Harley-Davidson and its LiveWire brand introduced the S2 Del Mar today, a smaller, lighter, and less expensive electric motorcycle than the LiveWire ONE. The street-tracker is said to produce 80 hp and weigh less than 440 lbs, yielding a 0-60-mph time of just 3.5 seconds. City range is said to be 100 miles, and highway range will be significantly lower.
The S2 Del Mar was designed at LiveWire Labs in Mountain View, California, in the vicinity of Silicon Valley companies like Apple, Google, and Meta. It’s built around a new, scalable “ARROW” architecture that uses a proprietary battery, motor, charging, and control systems. The powertrain serves as the central component of the chassis and is a modular design so it can be adapted to future models.
LiveWire offered 100 serialized “Del Mar Launch Edition” models with an exclusive paint scheme and a unique wheel design for $17,699, but all were sold out in the first 18 minutes. Those who missed the opportunity can get their name on a waiting list for when regular production models ($15,000) are shipped from Troy, Pennsylvania, in the spring of 2023. The press release below includes more details.
LiveWire is set to bring advanced design, technical innovation, and engineering expertise to urban riding and beyond, with the all-electric S2 Del Mar motorcycle, the first LiveWire model to feature the new S2 ARROW architecture.
The first 100 units will be built to order and serialized as Del Mar Launch Edition models, which can be reserved now at livewire.com for expected delivery in the spring of 2023.
The 100 Del Mar Launch Edition models will feature an exclusive finish and wheel design and an MSRP of $17,699.
The production S2 Del Mar will deliver immediately after the launch edition, with a target MSRP of $15,000 USD.
The S2 Del Mar features a targeted output of 80 horsepower (59.6 kW), and less than 440 pounds of weight, delivering projected 0-to-60 mph times of 3.5 seconds or less.
Del Mar range in city riding is targeted to be 100 miles.*
“The S2 Del Mar model represents the next step in the evolution of the LiveWire brand,” said Jochen Zeitz, Chairman, President and CEO of Harley-Davidson. “The ARROW architecture underpinning the Del Mar, developed in-house at LiveWire Labs, demonstrates our ambition to lead in the EV space and establish LiveWire as the most desirable electric motorcycle brand in the world.”
Advanced LiveWire ARROW Architecture
LiveWire’s scalable ARROW architecture with proprietary battery, motor, charging, and control systems debuts on the Del Mar model and was designed at LiveWire Labs in Mountain View, California. The ARROW architecture is intended to be modular and serves as the central component of the motorcycle chassis.
Del Mar is designed to offer its rider thrilling performance with a targeted output of 80 horsepower (59.6 kW), delivering projected 0-to-60 mph times of 3.5 seconds. City range is expected to be 100 miles.* The Del Mar model weight target is 440 pounds or less.
Urban Street Tracker
Del Mar presents a street-tracker stance on 19-inch front and rear wheels equipped with custom developed LiveWire Dunlop DT1 tires equally capable on paved and dirt surfaces. The slim seat tops a short tail section. A tracker-style handlebar fronted by a thin flyscreen places the rider in an upright position for a comfortable and controlled riding experience.
Launch Edition Model
Only the 100 examples of the Del Mar Launch Edition models will be made, featuring an exclusive finish and wheel design. The graphics and paint – in a choice of Jasper Gray or Comet Indigo – are applied by hand using a process that takes 5 days to complete. The design employs an opposing-fade, representing and celebrating both the exciting and soulful experiences of riding LiveWire electric motorcycles. The intricate pattern of the 19-inch PCB cast-aluminum wheels evokes the dense patterning and framework found on printed circuit boards. The vaulted and tapered spoke design promotes lateral stiffness for enhanced handling performance, while also pushing the boundaries of casting technology.
The Del Mar Launch Edition model debuts with an MSRP of $17,699, while the production version is expected to launch with a target MSRP of $15,000. Delivery of the Launch Edition and production versions of S2 Del Mar model are set for the spring of 2023. All LiveWire S2 Del Mar motorcycles will be assembled at Harley-Davidson Vehicle Operations in York, PA.
To learn more about the LiveWire S2 Del Mar Launch Edition motorcycle visit: livewire.com/delmar.
