attract a broad new demographic. To achieve that, Harley is taking a cue from Apple and simplifying their UI – the Livewire is part of Harley’s new “broad, no-clutch ‘twist and go’ portfolio.”

“Instead of throttle, shift, brake, shift, it’s twist to go, let go to slow,” notes Wired. The Livewire includes regenerative braking, goes 0-60 in <3.5 seconds, and as you’d expect, 100 percent of the motor torque is instantly available. Harley claims their electric hog has a range of 110 miles.

But then there’s pricing – the Livewire starts at $29,799. And while some Harleys reach those lofty heights, they’re mostly of the limited edition/custom variety. Most hogs start at <20K.

Autoblog puts this in perspective – for $27,299 (which includes the $2,500 federal tax credit), “you can own a fully enclosed, cargo-hauling Hyundai Kona Electric for just $2,700 more with its tax incentive. The Kona will also go over 250 miles on a charge.”

The traditional perks of a bike – long range, superb MPG – don’t apply to the Livewire, which is more akin to a smartcar. City riders should be fine, but 110 miles won’t satisfy “freedom-loving, adventure-seeking individuals” with a “passion for being on the open road” (Harley’s traditional audience, according to Harley).

You can read more about the Livewire here: https://www.wired.com/story/harley-davidson-electric-motorcycle-livewire/

 


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