Posts Tagged ‘harley electric motorcycle’

BAM! A Harley Davidson Street Fighter and Adventure Motorcycle!

Posted: July 30, 2018 in Motorcycle, Motorcycle news
Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,
1

 

Ijustwant2ride

The HD Street Figher

BAM! Harley Davison updates on 4 new motorcycles!

Harley Davidson just dropped information on 4 new motorcycles. This is part of their 50 in 5 program of introducing completely new products to their lineup. Well I am nothing like a “real” motorcycle journalist but here is my take. Make sure you watch the video at the top of the page introducing the new motorcycles.

New Engine???? Visually the powerplant on these new bikes do not look like the current motorcycle motors. I get the vibe that they maybe another, updated, versions of the V-Rod Revolution Engine. The adds state that he engines pictured are 1250cc engines which would fit into the range of the older Revolution. Also, they appear to be water cooled like the Revolution. Of course, they just might be cosmetic changes to the Revolution X from the “Street” line of motorcycles.ijustwant2ride

Now a few comments on the motorcycles themselves. Or at least my take on the photos.

The Pan America – The BIGGEST surprise is the group…. A Harley Davidson ADVENTURE bike! With a mono shock rear, 2 into 1 exhaust and what appears to be a good bit of front fork travel they are moving back into a market segment that they abandoned when Buell was dropped. This could be interesting. Coming in 2020.

Ijustwant2ride

The Live Wire – Looks a lot like the prototype Live Wire I got to ride a few years ago. Visually not a lot to go on here, maybe if I had more electric motorcycle knowledge I could see something but nope!

The Street Fighter – Coming in 2020 another new motorcycle market segment for Harley. By appearances and name this is going to compete with the “naked” and “street fighters” like the KTM Duke and Triumph Speed Triple. This is going to be a tough market for Harley to crack, I hope the bikes have the spec’s to run bar to bar with the competition.

The Custom – Looks a lot like a modern café racer motorcycle. That is about all I have for this one.

Back to the engine for a moment. Harley’s Street/Revolution X engine has not been able to compete with the Indian Scout motor on the Flat Track racing series. If you listen to DawgHouse Motorcycle Radio you know we lament the lack of competition from the Harley motorcycles. Could this be their answer to Indian’s dominance?

Now that we are past the glamor items….Harley has also stated the following items.

“Introducing a new modular 500cc to 1250cc middleweight platform of motorcycles that spans three distinct product spaces and four displacements,”

“Developing a more accessible, small-displacement (250cc to 500cc) motorcycle for Asia emerging markets through a planned strategic alliance with a manufacturer in Asia.”

“LiveWire will be followed by additional models through 2022 to broaden the portfolio with lighter, smaller and even more accessible product options to inspire new riders with new ways to ride.” More then one electric motorcycle!

“New retail formats — including smaller, urban storefronts globally to expose the brand to urban populations and drive sales of the expanded Harley-Davidson product portfolio and expand international apparel distribution.”

A lot of big news in a small website from Harley Davidson today!

ijustwant2ride

The HD Custom

Harley Davidson has a “Revelation” for Electric Motorcycles.

Posted: February 21, 2018 in Motorcycle advocacy, Motorcycle news
Tags: , , , , , , ,
3

Ijustwant2 ride.com

You may or may not have heard that Harley Davidson has a plan to release 50 new models in the next 5 years and 100 in the next 10.  One or two of those new models are, for sure, going to be electric motorcycles.  They have made statements that their new electric bikes will be out by the 2020 model year (which would be next summer/fall). 

Also, recent reports indicate that that Harley has filed for trademark protection on the name “H-D Revelation” for batteries, chargers and powertrain.  It would not take a great leap to think that this could also be the name of the electric motorcycle. 

If you listen to the DawgHouse podcast you will know that I have issues with electric motorcycles.  Most of those issues are around range and luggage.  I have nearly a 90-mile (round trip) commute that includes crossing two mountain ranges. Tie that into the fact that I tend to be heavy on the throttle makes me concerned that without a 200 mile “normal conditions” range I might not make it home.  I also need saddlebag space to hold a backpack of “stuff” that I transport to and from work.  Both of those concerns would need to be filled before I would even consider an electric motorcycle.

But Harley is bringing something to electric game that other motorcycle manufacturers, with the exception of Honda, can’t. Harley Davidson has nearly 1000 dealership in the US to serve as recharging points.  I include Honda as they could leverage their car dealership in any electric recharge station count.

As yet, no real clues have come out on what the production model will spec out with or its Ijustwant2 ride.comappearance.  While it could be polished version of the prototype “LiveWire” Harley Davidson electric motorcycle (which I got to ride, click here for my post on the LiveWire) I would be disappointed if that were the case.  Disappointed unless there was the sport bike with the “LiveWire” look and a cruiser styled bike.  This is from my selfish POV, I could no longer ride a sport bike as a daily commuter.

At this point in time I would be surprised if the design(s) were not completed.  In order to meet the 2020 deadline they would now have to be in the process of building out the assembly line tool/robots/jigs etc.. 

So it true HD is going to bring an electric motorcycle to market.  That alone states that electric motorcycles are now legit! 

As for the rest of the 50 in 5, I am hoping that the recently trademarked name “Pan-American” is for a new touring class motorcycle with a V-4! 

 

 

 

Harley Davidson States 50 New Models in 5 Years. What do you want to see?

Posted: March 24, 2017 in custom motorcycle, Motorcycle, Motorcycle news, motorcycle touring
Tags: , , , , ,
6

ijustwant2ride

Recently the Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Company stated that they were going to introduce 50 new models in 5 years. From my perspective there are now 49 models still on the delivery line now that the “Street Rod” has hit the road. 

Ijustwant2 ride.comOver the last few years Harley Davidson has put out a lot of new stuff that appears to have been setting the stage for this 50 models in 5 years effort.  The electric motorcycle prototype “Live Wire” (which I got to test ride), the Street 500/750, the water cooled 104 and Milwaukee 8 engines are what I think are the underpinnings of this 50 models in 5 years push. 

So with 49 motorcycle models still to go what can we expect? Harley Davidson has already stated that there is going to be a production electric motorcycle by 2020.  In my mind that would be two additional models, one a variant of the Street line and one a cruiser (maybe based on the Dyna?).  Which gets the 50 models in 5 years down to 47 unknown bikes.   

NOW for question.  Just WHAT would you like to see in that list of 50 models in 5 years?  We spoke on that during the show #401 of the DawgHouse Motorcycle Radio show a while back.  One of my ideas would be a true sport touring motorcycle.  Something that would push back on the BMW and Triumph sport touring motorcycles.  Harley Davidson did have a sport touring motorcycle in the past, the FXRT which, seemed to have good reviews.  I just never remember seeing one. 

If you were charged to creating one of the 50 models in 5 years what would it be?