UPDATE:
The all-new LiveWire S2 Del Mar Launch Edition sold out its 100 reservation deposits in 18 minutes today. Customers can still add their names to a wait list for the standard S2 Del Mar motorcycle expected to begin deliveries in Spring 2023 at livewire.com.
*Range estimates are based on expected performance on a fully-charged battery and are derived from SAE J2982 Riding Range Test Procedure data on a sample motorcycle under ideal laboratory conditions. Your actual range will vary depending on your personal riding habits, road and driving conditions, ambient weather, vehicle condition and maintenance, tire pressure, vehicle configuration (parts and accessories), and vehicle loading (cargo, rider and passenger weight).
Motorcycle Test by Wayne Vickers – Images by Colin Rosewarne
Apparently, some stories just write themselves. On this one, I set out to give LiveWire a real world test, with the goal being to address what I see as the two biggest concerns that most riders have about electric bikes. Namely: range anxiety and the worry about what might happen if you get caught short and end up with a flat battery. As it turns out, I ticked those off on day one…we’ll get back to that in a bit.
At 50k the LiveWire is certainly a premium proposition
The Harley-Davidson LiveWire. Bit of a head scratcher really. Bought to you by the company that’s synonymous with a loud, bad boy image, it stood out on the showroom floor like a.. Well, like a silent, squarish looking matt black, grey and alloy electric bike amongst a bunch of chromed up cruisers. Of all the mainstream manufacturers, I don’t think anyone thought that Harley would be one of the first to market with an EV motorcycle. The marketing department must be going nuts trying to figure out how to fit this very square peg into the brand matrix… (actually turns out that the LiveWire brand is set to be separated from Harley – so that answers that).
The LiveWire and following models are to become their own LiveWire branded vehicles to separate them from the larger Harley-Davidson portfolio
If you haven’t read or heard about it, here it is in a nutshell: Harley’s first electric bike. That motor puts out 105 hp and 116 Nm and as we have all heard plenty of times about electric motors, all of that torque is available right off the bottom. Range is claimed to be 235 kilometres for urban usage with a minimum claimed range of 158 kilometres. It packs serious Showa suspension at both ends and Brembo monoblocs up front – and even though it’s pushing 250 odd kilos, it’ll silently chalk up 100 km/h in close enough to three-seconds dead. So it’s certainly fast enough… Full charge takes around 11-hours on a standard 240v plug, but apparently will get to 80 per cent in 40-minutes on a fast charging station.
Harley-Davidson LiveWire
After a quick walk around of the bike in the showroom, taking me through the basics including the startup process and ride modes I was let loose to tear up the streets. Quietly.
Setting off with close enough to full charge (97 per cent to be exact), I was told that I was likely to get 130 kilometres on the open road or 170 kilometres of urban riding, which is notably less than the claimed range incidentally… Worth noting that the range is higher for urban riding than highway use. It’s the opposite to combustion engines as the electric bike uses regenerative braking to recharge the battery on the go, which is more active around town. So with that knowIedge in mind, I set off on the 110 kilometre journey home.
LiveWire
Turns out, it rides fairly well. The riding position is described by Harley as sporty. And maybe compared to other bikes in their line-up it might be, but for non-harley riders… it’s really not… it’s actually perfectly comfortable and upright. Of the four modes (road, sport, rain and eco), I left it pretty much in Road mode. Other than a couple of minutes in sport mode to see if it felt much different I figured I’d get used to what most riders would probably run for the most part. The difference between road and sport was noticeable but not dramatic, with Sport having a slightly sharper throttle response and a decent step up in the regenerative braking effect, meaning less need for using the actual brakes. So much so that the bike flicks the brake light on when decelerating under regen. That’s clever.
Wayne enjoyed riding the LiveWire around town
Around town it’s fairly pleasant. Very easy to ride. Tips in ok, rides not at all unlike a conventional bike. And there’s no denying that straight line performance is very solid. Probably more described as ‘deceptive’ than any other word I can think of right now. Because there are no dips in power, or gears to snick through, acceleration is ludicrously linear. The power curve isn’t a curve at all. It’s a line. That translates to acceleration on tap, whenever you want it. But it’s not brutal or harsh or any of that. The throttle is beautifully soft and direct. Yes, it’s weird not to have a soundtrack, I personally think it does take away part of the experience – and I was more wary of that amongst traffic as I normally rely on a bit of exhaust note to help inform drivers that I’m there. So you’d just have to keep that in mind and ride even more defensively.
