Harlet Davidson Project livewire
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Harlet Davidson Project livewire
By Ezra Dyer
Harley-Davidson is a company that knows what it’s about. And Harley is about the V-twin. Whether you’re talking a V-Rod or a big fat cruiser, Harleys are defined by sound, vibration and callous American low-down torque. Sure, even a V-Rod will get dusted by a modest Japanese sport bike, but Harley’s not selling out-and-out performance. They’re selling an experience — a highly popular and lucrative one. So they don’t mess with the formula.
But even brands that are built around an iconic product need to evolve, if only to attract new recruits to the fold. And so Harley is gingerly exploring the possibility of building a bike that foregoes a V-twin. In fact, it does without pistons, exhaust pipes or a gas tank. It’s called Project LiveWire, and it just might become the first electric Harley.
This is obviously a major step, so the company built about two dozen LiveWires and took them on tour to gauge reaction from the faithful. I ventured to one of these events, in Charlotte, N.C., to try the LiveWire for myself and try to make sense of a silent Harley.
That sound is also accompanied by serious acceleration. Harley says the LiveWire does 0-60 in four seconds flat, and it feels even quicker because of the instant torque and single-speed transmission. See a gap in traffic? Twist the grip and you’re gone—no shifting, no managing revs to stay in the power. It’s smooth, it’s quick and it feels like the future. Claimed range is 53 miles.
I loved this thing, but I’m not a Harley guy. And maybe that’s the point. The question Harley must ask is not whether the purists will buy a LiveWire, but whether the LiveWire will tarnish the brand. I suggest that Porsche is a good reference point—a sect of diehards initially thought the Cayenne was blasphemous, but now there are plenty of 911 owners who have the once-unthinkable SUV in their garages. The brand turned out to be bigger than sports cars.
And judging by the smiles on the faces of the leather-clad bikers rolling in after their rides, the LiveWire might prove that Harley is about more than just the rumble.
Harley-Davidson is a company that knows what it’s about. And Harley is about the V-twin. Whether you’re talking a V-Rod or a big fat cruiser, Harleys are defined by sound, vibration and callous American low-down torque. Sure, even a V-Rod will get dusted by a modest Japanese sport bike, but Harley’s not selling out-and-out performance. They’re selling an experience — a highly popular and lucrative one. So they don’t mess with the formula.
But even brands that are built around an iconic product need to evolve, if only to attract new recruits to the fold. And so Harley is gingerly exploring the possibility of building a bike that foregoes a V-twin. In fact, it does without pistons, exhaust pipes or a gas tank. It’s called Project LiveWire, and it just might become the first electric Harley.
This is obviously a major step, so the company built about two dozen LiveWires and took them on tour to gauge reaction from the faithful. I ventured to one of these events, in Charlotte, N.C., to try the LiveWire for myself and try to make sense of a silent Harley.
Harley-Davidson Project Livewire
OK, it’s not totally silent. Harley gave the bike noisy straight-cut gears, introducing a visceral mechanical element to its electronic machine. When you roll on the throttle, the bike emits a climbing high-pitched whine, the sound you might imagine from a nuclear reactor going into meltdown. It’s not the thumpa-thumpa of a V-twin, but it’s something cool and new and worthy in its own right.That sound is also accompanied by serious acceleration. Harley says the LiveWire does 0-60 in four seconds flat, and it feels even quicker because of the instant torque and single-speed transmission. See a gap in traffic? Twist the grip and you’re gone—no shifting, no managing revs to stay in the power. It’s smooth, it’s quick and it feels like the future. Claimed range is 53 miles.
I loved this thing, but I’m not a Harley guy. And maybe that’s the point. The question Harley must ask is not whether the purists will buy a LiveWire, but whether the LiveWire will tarnish the brand. I suggest that Porsche is a good reference point—a sect of diehards initially thought the Cayenne was blasphemous, but now there are plenty of 911 owners who have the once-unthinkable SUV in their garages. The brand turned out to be bigger than sports cars.
