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[Electric Cowboy]

This took A LOT of work, I hope you guys like it. I made a table of contents in the description so it could be navigated if you want to rewatch any specific areas.



In this video, Brandon and Morgan review the HD LiveWire, in depth, using their extensive personal experience and ability to deal with the punishment that comes from abusing El-Motos.

Video Synopsis :
Wheelie test 0:00
Top speed test 0:06
Range & spirited canyon/hwy test 2:08
Pushing test (sure, let's call it a test...) 2:33
Red Bull plug (send us caffeine! plz) 3:39
Spindrift sparkling water plug (send us real fruit water! plz) 4:19
Saved by Adam! 4:36
Charging failure 5:40
Resuscitating LiveWire (12 volt battery dead)  6:36
Battery capacity Test 8:17
0-60 & 0-80 Tests 8:48
A visit to Johnny's 9:00
Mike Corbin 9:41
HD dealership 0% to 100% full charge test timelapse 10:17
Talking nerds ( Our thoughts ) 10:58
Tires 11:36
Pirelli SuperCorsa plug 11:55
Handling 12:45
Diego Cardenas plug 13:04
Comfortability 13:34
Seat 14:34
Mirrors 14:56
Blinkers 15:58
Hand controls 16:16
Dash 16:45
Wh/Mi issues 17:14
App 18:12
Service 18:48
Fred Misturr shoutout 18:57
Breaks 19:48
Fit and finish 20:04
Turbo Cord 20:43
Battery discussion 21:03
Heated grips 23:08
Low battery power 23:21
Rider height (We're looking at you Scandanavia!) 23:59
Touring / Tourability 24:19
Luggage 24:36
Range discussion 24:55
Passengers (Hot girl in leather pilots bike) 25:15
How we liked the bike 25:41
Charging cable plug issue 26:54
Random early charging end 28:00
People's response to us on the bike 29:19
Who we recommend this bike for 29:55
Thank You 30:29
Thank you Jef Ikenn 30:57

[JaimeC]

Good review.  The bike is a non-starter for me because of the price and the lack of luggage capability.  Plus, I am only 5' 10" but the first time I sat on the demo bike I rode my hips cramped up and I had to ride the first quarter of a mile standing up.  What IS it with that footpeg position?

Also where I live, there are probably five or six Level2 stations for every DCFC station.  My company even installed Level2 stations at work and as you know, you might as well plug in a Livewire into a wall socket because you don't get ANYTHING out of Level2.  DUMBEST decision Harley's engineers could've devised.  DCFC is great IF YOU CAN FIND A STATION.  I know things are different out there in California but not where I live.

And one more thing:  Despite all the power and torque, I guarantee that thing won't get me to work in the morning any faster than my Zero S.  It's a nice "start" from the Motor Company, but I'd expect more for my money.  For $30,000 it has to be PERFECT right off the floor.

[princec]

Great video and review. I'd buy one for $20k

Cas

[DonTom]

  I know things are different out there in California but not where I live.

Depends on which part of CA. On I-80, I can probably find five CCS chargers for every one I need with  my Energica. When I leave 80, it can be a problem, even in CA.

I cannot even get to SusanVille, CA  from here in Reno and that's all in CA after around 12 miles. And not even Susanville has CCS. Also nothing north of it.

Also the Portola, CA  area has no CCS.


I really can name places all day in CA that have no CCS, but at least they are common on I-80 from Truckee west.

In fact, I can name places in CA that have no J-1772 charge stations.

I also find the lack of charge stations to be the biggest problem.  Range is only important, in most cases, to get to one charge station to the next.

It's getting better, but I doubt if I will see any major increase in charge stations during my lifetime.

-Don-  Reno, NV

[Crissa]

Yeah, there's a bunch of places there's a gas station but no outlets.  If you look at Plugshare (and I wish we could eliminate private and hotel chargers because they're very iffy to charge at) big gaps start showing up.

-Crissa

[BrianTRice@gmail.com]

I cannot even get to SusanVille, CA  from here in Reno and that's all in CA after
It's getting better, but I doubt if I will see any major increase in charge stations during my lifetime.

-Don-  Reno, NV

Every charger you’ve used is less than a decade old and most you’ve used are less than five years old. On top of that, renewable energy in your geographic area is getting built out.

I don’t call out most of your unsupported claims, but this one is ludicrous. There will be more chargers, even if only for fleet operators. The economics of this are not for your convenience. They’re happening at a large scale because they pay off for businesses.