Another little aside – the traction control really doesn’t work on wet grass…as in, at all. As I found out while positioning it for some pics, once traction was lost (unintentionally fwiw) it very quickly accelerated the rear beyond where I expected it to and it threw mud positively bloody everywhere. You can probably see the aftermath of that in some of the pics. Which then got me wondering if the traction control worked from standstill at all… Ummm, not really is the answer. A little impromptu burnout got very smokey, very quickly. Now I’m not normally a burnout kinda guy, but it turns out that electric motors are really, really, stupidly good at burnouts. So that’s a thing. Makes sense when you think about it. No gears to worry about, just twist, smoke and giggle. Tyre bill might get a bit expensive though.
This was meant to be a little smoky but a lot of smoke happened very quickly!
Suspension, chassis and brakes are all ok. Steering is fairly slow and heavy and the suspension seemed overly firm as well – borderline harsh. And while there wasn’t anything specific I can point to – as a whole it didn’t really seem to come together for me. Bumps and surface changes are all felt more than they should be. The more I rode it the more it seemed at odds with what the bike is and is not. It’s not a sports bike. Doesn’t handle like one, nor have the range to make it to your favourite twisties and back… but more on that in a bit. So I dunno why it needs to be that firm.
The other call out worth mentioning here is that I felt it was a little resistant to tip in past say… 30 degrees? Not really noticeable around town, but when you actually wanted to get up it, it didn’t feel in its element. To the point where it felt like instead of being comfortable on its side, it was often wanting to sit up even on a constant throttle. I wonder if that’s something to do with gyroscopic forces of the electric motor spinning away? Not sure. But it didn’t feel like a natural corner carver.
Cornering is not its natural forte
One little ‘not so clever’ design element I came across was the indicator switches. Minor I know. While the left indicator is in the standard position on the left cluster the right indicator is on the right cluster… so you often have to adjust the position of your throttle hand in order to put the right hand indicator on. And almost every time I used the indicator I found it impacting the throttle. Considering this bike has no clutch, so your left hand is doing nothing most of the time anyway, I don’t understand why you’d do this. Keep your throttle hand free to focus on the throttle please.
I was told at the dealer to keep an eye on the speed on the dash, as it can be easy to lose track of what speed you’re doing. I didn’t find it to be much of an issue in traffic, but certainly without a prominent engine noise to subconsciously use as a reference, there was a couple of times I crept past what I thought I was doing out on the highway. Cruise control took care of that while I got used to it.
Harley-Davidson LiveWire
Another thing to note – I found the charger and key fob, both stored under the seat would rattle a bit on bumps and corrugations (which were felt pretty badly). I’d throw a cloth or something in there to stop it from moving about, but it probably should have some foam or something from the factory.
Once out of town, I noticed at about the half way to home mark that the projected range had dropped from 170 kilometres to about 90. No drama, only about 60 km to go, should be fine Wayno. It’s supposed to get 130…
Then once the battery dipped below the 25 per cent mark the expected range started taking a nose dive and doubt started creeping in. It was at about the 30 km from home mark, well after I’d passed the last quick charging point in Geelong, that I started to sweat on the range. I buttoned right off. Back to 80 km/h. It seemed to help. For a bit. Then I backed off further.
Shit.
I’m not going to make it.
Roughly six kilometres out from home I hit zero charge on the dash. But it kept going. A glimmer of hope! They’ve engineered a bit of extra into this like a reserve I thought. But that joy was short lived. About four kilometres to go it started cutting power even below the 40 km/h I was then sitting on. Low battery warnings had been flashing on the dash for a while now, but they were joined by a little turtle icon. I was officially in limp mode. At eight kilometres per hour. Wonder how long that’ll get me?
Turns out that Wayne didn’t have much charge in him either…
Turns out only about another kilometre. Then I was off the bike pushing with the slightest smidgen of assistance. Incidentally, it turns out my ‘pushing a motorbike speed’ is five kilometres per hour. I was within three kilometres of home. Then the hill came. I just wanted to get to the top of the hill. I think I can I think I ca.. And then everything shut down.
Computer says no…
Various colourful words were used.
I was proper cooked. That last two-and-a-half-kays pushing 250 kegs took a while. My wife was lovely enough to come down and help with the last kilometre. After she laughed and took some pics of my sweaty, red melon.
