VOLUME 56 ISSUE 32 AUGUST 13, 2019 P109
The LiveWire concept first broke cover in 2014.
Project LiveWire traveled to every corner of the globe,
putting around 12,000 different bums on silent seats
to first test the viability of an electric Harley, and sec-
ond, to actually build it.
The 2019 Harley-Davidson LiveWire, setting the
customer back a very handsome $29,799, is the first
full-size electric motorcycle from one of the major
manufacturers. No disrespect to Zero and Energica,
but neither carries the clout the Bar and Shield brand
does. It's a seriously important machine for H-D and
the first in a series of new electric bikes that range
from an electric mountain bike to something that
resembles a beach cruiser.
Harley's first electric crack of the whip has deliv-
ered a surprisingly good motorcycle. I have to be
honest. I really, really wanted it to be good because
electric bikes need a solid kick in the butt if they're
going to take off in the minds of the public. Let's face
it: in 20 years, it'll be unlikely you'll be able to buy a
petrol-powered bike for the street (if at all). So, the
sooner we start developing these silent beasts, the
better off we'll all be.
The LiveWire gets its go from the brick-like 15.5kWh
battery. It's mated to the new H-D Revolution motor
that sits below the battery. The motor delivers 100
percent of the claimed 85.5 lb-ft of torque the second
the throttle is cracked (i.e., zero rpm). H-D claims
peak horsepower is 105, with the electric motor ca-
pable of spinning to 15,000 rpm.
Harley-Davidson says 0-60 mph is attained in three
seconds flat, with 60-80 mph reached in 1.9 sec-
onds. From the hot seat, I've no doubt these claims
are correct because the LiveWire accelerates with
a force that's both surprising and somewhat addic-
tive. I found myself doing constant roll-ons between
30-70 mph. Here, it'll smoke most sport bikes I can
think of—with the acceleration matched to a strangely
hypnotic whir from the mechanical moving parts and
silence from the electric ones. But, when you're
still (not moving) you can feel them. That's because
Harley-Davidson has manufactured a haptic pulse to
the LiveWire that feels more or less like an electronic
heartbeat. This heartbeat serves as a reminder to the
rider that the LiveWire is indeed alive and switched on