[JaimeC]

It's getting better, but I doubt if I will see any major increase in charge stations during my lifetime.

-Don-  Reno, NV

I don't know... they're popping up like mushrooms after a rain storm out here... but mostly J1772 Level2, not DCFC.  Still, 6kW capability on my 2018 S now makes longer trips possible for me.  Not much in the boonies; for that you still can't beat gas power... but we're getting there.

[Electric Cowboy]

Yes, there is a lot to consider.

We will be doing comparisons later, once we review all of the bikes/brands. I think that will really help people start their electric bike search effectively for their needs.

For the moment we want to get accurate info and entertaining stories out there for everyone.

Thanks for all of your feedback. These are all things we will take into consideration.

[DonTom]

I don't know... they're popping up like mushrooms after a rain storm out here... but mostly J1772 Level2, not DCFC.  Still, 6kW capability on my 2018 S now makes longer trips possible for me.  Not much in the boonies; for that you still can't beat gas power... but we're getting there.

If they are only popping up in and near the larger cities, it is rather meaningless. I don't need  chargers close to my own houses where I normally won't be needing them.

Every 50 miles or so when out of the city would be great!

BTW, here in Reno, the chargers (for now) are reducing in numbers because the casinos closed their parking lots where the charge stations are located. And they are turned off anyway. The casinos are all dark outside also. I am on top of a hill with a sun room with a large picture window. Now it's dark below except for the street and house lights. I normally see the lit up casinos  outside the large window.

But even here in Reno, there are still plenty of other places to charge, unlike 50 miles south or north of here. I can charge 50 miles east of here, but then I have to come back the same way I got there.  Nothing in range going more east. West is no problem at all on I-80, even in the CA mountains. Both CCS as well as J-1772.

And every type of charger in Truckee, CA (J1772, CCS, CHAdeMo, Tesla Super). If every gas station had a charge station, then I could probably go almost anywhere on electric.

-Don- Reno, NV

[Crissa]

Yeah, the hotels and State parks are also closed, which blocks those.

Although when I was at the gate, a ranger offered to let me in to charge.  But that seems a poor thing to depend upon.

-Crissa

[DonTom]

Yeah, the hotels and State parks are also closed, which blocks those.

Although when I was at the gate, a ranger offered to let me in to charge.  But that seems a poor thing to depend upon.

-Crissa

Are the restaurants now open (inside for seating) in CA?  Here in NV they are open but under a lot of special rules.

Unless if the restaurant is  in a casino. I used to sometimes charge up at the Western Village Casino restaurant while eating there.  But the casinos are closed, which includes the restaurants inside. And the charge stations next to it by the WV hotel are turned off.

Same with the Tamarack Casino and the others that have charge stations. The Tamarack is far enough away from here to be helpful for going south or to VA city. But I can still get by without it. There is a charge station in VA City (Tesla destination and J-1772) as well as several in Carson City (everything possible).

-Don-  Reno, NV

[Crissa]

Very few restaurants have charging units.  And they're still on takeout only.

-Crissa

[JaimeC]

Several weeks ago I headed out to eastern Long Island to visit my parents' gravesite in Calverton, NY.  It wasn't my original intent, I was just wandering around and noticed I had more charge than I expected so I took the opportunity knowing there were Chargepoint stations at the outlet mall five miles away.

When I got to the mall, every shop was CLOSED.  Fortunately, the charging stations still worked or that would've SUCKED.  That particular outlet mall has over a DOZEN charging stations scattered throughout its massive parking lot.  Although the mall was shuttered, there were outdoor benches right by the stations so I brought up the Kindle app on my phone and read for an hour while my bike charged back up to 90%... more than enough to get me back home.

Never dawned on me that if the mall were closed they might've shut down the chargers too!  I got lucky.

[NEW2elec]

Very nice review guys.  I would say you should do more bike reviews but it looks like you will do it already.  You two have a unique perspective by having ridden electrics for so long and dug down into the guts to see how they tick.  Ex. Harley's battery arrangement, I would have never known they seem to have gotten it THAT right.
On the subject of the seat peg position I think this is Harley's quickest bike ever so I wonder if they just copied a sport bike's pegs since they didn't know any better, "this is how fast bikes do it, right?"   

Side note: Morgan I had never heard you speak with good inside audio, you have a great pod cast voice.  Very Seth MacFarlane, in his normal voice not Peter.  You guys have a good future doing this.

Oh and note to self: If these guys ask to borrow my bike, say NO.   

[Fran K]

Is there twisting effect from the axis of the motor being front-back?