So, no. It won’t get you the claimed minimum distance. I got just under 108 kilometres on 97 per cent charge.
But that was only the start of the fun.
Once home, I pulled out the charger, plugged it in, whacked it in the top of the ‘tank’, to beginning the recharge. Giddy up. Or so I thought. I went back an hour later to check and it showed no change with the dash still blank.
Bugger.
Help me Google-wan-kenobi, you’re my only hope. Google dutifully informed me that the little light on the charger was supposed be pulsing when it’s charging. Mine was lit up solid. Hmm.. Further googling told me that there’s a secondary 12v battery that runs the low voltage electrics and manages the cooling system while the ‘main’ battery charges. And if that 12v one goes flat, the whole thing won’t accept charge.
Eh?
So a fully flat battery will leave you stranded and unable to charge via the normal plug. Who signed off on that as an acceptable system design?
Phone calls to the dealer – who were terrific for what it’s worth – confirmed that the secondary 12v battery would be the issue. It would require a lithium specific charger to be plugged into the secondary battery. But even that might not work as it might have gone into a safety shutdown mode. Running it fully flat might have even cooked the battery altogether… Brilliant.
The battery itself was easy enough to locate and get onto a charger. But no, it wasn’t playing along. Ergh. The workshop boys mentioned that they’d try to jimmy another battery onto it to trick it into accepting charge. So I got to work with my best bush mechanic skills. Paralleled another spare 12v battery I had in the shed and the dash came on! And then went off. Not enough juice.
So I charged up that spare (third) battery and put it back on as parallel and tried again. Still no joy. The dash would light up, but it wasn’t tripping the cooling system on, which it needed to do, to allow the main battery to charge. ‘I wonder what would happen if I put the charger on that third parallel battery while it’s all connected up’ says I, slightly concerned about the fact that lithium batteries can do funny things like trip into runaway heat cycles, catch on fire and burn a hole in your concrete floor. Oh well. In for a penny, in for a pound. Let’s give it a go. Hooked it all up, which looked like the nastiest hodge podge you’ve ever seen, and lo and behold.. The cooling system finally kicked into gear after a few minutes of false starts and a few jiggles of the main plug and toggling of switches.
We were in business. It was charging. I had a battery charger connected to a spare 12v battery, connected to the onboard 12v battery so that the low power system could run the cooling – which would then allow the main charger to charge the main battery. Simples!
Wayne had to get creative in order for the LiveWire to start charging
What a nightmare.
The lesson here would be – either don’t let it run fully flat if you have one… or – if you’re trying to replace a system where, when you run out of juice you just put more in and turn the key, then you need to make the new system just as easy. Especially when ‘just putting more in’ can take 11 hours.
Takes a bit longer than tipping some fuel into a tank…
Now I don’t doubt that electric bikes will be part of our future. I suspect they’ll probably be the saviour of dirt bike riding actually, with the absence of noise allowing dirt bike parks near built up areas. The Livewire is ok, in and of itself. It goes well enough. But range continues to be a serious road block and it turns out that you won’t always get the claimed minimum. It quite literally falls short.
One ride into Torquay for lunch and back on sport mode (36 km return, less than 40 mins riding in total), sucked 40 per cent of the juice which equated to a five-hour recharge to full.
Harley-Davidson LiveWire
So! Who’s it for? Well. I’d be hesitant to plan any weekend rides longer than 100 kilometres based on what I’ve seen, so that’s somewhat limiting. Sure, long trips can be done if you plan them out according to charging stations and are willing to wait at least 40 minutes once you get access to that quick charger. But are the charging stations where we actually want to ride? Well no.. they mostly aren’t. Not yet. Not for me anyway.
So that leaves it to folks living in town (which should also extend that safe minimum range a little further), who might be commuting less than 60 km to work and then home where they can whack it on charge overnight. Those who might like a quick little run over to a mates house, or to pop down to their favourite cafe for a coffee and some smashed avo. And those people have to be willing to drop 50 big ones on a bike with said limitations. If that’s you, and you’re an early adopter type person – definitely check it out. Certainly the performance of the motor shows the potential of things to come.
For me personally, I’d need the range to be at least double what it currently is. I can’t even get to my office from home (110 km), let alone there and back…
Harley-Davidson LiveWire
Harley-Davidson LiveWire
Why I like it
On road performance is more than adequate, it goes bloody well
Incredibly linear power delivery is remarkable
Nice enough manners around town, easy to ride.
