[BHigerd]

Does anyone have any definitive information on what Harley Davidson is doing to ensure our Livewires can be serviced in the future in reasonable proximity to our homes? I'm pinging H-D dealerships around Cape Cod, but there's only one Livewire-dedicated dealership in the Northeast USA, on Long Island. None in Florida where more Livewires were sold than practically anywhere. In fact, if you look at the map from the Livewire website, there's only one Livewire dealership east of the Mississippi River, where most of the US population lives. Logical? Hardly.

I'm awaiting responses from local H-D dealerships, but that's only going to answer my here and now question, not our need for future servicing. I bought a 7-year extended warranty assuming H-D would stand by it. For now, I'm just looking for information. My next scheduled service will likely be next spring / early summer. I'm growing more and more concerned about H-D decisions regarding EVs and how those decisions will play out.

 

[CrossBones]

DK about others but the H-D dealer where I bought my ELW said they'd continue to provide service as long as H-D (and LiveWire -- the company) wil provide them TSBs, software updates, and parts, despite only having sold 3 ELWs. Their rationale is that everyone who bought an ELW from them has (like me) bought ICE Harleys from them and they don't want to piss off loyal customers. They also said they spent too much on tools, training, etc. to just walk away from. The day I can no longer get mine serviced is the day I donate it to a museum -- LOL!!!

 

[tcypher]

There's a guy on our Reddit sub that may know... I'll give him a shout and refer him here for the full convo.

 

[BHigerd]

Thanks Tcypher. I would love to know more. It may be too early for anyone to know???

And ditto CrossBones on the museum idea. Wonder what kind of future tax credit I could get for that donation? But you are right in the fact that H-D dealerships invested a lot to have Livewires, and I wonder how Harley dealership owners feel about the move H-D corporate made to effectually end the company's EV market at the dealerships that invested in the Livewire's future?

Thanks guys for sharing my concern. It's a great bike, and I know H-D, like many companies, is struggling right now. And with H-D stock taking a beating since May, who knows what's running through the CEO's mind? All I know is I would have stayed in the EV market like things were, developed more affordable electric motorcycles and bikes as advertised, then re-evaluate the decision when I see how EVs effect the bottom end for AT LEAST half the period I did R&D. That's how IBM became great, investing in cruddy times. Sad part is if the CEO had just done nothing he could blame the superconductor shortage on slow EV sales, likely gotten Fed money, and maintained the great PR Harley was getting with the Livewire. Instead, the move looks like one made in desperation.

 

[Bob_B]

I suspect that the lack of availability of the 2021 models in the eastern US is because too many stores here still have 2020 models. No reason to introduce the new bike that costs $8,000 less when they still need to sell the 2020's. That's just a guess because no one knows. The dealers are especially not happy with this after spending so much money to get in on the first year, they are just as much in the dark as everyone else. Every dealer I have talked to does plan to continue servicing them though.

 

[aaron]

For what its worth...the dealer I bought mine from 2 months ago verbally committed to on-going service. We'll see. Worse case, I will have a helluva story to tell.....already put nearly 4000 miles on so far and absolutely loving it. And, if it turns out that I get "hosed" by HD, I will give Indian FTR a try! But first choice is HD Livewire and Ultra combo that's workin great right now....best of luck and happy trails!

 

[CrossBones]

Does anyone have any definitive information on what Harley Davidson is doing to ensure our Livewires can be serviced in the future in reasonable proximity to our homes? I'm pinging H-D dealerships around Cape Cod, but there's only one Livewire-dedicated dealership in the Northeast USA, on Long Island. None in Florida where more Livewires were sold than practically anywhere. In fact, if you look at the map from the Livewire website, there's only one Livewire dealership east of the Mississippi River, where most of the US population lives. Logical? Hardly.

I'm awaiting responses from local H-D dealerships, but that's only going to answer my here and now question, not our need for future servicing. I bought a 7-year extended warranty assuming H-D would stand by it. For now, I'm just looking for information. My next scheduled service will likely be next spring / early summer. I'm growing more and more concerned about H-D decisions regarding EVs and how those decisions will play out.

