Harley-Davidson has long been a trusted brand for bike lovers. They sparked a ton of interest when they announced Project LiveWire back in 2014, which would be the brand’s first electric motorcycle. After various testing and demos throughout the years, they finally released this project as a 2020 model. Here, you can learn more about this ambitious product and whether or not you should add this to your collection.
Overview
There have been other electric motorcycles before the LiveWire, but the thing is that they don’t have quite the style and function that the Harley-Davidson offers with their bike. It has the performance that you would expect from a Harley-Davidson branded bike while also enjoying doing your part in helping the planet. You can enjoy a very seamless throttle experience, allowing you access to all of the power that this bike has to offer immediately.
You will even be able to enjoy your ride better. Because this lacks a clutch, you don’t have to focus on shifting gears. You can get a quieter riding experience, allowing you to truly enjoy the scenery around you as you travel around on your bike. This is a lighter weight bike than you may be used to, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy quite the adventure on this bike.
This bike comes in 3 colors: Yellow Fuse, Orange Fuse, Vivid Black.
Specs
Here is a closer look at the specs offered by this bike.
- Engine: 753cc High Output Revolution X V-Twin
- Power: 105 Hp
- Motor: Revelation
- Power System: 15.5 kWh Rechargeable Energy Storage System (RESS)
- Charging: 13 miles per hour of charging
- Electric Starter
- Transmission: 6-speed
- Final Drive: Gear, 36/38 ratio
- Suspension Front and Rear: Split 5-Spoke Cast Aluminum, Black
- Front Brakes: Dual 4-piston monoblock radial-mount
- Rear Brakes: Dual-Piston
- Front Tires: 120/70 ZR17 58W
- Rear Tires: 180/55 ZR17 73W
- Headlight & Taillight: LED
- Length: 84.1 in
- Wheelbase: 58.7 in
- Ground Clearance: 5.1 in
- Seat Height: 30 in
- Curb Weight: 549 lbs.
Performance
This bike performs better than you would expect from a standard electric motorcycle. The LiveWire offers a city range of about 146 miles and can go from 0 to 60 MPH in between 3 and 3.5 seconds. It also uses a Level 3 DC fast charging that can take your battery from 0% to 80% in about 40 minutes or from 0 to 100% in about an hour. It has a decently sized 15.5 kWh battery. The battery pack was manufactured from Samsung cells, which comes with a 5-year unlimited mileage warranty.
LiveWire has a 78-kWh motor (105 hp), which is prominently displayed on this bike with their other bikes. As previously mentioned, this bike can go from 0 to 60 in only a few seconds, and it can take a few more seconds to go from 60 to 80 MPH. This bike’s top speed is 110 MPH.
Price
The starting price for this bike is around $29,800.
Features
This bike has plenty of amazing features that are appealing to the buyer. This section will take a look at some of these great features.
HD Revelation Powertrain
This is a permanent magnet electric motor capable of producing 100% of the rated torque immediately. This is why the LiveWire has such awesome acceleration. The powertrain is located just below the battery, which lowers the center of gravity so that you get easier handling on the bike.
Tires
HD Michelin Scorcher sports tires are the tire of choice for the LiveWire. The rear wheel is a premium 180mm, and the front wheel is a 120mm. These tires were specifically made to offer the best handling and enhance the ride’s performance when you enjoy this motorcycle. You couldn’t have a groundbreaking first-of-its-kind Harley.
Lightweight
The LiveWire has a lightweight frame is another great feature of this bike. The frame is made from lightweight aluminum. The frame is still rigid and durable, which gives you confidence that this bike can handle whatever adventure. This lightweight nature of the frame is also what gives it the precise and responsive handling that makes this bike a pleasure to ride.
Touchscreen
Another great feature is the state-of-the-art 4.3-inch touchscreen display. This liquid-crystal display will give you all of the information you need about your speed, battery status, and range. You can even customize the touchscreen display to show whatever information you want, including turn-by-turn navigation, music, alert information, and many other features.
Adjustable Suspension
The Harley-Davidson LiveWire has a fully adjustable suspension. It has the SHOWA high-performance front and rear suspension. You can easily adjust this to get the comfort and handling that works best for your specific riding style. This will help you better enjoy your experience and give you the best possible adventure.
Customization
You want a bike that will match your personality. That’s why this bike was made to be customized to represent who you truly are. There are genuine motor parts and accessories made specifically to help your motorcycle be as unique as your brand is. Some of the accessories that you can purchase to customize your bike include hand and foot controls, a speed screen blade, and many other accessories that will make your bike stand out.
Reflex Defense Rider Systems
This technology uses electronic brake control, advanced chassis control, and powertrain technology. This helps you accelerate and brake, both in a straight line or while trying to take a turn. The goal is to give you the confidence that you need to ride in even the less-than-ideal circumstances.
Conclusion
If you are looking for an eco-friendly motorcycle option, the Harley-Davidson LiveWire is an excellent bike. It offers stellar performance for an electric bike, giving you a quiet ride for you to enjoy your surroundings better. Just because the bike is electric, it doesn’t mean that it doesn’t have power. You still get plenty of power to enjoy your adventure better.
