More H-D Livewire news

[Richard230]

H-D has updated the specifications for their new $30K+ Livewire electric motorcycle, including having engineered-in an idle vibration feature that lets you know it is "idling" when you are at a stop    :  https://electricmotorcycles.news/harley-davidson-livewire-update/

[HadesOmega]

Haha I was hoping they will have a V8 rumbling sound also or ice cream truck chime.  That reminds me of the 3rd gen prius they added this kinda spaceship sound to the car on one of the updates.  The 2010 doesn't have that sound but at some point they added it and it sounds kinda goofy.  I like being stealthy =p  But I suppose it was a pedestrian safety because people keep on walking into Prius because they don't know they're there.

Performance and Range Optimized for the Urban Rider: The high-voltage battery provides 146 miles (235 km) of city range or 95 miles (152 km) of combined stop-and-go and highway range as measured using the MIC City and MIC Combined tests** and 98 miles (158 km) using World Motorcycle Test Cycle (WMTC)***. DC Fast Charge (DCFC) technology provides a 0-80 percent of battery charge in 40 minutes or 0-100 percent charge in 60 minutes.

The range estimate sounds VERY similar to the Empulse.  DC fast charge though!  Would be great to have that on the Empulse.

[siai47]

Why on earth would you buy the "Livewire" for that much money with that little range?  With the now available Zero SR/F with more range and probably faster acceleration at 2/3 of the cost who are they targeting as a customer?  The traditional Harley-Davidson customer isn't going to be a player even if it is equipped with a "magic fingers" vibrator removed from a '50's motel bed.  The old Empulse appears to have similar or better specs.  It's crazy.  At least you won't have to put a quarter in the coin box to get it to vibrate   

[Ultratoad]

No one would believe it was a Harley if it didn't shake !!!!  Just bought an Indian FTR S -- now there is some shaking done right !!!!

[Shinysideup]

Yep, if you can see anything useful in your mirrors, it ain't a Harley!

I think it's hilarious they felt compelled this indicator, instead of, say a light.

[HadesOmega]

I guess on the Empulse you can hear the waterpump and the on light blinks.  I heard the dealer can turn the "haptic feedback" off.  Surprised you can't just do it with the user interface =/

[Shinysideup]

I just got an image of an east coast Hell's Angel saying,
"I got your haptic feedback right here!"

[Richard230]

Motorcycle.com rides and reviews the 2020 H-D livewire. Lots of interesting information about the Livewire in this review. The bike gets severely downgraded in their test score for having very poor value.  Gee, I could have told them that:   
https://www.motorcycle.com/manufacturer/harley-davidson/2020-harley-davidson-livewire-review-first-ride.html

[HadesOmega]

Power   105 hp (claimed)
Torque   86 lb-ft. (claimed)

Hmm the SR/F is like 110HP/140lb-ft...  Not very impressive

[Richard230]

Power   105 hp (claimed)
Torque   86 lb-ft. (claimed)

Hmm the SR/F is like 110HP/140lb-ft...  Not very impressive

Don't forget the 550 pounds of ground-hugging weight.   

[siai47]

Weight is a problem for EV motorcycles and EV's in general.  I was recently looking at the Zero SR/F as a replacement for my Empulse if/when it breaks and is unrepairable (thanks Polaris).  The Energica line of bikes caught my eye now that they have really chopped the price which is now comparable to the Zero.  It's really hard to find the actual weight of these things but my jaw dropped when I found the Energica Ego sport bike checked in at 569 pounds--that is getting into Goldwing territory.  Looking at it, I can't figure out where all the weight is.  Also, Although it has 35 more horsepower than the Zero I doubt it can be very different in performance as it weighs nearly a 100 pounds more.  In addition the extra weight and smaller battery pack should really tip the range scales to the Zero.  In reading ride reports and watching videos of the Ego, the weight along with a high center of gravity really makes it a bear to drive in anything but a straight line.  I am going to get one for a 24 hour demo this weekend so I will actually see what it is like.  So, in regards to the livewire, the weight isn't off the scale but close to it.  I never thought that the Empulse was a "lightweight" motorcycle but in this world, it is.  I think the Empulse was and still is one of the best electric motorcycles ever made. 

[Richard230]

I have five brochures for the Energica motorcycles, including a 48-page, full-color, coffee-table sized one that would be fit for display in a museum.  Not one of those brochures mentions the bikes' weight, although the big one contains everything else you ever wanted to know about the Energica Ego.  However I have read several reviews of the various Energica models which have said that their weight is just over 600 pounds.    Perhaps that is why their weight is never specified in the Energica brochures. 

[siai47]

Yep, 569 is on the low side.  Various reviews show between that number and 621 pounds.  I have driven heavier as in a 880 pound Goldwing and a 1100 pound Boss Hoss.  However never anything as heavy in a sport bike.  I hope I can get it to turn without having to slide off the seat.  Interesting point is if you read everything you can on the Energica it looks like they are getting ready to introduce a new platform.  Early reports show 2019 but currently 2020.  One of the things they are promising is a 125 mile range regardless of how you drive the bike.  The current race bike is a very similar chassis but with a completely different lighter battery rated at 20 KWH.  This might be how they are going to get the promised range.

Today is the day I am going to take an Ego for an extended test drive.  I've got a CCS quick charger on the route I am going to try out.  Sorry that this is in the Livewire news topic area but I think it is relevant as to how a very heavy electric motorcycle might handle (albeit one is a "sport" bike and the other is a cruiser).

[Richard230]

Here is a long review of the LiveWire by Revzilla: 
https://www.revzilla.com/common-tread/2020-harley-davidson-livewire-first-ride

[Richard230]

H-D introduced the 2020 LiveWire to the European press at a controlled riding event in Oregon. Here is a video review by Cycle News: 

I got a kick out of seeing the H-D staff ride leader on one of their big twin ICE baggers instead of a LiveWire.  I can think of several reasons why that might be.