Tag Archives: Motorbikes

Curtiss Psyche aims at Harley LiveWire electric

Esoteric American motorcycle company Curtiss Motorcycles has unveiled a third electric motorcycle concept called Psyche to compete against Harley-Davidson’s LiveWire.

The company is already taking orders for the wild Zeus electric motorcycle with radial “V8” batteries and has released plans for the even wilder Hades with a bullet-shaped battery and motor.

They say these will go into production next year and cost $US75,000 (about $A106,000).

Now they have released plans for the more affordable Pysche priced at $US30,000 which is just a few bucks more than the Harley LiveWire.

Curtiss Psyche electric motorcycle
Psyche

There are no tech details yet on the Psyche, but Zeus and Hades will have 201hp (150kW) of power and 199Nm of torque.

That is far more than the $US29,799 (about $A42,500) Harley-Davidson electric LiveWire at 78kW and 116Nm.

Curtiss has also released no details of the Psyche’s range, while the LiveWire has 235km of city range and 150km on the highway.

Psyche shot at Harley

CEO Matt Chambers says the Psyche is “a clean shot at Harley, exposing the hollow seemingly cynical nature of their EV effort, their own CEO (Matt Levatich) referring to their rather commodity looking Livewire example as a catalyst for their petrol line”.

“Curtiss is the precise hard knock-out punch he didn’t see coming,” he says.

“He (Harley’s boss) is way too big and spread way too thin. The volumes will be too low for the next five years.

“We have out-planned them, out-designed them, out-engineered them, out-branded them and out-promoted them.

“The market is very small, ideally suited to our core competencies, skillsets and bandwidth. We have the experience and collaborative relationships to ideally grow with this market. Harley does not.”

Curtiss Zeuss Hades electric motorcycle
Zeus

Despite his rhetoric, their first electric motorcycle prototype Zeus is only now entering pre-production stage, while the Hades is still just life-like drawings.

The LiveWire is now available in North America and Europe, but will not be available in Australia until late next year.

Harley-Davidson Australia spokesman Keith Waddell says the “US/European markets have had strong pre-order activity in the lead-up to the release”.

“For ANZ we have not moved into the pre-order phase just yet, however we have heard that some dealers are already receiving request to order, which is great given we are 13-14 months out,” he says.

“We don’t have exact timeframes for when units will be delivered into market however we are working to the normal model year release cadence.”

Harley-Davidson LiveWire electric motorcycle
LiveWire in action (Read our road test)

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Honda teases new CRF1100L Africa Twin

Honda has released a teaser video that shows a rapid dust trail across the desert and the words “True Adventure” which could be the tipped CRF1100L Africa Twin.

CRF1100L

It is expected the 998cc engine from the CRF1000L will be upgraded to a longer-stroke 1084cc unit in the CRF11009L.

The bigger engine capacity will make it more competitive with the BMW, Ducati, KTM and Triumph adventurers.

Performance is expected to increase slightly from 70kW to 75kW, but weight may also be up from 243kg to about 250kg.

It is expected the new engine will meet the coming tough Euro5 emissions regulations and be 3dB quieter.

It is also suggested the standard tank may be increased from 18.9 litres to 24.2 litres like the Adventure Sports model.

2018 Honda Africa Twin CRF1100L
2018 Adventure Sport and standard model

Last year, Australia’s Safari Tanks introduced a $1140 34-litre tank for the Honda Africa Twin to allay touring concerns and provide up to 500km of range. 

There could also be some styling tweaks, although the video shows nothing of the bike.

Many expect the 2020 CRF1100L Africa Twin to go on show at the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show (24 October – 4 November 2019).

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

MV Agusta joins race to the bottom

MV Agusta has joined the “race to the bottom” not long after Harley-Davidson signed a deal to make low-capacity bikes in China and Ducati signed away its naming rights to Chinese scooters.

In the latest race to the bottom, premium Italian motorcycle manufacturer MV Agusta has signed a long-term deal (pictured above) with Chinese industrial giant Loncin Motor.

Together, they will build a four-model “all-new family of MV Agusta products in the 350-500cc displacement”.

It follows a somewhat dubious financial rescue deal last year with a Russian company that has links to the Russian mafia.

For years, MV have said they would never sell out and were proud to be the last true Italian brand.

You have to ask what is happening to the world of premium-brand motorcycles.

Is a sellout not beneath any of them?

Triumph has been making their bikes in Thailand for several years and BMW already makes G 310 models in India and scooters in China by the same company, Loncin.

So what is next?

The official MV/Loncin press release says the bikes will be “completely designed by MV Agusta to occupy the premium segment of this high-growth market”.