Turns out it makes a pretty mad burnout machine if that’s your thing!
I’d like it even more if…
Being able to charge the system when flat might be a nice touch… At the very least, if it’s a known limitation, put an easily accessible charge plug for the secondary 12v battery.
Range is a show stopper. Literally. <110kms from full for me on a mix of urban and highway!
Steering and suspension unnecessarily firm – would benefit from being more accommodating
Harley-Davidson LiveWire
Harley-Davidson LiveWire Specifications
SPECIFICATIONS
EV SPECIFIC CONTENT: MOTOR
Torque
86 ft-lb
RPM max
15,000
Type
Internal Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor with Water Jacket cooling
All LED, low beam, high beam and signature position lamp
Lights (as per country regulation), Tail/Stop
LED with light pipe tail
Lights (as per country regulation), Front Signal Lights
LED
Lights (as per country regulation), Indicator Lamps
High beam, turn signals, ABS, traction control, EV fault
Lights, Rear Turn Signals
LED, Amber
Gauges
4.3” WQVGA 480×272 TFT Color Display with Ambient Light Sensor, 9 warning lights, Real Time Clock and Integrated Bluetooth Connectivity to a Smartphone to provide infotainment features including turn-by-turn navigation, telephone, music, and voice recogni
Harley-Davidson Australia has now recalled its LiveWire electric motorcycle for switching off while running, more than a fortnight after it was recalled in the USA.
Company spokesman Keith Waddell says there have been “no instances in Australia” of the fault occurring.
The issue affects 41 LiveWire motorcycles sold in Australia since it was launched a couple of months ago. The Vehicle Identification Numbers of all bikes affected are listed at the end of this article.
The official recall notice, issued through the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission warns that the bike may switch off while running, causing a crash.
“The software in the On-Board Charging (OBC) System on affected motorcycles may initiate a shutdown of the electric vehicle powertrain, without providing reasonable indication to the rider that a shutdown sequence has been initiated,” the notice says.
In some cases, the vehicle may not be able to be restarted or, if restarted, may shortly thereafter shut down again. In some cases, indicator lamps may be illuminated on the instrumentation prior to loss of propulsion.
“These indicator lamps include: The Traction Control (TC) lamp, the Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) lamp, and the Failure Indicator Lamp (FIL).
“Unexpected loss of propulsion of the vehicle while in motion without the ability to restart or remain restarted may increase the risk of a crash, increasing the risk of serious injury or death of the rider(s) or other road users.”
Owners are urged to contact their Harley-Davidson dealer “immediately to arrange a service”.
“The dealer will install new updated On-Board Charging (OBC) System software to rectify the issue, at no cost to the consumer,” the notice says.
The recall is Harley’s first in Australia for 2020.
Even though manufacturers and importers usually contact owners when a recall is issued, the bike may have been sold privately to a rider unknown to the company.
Therefore, Motorbike Writer publishes all motorcycle and scooter recalls as a service to all riders.
If you believe there is an endemic problem with your bike that should be recalled, contact the ACCC on 1300 302 502.
To check whether your motorcycle has been recalled, click on these sites:
The ever-growing list of 2020 motorcycle recalls continues to expand with another addition to the hit-list; Harley Davison’s 2020 LiveWire is unexpectedly shutting down for some riders mid-ride and in some cases not allowing for the driver to turn the vehicle back on after initial shut-off.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration states that only 1% of the ~1000 bikes being recalled may be affected by the issue, so there is no reason to panic but it’s still better to be safe than sorry.
The issue apparently comes from the On-Board Charging software that causes the powertrain to turn off. I’m not sure if that issue will really cause *a complete* shut down of the bike with all other features shutting off, but other sources are reporting that ABS, TC, and other assists can indeed cut out as well.
This is not good news for anyone who rides their bikes in the evening or in low light, as there is potential for ABS, traction control, and your headlight to shut off mid-ride which could cause serious injury or even death.
Between the 22nd and 29th of October, 2020 LiveWire owners will be notified by mail regarding the recall and will be urged to take their motorcycles to their local H-D dealership to have the software updated for free.
Where I live, there is currently 10cm of snow on the ground, so if are like me and cannot arrange transportation of your bike to the dealership Harley-Davidson is happy to pick it up and return it back to your house absolutely free of charge.