And judging by the smiles on the faces of the leather-clad bikers rolling in after their rides, the LiveWire might prove that Harley is about more than just the rumble.
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Keystone Motor Club (Founded 2012)... Free car show Every 3rd Saturday, newsletter is
https://www.tamparacing.com/forums/e...-car-club.html
Keystone Facebook ...click: "Keystone Motor Car Club"
Port Richey Rod Run at Coast Buick GMC Coming May 25 2024
https://carstoshow.com/registerevent.aspx?eventid=99114
50's Diner US19.... A Florida Attraction.
1730 US-19, Holiday Fl 34691 click: https://www.tamparacing.com/forums/t...-racing.html CHRA sanctioned cruise-in.
Cruise-In; Free; Every Saturday 5-8PM plus 10% off the whole menu to cruisers
All Cars Every 2nd Saturday Free Breakfast: Since 2015 and more. click: https://www.tamparacing.com/forums/e...ast-tampa.html
Tampa Racing.com covers the Tampa car scene and supports many fund raisers, worthy causes and events that enrich our community. We hope you enjoy them all.
What do I do? ---- on-site *Aftermarket* spring/suspension installations --- on-site impact wrenching---street lowering with your own stock springs...........True Bi-xenon HID projector headlight conversions........ Much more at Bob's Garage!
https://www.tamparacing.com/forums/b...ontact-us.html
https://www.tamparacing.com/forums/b...e-senor-honda/
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__________________
Keystone Motor Club (Founded 2012)... Free car show Every 3rd Saturday, newsletter is
https://www.tamparacing.com/forums/e...-car-club.html
Keystone Facebook ...click: "Keystone Motor Car Club"
Port Richey Rod Run at Coast Buick GMC Coming May 25 2024
https://carstoshow.com/registerevent.aspx?eventid=99114
50's Diner US19.... A Florida Attraction.
1730 US-19, Holiday Fl 34691 click: https://www.tamparacing.com/forums/t...-racing.html CHRA sanctioned cruise-in.
Cruise-In; Free; Every Saturday 5-8PM plus 10% off the whole menu to cruisers
All Cars Every 2nd Saturday Free Breakfast: Since 2015 and more. click: https://www.tamparacing.com/forums/e...ast-tampa.html
Tampa Racing.com covers the Tampa car scene and supports many fund raisers, worthy causes and events that enrich our community. We hope you enjoy them all.
What do I do? ---- on-site *Aftermarket* spring/suspension installations --- on-site impact wrenching---street lowering with your own stock springs...........True Bi-xenon HID projector headlight conversions........ Much more at Bob's Garage!
https://www.tamparacing.com/forums/b...ontact-us.html
https://www.tamparacing.com/forums/b...e-senor-honda/
Keystone Motor Club (Founded 2012)... Free car show Every 3rd Saturday, newsletter is
https://www.tamparacing.com/forums/e...-car-club.html
Keystone Facebook ...click: "Keystone Motor Car Club"
Port Richey Rod Run at Coast Buick GMC Coming May 25 2024
https://carstoshow.com/registerevent.aspx?eventid=99114
50's Diner US19.... A Florida Attraction.
1730 US-19, Holiday Fl 34691 click: https://www.tamparacing.com/forums/t...-racing.html CHRA sanctioned cruise-in.
Cruise-In; Free; Every Saturday 5-8PM plus 10% off the whole menu to cruisers
All Cars Every 2nd Saturday Free Breakfast: Since 2015 and more. click: https://www.tamparacing.com/forums/e...ast-tampa.html
Tampa Racing.com covers the Tampa car scene and supports many fund raisers, worthy causes and events that enrich our community. We hope you enjoy them all.
What do I do? ---- on-site *Aftermarket* spring/suspension installations --- on-site impact wrenching---street lowering with your own stock springs...........True Bi-xenon HID projector headlight conversions........ Much more at Bob's Garage!
https://www.tamparacing.com/forums/b...ontact-us.html
https://www.tamparacing.com/forums/b...e-senor-honda/
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