[L!VE]

Ask yourself, is the 130 mile range enough? That's what you'll get with the Harley LiveWire. Recharging can take 30 minutes to a hour to complete.

 

[Junko]

Where did you get 130 miles from? Asphalt and Rubber is saying 50 miles...

Our guesstimate on battery pack size, judging from Harley’s quoted charge time and parameters, is somewhere in the neighborhood of 7 kWh nominal, a bit less than the 9.3 kWh and 10.0 kWh of the Brammo and Zero.

That means the Harley-Davidson Livewire is good for just over 50 miles of mixed city and highway riding that is limited to 92 mph (we’re not really sure how Harley-Davidson came up with that figure). Expect to go 0-60 in around 4 seconds.

 

[L!VE]

Got it from Transport Evolved:

Top speed is apparently limited to 92 mph — again second-hand rather than straight from Harley-Davidson – and range isn’t disclosed officially in the press release either. As we’ve seen it quoted as being anything from 53 miles per charge all the way up to 130 miles per charge, so we’ve reached out to Harley-Davidson for clarification. Given other electric motorcycles on the market today are managing between 100 and 130 miles per charge, we’re hoping this all-electric hog is capable of a similar range. Anything less, and we’re doubtful it will meet with any demand.

 

[Junko]

Got it from Transport Evolved:

Ah interesting, so somewhere in between 50 and 130 miles, LOL. So if top speed is limited to 92 mph and harley is saying that 50 miles based on 92 mph, means you get 50 miles at WOT...

 

[L!VE]

Ah interesting, so somewhere in between 50 and 130 miles, LOL. So if top speed is limited to 92 mph and harley is saying that 50 miles based on 92 mph, means you get 50 miles at WOT...

Yeah that sure sounds like what it will do, plus remember it does have regenerative braking, so along with riding it like a granny, 130 miles sure seems to be possible. But as you'll see mentioned in my LiveWire specifications thread (http://www.hdlivewireforum.com/forum/8-harley-davidson-livewire-general-discussion/858-specifications-harley-davidson-project-livewire.html), VERY FEW specs are official and will continue to stay that way for a while.

 

[Junko]

Yeah that sure sounds like what it will do, plus remember it does have regenerative braking, so along with riding it like a granny, 130 miles sure seems to be possible. But as you'll see mentioned in my LiveWire specifications thread (http://www.hdlivewireforum.com/forum/8-harley-davidson-livewire-general-discussion/858-specifications-harley-davidson-project-livewire.html), VERY FEW specs are official and will continue to stay that way for a while.

Well exactly, and I think that was obviously done on purpose. This bike is meant to show what an eventual HD electric bike will be like which could be 2,3, 5 years down the road, but in that time batteries will be getting smaller and lighter. So sure it may have a diminished range now, but I think thats because Harley built a bike for 5 years from now.

What I'm saying is we shouldn't take the range as etched in stone.

 

[L!VE]

@Junko, it definitely was.
I've seen mentions of supercapacitors for the future of electric vehicles, so it's also another possibility for a bike like this to get more range, possibly not something we'll see right away, although that would be awesome. So this bike apparently being years before it hits the road as a street legal production bike, we might be getting much closer to that new tech coming to bikes like this.

 

[Junko]

@Junko, it definitely was.
I've seen mentions of supercapacitors for the future of electric vehicles, so it's also another possibility for a bike like this to get more range, possibly not something we'll see right away, although that would be awesome. So this bike apparently being years before it hits the road as a street legal production bike, we might be getting much closer to that new tech coming to bikes like this.

exactly, I think its a brilliant move. The Livewire is not saddled down with the big and heavy battery packs you see the Zero's and Brammo's weighed down with and that will add to the consumer experience. It would be piss poor brand management for Harley to of built the Livewire and then when ridden it was sluggish and heavy (becasue of the batterys) just like everything they currently sell.

