More H-D Livewire news

[HadesOmega]

haha at 1:54 he talks about clunky throttles I wonder what bike he's talking about 

He talks about the sporty riding position and I agree with that I didn't get to sit on it but I saw one at the Petersen Museum and I was surprised how sporty the riding position is.

He talk about a low CG he should ride the SR/F that thing has a low CG

But yeah he goes on and on about the price yeah the SR/F is pretty much the same bike at a lower price points minus the DC fastcharging I guess.

[Richard230]

One of the other LiveWire reviews talked about Zeros being top heavy and handling weird.  That was likely because Zero keeps giving magazine testers the versions with the Power Tank so that they will be able to obtain the longest range during their testing.  Not such a good idea, though.

My Zero has the Power Tank and it adds an extra 42 pounds up high where the fuel tank on an ICE bike would be located.  You can really feel that additional weight when dropping into a corner and it does nothing for the bike's handling. Fortunately, I am not too bothered by the high center of gravity as I just use my Zero for general transportation so that I don't have to drive my 20-year old Saturn station wagon much anymore. I am now driving it about 500 miles a year to carry stuff that won't fit on my Zero and when the weather turns wet.

[Shinysideup]

Yeah, I was a bit surprised at the high CoG comment, since Brammo had emphasized its efforts to put the CoG exactly in the middle, fore and aft, and top and bottom, saying the EV drive train offered more design freedom to accomplish that than ICE bikes. Racers commented on it resulting cornering ability.

Must be the Power Tanks!

What was he (lurch) talking about when he (clunk) mentioned (thunk) a less than smooth (bonk) throttle response?

[Richard230]

Yeah, I was a bit surprised at the high CoG comment, since Brammo had emphasized its efforts to put the CoG exactly in the middle, fore and aft, and top and bottom, saying the EV drive train offered more design freedom to accomplish that than ICE bikes. Racers commented on it resulting cornering ability.

Must be the Power Tanks!

What was he (lurch) talking about when he (clunk) mentioned (thunk) a less than smooth (bonk) throttle response?

That was another comment that I didn't get. After thinking about it for a while, I decided that he was talking about most ICE fuel-injected motorcycles that lurch when turning the throttle on and off.    I certainly never had an issue like that with any electric motorcycle that I have owned. Not even my two chain-driven and low-tech Electric Motorsport GPR-S.  And the Zero's, with their belt drives, have always had very smooth throttle action.

[HadesOmega]

I think he's talking about the Empulse haha, how the Empulse has a take up in the gearbox that clunks when taking off.  It's one reason why I wouldn't want to do gymkhana on my Empulse, it's too herky jerky.

[Ultratoad]

All you have to do is roll back 6 inches at any stop and any slack is gone....

[jazz999]

All you have to do is roll back 6 inches at any stop and any slack is gone....

That is exactly what I do at each stop!

[HadesOmega]

All you have to do is roll back 6 inches at any stop and any slack is gone....

Not even 6 like 2" 

[siai47]

Not to get too far off topic but does anyone know why the "slack" is designed in the transmission?  Is it to enhance the shifting because if it is----that sure doesn't work.  When looking in the service manual I can't even see where in the design the slack is coming from.  It would be great to weld up whatever is causing it!

[Richard230]

Not to get too far off topic but does anyone know why the "slack" is designed in the transmission?  Is it to enhance the shifting because if it is----that sure doesn't work.  When looking in the service manual I can't even see where in the design the slack is coming from.  It would be great to weld up whatever is causing it!

My guess would be that the extra slop in the transmission is there to reduce the chance of binding when shifting between gears.

[HadesOmega]

I have no clue but it could be to cushion the shock of the power delivery, I definitely think it is the gearbox also and not the chain because I have an electric dirtbike and it doesn't lurch like that and from what I remember the Energica didn't do it either at least it wasn't noticeable.

[siai47]

I am not sure but I think there is a difference between the Brammo Empulse and the Victory Empulse in the final drive.  Somewhere I remember reading about (or seeing) information that the Brammo Rear drive sprocket is bolted directly to the rear wheel whereas the Victory has a rubber cushion between the sprocket and the hub.  Most chain drive motorcycles use this cushion to dampen engine impulses.  Belt drive motorcycles use the belt as the "damper" and the sprocket is generally bolted directly to the hub.  In the case of an electric motor it shouldn't make any difference how the rear sprocket is attached.  Historically, didn't the Empulse transmission come from something else not necessarily a electric drive vehicle?  Maybe I'm losing my mind but I still don't see why the "slack" is in the IET transmission.  No other motorcycle I have ever driven has that much slack unless something is falling off of it. 

[HadesOmega]

According to parts manual it does have one, i just looked at mine right now and it does appear to have a cush drive hub couldn't tell 100% unless I remove the wheel though.

From what I understand i think there was a motor change in the Empulse at some point I think something to do with Parker and IET. 

https://www.partspitstop.com/oemparts/a/vic/5678f88787a86611bc5d1603/final-drive-chain-and-sprockets

[Shinysideup]

My 2013 Empulse R has a cush drive. (Not that it helps the bonk!)

IIRC, Brian Wismann tried selling the idea that all trannies had the slop, but that the noise and vibration from the ICE engine covered it over, leaving the silent Empulse more exposed. Frankly, I never bought his story, but I admired him for trying!

[Ultratoad]

The only time the drive train slop is noticeable to me is off the line....  AND all you have to do to make it go away is to roll the bike backwards 6 inches after you come to a stop....  No big deal at all....