If you are a 2020 H-D LiveWire owner it would be in your best interest to give the Harley-Davidson customer support line a ring and provide them with your VIN so they can check to see if you perhaps have one of the affected versions of the bike.
The biggest concern I’ve heard repeatedly parroted from the anti-electric vehicle mob is “good luck finding somewhere to charge your Telsa on a long road trip, those things are only good for city commuting”. Harley-Davidson is taking the EV technology they released with their new LiveWire Motorcycle across the entire globe on a 100 day, 13,000-mile trek to prove the naysayers wrong, documented on their H-D podcast series available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
In only 30 days, the same engineers that developed the LiveWire were assembled to retrofit the production model LiveWires to sustain the grueling journey ahead. The bikes utilize production-spec LiveWire parts such as the “RESS (Rechargeable Energy Storage System) hardware, chassis, and Harley-Davidson Revelation™ powertrain components” per the official press release. In addition to all of that, the bikes feature prototype wheels, rotors, and tires from their upcoming Pan America adventure touring bike set to release in late 2020, as a 2021 model.
If a 13,000-mile journey doesn’t sell you on the efficiency and reliability of electric motorcycles, I’m not sure what will. Back in June of 2016, Rafael de Mestre did a similar stunt/challenge by taking his 2012 Tesla Model S on a 15,534-mile drive over an 80 day period to prove the same point.
The podcast will include the engineering process as well as the trip itself and any issues the riders may run into along the way. The LiveWire that Ewan McGregor rode in Harley-Davidson’s recent Long Way Up documentary series was far from stock, so it will be great to see the capabilities of the technology with something closer to the motorcycles H-D has available to consumers.
The Harley-Davidson LiveWire® model is an exhilarating electric motorcycle that pushes the boundaries of performance, technology and design in the two-wheel world. When an opportunity presented itself to Harley-Davidson to showcase the LiveWire motorcycle’s capabilities and performance in the most extreme conditions, H-D seized the challenge for the unheralded 13,000 mile off-road trek. The process to accomplish this journey is documented through Harley-Davidson’s podcast series.
Listen to the H-D Podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and subscribe to get new episodes of the show automatically each week.
This six-part series documents how near-production LiveWire models were modified to shred dirt roads, single track, and desert trails over 13,000 miles of extreme off-road conditions.
“Harley-Davidson stands for the timeless pursuit of adventure,” said Jochen Zeitz, Chairman, President and CEO, Harley-Davidson. This podcast series is a premier showcase for how Harley-Davidson’s talented staff of engineers and designers go above and beyond in their mission to create motorcycles that unlock adventures wherever they may lead. These efforts can be experienced in the 2020 LiveWire – a shining example of how Harley-Davidson innovates to lead in the electrification of motorcycling. It’s an experience that can only be truly understood after riding it.”
Utilizing the same talented Harley-Davidson engineers and designers that developed the LiveWire motorcycle, a select group was assembled from the broader development team to modify near-production LiveWire models to complete the journey.
Together, this team designed, modified, and assembled a motorcycle in under 30 days. After initial testing, the team incorporated feedback to finalize ergonomic and storage systems on the bikes. In 60 days, the motorcycles were headed to the southern tip of Argentina.
The modified LiveWire motorcycles used production specification RESS (Rechargeable Energy Storage System) hardware, chassis, and Harley-Davidson Revelation powertrain components. In addition, the motorcycles were modified with prototype rotors, wheels, and tires from the upcoming Harley-Davidson Pan America adventure touring motorcycle, and custom windshield, rear shock, and triple clamps made specifically for this project.
Before delivery, both modified LiveWire motorcycles were evaluated at Harley-Davidson’s Willie G. Davidson Product Development Center for initial testing and ridden under similar development validation conditions at Harley-Davidson’s Proving Grounds facility.
Harley-Davidson invites you to experience the thrill and seamless acceleration of the motorcycle at the center of the adventure, the 2020 LiveWire motorcycle. In celebration of the global premiere of “Long Way Up,” available to stream now exclusively on Apple TV+, with every test ride a rider will receive a complimentary LiveWire t-shirt and limited-edition LiveWire poster. The poster is only available to those who test ride LiveWire models while supplies last.