  • How many MV owners think this is a good idea for the resale value of their bike?
  • How many MV owners think this is a good idea when they can’t even get parts for their bike inside six months?
  • How many MV owners who sold out the new limited-edition Superveloce 800 are now nervous about their investment?
  • MV Agusta Superveloce 800, Dragster 800 RR America and Brutale 1000 Serie Oro gold mirror bottom
    MV Agusta Superveloce 800

Bottom dwellers

Sorry, but this latest deal just smacks of desperation and a race to the bottom. 

The official press release says the new Chinese deal will “enable MV Agusta to enlarge its current product portfolio with the objective of increasing our riders globally, expanding access into Asia through a partnership with Loncin Motor Co., Ltd”.

There is no word on whether it will improve the supply chain of spare parts to current owners waiting while their bike sits idle in their garage.

They say the new “smaller and more accessible motorcycles” will be available for sale in MV Agusta dealerships by the end of 2021.

“MV Agusta and Loncin announce that their partnership will not  be limited to the development of the new family of products in the 350-500cc range,” the release says.

“It also includes MV Agusta assisting Loncin into entering the premium segment market with their premium range of 800cc.”

MV promises to develop an “entirely new family of products for VOGE, Loncin’s premium high-end brand”.

By “high-end”, they mean Chinese high end , which is not what the rest of the world considers high end.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Triumph confirms Daytona Moto2 765

Triumph has confirmed to will replace the Daytona 675 they axed in 2017 with a Daytona 765 powered by a version of their control engine for the Moto2 class.

Ever since Triumph was announced as the Moto2 engine supplier in 2017 for the 2019-21 seasons, it has been expected the new engine would power a Daytona replacement.

Daytona Moto2 765

Now they have confirmed a limited-edition Daytona Moto2 765 will be revealed at the GoPro British Grand Prix at Silverstone on 23 August 2019.

Triumph promises it will have “highest power and torque” from its new Moto2-derived 765cc triple engine and “highest ever specification and rider technology”.

It will come in race paint scheme and the chassis will be based on the British championship-winning Daytona 675 R.

Triumph Daytona 765 Moto2
Triumph Daytona Moto2 765

However, they are only making limited run of individually numbered motorcycles, with 765 for Europe and Asia (including Australia), and 765 for the US and Canada.

We expect that, like the Rocket 3 TFC (Triumph Factory Custom) there will be a production model to follow the limited-edition run.

Final engine specification, suspension, and electronic details are yet to be confirmed for the street-legal Moto2 version.

However, it is likely to come in several specifications when it is released in volume production.

While Triumph has only released the one drawing (above), back in February we published these spy images from British website Motorcyclenews of the Daytona 765 in Spain.

Triumph Daytona 765 Triumph Daytona Moto2 765
High-spec Daytona 765 with a Speed Triple on a Spanish racetrack (All spy images of the Daytona 765 are from British website Motorcyclenews.com)

Wailing 765

Listen to the race engine wail in this video.

The three-cylinder Moto2 race engine is believed to have 97kW of power and meet the coming Euro 5 emissions standards.

It is derived from the 90kW 765cc Street Triple but with more than 80 new parts.

Triumph Daytona 765 Moto2 Triumph Daytona Moto2 765
Moto2 racer and Street Triple

They include an increased bore and stroke, new crank, pistons, titanium valves, stiffer valve springs and Nikasil-plated aluminium barrels.

The race bike also has a taller first gear ratio, a tunable slipper clutch, a new sump and an ECU developed by Magneti Marelli who supply the MotoGP control unit.

Triumph Daytona 765 Triumph Daytona Moto2 765
All spy images of the Daytona 765 are from British website Motorcyclenews.com

Daytona 765 tech

We’re not sure how much of this tech will make it into the street-legal version.

However, there is talk that it will have traction control, several engine modes, cornering ABS and a quickshifter with autoblipper to match wheel and engine speeds on downshifts and make you sound like you know what you’re doing!

The bike is expected to weigh in at about 180kg.

All spy images of the Daytona 765 are from British website Motorcyclenews.com Triumph Daytona Moto2 765
All spy images of the Daytona 765 are from British website Motorcyclenews.com

Moto2

Moto2 replaced the 250cc two-stroke GP class in 2010.

It has since been powered by Honda’s 600cc  four-cylinder engine.

When the MotoGP season starts on March 10 in Qatar, there will be a healthy field of 32 riders in the Moto2 category.

Triumph’s Daytona 675R engines have powered super sports wins at the Isle of Man TT, Daytona 200 and British Supersports Championships in 2014 and 2015.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Harley-Davidson launches new soundtrack

The famous Harley-Davidson “potato-potato” soundtrack now has a sister act with the electric LiveWire introducing a turbine whine.

Check out our video from the recent global media launch in Portland, Oregon.

You can get more details on the LiveWire, including price, tech specs, ride impressions and technology by clicking here for our full review.Harley-Davidson LiveWire electric motorcycle

Riding soundtrack

However, the most important thing about the newest Harley is the soundtrack to your riding.

