Harley-Davidson’s electrifying switch to the LiveWire
Sound, roar and gear-changing thrust are lost but the new Harley-Davidson LiveWire still manages to impress.
Harley riders are a fascinating mob. Since 1903, the Harley-Davidson Motor Company has fulfilled dreams of personal freedom. Now times are changing and the profile of your typical Harley rider is changing too.
The original leather-clad riders are dwindling in numbers, replaced by a new generation of perfumed, white-sandshoe gangsters with neck tatts and execs at that time of their life.
Last week I was lucky to be among the first media riders globally to test Harley-Davidson’s electric LiveWire in Portland, Oregon.
In preparation for the trial, H-D Australia lent me a conventional 2019 Harley FXDR, with its 160Nm of engine torque and 1868cc. There is an undeniable status of riding a Harley, potentially more so as a woman. The power, with very little throttle, is incredible and its pure sound and soul-satisfying rumble is totally addictive.
I also rode this monster to my local motorbike haunt, Jerry’s Cafe, to chat with traditional Harley riders about the LiveWire. The two most common questions: How far before a recharge? And what does it sound like?
Sound, roar and gear-changing thrust are all lost when riding the LiveWire and its clutch-free “twist-and-go” propulsion. I wonder, by losing the components that make a Harley-Davidson sex on wheels, is it a Harley?
I understand why H-D gave me the FXDR. The torque is similar. The LiveWire catapults you from zero to 100km/h in about 3.5 seconds. It produces 100 per cent of its rated torque instantly, and it’s always available. You are limited only by the strangulation of your helmet when you leave the visor up.
Faultless handling
LiveWire offers a choice of riding modes. There are four preset modes and three customisable ones. My concern of low-speed manoeuvrability without a clutch was not an issue in the standard preset of “road mode” selected via a small thumb-operated joystick on the right handlebar. Like most H-Ds, the scenario of needing to gear down to climb a hill or overtake a vehicle doesn’t happen.
The active mode is displayed as a symbol on the colour touchscreen between the handlebars and is the dimensions of a landscape-plus-sized phone.
Road mode is perfect to start on, allowing you to naturally take off in slow traffic without any bunny-hops a learner may experience when using a clutch. Arriving in the beautiful mountains northwest of Portland, the twists and turns of this scenic ride provided the perfect opportunity for sports mode, a more aggressive ride.
You cannot fault the handling of this bike. My only gripe is the position of the indicator switches on each handlebar, unlike other manufacturers who position theirs on the left. Several times I switched modes instead of using indicators, a godsend when a deer bounded into my path in rain mode with all its safety features selected.
Limited range
There was a nice straight just before our lunch stop. I filmed a few of the Swiss riders pulling up in an attempt to capture the jet-like whirl sound of a high-speed LiveWire. It’s not volume, more the tone you hear as a jet or formula one car approaches. It won’t be appreciated by traditionalists but it still sounds impressive
The achilles heel of LiveWire is range. Because it’s electric, you can’t do a quick refuel and get on your way. You charge before you leave and recharge on the road, and that can take time. H-D says LiveWire offers about 235km of city riding but only 152km of mixed urban and freeway riding. That may not matter if you’re a commuter buzzing around the city but it may be a problem for weekend warriors who enjoy long back road rides.
Harley includes a level-one charger that plugs into a standard household outlet. You can charge overnight at home at about 20km an hour. Out and about you’ll need an electric vehicle charging station. DC fast-charge technology provides zero to 80 per cent of battery charge in 40 minutes and zero to 100 per cent charge in 60 minutes. It’s tough getting an answer from H-D Australia about charging options. It says it’s “currently reviewing the marketplace to ensure charging options maximise the coverage for Australia and NZ”.
H-D needs to be conscious that overseas markets have local charging issues. Many of the American H-D crew quoted US facts, unaware of the differences in power and logistic issues that come with our vast extensive country and wide-open spaces.
Plugging in
Sharing LiveWire specs with the national body representing the electric vehicle industry in Australia, we learn the plug type will be the same as the European one, the CCS2. Apply that filter and there are lots of charging options up and down the east coast of Australia and in Western Australia.
But they are not close enough together so that you can roam far from a highway or link up without an overnight charge for this bike.
Hopefully the situation will have changed in a year when this motorcycle becomes available. Electric Vehicle Council chief executive Behyad Jafari says Chargefox, Evie Networks, the NRMA and state and local governments are among those that have announced investments in roadside fast-charging technology. Chargefox is building 22 charging stations by the end of this year with more next year. Evie Networks plans 40 to 50 for its first stage, while the NRMA plans another 45 to 50 in regional NSW.
The LiveWire will be fast-charge compatible with all electric vehicle chargers except the Tesla. You can find the sites on www.plugshare.com.
LiveWire is powered by a 15.5kWh high-voltage battery composed of lithium-ion cells, positioned in the centre of the motorcycle and surrounded by its cast-aluminium frame that also acts as a heat sink to help cool the cells. The sides of the housing are finned and exposed to the air and are visible within the motorcycle frame.
Despite the range issue, Harley has created a halo motorcycle that’s bound to entice a new generation of cashed-up, stylish hipster. Even if you are a traditionalist, no motorcycle rider could get off this bike unimpressed. H-D has managed an amazing feat by packaging all the power and acceleration we are accustomed to on a regular Harley into its new electric motor. That’s a big step forward.
The LiveWire motorcycle will be available next year in Australia through select H-D dealerships for about $45,000.
Monique Lisa is a former professional rider and is covering the Harley-Davidson Livewire launch for The Australian courtesy of Harley-Davidson.
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Charging up to the future
Vehicle : Harley-Davidson LiveWire
Charge time: 80 per cent battery charge: 40 minutes, fully charged in 60 minutes
Speed: 0-100km/h in 3.5 seconds
Range: City: 235km in the city, Urban with freeway: 152km
Propulsion: Clutch-free “twist-and-go”
Power: 15.5kWh high-voltage battery composed of lithium-ion cells
Price: About $45,000
Rating:4 stars
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