Are you a William Shatner fan and a fan of Harley-Davidson’s new LiveWire electric motorcycle? Then you really should consider this auction.
Chicago Harley-Davidson will be auctioning off Shatner’s Yellow Fuse LiveWire. It will feature an autographed tank. Shatner is best known for his acting, specifically for his roles in Star Trek and Boston Legal, but he’s also an author, producer, director, screenwriter, singer, and motorcyclist.
He decided to auction off his own LiveWire at Chicago Harley-Davidson. It’s unclear why he wants to auction off the bike, but he did say the following in a press release: “This is my very own bike. I hope you love it as much as I do.”
My guess is that he doesn’t like it enough to keep it and would like to get it out of his garage so he can buy something else.
Anyway, the LiveWire is an impressive machine. My colleague Jim Pruner at Web Bike World rode one for a review recently and called the bike misunderstood and underestimated.
The main criticism many have of the LiveWire is its price. The bike has a $30,000 price tag in the U.S. It’s a lot of money for the range and performance, and I can’t imagine Shatner’s bike will be cheap either. For more information, check out Windy City Motorcycle Company.
According to our previous reporting, the LiveWire will come available in Australia in September of this year. It’s already available in other markets.
A Harley-Davidson® LiveWire® motorcycle set all-new records for elapsed time and top speed by an electric-powered production motorcycle on a drag racing course on September 4. Harley-Davidson Screamin’ Eagle/Vance & Hines rider and three-time Pro Stock Motorcycle champion, Angelle Sampey stepped off her Harley-Davidson FXDR Pro Stock competition motorcycle to pilot the LiveWire bike to capture world record-breaking runs on the quarter and eighth-mile, covering the eighth-mile distance in 7.017-seconds and the full quarter-mile course in just 11.156 seconds at 110.35 mph. The 2020 LiveWire motorcycle’s top speed is limited to 110 mph.
The records were set during exhibition runs at the Denso Spark Plugs NHRA U.S. Nationals at the Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis. This is another great pass at a bold future In Harley-Davidson’s quest to lead the electrification of motorcycles.
“Let me tell you what’s amazing,” said Sampey. “That was the first time I rode the LiveWire.” said Sampey, “I could not wait to get it on the track. The LiveWire is so easy to ride. Just twist the throttle and go, and you really go!”
Sampey and her Harley-Davidson Screamin’ Eagle/Vance & Hines teammates, Andrew Hines and Ed Krawiec, made a number of head-to-head drag race runs on stock LiveWire models, with Sampey posting the quickest times. Sampey is the winningest female in motorsports history with three-time Pro Stock Motorcycle championships (2000-2002) and 43 Pro Stock motorcycle wins.
The Harley-Davidson LiveWire motorcycle is an all-new, all-electric model designed to offer riders a thrilling and high-performance motorcycling experience infused with a new level of technology, and the premium look and feel of a Harley-Davidson product. The LiveWire motorcycle is capable of rapid acceleration with just a twist of the throttle – no clutching or gear shifting required.
As Sampey proved at Indy, the instant torque provided by the H-D Revelation powertrain delivers exhilarating acceleration from a stop; the LiveWire motorcycle can rush from 0 to 60 mph (0 to 100 kph) in 3.0 seconds and 60 to 80 mph (100 to 129 kph) in 1.9 seconds. Because maximum torque is always on tap, roll-on acceleration for passing from any speed is outstanding. An optimized center of gravity, rigid aluminum frame and premium adjustable suspension components give the LiveWire motorcycle dynamic handling. With up to 146 miles of range*, performance is optimized for the urban street-rider.
The H-D Revelation electric powertrain produces minimal vibration, very little heat, and minimal sound, all of which enhance rider comfort and creates a unique riding experience, even on the drag strip.
Licensed riders can take a complimentary test ride on the LiveWire motorcycle at select Authorized LiveWire Harley-Davidson® dealerships in the United States, Australia, Canada and most European countries.
*Riding range estimates provided following SAE J2982 Riding Range Test Procedure and are based on expected performance of a fully-charged battery when operated under specified conditions. Actual range will vary depending on riding habits, ambient weather and equipment conditions.