Harley is famous for its distinctive exhaust soundtrack which many refer to as “potato-potato”.

Harley-Davidson’s name, trademark, and bar-and-shield and bald eagle logos are among the world’s most recognised.

In fact, in the late 1990s, the company even tried to trademark the “potato-potato” exhaust noise, but failed in US courts.

Harley-Davidson LiveWire electric motorcycle soundtrack
LiveWire

Harley could have produced an electric motorcycle with virtually no sound like all the other electric motorcycles and scooters.

However, the engineers knew that they had to have a distinctive sound to satisfy the Harley fans.Harley-Davidson LiveWire electric motorcycle soundtrack

And since there is no exhaust, the engineers meshed the primary spiral bevel gears to achieve the turbine whine that we hear in the above video.

You don’t really hear it much at low speeds.

The whine really kicks in when you give a fistful of throttleHarley-Davidson LiveWire electric motorcycle

And it disappears behind a wall of wind noise over about 80km/h.

So we wonder why they even bothered with the sound.hat do you think of the new-age Harley sound?

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Curtiss offers wild Zeus and Hades EVs

Curtiss Motorcycles is now taking orders for the wild Zeus electric motorcycle with radial “V8” batteries and has released plans for the even wilder Hades with a bullet-shaped battery and motor.

They say both will go into production next year and cost $US75,000. They are now taking “reservations of interest”.

That’s much cheaper than their previous petrol-powered bikes such as their Warhawk at $US105,000 (about $A140,000).

Curtiss Motorcycles Warhawk - Zeus Prototype
Curtiss Warhawk

Zeus and Hades

Their first electric motorcycle prototype Zeus is now entering pre-production stage.

Curtiss Zeuss Hades electric motorcycle
Zeus

The Hades is still just life-like drawings.

They say the bikes will have 201hp (150kW) of power and 199Nm of torque which is far more than the Harley-Davidson electric LiveWire at 78kW and 116Nm.

There are no more technical details available and we have yet to see these bikes rolled out.

However, they have met their crowdfunding goal so they could be going into production on schedule.

Curtiss Hades electric motorcycle
Hades

Curtiss history

Curtiss Motorcycles was formerly called Confederate Motorcycles but last year the Alabama motorcycle company ditched its now-controversial name after deadly race riots in Charlottesville, Virginia. 

Confederate Motors president H. Matthew Chambers said the company changed the name to honour motorcycle racer Glenn Curtiss who invented the first American V-Twin motorcycle.

Glenn set a world speed record of 136.3mph (219km/h) in 1907 on Ormond Beach, Florida, on a motorcycle he built with a 4.4-litre V8 engine he had designed and built for aircraft use.

Curtiss Motorcycles Hera has world's first V8 battery
Glenn Curtiss on his V8 motorcycle

He was a pioneer aviator and leading American manufacturer of aircraft by the time the US entered WWI. 

Curtiss began his career in the bicycle business, earning fame as one of the leading cycle racers in western New York state before building lightweight internal-combustion engines for motorcycles.  

In 1904 when the American aeronaut Thomas Scott Baldwin bought a Curtiss motorbike engine to power his airship California Arrow. 

At the invitation of Alexander Graham Bell, he joined the then newly formed Aerial Experiment Association (AEA) in 1907. 

Flying the AEA June Bug in 1908, Curtiss won the Scientific American Trophy for the first public flight of at least 1 km  with an American aeroplane. Curtiss died in 1930.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Harley-Davidson LiveWire is electrifying

Two things stand out about the Harley-Davidson LiveWire electric motorcycle: it is literally electrifying and cool!

That’s more than just a couple of gratuitous puns.

This bike is not an electric toy! It’s a real bike that is claimed to go from 0-100km/h in three seconds and we proved it on the world media launch with several impromptu drags on a lonely country road outside of Portland, Oregon. So that’s electrifying performance in anyone’s lexicon.Harley-Davidson LiveWire electric motorcycle

Many moto journos talk about the nirvana of having ultimate linear power delivery. That’s exactly what this supplies. There are no surges or lags, just a hand-of-God thrust in the back as you hurtle forward and the world tons to a blur.

And after a vigorous 110km test ride through the streets of Portland and beautiful surrounding country, the bike was still cool to the touch, even the water-cooled motor, battery and radiator.

So it doesn’t just look cool and represent a cool trend in motorcycling, it’s literally cool to touch which makes it an ideal summer commuter bike!Harley-Davidson LiveWire electric motorcycle

Price

The dual-seat LiveWire is made in Cork, Pennsylvania and has been in development almost a decade.

It finally goes on sale shortly in the USA at about $US30,000 in a choice of cool lime, a bright orange and gloss black.