People would be simply write it off as just another harley, but like this its a real punch in the nose, this is not your fathers harley....

http://www.hdlivewireforum.com/forum/8-harley-davidson-livewire-general-discussion/970-perspective-livewire-s-battery.html

 

[Yusef]

Its got to get to at least 100 miles range in order for it to be worthwhile. Being Canadian, I think about how miles are twice as long as kilometers, so being able to travel 200 km isn't too bad, as long as you plug it in once you get home at the end of the day. You won't be doing road trips but you can commute or go and do some errands easily.

 

[Hawkman]

One part of it is how much the range is good for actual function on a day to day basis. Can you make it to work and back? Can you go to multiple destinations during the day without returning home to charge?

The other part is how the bike's range compares to others. It has to be able to hold its own and compete with rivals or else people will probably look over the Livewire.

 

[L!VE]

exactly, I think its a brilliant move. The Livewire is not saddled down with the big and heavy battery packs you see the Zero's and Brammo's weighed down with and that will add to the consumer experience. It would be piss poor brand management for Harley to of built the Livewire and then when ridden it was sluggish and heavy (becasue of the batterys) just like everything they currently sell.

People would be simply write it off as just another harley, but like this its a real punch in the nose, this is not your fathers harley....

http://www.hdlivewireforum.com/forum/8-harley-davidson-livewire-general-discussion/970-perspective-livewire-s-battery.html

Definitely not your father's harley which will leave harley traditionalist sort of mad that harley went this direction, but they need to do it, they have the following needed for it.

 

[cag]

Here's and idea: removable battery. Harley establishes relationships with Quick Trip, Seven Eleven, Race Trak and the like. You pull in, give them your battery, pay a fee, and get a fully charged battery in return. Probably wouldn't take much more time than a normal fill up.

What convenience store wouldn't want the Harley Logo out front and the peripheral business it would bring?

 

[L!VE]

I'm not sure how good or bad that idea is, i think it can work if it's not something specific to just one bike but many bikes and for that reason i just can't see it happening for a number of years and that's if it ever happens

 

[Junko]

thats an interesting idea but then you're asking these business' and the employees who work there to go far beyond their core competencies. Can you image a seven eleven cashier swapping your battery? I wouldnet even let one check my tire pressure

 

[L!VE]

well they don't have to be the one's that are doing it, even if they are it's really up to you whether or not you want some random 'tech' at a shop to swap it for you.

i know i would look into changing it myself

 

[roadking]

if they can make it as easy as changing the battery on a bike or a car then this could just work

 

[Junko]

these are much bigger and far more integrated than your average battery...

 

[L!VE]

they sure are but depending on what the battery pack connects and how it mounts and dismounts it could be possible this can be done. But it's probably better that HD makes it something you have to go to them and only them for it.

 

[Rick Flashman]

My wife and I did extensive testing with both a Energica Eva 80 (claiming 70 miles at 70 mph) and a Zero DS 13ZF (also claiming 70 miles at 70 mph). We found both would give you 92-95 mile range in spirited back road riding (~50-60 mph). Rider weight does matter, as does your initial stop-light launches. So I see no reason that the Harley (with a similar 70 miles at 70 mph claim) will not deliver a reliable 92-95 mile range for most riders. Looking forward to being able to test ride one properly (full range ride).

 

[eHD]

My wife and I did extensive testing with both a Energica Eva 80 (claiming 70 miles at 70 mph) and a Zero DS 13ZF (also claiming 70 miles at 70 mph). We found both would give you 92-95 mile range in spirited back road riding (~50-60 mph). Rider weight does matter, as does your initial stop-light launches. So I see no reason that the Harley (with a similar 70 miles at 70 mph claim) will not deliver a reliable 92-95 mile range for most riders. Looking forward to being able to test ride one properly (full range ride).

Harley will have to just to maintain a competitive edge. If they don't, it can negatively impact sales.