Apple TV+ has announced a trailer for Long Way Up, starring Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman. McGregor and Boorman have two other critically acclaimed motorcycle adventure series, entitled Long Way Round (2004) and Long Way Down (2007). The Long Way Up covers 13,000 miles and spans over 100 days as the two travel from the tip of South America to Los Angeles, California. In the past, the duo has relied on motorcycles featuring internal combustion engines. This time, McGregor and Boorman made the entire trek on Harley-Davidson LiveWire electric motorcycles.
From Press Release:
The trailer for “Long Way Up,” the epic, new Apple Original series from stars Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman is now available. The first three episodes of the 11-part unscripted series will premiere globally on Apple TV+ on Friday, September 18. New episodes will roll out weekly, every Friday.
“Long Way Up” reunites McGregor and Boorman for the ultimate adventure in travel and friendship after more than a decade since their last motorbike adventure around the world. In their most challenging expedition to date, the two cover 13,000 miles over 100 days from Ushuaia at the tip of South America to Los Angeles. In order to contribute to the sustainability of the planet, the duo travels on modified electric Harley-Davidson LiveWire® motorcycles.
Using cutting-edge technology, they travel through 16 border crossings and 13 countries along with their longtime collaborators, directors David Alexanian and Russ Malkin, who follow in the first two electric Rivian trucks ever made.
“Long Way Up” was created and executive produced by Ewan McGregor, Charley Boorman, David Alexanian and Russ Malkin.
Apple TV+ is available on the Apple TV app on iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, iPod touch, Mac, select Samsung and LG smart TVs, Amazon Fire TV and Roku devices, as well as at tv.apple.com, for $4.99 per month with a seven-day free trial. The Apple TV app will be available on Sony and VIZIO smart TVs later this year. For a limited time, customers who purchase a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac or iPod touch can enjoy one year of Apple TV+ for free. This special offer is good for three months after the first activation of the eligible device.*
California resident Diego Cardenas has completed the first known U.S. border-to-border ride aboard a Harley-Davidson LiveWire electric motorcycle. Cardenas’ journey began at the U.S. Mexican border and ended at the U.S. Canadian border, covering over 1,400 miles on his H-D electric motorcycle.
From Press Release:
In the past few months, the world has found new ways to celebrate momentous life achievements. Riding motorcycles has been one such outlet – especially new motorcycles that are groundbreaking, like Harley-Davidson’s first electric motorcycle, LiveWire.
Diego Cardenas, a California resident, was hoping to spend June 30, 2020, in Spain celebrating his 50th birthday. This Spring, he knew he was going to need a new plan, but he wanted it to be something he was passionate about — a trip he could do that allowed him to maintain social distancing but also be memorable and unique. So, he set on a new plan, riding his LiveWire motorcycle from the U.S. Mexican border to the U.S. Canadian border using the West Coast Green Highway, WCGH. The WCGH is a network of electric vehicle DC fast charging stations located every 25 to 50 miles along Interstate 5 and other major roadways in Washington, Oregon, and California.
“I wanted to be a part of Harley-Davidson history and have my future grandkids be able to talk about how their grandfather was the first H-D electric motorcycle owner to do such a ride,” said Cardenas. “I wanted to show the world that electric charging infrastructure is growing and be an inspiration for others to try riding electric motorcycles like the LiveWire.”
On June 22, Diego started his epic trip from San Ysidro, CA. He rode over 1,400 miles and on his 50th birthday, June 30, he reached his goal by making it to the U.S. Canadian border town of Blaine, WA. Along the way, he did live social media reports of his progress and fans following along on his journey were able to meet him in person and cheer him on. He also made plenty of stops along the way to do a bit of sightseeing with his wife and eight-year old daughter who were along on the trip in a car.
“The trip was unbelievable, such a great journey,” said Cardenas. “The West Coast Green Highway is a really good idea, there are so many options that you can be confident you will get to where you need to go. Also, if you pull up and cannot use one charger, you have additional ones super close by. It’s darn awesome! Please spread the word, this is so doable. If you have an electric motorcycle, or any bike, just get out and ride during these challenging times. Do a road trip, it helps during these stressful times to free your mind and body to see new things.”
Cardenas’ journey can be found at this link, he also is the founder and creator of this page. His mission for the group is to bring together electric vehicle and non-EV riders to ask questions, get ideas and support the EV motorcycle riding community.
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powertrain components. In addition, the motorcycles were modified with prototype rotors, wheels, and tires from the upcoming Harley-Davidson Pan America
Screamin’ Eagle
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