It will arrive in Australia late next year probably at more than $A40,000 which is more than most of their Touring models.Harley-Davidson LiveWire electric motorcycle

Harley-Davidson Australia and New Zealand say they won’t have a definite figure until closer to our launch.

It’s expensive, but it also has suitably premium components, a high quality of ft and finish (not a cadmium bolt in sight!), thick and lustrous paint, plus premium controls including a proximity key fob.

Styling is a subjective matter, but I like the modern, minimalist look and the big cooling fins around the battery, although the gloss black model looks way too dark. Maybe they should have made the calling fins silver on that one.

Harley-Davidson LiveWire electric motorcycle
Harley-Davidson LiveWire electric motorcycle

The remote rear fender with number plate allows for a tidy wasp-like tail with the pillion seat suspended in mid-air.

Underneath the seat is a small lockable compartment for the the mains charger and cable that includes a handy helmet hook. Harley put the key fob under the seat so we wouldn’t lose it and it was the only mechanical sound in the whole bike. Most riders would keep it in their jacket pocket!Harley-Davidson LiveWire electric motorcycle

You can also get a small “speed screen blade”, decorative trim, different hand and foot controls and a cover that includes a charging cord port. Many traditional Harley accessories such as wheels and bars can also be fitted.

LiveWire comes with two batteries. The big 15.5 kWh high-voltage Lithium-ion battery or “Renewable Energy Storage System (RESS)” made up of Samsung battery modules has a five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty.

Harley-Davidson LiveWire electric motorcycle
Battery

Harley chief engineer Glen Koval says the recyclable battery should last 10 years without significant loss of capacity unless it is not treated well or used extensively in extreme cold conditions.

There is also a small 12V lithium-ion battery to power instruments, lights, etc.

Harley has not said how much a replacement main battery will cost, probably because in five years from now it will cost a lot less, anyway!

Silent running

Of course, the electric LiveWire is quiet, especially at low speeds, but not exactly silent.

When you switch it on, the headlight and instrument screen lights up, but there is no accompanying motor noise.

As you take off,  you can feel a gentle buzz which is induced by the rocking of magnets. Harley wanted riders feel the “heartbeat” of the machine.

When you give it the berries, the bike makes a turbine “whoosh” noise thanks to the belt drive and “meshing” of the primary spiral bevel gears. At highway speeds all you can hear is the wind.Harley-Davidson LiveWire electric motorcycle

While I missed the throbbing sound and feel of a Harley V-twin engine, I actually found it made you more aware of surrounding noises from other vehicles.

It also meant that when I listened to music, GPS directions or phone calls on my helmet intercom, I didn’t need to turn the volume up quite as high.

The lack of noise also seems to have a calming effect on the rider.

However, I was acutely aware that other road users couldn’t hear me coming and a couple of times I tapped the horn to announce my presence.

RangeHarley-Davidson LiveWire electric motorcycle

Harley recently released details that claim city range of up to 235km and 152km of highway range.

While they don’t give total charging time from a mains outlet with the provided cord, they do tell us that a 120/240-volt outlet will provide about 20km (13 miles) per hour of charging. That means it will probably take at least 11 hours from flat to reach full capacity. And the cost would be less than $4.

They also claim their Fast Charge (DCFC) technology will recharge a flat battery to 80% in 40 minutes and full in 60 minutes.

Harley-Davidson LiveWire electric motorcycle
Mobile DC fast chargers at work

They brought in three mobile DC fast chargers for the event which they say are not as powerful as the permanent ones that will be at Harley dealerships. These chargers were only used at the end of the day’s ride.

None of the bikes ran out of “juice” on the road test, even though we mainly rode hard and fast in the electrifying “Sport” mode.

We covered about 110km and my bike still showed 30% charge left.

The charging port is in the top of the “fuel” tank for easy access.Harley-Davidson LiveWire electric motorcycle

You can check the battery recharging status and time left to full on the instruments or on an accompanying H-D Connect app.

The Android and iOS app also alerts you if someone is tampering with your bike, includes a GPD tracker if its stolen, shows the closest charging stations and reminds you when the bike needs a service. But since the only consumables are the brake pads, servicing should be cheaper. Still, service intervals are 1600km first and then every 8000km like their conventional bikes.

Harley PR rep Joe Gustafson says the app gives the rider “peace of mind”.

H-D Connect uses a cellular telematics control unit (TCU) that functions as an LTE-enabled modem connecting LiveWire motorcycles to the cloud. Owners will get the service free for a year.

It will be available soon in the USA, Canada, Puerto Rico and most EU countries and becomes available in late August 2020 in Australia, Brazil, Mexico and Japan. Subscription details and pricing will be available online.

Electrifying modesHarley-Davidson LiveWire electric motorcycle

There are seven riding modes: Range, Rain, Road and Sport, plus three customisable modes.

