[ad_1]
July 15, 2019 by Steve Hanley
Harley Davidson has a problem. Sales of its iconic motorcycles in the United States are weakening. 50 years later Easy Rider made the Milwaukee "pork" the ultimate symbol of the event, the Wild Bunch became the Mild Bunch. On weekends, they gather to parade along American roads and slightly below the posted speed limit, in a procession more homage to flatulence than to freedom of expression.
Credit: Harley Davidson
Will Harley Davidson become an electric motorcycle again? Five years later, the production of his LiveWire electric bike will start soon and you can reserve one online today. Prices start at $ 29,799. For this, a buyer gets a bike that reaches 60 mph in 3 seconds, powered by a constant-torque electric motor. Range shown is 146 miles in the city. The laws of aerodynamics being what they are: wind resistance increases by a factor of 4 when the speed doubles, the combined city / highway range is rather 95 miles. At constant cruising speed, it will be even less.
The first thing alert readers will notice about LiveWire is that it looks nothing like the traditional bikes that the company has been producing for generations. More sporty than cruiser, it is obviously not intended to seduce Harley regular riders. However, it will please canyon racers who are keen on modern technology. With the help of the Harley app, homeowners can monitor the status of their machines by far and be alerted if someone disturbs his parked rest. A completely modern digital display incorporates the necessary information as well as a navigation aid.
We contacted Harley Davidson and they told us that the bike was delivered with a battery of 15.5 kWh and that it could be recharged with direct current at 80% of its capacity in 40 minutes or at its full capacity. one o'clock. The load reduction starts at 80% and, depending on their number, we estimate that the bike can take up about 18 kW from a CCS station, like those offered by Electrify America. Loading at a standard point of sale is a night process.
Technology abounds on this machine. Here's what the company said on its website: "The LiveWire ™ model is equipped with Reflex ™ Defensive Rider Systems. The separate functions of the RDRS work together to give the rider more confidence and control in less than ideal situations. The Reflex ™ Defensive Rider Systems handle the anti-lock braking system, traction control system and torque-optimized cornering control system optimized by modulating the available torque at the rear wheel. It combines electronic controls and hydraulic systems, where applicable, using the latest six-axis inertial measurement unit and ABS sensor technology. "
The LiveWire has four pre-programmed modes: Sport, Road, Standby and Rain, as well as three driving modes that the driver can customize. The forged aluminum frame provides high torsional strength and minimal weight. The front and rear suspension components come from Showa and offer a range of settings that allow the rider to choose the desired level of performance or comfort.
Credit: Harley Davidson
Harley had a small fleet of pre-production LiveWires during last weekend's Formula E race in Brooklyn. The edge Contributor Sean O'Kane put one up and said he was fit, quick and competent if he was a little too good for his tastes (your tastes may vary – check with your dealer for details). It's more elegant and refined than the prototype introduced by Harley 5 years ago when he started developing LiveWire, he says.
"Curiously, the brand LiveWire is virtually non-existent. I could see people who were not familiar with motorcycles taking it for a traditional bike, "says O'Kane. And that's the point. This bike is looking to attract new riders to Harley Davidson to compensate for the fact that Harley buyers are now almost as old as Buick owners. The company desperately needs to reach a younger audience, who is not seduced by the "potato" sound of a classic V-twin, whose basic configuration was defined nearly a century ago.
$ 30,000 is a lot for a motorcycle, although it is as modern and modern as the LiveWire. Will it be a commercial success, or an embarrassing after-thought like the still-born Harley V-Rod? "We'll see," said the Zen master just before re-reading for the third time Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance.
"
About the author
Steve Hanley Steve writes about the interface between technology and sustainability from his home in Rhode Island and wherever the singularity could lead him. His motto is: "Life is not measured by how many breaths we take, but the number of moments that take our breath away!" You can follow him on Google + and on Twitter.
[ad_2]
Source link