Motorcycle specifications Harley-DavidsonLiveWire 2020 The Harley of the 22nd century

Conservatives will have nightmares. The curious will be left speechless. The Harley-Davidson crest will discover new values, unknown flavors. This shock is the Livewire. Milwaukee's first electric motorcycle. Initiated as a concept in 2015, this roadster has spent several years in an experimental phase, gathering data, opinions, sensations and impressions before delivering itself definitively in 2019. It's ready, it feels the wind turning, and it heralds a transition capable of shaking up the Harley universe.

in the land of Uncle Sam, an electric motor always comes as a surprise. Even if Tesla and Zero Motorcycles are beginning to clear the field in earnest, American culture has spent decades gorging itself on huge combustion engines, most of them with catastrophic efficiency.
The LiveWire seems to have been insulated from these traditions. There's nothing Harley about its design, equipment or powertrain. Except for the belt drive, a very American sense of style, and a sense of value that can only be found in MoCo productions.
For the first time, nothing will be said about the vibration or character of the twin. From now on, we'll be talking about sound, speed, technology and performance.

our test ride of the concept already gave us a striking glimpse of the torque and availability the manufacturer was planning for its troublemaker. We're expecting something big, and a first figure will calm everyone down. In terms of performance, this Harley is capable of accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in 3 seconds. The 11.9 mkg of torque is 100% available all the time, right away. The LiveWire is one of the most powerful Harleys on the market, with 105 horsepower. But it would be more accurate to speak in KiloWatts and count them at 78.
The mechanics, if you can call them that, want to show off. Encapsulated in a metal-like envelope beneath the entire motorcycle, it focuses the eye while ensuring a low center of gravity. Agility seems to have been the focus of much attention. The very structure of the LiveWire proves this, and surprises.

between the project and the production run, the bike has retained its styling while making a number of modifications. We regret that the headlamp has become wiser, that the mirrors and indicators no longer cohabit, and that the front end no longer gives off the impression of purity. Still, the LiveWire has managed to retain that wild, technical feel. Its chassis will appeal to sports enthusiasts. Its perimeter aluminum frame firmly holds a more than serious front end. The front fork is an inverted 43 mm Showa BFRC-lite (Balanced Free Rear Cushion-lite). The shock absorber comes from the same manufacturer, an SFF-BP (Separate Function Fork-Big Piston) model - the kind of gear you'd find on a Japanese sports bike. The brakes are also strong, with 300 mm tracks gripped by radial-mount Brembo monobloc 4-piston calipers. A true sports roadster, far removed from Harley conventions.
Italian brakes, Japanese suspension... Made in America" takes a hit; in your face, Trump!

there was a time when the brand wouldn't even hear of ABS. It will be present on the LiveWire as on all the other models, but that's just a foretaste. Electronic equipment includes traction control, adaptive anti-lock braking, torque slip control and no less than 7 driving modes, 4 factory-set and 3 customizable.
Don't even get me started on the minimalist needle display. Above the handlebars is a 4.3" (10.9 cm) color TFT display, tiltable if you please. It provides all the information you need, complemented by Bluetooth functions for controlling a Smartphone.
This technology is called H-D Connect Service. It's coupled with connectivity and cloud services, making the LiveWire the first cell-connected electric motorcycle on the North American market. Thanks to H-D Connect, data is collected and transferred to the app to offer a whole host of data:

motorcycle status: you can check the battery charge level and available range from any location where a cellular signal is available. It will be possible to locate a charging station thanks to a location system integrated into the H-D application.
Alerts and vehicle location: H-D Connect indicates the location of the parked LiveWire, and alerts can be sent to the smartphone if the bike is vandalized or moved. Stolen vehicle GPS tracking tracks the motorcycle's position(requires police assistance. Available in some markets).
Service reminders and notifications: reminders of vehicle maintenance requirements and other vehicle maintenance notifications will be sent through the H-D app. In addition, Livewireurs will receive automated service reminders.
The service will be offered for the first year; after that, you'll have to pay a subscription fee.

for its first electric episode, Harley wants to show that it's not limited to city riding. The Livewire has a 235 km range, which increases to 152 km on a combined cycle. When it comes to recharging, Harley takes care of business. It can recuperate energy during braking to inject amps back into the battery. In the LiveWire, there are 2 batteries. A small 12V one to power lights, controls, dashboard and horn. The other is large enough to power the engine. To recharge this main unit, a cable (hidden under the seat) can connect the plug on the tank to a household socket. Dealers selling this machine will offer a charging station. The bike can also be recharged at any compatible charging station. It identifies recharging according to 3 levels:
Level 1 (domestic socket): 20 kilometers of autonomy per hour of charging.
Level 2: LiveWire can be connected to a Level 2 charging unit, but will be charged at Level 1 speed.
Level 3 (DC Fast Charge): 30 kilometers of range per hour of charging.

Milwaukee's most innovative and perhaps most shocking product weighs in at 249 kilos. A weight equivalent to that of the 1200 Iron or CX Sportster Roadster. The Livewire will arrive in August. Pre-orders start in February. For brand enthusiasts, the future begins here.

We were expecting a tense start... This was indeed the case, but not in the best way. No sooner had the wheels hit the market than production and deliveries of the LiveWire were suspended by the Milwaukee factory in mid-October. The cause was a defect in battery charging in slow mode. In other words, at home. Harley advises owners to charge only with professional-grade DC fast chargers. A problem that only lasted a week. Harley reacted quickly and carried out a series of appropriate tests. This Harley could have done without the publicity, especially as it's a hard act to follow.

M.B - Manufacturer's photos