2020 HARLEY-DAVIDSON LIVEWIRE
R I D E R E V I E W
P102
here is "highway." That's the area
where you get the least amount
of range from a given charge.
Cardenas rode over 1400 miles
and took eight days to get there
(presumably he was just out for a
long cruise, rather than to make
time). If he did it in even half that
time, he'd be stopping so much
to charge he may as well have
taken the train.
It may sound like I'm being
an a-hole here, and in some
respects, I am. However, riding
with one eye constantly on the
remaining range is not only an-
noying, it detracts from an other-
wise excellent motorcycle.
The fit and finish on the
LiveWire is superb, as is the 4.3-
inch touchscreen that actually
does work with gloves, rather
than just the company saying
it does. There's cruise control,
decent brakes, although the feel
at the lever is a little wooden,
and comfort is generally pretty
good despite the stiff suspen-
sion. There's a bit of a reach to
the handlebar, but it helps overall
comfort by helping the rider lean
into the wind without putting
much weight on the wrists.
Oh, and the looks on people's
faces when you glide past,
proud and silent, letting the paint
shimmer in the sun, is almost
worth the ticket price alone.
But the range means I cannot
recommend the LiveWire over a
gas machine. Not yet, at least.
Bummer, because there's noth-
ing like the jollies you get from
pinning a LiveWire at 20 mph
and see 80 mph flash up on the
screen before your mind has had
a chance to catch up. It's stupid
fast, and in that regard, already
way ahead of most gas bikes.
Hopefully, one day, in a few
decades from now, someone will
read this article and say, "man,
how far we've come!" Electric
bikes will only get better from
here, charge times will reduce,
range will increase, and so on.
But that time isn't here yet. CN
Harley-Davidson
has an app that tells
you where you can
charge up. Use it.
You'll need it.
