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[Richard230]

Here is Rideapart's take on the LiveWire,  It seems pretty balanced:

https://rideapart.com/articles/harley-davidsons-electric-bike-live-hype-ride-project-livewire?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+HellForLeather+%28Hell+For+Leather%29

[Doug S]

There's some insight there about the LiveWire's real role (i.e. it seems at least as much of a showpiece as a real marketing push), but they show a fair amount of ignorance in their review, as well. They say that the LiveWire "feels more powerful than the Zero", but then immediately state that the best estimate is 74 hp and 52 ft-lbs of torque. That's a 7 hp advantage over the SR, but that isn't much if the torque number is literally half of what the SR makes. They don't say which Zero they're referring to, but personally, I'd describe that as at best on a par with the SR. Torque is far more useful in the real world than horsepower.

Then they compare the LiveWire to the Energica Ego, a bike which COMPLETELY blows the LiveWire (as well as the SR) out of the water, along with just about any ICE bike. That bike has several times as much horsepower and torque as the LiveWire has. Do these people have any clue what they're talking about?

[CrashCash]

No, as a rule, RideApart are generally clueless and more of the cheerleader squad.

On the other hand, HD deserves all the cheerleading it can get on that bike, as it's an outstanding effort from them, and I'm speaking as a "Harley hater"

Of course that's a 100% marketing showpiece, as its main purpose is to gauge people's reaction. Harley got really burned on the V-ROD and their core market is so conservative, it insists on IC engines where the last engineering improvement was in the '60s. They're seriously swimming against the current here. Harley has to sneak things in like fuel injection, ABS, and water cooling and STILL make it look like a '60s aircooled dinosaur.

I'm glad to see they're teaming with someone and not pulling the usual know-it-all attitude that they do.

[Doug S]

They're seriously swimming against the current here. Harley has to sneak things in like fuel injection, ABS, and water cooling and STILL make it look like a '60s aircooled dinosaur.

Agreed. This weekend I pulled up to the local mini-mart next to an older couple getting off their Harley. We got to chatting and the husband asked me if I felt unsafe on such a quiet bike. I explained to him that all of the studies show a loud bike to be no safer than a quiet bike, but it was clear he wasn't interested in the facts, he wanted to feel better because his bike is so loud.

I see the LiveWire, coming from a company like Harley, as an indication of just how far we've come. People are VERY interested in it, even though in many ways it's the anti-Harley. Truly, EVs are no longer a fringe product when even HD is making noise about entering the market.

[CrashCash]

Yup. I go to bike week. The comments slamming the V-ROD at the Harley tent were truly Jurassic-era.

I have a HD dealership 3 blocks down the road that refused to sell me a gift certificate for a beginning rider course because I rode in on a Japanese bike.

I've stopped to help HD guys by the side of the road and been told they "don't need no help from anybody riding jap shit"

I nearly was rear-ended by a guy who'd taken off his front brakes because they didn't look custom enough. He slid past me with the rear locked almost out into the intersection when the light changed.

Trust me. I can bash HD riders for ages. Most of my friends are absolutely gobsmacked I bought an American made Zero.

... but this is another thread

Apparently the company has learned from all their recent efforts on things like the VR-1000 and the V-ROD, and that is good.

[Doug S]

I nearly was rear-ended by a guy who'd taken off his front brakes because they didn't look custom enough.

I have a Harley-riding friend who, to this day, refuses to use his front brake. He says he's sure if he does, he'll wind up going over the handlebars. A lot of 'em just don't care about reality, they just care what they read in EasyRiders.

[Richard230]

I have known some Harley owners who still say the the Sportster is just a "girls bike" and wouldn't be caught dead riding one or being associated with someone who owns one.     I can only imagine what these types feel about an electric-powered Harley. 

Besides the comments above and in various publications regarding the reasoning behind the development of the LiveWire, I also believe that Harley is thinking about dipping their toe into the EV market as a way of countering increasing fuel economy and emission regulations, where the entire manufacturer's product line is analyzed to determine their overall impact in meeting these regulations.

[benswing]

Agreed. This weekend I pulled up to the local mini-mart next to an older couple getting off their Harley. We got to chatting and the husband asked me if I felt unsafe on such a quiet bike. I explained to him that all of the studies show a loud bike to be no safer than a quiet bike, but it was clear he wasn't interested in the facts, he wanted to feel better because his bike is so loud.

The only thing I have found that makes HD riders think twice about this is when I tell them that I can hear the traffic around me.  That gives them a new perspective they hadn't considered before.  If I can hear the traffic around me, then I am more in control of my safety. 

I also cite the statistics about noise, but most eyes glaze at that point.

[Doug S]

If I can hear the traffic around me, then I am more in control of my safety. 

Dead on point. To think that the best approach to increasing your own safety is to be noisy so other people will get out of your way is just ludicrous to me. Other people have little concern for my safety whether or not they realize I'm there -- keeping myself safe is MY job, nobody else's.