Each mode affects the acceleration and response from the twist-and-go throttle.

It also affects the amount of “regeneration” which is like engine braking and helps to recharge the battery.

Both of these also affect the range.

The modes also vary the amount of cornering-enhanced traction control that includes a wheelie control to stop the front wheel lifting and a rear-wheel lockup control.

They label their traction control High, Medium and Low, but high is not for high intervention but high slip, so it is opposite to what it appears.

Riders can select the modes on the fly with a button on the right-hand controller. Your selected mode is displayed on the big, easy-to-read 11cm colour touchscreen which is like a mini iPad.

  • Sport: Full, seamless power and 80% immediate throttle response. This offers truly electrifying performance. I thought it might make it a little jerky, but it so smooth and predictable, even in slow-speed manoeuvres. Traction control is also set to High which is the lowest level of intervention. However, you can turn it off when stopped. Regeneration is also quite significant at 80% so you don’t even need to use the brakes to come to a full stop. The only time I touched the brakes was in emergency brake tests and when riding hard.
  • Road: This mode softens throttle response to 55%, power delivery to 80% and regen to 30%, plus medium traction control. Harley says it feels more like a traditional petrol-powered bike and they are right, but because of its twist-and-go transmission (like a scooter), you can’t slip a little clutch to smooth out power delivery for tight, feet-up u-turns. But guess what! You don’t need to. It’s super-smooth with plenty of feel, unlike any EFI fly-by-wire throttle. Medium traction control can be turned off when stopped.Harley-Davidson LiveWire electric motorcycle
  • Range: Obviously this is the economy mode to squeeze extra range out of the bike. Throttle response is smoother at 55%, power 40% and regen 80%, making it quite jerky when you roll off the throttle. Traction control is medium and can be turned off when stopped.
  • Rain: Like the rain mode on many conventional bikes, this has 0% power, 30% soft throttle response, 15% regen and Low traction means high intervention and cannot be turned off.
  • Three Custom Modes: You can select your own levels of power, regeneration, throttle response and traction control and save them to A, B or C modes. Power, regeneration and throttle can be adjusted from 0-100% in 1% increments, and traction can be set to Low, Medium or High intervention.

Since most riders won’t touch the brakes to slow down, the rear brake LED light will light up on regenerative braking to alert traffic behind your that you are slowing, avoiding rear-enders.

Lively LiveWire

Sporty Harley-Davidson electric LiveWire parade silicon standardise
Harley’s LiveWire electric motor

Harley says the H-D Revelation electric motor has 78kW of power. That’s not too bad for a 249kg bike which is about the same as a 1200 Sportser or Ducati Diavel.

That power figure is the same as a KTM 1190, but the porky LiveWire weighs a substantial 32kg more.

More importantly, the bike has 116Nm of torque which is substantially more than the 95Nm in the 1200 Sportster .

Full-tilt torque is available as soon as you twist the throttle, which is why traction and wheelie control is so important.

It feels lively and lithe, like many streetfighter-style bikes with its flat bars.

On the highway it’s stable, around town it’s manoeuvrable and in the twisties it feels planted and precise, thanks to the premium Showa suspension.

It’s fully adjustable, but rather than playing around with the clickers, you can go to the instrument screen and put in the weights of you, pillion and any luggage and it will calculate the right settings. How clever is that!

Some claimed it felt top heavy, but I didn’t think so. The weight is carried low in the underslung motor. It feels a little heavy coming up off the side stand, but then it feels perfectly balanced.

Harley-Davidson LiveWire electric motorcycle
Clever locking sidestand

I love the use of Harley’s clever stable side stand that won’t allow the bike to roll forward when parked downhill.

The low centre of gravity makes it easy to turn and quick to change direction.

However, the seat is 779mm high and is narrow so even shorter riders can get their feet flat down on the ground. I’m 183cm tall and I could still bend my legs with my feet flat on the ground. There is also a Slammer seat that is 25mm lower.

The Brembo brakes are powerful and have plenty of feel, but with the regenerative braking of the motor, you really don’t need to use them that often, although it’s nice to know they are there when you need them in an emergency.

Conclusion

At this price, it’s going to be a hard sell, even for cashed-up, early adopters and techno nerds.

But they will find this is not just some toy. It’s a serious, full-size, hard-charging, fun motorcycle that is both easy to ride and a hard charger for the adrenalin junkie.

