Talk About Electric! HARLEY-DAVIDSON LiveWire Review

JUN 7

Talk about electric! Harley Davidson gave Jasmine Rose of the Litas Los Angeles the keys to a sparkling new LiveWire for a couple weeks, and she didn’t want to give it back. While her regular rider is a 2017 Triumph Bonneville, when H-D reached out to her offering a short-term loan of any of their current line up (outside of the Panamerica), she knew immediately that the only Harley she wanted to ride was the LiveWire. She had professional experience working for both H-D and Tesla, and she had been itching to see how a high-performance electric motorcycle would feel to ride. Here’s her take on riding the all-electric motorcycle:

“Definitely a conversation starter! Everywhere I went, motorcyclists and non-motorcyclists wanted to talk to me about the LiveWire : “How does charging work?” , “Is it fast?” and “How far does it go?” Let me start by saying that I have LOVED riding this bike. Sure, it’s a bit odd not having a clutch and not needing to shift, and I definitely grabbed for a “ghost” clutch when I first hopped on the bike. But I adjusted very quickly- and the bike moved super fast, too! I do not deny smiling and laughing a lot whilst riding it. It’s a super smooth ride and incredibly user-friendly. The Livewire is engineered with their “Reflex Defensive Rider Systems”, using high-tech systems to assist you with acceleration and braking in a straight line or while in a turn.

On a full charge, you can expect to get a range of 90-140 miles. Like any EV, how much energy you use depends on how far it can go. Going 90 mph for 20 minutes on the freeway is going to take up at least half of your battery. Stop-and-go city riding and cruising through twisty canyons for miles on end will give you much more mileage.

And YES, it is super fast! The electric motor has incredible acceleration. Think: Riding a rollercoaster that YOU control. Incredible! It is seriously an entire new level of fun. The electric motor can produce 100% of its rated torque instantly. It’s located below the battery to lower the center of gravity for easy handling. Although the LiveWire weighs 100 lbs more than my Triumph Bonneville, at 549 lbs, it feels much lighter.

Charging just requires a bit of planning, as there are obviously fewer EV charging stations than gas stations. I learned that EVGo charging stations are fast charging (Level 3), while Charge Point and all others you might see in a mall or at Whole Foods, are NOT fast charging (Level 1). You can also plug it in overnight at home or during the day at the office and get full charge within 8 hours. If you are going to ride to a location that requires you to use more than a full charge, you just need to make sure you find the appropriate Level 3 charging station along your route. Riding around the city for the day will hardly put a dent in your charge.

In conclusion: if you are curious at all about going electric and like the idea of reducing your carbon footprint while riding a motorcycle, I highly recommend giving the LiveWire a test ride.”