So, an update to my earlier response: Got word last week from the sales manager at Boston (MA) H-D that they’re authorized to sell/service LiveWire Co. bikes so I think it’s a safe bet they’ll continue to support ELWs. Also heard yesterday that Seacoast (NH) H-D will be selling/servicing LiveWire Co. bikes, too. My 1,000 mile service on my ELW is booked for next week.
DK if this helps you on the Cape, but it seems to me that the MoCo is taking a measured approach to expanding the LiveWire 1 (et seq.) dealer network. Seems sensible to me given the investment H-D dealers were required to make to be able to sell ELWs.

 

[BHigerd]

CrossBones, thank you! Boston is where I plan to have my Livewire serviced since moving to MA in June. Love the Cape, but people have no idea what it is out here. I just dart by quietly, lane splitting 6 to work. Even the MA state police don’t seem to mind me rolling by at 80 in a 55.
Really appreciate the update!!!

 

[Sargon]

Like most LiveWire owners I love the bike but am disappointed in the service/support. I was on the phone with a Harley representative an hour and 45 min. The representative was very polite and as helpful as she could be given that the company seems to have dropped the ball on support. She explained that other than the website dealer search they have no way of providing me with the name of a dealer in NY that can service my LiveWire less than 200 miles away though the bike has a range of less than 100 miles on the highway. I thought I researched my purchase but I made a mistake in assuming that if I purchased the 2020 model with Harley Davidson on the side of it I would surely be able to get it serviced at any H-D dealer. My local dealer where I bought and serviced my Breakout said they couldn’t touch the LiveWire. As it stands now it seems like I’ll have to travel from upstate NY to the dealer I purchased the LiveWire from in PA. I asked the representative if I purchased a service manual and serviced it myself if it would void the warranty and she said I should keep very good records including parts, invoices and exact type and amounts of fluids. I’m hoping the 1k service won’t require special tools and is within my skill set. The service manual isn’t listed on the H-D website but my local dealer was able to order one at $131.95 PN# 94000704.

 

[Bob_B]

If you're interested in doing the 1k service yourself, there's a great video of it on YouTube. Not something I would touch myself, but I'm not anything close to a mechanic.

 

[Sargon]

I’ll check it out, thanks!

 

[Menoche]

don't worry about the maintenance, for the oil change, it take hmmm 15 minutes top.you'll get a kick form the price of the gasket tho....

 

[CrossBones]

Got my 1,000 mile break-in service done last week. Cost me $407 USD. I get a discount on parts because I'm in the dealer's MVP program, and there is no sales tax in NH, just FWIW. It DID take all of the 2.25 hours and then some. The oil change isn't like on ICE engines as it requires removing the 12v battery and the tranny cover, as well as the safety protocols they need to follow because of the high voltage RESS.

Here's the paperwork. Note the NEW name of the dealership!

 

[Menoche]

2 hours????????? they screwed you BADLY!!!!! aoutch

 

[CrossBones]

2 hours????????? they screwed you BADLY!!!!! aoutch
[/QUOT

I don't believe so. Even if I had the tools (and if H-D would sell me the oil and gaskets) and the guts to get into it (working with/near high voltage frankly scares the spit out of me!), I sincerely doubt I could get everything (i.e.: Not just the oil change) done in under 4 hours. In any event, I'm satisfied and that's what really matters, isn't it?

 

[Menoche]

You don't even have to come close to the high voltage connectors
1- unscrew 2 screws from the top cover
2-remove 40 amps fuse
3-remove 12V battery cover
4-remove battery
5-remove battery plastic box
6-remove 7 screws from the transmission cover, dumping oil into a plate
7-replace gasket
8-rescrew cover and torque properly
9-remove fill bolt
10-add 320ml of oil
11-reassemble
12-enjoy the savings

really easy, no danger, and the vdeo above shows how simple it is

 

[Sargon]

The invoice that CrossBones posted shows the O-ring and trans oil was replaced but not the trans cover gasket. The HD service manual explicitly says to replace the O-ring and oil but says clean the cover and seal then install. I saw an earlier comment about the cost of the trans cover gasket which typically is a replace item. Does anyone have more info or different experiences with the 1k service?

 

[Sargon]

I scrolled back. Looks like Menoche indicated the gasket replacement. Was the gasket replaced as a precaution or recommended by the dealer?