Barnes Harley-Davidson® | Introducing Harley-Davidon®'s New Electric Motorcycle | Project LiveWire™

Harley-Davidson® is known as The Motor Company, but nobody ever thought the name would be applied to an electric motorcycle. Meet the Harley-Davidson® LiveWire™ electric motorcycle, a research project into the viability of an electric two-wheeler for the bar-and-shield brand. Consumers will get to ride LiveWire™ and give Harley-Davidson® feedback, allowing the company to evaluate consumer interest and decide if and how LiveWire™ would go into production.

"We're out there giving the customers an opportunity to really have greater input, and for us to glean information and use that for the future," said Kirk Rasmussen, LiveWire™ Styling Manager.

In recent years, Harley-Davidson® has become more aggressive than ever in its efforts to involve customers in its product planning process. As with the Project Rushmore touring models and the Street 750 and 500, extensive market feedback was gathered during development to ensure that buyers are really getting what they want.

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"America at its best has always been about reinvention," said Matt Levatich, President and Chief Operating Officer, Harley-Davidson® Motor Company. "And, like America, Harley-Davidson® has reinvented itself many times in our history, with customers leading us every step of the way. Project LiveWire™ is another exciting, customer-led moment in our history."

"As you can see from the LiveWire™ demonstrator, it is highly refined," said Chief Engineer Jeff Richlen. "Our engineering staff is a group of highly talented and technical people, so the resources that we have internally are certainly bigger than some of the others that are out there in the two-wheeled space. But it isn't just about that, it's about the innovation and the robust product-development process that we use for all of our products. This one happens to be a demonstrator, but it was built using the same fundamental principles that we use in all our bikes."

"First impression? The bike I rode felt 100 percent production ready and didn't resemble a cobbled-together prototype in any way. Fit, finish, and function were excellent, as you would expect from a machine that consumers are going to ride and judge. Not only that, but every detail - including the crinkle-finish one-piece cast aluminum frame and swingarm, the LED headlight, the trick CNC-milled billet-aluminum front turnsignal/mirror brackets, the TFT LED dash, and the delicate-looking wheels - is clean, stylish, and of high quality. Start up procedure goes like this: thumb the right bar-mounted rocker switch to On, which brings the display to life, then select one of two modes, either Range or Power, then hit the "start" button which activates the longitudinally mounted three-phase AC motor, which is rated at 74 horsepower and 52 pound-feet of peak torque. Twist the right grip (it's not really a throttle), and you roll away. But, surprisingly, this doesn't happen silently." - Blake Conner (cycleworld.com)

"The sound that we've developed for this motorcycle is uniquely our own," explains Richlen. "It is not silent. It's far from it. It has a very distinct sound that is a result of the architecture we have chosen for the motor." The whine comes from the bevel gear that shifts the longitudinal motor's output 90 degrees and sends it to the belt final drive.

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The upside-down Showa Big Piston fork and cantilever shock are fully adjustable and feel sportbike stiff without being harsh. The single disc, pin-slide, twin-piston front brake offered good power and feel, easily stopping the LiveWire™.

"Overall, the LiveWire™ is an impressive exercise. As you would expect from a company that invests so much in finish quality, the materials, and component specifications, are very good. The aggressive, standard-like styling is surprisingly progressive and un-cruiser-like. And, even in "demonstrator" form, the Harley-Davidson® LiveWire™ is the best electric motorcycle I've ridden." - Blake Conner (cycleworld.com)

Contact us at Barnes Harley-Davidson® for more information and availability of this amazing new offering from Harley-Davidson®! Barnes Harley-Davidson® is conveniently located in Victoria, British Columbia near the areas of Kelowna BC, Kamloops BC, Chilliwack BC, Surrey BC, Delta BC. You can visit our Victoria, BC Harley-Davidon® dealership at 2940 Ed Nixon TCE Victoria, BC V9B 0B2 or give us a call at 250.475.1345

Source: cycleworld.com