Two things stand out about the Harley-Davidson LiveWire electric motorcycle: it is literally electrifying and cool!

That’s more than just a couple of gratuitous puns.

This bike is not an electric toy! It’s a real bike that is claimed to go from 0-100km/h in three seconds and we proved it on the world media launch with several impromptu drags on a lonely country road outside of Portland, Oregon. So that’s electrifying performance in anyone’s lexicon.

Many moto journos talk about the nirvana of having ultimate linear power delivery. That’s exactly what this supplies. There are no surges or lags, just a hand-of-God thrust in the back as you hurtle forward and the world tons to a blur.

And after a vigorous 110km test ride through the streets of Portland and beautiful surrounding country, the bike was still cool to the touch, even the water-cooled motor, battery and radiator.

So it doesn’t just look cool and represent a cool trend in motorcycling, it’s literally cool to touch which makes it an ideal summer commuter bike!

Price

The dual-seat LiveWire is made in Cork, Pennsylvania and has been in development almost a decade.

It finally goes on sale shortly in the USA at about $US30,000 in a choice of cool lime, a bright orange and gloss black.

It will arrive in Australia late next year probably at more than $A40,000 which is more than most of their Touring models.

Harley-Davidson Australia and New Zealand say they won’t have a definite figure until closer to our launch.

It’s expensive, but it also has suitably premium components, a high quality of ft and finish (not a cadmium bolt in sight!), thick and lustrous paint, plus premium controls including a proximity key fob.

Styling is a subjective matter, but I like the modern, minimalist look and the big cooling fins around the battery, although the gloss black model looks way too dark. Maybe they should have made the calling fins silver on that one.

The remote rear fender with number plate allows for a tidy wasp-like tail with the pillion seat suspended in mid-air.

Underneath the seat is a small lockable compartment for the the mains charger and cable that includes a handy helmet hook. Harley put the key fob under the seat so we wouldn’t lose it and it was the only mechanical sound in the whole bike. Most riders would keep it in their jacket pocket!

You can also get a small “speed screen blade”, decorative trim, different hand and foot controls and a cover that includes a charging cord port. Many traditional Harley accessories such as wheels and bars can also be fitted.

LiveWire comes with two batteries. The big 15.5 kWh high-voltage Lithium-ion battery or “Renewable Energy Storage System (RESS)” made up of Samsung battery modules has a five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty.

Harley chief engineer Glen Koval says the recyclable battery should last 10 years without significant loss of capacity unless it is not treated well or used extensively in extreme cold conditions.

Harley has not said how much a replacement main battery will cost, probably because in five years from now it will cost a lot less, anyway!

Silent running

Of course, the electric LiveWire is quiet, especially at low speeds, but not exactly silent.

When you switch it on, the headlight and instrument screen lights up, but there is no accompanying motor noise.

As you take off,  you can feel a gentle buzz which is induced by the rocking of magnets. Harley wanted riders feel the “heartbeat” of the machine.

When you give it the berries, the bike makes a turbine “whoosh” noise thanks to the belt drive and “meshing” of the primary spiral bevel gears. At highway speeds all you can hear is the wind.

While I missed the throbbing sound and feel of a Harley V-twin engine, I actually found it made you more aware of surrounding noises from other vehicles.

It also meant that when I listened to music, GPS directions or phone calls on my helmet intercom, I didn’t need to turn the volume up quite as high.

The lack of noise also seems to have a calming effect on the rider.

However, I was acutely aware that other road users couldn’t hear me coming and a couple of times I tapped the horn to announce my presence.

Range

Harley recently released details that claim city range of up to 235km and 152km of highway range.

While they don’t give total charging time from a mains outlet with the provided cord, they do tell us that a 120/240-volt outlet will provide about 20km (13 miles) per hour of charging. That means it will probably take at least 11 hours from flat to reach full capacity. And the cost would be less than $4.

They also claim their Fast Charge (DCFC) technology will recharge a flat battery to 80% in 40 minutes and full in 60 minutes.

They brought in three mobile DC fast chargers for the event which they say are not as powerful as the permanent ones that will be at Harley dealerships. These chargers were only used at the end of the day’s ride.

None of the bikes ran out of “juice” on the road test, even though we mainly rode hard and fast in the electrifying “Sport” mode.

We covered about 110km and my bike still showed 30% charge left.

The charging port is in the top of the “fuel” tank for easy access.

You can check the battery recharging status and time left to full on the instruments or on an accompanying H-D Connect app.

The Android and iOS app also alerts you if someone is tampering with your bike, includes a GPD tracker if its stolen, shows the closest charging stations and reminds you when the bike needs a service. But since the only consumables are the brake pads, servicing should be cheaper. Still, service intervals are 1600km first and then every 8000km like their conventional bikes.