Harley-Davidson LiveWire tech specs

  • Price: $US29,799 (about $A42,500)
  • Available: Next month in North American and Europe, late next year Australia and New Zealand
  • Colours: range, lime and black
  • Battery warranty: five-year, unlimited-km
  • Motor: H-D Revelation permanent-magnet, water-cooled electric motor
  • Power: 78kW (105hp)
  • Instant torque: 116Nm (86ft lbs)
  • Battery: Air-cooled 15.5kWh high-voltage lithium-ion battery (Rechargeable Energy Storage System)
  • Transmission: motor output shaft, 9.71:1 gear reduction, belt drive
  • Acceleration: 0 -100km/h 3 seconds; 100-130km/h 1.9 seconds
  • Top speed: 177km/h
  • Range: 235km (city), 152km (combined stop-and-go and highway range using MIC City and MIC Combined tests), 158km (World Motorcycle Test Cycle)

    Harley-Davidson electric LIveWire parade
    Charging points on the LIveWire are under the “fuel” cap.

  • Charging: 120/240-volt outlet 20km (13 miles) per hour of charging; DC Fast Charge (DCFC) 0-80% in 40 minutes or 100% in 60 minutes
  • Weight: 210kg
  • Suspension (rear): fully adjustable Showa Balanced Free Rear Cushion-lite mono-shock
  • Suspension (front); Showa Separate Function Fork-Big Piston

    Sporty Harley-Davidson electric LiveWire
    Fully adjustable Showa rear shock

  • Brakes: Dual Brembo Monoblock calipers, 300mm rotors
    Tyres: H-D/Michelin Scorcher (180mm rear and 120mm front)
  • Rider aids: Reflex Defensive Rider Systems (RDRS), Cornering Enhanced Anti-lock Braking System (C-ABS), Cornering Enhanced Traction Control System (C-TCS) and Drag-Torque Slip Control System (DSCS)
  • Technology: 4.3” colour TFT touchscreen, Daymaker LED headlamp, LED lighting, H-D Connect service connectivity and Harley- Davidson App
  • Riding modes: Seven selectable Ride Modes electronically control motor performance and level of RDRS intervention
  • Accessories: dual seat and tail, speed screen blade, decorative trim, hand and foot controls and cover with charging cord port
Sporty Harley-Davidson electric LiveWire
Touchscreen instruments

More tech specs

2020 Harley-Davidson LiveWire MODEL SPECIFICATIONS

Dimensions

84.1 in. (2,135 mm)

Overall Width

32.7 in. (830 mm)

Overall Height

42.5 in. (1,080 mm)

Seat Height, Laden / Unladen

30 in. (761 mm) / 30.7 in. (780 mm)

Ground Clearance

5.1 in. (130 mm)

Rake (steering head)

4.3 in. (108 mm)

58.7 in. (1,490 mm)

Tires, Type

Michelin® Scorcher® “Sport”

Scorcher® “Sport”

Tires, Front Specification

120/70 ZR17 58W

Tires, Rear Specification

180/55 ZR17 73W

Transmission Capacity

0.34 qt (0.32 L)

Coolant Capacity

0.8 qt. (0.72 L)

Weight, As Shipped

549 lb. (249 kg)

Weight, In Running Order

549 lb. (249 kg)

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating

949 lb. (430 kg)

Gross Axle Weight Rating, Front

434 lb. (197 kg)

Gross Axle Weight Rating, Rear

580 lb. (263 kg)

Drivetrain

Primary Drive (*Cert)

Spiral bevel gear , 55/17 ratio

Final Drive (*Cert)

Belt, 3/1 ratio

Transmission

Single Speed

Gear Ratios (overall) 1st (*Cert) (X.XXX)

Aluminum cast

Aluminum cast

Front Fork

SHOWA® 43 mm Inverted Separate Function Forks – Big Piston (SFF-BP®), fully adjustable

Rear Shocks

SHOWA® Balance Free Rear Cushion Lite (BFRC-lite®), fully adjustable

Wheels, Type

Black, Split 5-Spoke Cast Aluminum

Wheels, Front Dia. / Width

17 in. (432 mm) / 3.5 in. (89 mm)

Wheels, Rear Dia. / Width

17 in. (432 mm) / 5.5 in. (140 mm)

Brakes, Caliper Type

Dual 4-piston monoblock radial mount front, dual-piston rear

Brakes, Rotor Type

Dual floating rotors (front), floating rotor (rear)

Brakes, Front Diameter / Thickness

11.8 in. (300 mm) / 0.2 in. (5 mm)

Brakes, Rear Diameter / Thickness

10.2 in. (260 mm) / 0.2 in. (5 mm)

Brakes, Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS)

Suspension Travel, Front / Rear

4.5 in. (115 mm) / 4.5 in. (115 mm)

Performance

Lean Angle Testing Method

Lean Angle, Right / Left (deg)

Lithium Ion, 12.8V , 24 Wh, 120 A

Onboard DC to DC conversion

Lights (as per country regulation), Headlamp

All LED, low beam, high beam and signature position lamp

Lights (as per country regulation), Tail/Stop

LED with light pipe tail

Lights (as per country regulation), Front Signal Lights

Lights (as per country regulation), Indicator Lamps

High beam, turn signals, ABS, traction control, EV fault

Lights, Rear Turn Signals

LED, Amber

4.3” WQVGA 480×272 TFT Color Display with Ambient Light Sensor, 9 warning lights, Real Time Clock and Integrated Bluetooth Connectivity to a Smartphone to provide infotainment features including turn-by-turn navigation, telephone, music, and voice recognition.

