Harley Davidson goes electric

[PHC1]

Meet the H-D Livewire. 2022 is supposed to bring a portfolio of electric bikes to the house of H-D starting with the Livewire. Let’s just say they won’t find me in line for one but here is Jay Leno’s garage episode https://youtu.be/lyJr8BoklC0

[djwhog]

OH yuk how sad is that

[Macuser]

That'll never fly with the traditional Harley crowd. How are they going to irritate everyone within earshot with straight pipes on an electric bike?

[Mikado463]

I like it ! Jay's analogy to wrist watches is good too ..........

[Higgens]

When Porsche launched the Cayenne, many Porsche loyalists predicted the demise of the company. Let’s wait and see how this turns out for H-D before passing judgment. It could either be a genius strategy move or their last big hurrah.

[For The Love of Music]

My father grew up with bikes and he ordered us a pair in 1995, there was a multi month wait back then.

I remember having straight pipes on each side with no baffles and the fins cut off, braided lines, skull tipped clutch and break levers plus more.

Being newly married, I sold my bike when he moved to California as the roads were too busy then and like Audio it was a solo hobby, and have zero interest on getting on one again, and even gave up my license a few years ago.

I could not imagine my son or his friends jumping on the Harley’s we rode or the fuel bikes of today.

With that being said, the electric bike just may do it. I think Harley is making a smart choice diversifying into the electric world and will be a hit on the International playing field. It will gain an audience it did not have and maybe some converts. The new rider still faces the traffic which is horrible and it’s not you, it’s the other driver to watch for.

While I support electric, I’m still in the fuel camp and remember the motto we had, “loud pipes save life’s”

[The Lost Bears]

An electric Harley is more likely a novelty and will go the way of Buel. I wouldn't buy one. But then I still have a Harley with a carburetor.

The golden age of motorcycles is pretty much over. I use to ride everywhere, now I don't. The roads are just not as safe as they were 20 years ago. You don't see as many motorcycles around even in places like Florida. I rarely see motorcycles when I am in Tampa.

[radio times]

I agree, too many frontal lobotomy psychotic fascist drivers on the hunt.

[Still-One]

Electric might not be good but anything is better than the irritating sound of a Harley.

[PHC1]

H-D needs to diversify for sure. Motorcycle sales are slumping and H-D especially. The only brand that seems to be bucking the trend is the Indian with a slight uptick in sales. H-D is starting to bleed pretty badly.

Millennials are not into bikes nearly as much as the older Gen X'ers and Baby Boomers were.

An E-motorcycle is definitely not something that appeals to me, it reminds me too much of the same effect on can get simply riding a bicycle downhill really fast. I need to feel and hear the thumping/thunder and I need my clutch and to be shifting gears not twisting the "handle" since it is not really a "throttle" anymore than a "gas pedal" is in an e-car?

I hope H-D finds new customer base with these e-bikes but somehow I doubt it will make a significant impact on their sales.