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Harley-Davidson Is Making An Electric Motorcycle
"Harley fanatics are about to lose their collective ....."
"Harley fanatics are about to lose their collective ....."
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Think it would be a brilliant move on their part to be the first mainstream manufacturer with an E-Bike . Might ruffle a feather or two on the odd potbelly but who cares.
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I think it looks pretty cool.
I agree it's a very smart to move to jump on the electric bike concept now. Harley has been historically very slow to technological advances. So if Harley can bring a competitive (lightweight) electric bike to market before most of the rest.....one could imagine what this would do for Harley's market share. If this bike was lightweight, with quality components, had good range from the latest gen batteries, and somewhat reasonably priced, I buy one!
I agree it's a very smart to move to jump on the electric bike concept now. Harley has been historically very slow to technological advances. So if Harley can bring a competitive (lightweight) electric bike to market before most of the rest.....one could imagine what this would do for Harley's market share. If this bike was lightweight, with quality components, had good range from the latest gen batteries, and somewhat reasonably priced, I buy one!
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What is HD target on:
mileage per charge?
duration per charge?
mileage per charge?
duration per charge?
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"Battery life of the current prototype is good for around 53 miles, and as for the motor itself, that musters 74HP and 52 lb-ft of torque. The bike is limited to 92mph at most"
"The LiveWire can be ridden in two drive modes: “Power” is friskiest, providing a scant 30 miles of riding per charge. “Range” doubles the distance to about 53 miles by numbing the accel."
"Its three-phase AC induction motor is rated at 55 kilowatts"
"Recharging takes 3 1/2 hours from empty with a 220-volt charger"
Looks like it's just a test market thing you can demo ride at certain dealerships but not buy yet.
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I don't really consider electric bikes to be technological advancements. I had the same technology on my radio control car when I was a kid.
I find it odd that Harley, purveyors of pushrod air-cooled v-twins, would skip right over all the other technology and go for electric bikes. It's a bold move, and the thing doesn't look bad, as electric bikes go.
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Be fair. You never had a battery in your radio controlled car that would pull 700 pounds 53 miles on a single charge. Battery technology has been the barrier to electric vehicles for decades and that barrier is finally being demolished with the discovery of alternative battery chemistries. Electric motors, too, are entirely different from the 0.01 hp unit in your RC car, and new bearing and brushless technologies are making huge strides in compact and long-lived motors.
I applaud HD for taking a leap from the '50s into the modern era. Now, if we could only get them to make a real sportbike.......
I like the rearsets. Looks like it actually could be fun to ride. Harley's consumer base is ageing rapidly, it's whey they now sell $45K+ trikes. They need to keep their eye on the future to maintain sales and now that means attracting millenials who grew up in the "green" push. It makes sense, even though the traditional base will absolutely scoff at no "potato-potato" sound. Maybe they'll synthesize it since it's such an integral part of the brand...
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LOL! That's the best onamonapia I've seen to capture the sound of the HD motor. Hilarious.
They've trademarked their sound so I would imagine they would emulate it somehow. I know guys who worked at NI who helped HD capture their sound in various ways. HD are very particular about their sound.
Anyway, those who scoff at electric bikes are failing to see the big picture:
No ICE will have instant max torque and instant max HP. The idea of a power curve goes away completely. It is a beautiful flat horizontal line all the way through.
They will continue to get lighter and more powerful. If I get 5+ solid years out of my SL, I suspect it will be my last ICE bike.
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they will have to put a stereo on that thing. though i dig the woooosh electric sound.
loud pipes save lives!!!
i think the fascination of combustion engines, the noise, the heat, the smell will hardly wear off, won't it?
i mean, people still ride horses
- not all have switched to motorcycles
loud pipes save lives!!!
i think the fascination of combustion engines, the noise, the heat, the smell will hardly wear off, won't it?
i mean, people still ride horses
- not all have switched to motorcycles 
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Harley Davidson creates an all electric bike, still somehow leaks oil.
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i think the fascination of combustion engines, the noise, the heat, the smell will hardly wear off, won't it?
i mean, people still ride horses
Horse-n-buggy is a nostalgic thing that still exists, and people still ride horses (for sport or otherwise), but I suspect the comparison of the evolution of ICE to electric is going to be a bit more like 2-stroke to 4-stroke.
I say prepare to be disappointed in the final iteration. The reason this thing looks like it does is because it's currently filming as Scarlett Johansen's ride in the next Avenger's movie. The producers probably spec'd something sporty in design but H-D paid for the product placement.
As much as sport riders love this design, it's likely not to make it to production considering it has no design relation to any product offering they have. My Buell's were the closest I would ever get to buying an H-D.
As much as sport riders love this design, it's likely not to make it to production considering it has no design relation to any product offering they have. My Buell's were the closest I would ever get to buying an H-D.
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That is actually a very common misconception about e-motors (mostly the fault of automotive journalists that don't understand them). I've attached a plot of a typical automotive e-motor torque curve and efficiency map. You can clearly see the torque drop off rapidly at higher RPM.
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No way, of course it's not like their current offerings, it's something brand new for them as a brand.
It would be idiotic for them to tease and garner all this great press only to turn around and release something that looks worse. If they did change it, it would have to be better.
I get what you are saying and normally I would totally agree, but I don't think this will be like that.
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