Electric Power Outlet

USB C-type; output 5V at 3A

EV Specific Content: Motor

Internal Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor with Water Jacket cooling

Motor Name

Revelation®

Inverter type

Pole Count

Power (hp/kW)

105 HP (78kW)

6.69 in. (170 mm)

Stack Length

3.94 in. (100 mm)

EV Specific Content: RESS

Lithium Ion

15.5kWh total, 13.6kWh min usable

EV Specific Content: Charging

Charge Plug Type

SAE J1772 Combo Inlet (CCS1) / IEC 62196 Combo Inlet (CCS2)

On-board charger, charge rate

AC wall charging time (not verified)

Target – Full charge in 12.5 hrs
– Capable of 12.6 miles/hour charge rate (MIC city cycle)

DC fast charging time (not verified)

Target – Full charge in 1.0 hr
– Capable of 192 miles/hour charge rate (MIC city cycle)

DC to DC conversion

450W at 14.2V

EV Specific Content: Range

146 mi (235 km)

Highway (70 mph sustained)

70 mi (113 km)

95 mi (152 km)

WMTC (World Motorcycle Test Cycle)

98 mi (158 km)

Infotainment

Hands-free Mobile Phone – via Bluetooth

Voice Recognition Languages: Phone functions only

Via paired iOS or Android device

Voice Recognition Languages: Tuner/Media/ Navigation

Via paired iOS or Android device

USB Type-C

Phone/media supported

Telematics

(Harley-Davidson paid for our flights, hotels and meals.)

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

AKO patents leaning electric trike

Lithuanian start-up AKO has applied for a patent for an electric-powered vehicle somewhere between a motorcycle, trike and a car with the ability to lean in corners.

Of course, there are already leaning three-wheelers such as the Piaggio MP3 scooter and Yamaha Niken.

Yamaha is particularly keen on a leaning trike future and has applied for several patents as has Honda.

Yamaha Niken VMax leaning three-wheeler coming AKO
Yamaha patent drawing

However, Honda is the only one that has applied for a leaning trike patent with an electric motor.

Honda Neowing Goldwing leaning three-wheeler trike patent granted aka
Honda patent

Until now!

AKO trike

AKO leaning electric itrike
AKO leaning electric itrike

Team AKO describe their machine as an “electric inverse leaning trike”.

That means it has two wheels at the front, rather than at the rear like traditional treikes.

The “roadster” style with two wheels at the front is similar to the leaning MP3 and Niken and the non-leaning Can-Am Slyders.AKO leaning electric itrike

The AKO is a two-seater with the rider in front and passenger behind and a completely covered shell, not just a roof like BMW’s C1 scooter which the Bavarian company might be re-launching.

The leaning technology is apparently hydraulic button other details are available.

What sets this apart is the electric power plant.

Because the trike configuration is bigger than scooters and motorcycles, it allows them to fit a bigger battery which means more range.

While Harley is currently launching its LiveWire with 150km of highway range and 235km of city range, the hefty 500kg AKO is claimed to have 300km range and 140kW of power. 

Harley electric LiveWire Harley and Indian announce 2018 sales results AKO
Harley LiveWire

No other tech specs are available yet as it is still just a patent drawing.

Despite the realistic images, there isn’t even a prototype yet.AKO leaning electric itrike

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Unique launch for Harley’s electric LiveWire

As you read this I am flying to Portland, Oregon, for a unique media launch of the Harley-Davidson LiveWire electric motorcycle.

There are many things that make this launch unique.

Unique bike

For a start, this is the first full-size electric road motorcycle from a traditional motorcycle manufacturer.

The now-axed Victory Motorcycles slapped their brand name on an electric Brammo in 2015, but it wasn’t their product. (When we tested it on a Colorado racetrack, at least we got to see it being recharged.)

Victory Empulse TT electric motorcycle dial poised historic events
MBW rides the Victory Empulse TT electric motorcycle

Honda and BMW have produced electric scooters, while Yamaha and KTM have a couple of small electric trail bikes.

Oliver van Bilsen living with an electric BMW C evolution scooter electric motorbike historic
BMW C evolution electric scooter

Other major motorcycle companies such as Triumph are feverishly working on electric motorcycles.

Unique guest list

The usual motorcycle media will not be present.

Magazines that usually attend Harley product launches have not been invited.

Why?

Maybe because Harley has identified electric motorcycles as appealing to a different market.

In fact, it may not appeal to any current (‘scuse the pun) Harley owners and lovers.

