Cycle News

Cycle News 2020 Issue 34 August 25

Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles

Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1282019

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 102 of 131

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.

Articles in this issue

Archives of this issue

view archives of Cycle News - Cycle News 2020 Issue 34 August 25