Harley PR rep Joe Gustafson says the app gives the rider “peace of mind”.

Electrifying modes

There are seven riding modes: Range, Rain, Road and Sport, plus three customisable modes.

Each mode affects the acceleration and response from the twist-and-go throttle.

It also affects the amount of “regeneration” which is like engine braking and helps to recharge the battery.

Both of these also affect the range.

The modes also vary the amount of cornering-enhanced traction control that includes a wheelie control to stop the front wheel lifting and a rear-wheel lockup control.

They label their traction control High, Medium and Low, but high is not for high intervention but high slip, so it is opposite to what it appears.

Harley says the H-D Revelation electric motor has 78kW of power. That’s not too bad for a 249kg bike which is about the same as a 1200 Sportser or Ducati Diavel.

That power figure is the same as a KTM 1190, but the porky LiveWire weighs a substantial 32kg more.

More importantly, the bike has 116Nm of torque which is substantially more than the 95Nm in the 1200 Sportster .

Full-tilt torque is available as soon as you twist the throttle, which is why traction and wheelie control is so important.

It feels lively and lithe, like many streetfighter-style bikes with its flat bars.

On the highway it’s stable, around town it’s manoeuvrable and in the twisties it feels planted and precise, thanks to the premium Showa suspension.

It’s fully adjustable, but rather than playing around with the clickers, you can go to the instrument screen and put in the weights of you, pillion and any luggage and it will calculate the right settings. How clever is that!

Some claimed it felt top heavy, but I didn’t think so. The weight is carried low in the underslung motor. It feels a little heavy coming up off the side stand, but then it feels perfectly balanced.

I love the use of Harley’s clever stable side stand that won’t allow the bike to roll forward when parked downhill.

The low centre of gravity makes it easy to turn and quick to change direction.

However, the seat is 779mm high and is narrow so even shorter riders can get their feet flat down on the ground. I’m 183cm tall and I could still bend my legs with my feet flat on the ground. There is also a Slammer seat that is 25mm lower.

The Brembo brakes are powerful and have plenty of feel, but with the regenerative braking of the motor, you really don’t need to use them that often, although it’s nice to know they are there when you need them in an emergency.

Conclusion

At this price, it’s going to be a hard sell, even for cashed-up, early adopters and techno nerds.

But they will find this is not just some toy. It’s a serious, full-size, hard-charging, fun motorcycle that is both easy to ride and a hard charger for the adrenalin junkie.

Harley-Davidson LiveWire tech specs

• Price: $US29,799 (about $A42,500)
• Available: Next month in North American and Europe, late next year Australia and New Zealand
• Colours: range, lime and black

  

  

• Battery warranty: five-year, unlimited-km
• Motor: H-D Revelation permanent-magnet, water-cooled electric motor
• Power: 78kW (105hp)
• Instant torque: 116Nm (86ft lbs)
• Battery: Air-cooled 15.5kWh high-voltage lithium-ion battery (Rechargeable Energy Storage System)
• Transmission: motor output shaft, 9.71:1 gear reduction, belt drive
• Acceleration: 0 -100km/h 3 seconds; 100-130km/h 1.9 seconds
• Top speed: 177km/h
• Range: 235km (city), 152km (combined stop-and-go and highway range using MIC City and MIC Combined tests), 158km (World Motorcycle Test Cycle)

  

• Charging: 120/240-volt outlet 20km (13 miles) per hour of charging; DC Fast Charge (DCFC) 0-80% in 40 minutes or 100% in 60 minutes
• Weight: 210kg
• Suspension (rear): fully adjustable Showa Balanced Free Rear Cushion-lite mono-shock
• Suspension (front); Showa Separate Function Fork-Big Piston

  

• Brakes: Dual Brembo Monoblock calipers, 300mm rotors
  Tyres: H-D/Michelin Scorcher (180mm rear and 120mm front)
• Rider aids: Reflex Defensive Rider Systems (RDRS), Cornering Enhanced Anti-lock Braking System (C-ABS), Cornering Enhanced Traction Control System (C-TCS) and Drag-Torque Slip Control System (DSCS)
• Technology: 4.3” colour TFT touchscreen, Daymaker LED headlamp, LED lighting, H-D Connect service connectivity and Harley- Davidson App
• Riding modes: Seven selectable Ride Modes electronically control motor performance and level of RDRS intervention
• Accessories: dual seat and tail, speed screen blade, decorative trim, hand and foot controls and cover with charging cord port

More tech specs

(Harley-Davidson paid for our flights, hotels and meals.)

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com