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Harley-Davidson's LiveWire is getting closer. The Motor Company presented a production-ready LiveWire at Milan's EICMA and confirmed once again that it will be released in 2019 as a 2020 model. This is the same LiveWire as the one presented at the celebration. Milwaukee's 115th birthday in August, but Harley also shared some more details about his all-new electric motorcycle, although some of the most important specs remain secretive.
For example, do not worry about the capacity of the RESS (rechargeable energy storage system) or the "battery" of those who speak English rather than marketing. The large black aluminum finned housing in the frame contains an unspecified number of unspecified and unspecified brand lithium ion cells, and will have everything to do with the range and power of LiveWire. This is a reasonable hypothesis. The energy capacity of this battery has increased significantly since the first LiveWire prototypes of 2014, and the battery volume seems large enough to be able to match or exceed the 15 kWh of Zero motorcycles larger capacity.
Harley said, "The performance and reach are optimized for urban city dwellers," suggesting that the company has met the same limits of autonomy as all other electric motorcyclists. It is targeting a market on which it can excel.
But some new important details have appeared. The "Fuel Tank" of LiveWire is located above a charging port using a SAE J1772 connector, the new automotive standard for fully-fledged electric cars. It supports level 2 (fast, measured in hours) and level 3, which is the fastest of all: DC fast charge. Fast DC charging is generally limited only by what cells and cooling can handle. If you look closely at the published photos, you can see liquid cooling lines and what appears to be a radiator or two on the LiveWire. This may be the first electric motorcycle that can be 80% loaded in 15 to 20 minutes; Completing the remaining 20% is always a slower process, and reaching nearly 100% can take an hour. Harley also noted the presence of a built-in Level 1 charger that can be plugged into any wall outlet; it is the easy charger to use for the night. Owners can use it, or have a Level 2 charger installed in their garage, as well as many Tesla and Chevrolet Bolt owners, and use the J1772 port.
The LiveWire engine lies in the polished aluminum casing beneath the battery and Harley describes it only as a PMAC (Permanent Magnet Current) motor without giving figures for power or torque. Expect these, especially the couple, to be sufficient for spectacular low speed acceleration and excellent zero to 100 km / hr times and roll times. The motor remains longitudinally mounted in the chassis, driving the output shaft through a right-angle gear assembly.
According to Harley, the bike "is designed to produce a tone that increases in pitch and volume with speed – a new sound that represents the smooth electric power of the LiveWire bike." Much of this sound certainly comes from this pair of gears.
As with most electric motorcycles, there is no clutch or gearbox. The final drive is done by toothed belt, with a very Buell look system. The rear axle is fixed and not adjustable, and a pulley located under the lower part of the belt is used for pre-tensioning the belt.
A new color TFT screen is mounted above the handlebar. It is tilting to optimize the viewing angle for different people, and it is completely modern and connected, with Bluetooth connectivity, navigation, music and machine configuration settings.
Some chassis details were unveiled: a high specification Showa suspension is used at both ends, a BFRC-lite damper with full damping adjustment and a separate SFF-BP fork piston. Michelins tires are available in widths of 120 and 180 sections, while 300 mm Brembo brakes are mounted on the front wheel. The ABS system is an advanced, corner-optimized version, and the electric motor features traction control, which will undoubtedly be very useful in slick and slippery urban streets.
Regarding the price, there are no clues. However, Harley positions the LiveWire as a high-performance, technically advanced urban street hunter with technology. It will not be cheap.
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