Instead of the motorcycle mag crew, there are newspaper, TV journos, “influencers” and, of course, websites like ours.

Unique rideHarley-Davidson poised for historic events history unique

Most global motorcycle model launches feature quite a long ride, sometimes even track time.

It is not unusual for rides to go over more than one day so journos get a good feel for a motorcycle.

In this case, the ride is a mere 60km through downtown Portland and out into a little bit of country.

This is not only unique but surprising, given one of the biggest hurdles to electric motorbikes is the lack of range.

Harley recently released details that claim city range of up to 235km and 152km of highway range. (Click there for the LiveWire specs.)

They also claims their Fast Charge (DCFC) technology will recharge a flat battery to 80% in 40 minutes and full in 60 minutes.

So why not ride 60km, charge them over lunch, then head back?

Maybe it’s because they fear moto journos will “give it the berries” which will flatten the batteries faster than the selectable economy mode.

After all, I know I will be testing their claim it goes from 0-100km/h in a mere three seconds!

At least it’s better than our 2014 ride around the block in LA on the LiveWire prototype.

Harley-Davidson greenies eight electric motorbike Alta sporty poised historic event
MBW riding the LiveWire prototype in LA in 2014

Unique soundtrack

Harley launches are usually accompanied by the “potato-potato” roar of big V-twins.

This time it will be a subtle “whoosh”as the bikes roll along in near silence.

I found a muted turbo-jet sound on the prototype which was achieved by “meshing” the drive gear.

Speaking of gears, there won’t be any. It is a “twist-and-go” throttle like a scooter.

Just another unique feature in a totally unique event!

Harley-Davidson Livewire electric motorcycle specs strikes diverse
Harley-Davidson Livewire

Unique price

The LiveWire goes on sale shortly in the USA at about $US30,000.

It will arrive in Australia late next year probably at more than $A40,000 which is more than some of their Touring models.

Harley-Davidson Australia say they won’t have a definite figure until closer to our launch.

Stay tuned for our ride test later this week.

(Harley-Davidson is paying for our flights, hotels and meals.)

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Orders accepted for Aussie electric motorcycle

Savic Motorcycles founder, Dennis Savic, tells us they will be accepting orders for the first 50 production bikes of all three C-Series variants (Alpha, Delta, Omega).

“We will be at the festival this year launching our production prototype,” he says, although the electric Cafe Racer prototype has already been unveiled at the Melbourne Moto Expo on 23 November 23, 2018.

“We hope to make it available for test rides.”

Savic orders

Dennis Savic with electric Cafe racer motrcycle

You can place orders for the three Cafe Racer production versions at the festival:

  • Alpha 60kW, from $20,000;
  • Delta 40kW, from $15,000; and
  • Omega 20kW, from $12,000.

That’s much cheaper than the Harley-Davidson LiveWire electric motorcycle which launches this week in Portland, Orgeon, at about $US30,000.

It will be available in Australia at probably more than $A40,000 late next year.

We will be in Portland this week to test the LiveWire so stay tuned.

Harley-Davidson Livewire electric motorcycle specs incentives orders
LiveWire

Savic motorcycles will be made in Melbourne and Taiwan and delivered in 2020.

Each model comes with several battery pack options. The largest offered in the Alpha will provide range of up to 250km, while the smallest option in the Omega will have 50km range. 

Like all electric vehicles, peak torque is instantaneous and Dennis says his bike will accelerate from 0-100km in four seconds.

By comparison, the LiveWire will have city range of about 235km and highway range of about 150km and reach 100km/h in three seconds.

Savic customers will be able choose a range of options in brakes, suspension, wheels, tyres and three colours – Spectre, Stealth, and Rustic.

Aftermarket upgrades will also be offered. 

The bikes feature a fully integrated, stressed, liquid-cooled motor and energy storage system.

Depending on the model and battery pack a customer selects, a single charge can provide up to 11kWh. That costs only $3 compared with about $15 for a petrol bike to travel 250km.

Prototype designSavic Motorcycles electric cafe racer prototype

Dennis, 27, spent more than 650 hours designing and building the prototype.

“This is a bit of a dream come true,” he says.

“When I was 14, I decided I wanted to design and build my own vehicles one day. So I did my engineering degree and when I graduated about three years ago I got stuck into it. It’s been a long time coming.

“These motorcycles are a unique offering with the most advanced features and functionality that the materials, engineering, electronic controls, electrical technology and 3D printing can offer today. 

“We have created a unique design featuring a perfectly rolled (not bent) backbone frame and developed our own powertrain package.” 

Dennis Savic with electric Cafe racer motrcycle
Dennis with the unveiled electric Cafe Racer

Savic Motorcycles electric cafe racer prototype

Savic Motorcycles electric cafe racer prototype

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com