Electric Harley-Davidson – Come on, don’t feel the noise

Other than the profoundly deaf, it’s not instantly obvious just who an electric Harley-Davidson might be aimed at. Perhaps more so than any other vehicle, Harleys are associated with the profound, profane amounts of noise they make. A gun battle with modern weapons is probably slightly quieter than a group of Harley-Davidsons riding past.

Harley HQ, obviously, believes there is a market for the motorcycle equivalent of a really expensive stereo system that you can’t plug in, describing its new LiveWire, all-electric motorcycle as “a high-performance motorcycling experience infused with a new level of technology, and the premium look and feel of a Harley-Davidson product”.

And all for $49,995 ride-away.

To be fair, the look and feel of Harleys is generally the second thing you notice about them, while you’re still tapping the side of your head, attempting to work out who shot you in the ear.

The LiveWire, which may or may not have been hilariously named after an AC/DC song, will be available from EV-specific dealerships in Australia from September, and EV Central will be conducting a road test before then. 

It might be best to sit down on something soft and comfortable, like a Harley, before reading the price for this machine, which, let’s remember, won’t keep you dry when it rains.

“Silent but deadly” is probably one marketing phrase the company considered but rejected, because the LiveWire will be seriously quick, thanks to the typical punch you get from an electric drivetrain, with only a skerrick of the weight you get in a car. The H-D Revelation electric system will provide awesome acceleration with no need for skilful things like using a clutch or changing gears. Much like a very fast, very mean-looking moped, then.

And we do mean fast, with 0 to 100km/h coming up in three seconds flat, or almost half a second quicker than a Ferrari 458. Bountiful torque, another benefit of EVs, at any throttle position means that roll-on acceleration will also be grunt-tastic, with 100km/h to 129km/h flashing past in just 1.9 seconds. 

Harley seems keen to attract new, less-experienced customers with the LiveWire and is keen to point out how easy a bike is to ride when there are no gear changes to worry about. Any old-school motorcyclist will tell you, however, that blipping on the down changes, particularly on a Harley, is one of the best damn things about ridging a motorcycle (aside from cornering, of course, which has never been much of a thrill for Harley riders).

The fact that it’s aimed at a different market to traditional Harleys – people who like loud things – might also explain the styling which is…. unconventional for the brand. No one is going to mistake it for a Fat Boy at a distance. 

Maintenance will also be minimal, with no oil, air filters or spark plugs to worry about. 

The high-voltage battery comes with a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty and, vitally, is claimed to provide 235km of “city” range. Which is nice, but the open road is what a Harley owner’s heart generally yearns for. The LiveWire claims a 152km range for “combined stop-and-go and highway range”. 

It sounds to us like a blast from Sydney to Canberra would require at least one recharge, so it’s good to hear that the bike’s DC Fast Charge technology provides a 0 to 80 per cent battery charge in 40 minutes, or 0 to 100 per cent in 60 minutes.

It’s a bold move towards an EV future from a company that so famously lives off its outlaw history. Whether it will win over a new generation of leather-loving folks with fat wallets remains to be seen.