I used to watch countless YT channels with motorcycle reviews . . . . nowadays i only have 3 left, and the only one I realy enjoy is Chris for Bike World. Thanks for those great insides on bikes Chris
I've had mine here in Australia for 2 years and 11,000 kms from new. Fantastic. I've been riding for 62 years, yes since I was 5, and have owned 64 motorbikes. This is VERY unusual, but a ton of fun! When I go from, say my BMW R18 to this, I have no clutch or gear changes, no vibration, no sound, so you are deprived of many inputs that help you "know" where the bike is. In this regard, it's tricky and not to be messed with. The instant acceleration has to be treated with care!
Amazing review. I'm just re watching this now I watched it over a year ago and then went out and bought one :) I have had mine now since January and have absolutely loved it. The novelty hasn't worn off yet 7000 kms in. It really is something special.
Riding the LiveWire (and most electric motorcycles) is a very grounding experience. The lack of engine and exhaust sounds doesn't diminish or drown out the surrounding noises (sans the rushing wind), a really peaceful and calming experience.
Great review and I don't mind stopping for 'fuel'. Stop, get a cup of tea and enjoy the ride. I think relaxing, eating a sandwich, and spending an hour or so in reflection and contemplating the ride is part of the whole experience.
Yep! This is something that others can't wrap their heads around. EV is great for the adventuring spirit - I often explore my surroundings whilst waiting for a charge.
Another great, balanced review. The arguments against electric are starting to sound a little thin. We know for sure that prices will come down and power density will go up, so it’s great to hear a proper review that treats this like a “real motorbike”. I may keep an ICE bike of some kind for nostalgia, but I’m sure that I will get an electric within the next few years. Our kids won’t know any different.
Best Livewire review I've watched. Now that the price has dropped down to around 21 grand I am seriously considering buying one. Mostly ride under 100 miles at a time anymore and surely am sick of the internal combustion engine and it myriad of parts that fail.
Great review and very necessary to help understand the complete shift in approach to riding this bike brings. Im interested in owning one, and consider getting rid of my Yamaha for one, would it be worth it to keep a gas bike and EV for different purposes?
thanks for the review. As a tesla owner i appreciate how my cars navigation system has supercharging stops built into it so trip are easy. Does this motorcycle have on its display a nav built in with maps? and does it also show level 2/3 chargers for the locations? I watched long way up and it does seem like there is a nav system on them which we all know are only as good as the maps and data in it. I am seriously considering the new lower priced live wire bike. Thank you!
@Doug dorbuck, The display module will give you turn directions on either the left or right side of the display, however won't show a traditional map navigational screen. The H-D Connect app has a feature that enables you to locate Level 3 chargers in a search area (similar to Plugshare or Zappmap), which will give you the normal smart phone navigation experience. I've found it comparable to most navigation apps - except it provides navigation to charge locations and point of interest navigation (ie google maps, Apple Maps, etc). The boys in Long Way Up used a combination of cell phone navigation and some Zumo 390 navigation elements.
Motorcycle engines good for 100,000 miles? That's crazy. I expect my bikes to go 500,000km before I do anything to them. One of my bikes is a 1991 Goldwing 1500SE with 240,000km and I've done nothing buy wearable items. I expect it to outlive me. Great video, ride safe.
If it were cheaper and I mean a lot cheaper it would be a great commuter bike to get to and from work. As a main bike I'd still prefer something like the Road King Special or a Fatboy.
How many watts does it take to full charge the battery? Knowing this I can compute how much it will cost here in our country. How long will the battery last? How many years before we replace the battery? How much is the cost of the battery?
Hi Chris, glad you found us! Not sure if we will, Harley don't seem to like us. They've not been inviting us to the launches, they'd sooner invite obscure influencers.
@@BikeWorldTVshow I'm hopeful ( can you knock on the door , they seem to want alternate views for this newy ) Be looking out for you , love this Guys reviews and ways ...
I could not let the fact that it’s electric sway my decision to buy or not buy. Either it’s capable or it ain’t…it’s either priced well or it ain’t…and in the end either I want one or I don’t….but I do believe HD plans to offer a number of bikes and the chance there will something for everyone is very good indeed.
Seems like a quite motorcycle would be dangerous asf lol I’m a great driver and still sometimes motorcycles catch me off guard.. couldn’t imagine if you couldn’t hear them as well.
Can you do an electric bike comparison test? Been looking at the Zeros. I'm not really a fan of Harley as I don't trust their reliability but I'm curious to see how all these e bikes stack up.
I think Harley have played a blinder this bike looks good and goes well I could never afford one but it's ok . The whole infrastructure is just not there really weather it ever will be who knows , ya just gotta think of how many vehicles are on the road today and it's mind bogeying just how many chargers will need to be in place I am not convinced at all yet . I am sure that something else will take over from this really quickly and it will become the beta max of the video world if you have even heard of that one ha : D cheers
28 grand now, what will it be worth in 5 years time when its been superseded by bikes with better range, faster charge etc. etc. A touch of the latest phone mentality methinks,
That's the thing. They'll be as disposable as cell phones. Nobody will want it because a newer one will have double the range and be faster to charge, etc. and this one will be eWaste.
As always the guinea pig's of new tech go in this direction. I have gone the EV route with cars mini and id.3 and sure the tech will be like dinosaurs in 5 years, but I wanted it now. I have ridden the range of Zero bikes and I really like the SR/S which is 10K cheaper than the Harley, so it looks like I am heading that direction now.
After looking at the battery cell specifications of this bike, I think it might last more than a 120, 000 miles with the ability to give close to 100% range.
Harley made sport bikes for years under the Buell subsidiary led by Eric Buell. They cut the brand during the 2008 financial crash. For a brief period the company Vance & Hines sponsored a spec racing class based on the Harley XR1200 (a race ready Sportster). It wasn't a super exciting class, and it didn't lead riders to higher levels of competition like other leagues, so the American. Motorcycle Association cut the class. Harley has experience making sport bikes, they just allowed horrible business decisions and financial crisis to lead them away from that path. It's exciting to have new, interesting American bikes again. We couldn't go on letting the Brits and Italians have all the fun!
If money was no object I'd use my xr for weekends only and happily switch to these for 95 percent of my riding , take a flask and some cake while you wait for it to charge, lets face it when lockdown happened first it was lovely and quiet, be nice to have that silence everywhere but still have decent powered transport, great review 👌
The only way I would spend my money on an electric motorcycle would be if it saved me money on my 50mile comute, it would cost about the same as a petrol bike to buy and would offer roughly the same performance as my 600 so I don't see myself owning an EV for a long time, if ever.
I have 10k miles on my Livewire and it still makes me feel like a kid on Christmas morning every time I open my garage door...absolutely incredible machine.
Intelligent review. Thank you. The bike isn’t for me especially given the price. I don’t think electric bikes make much sense given the poor power density of batteries and the necessary limited space for them on a two wheeler. My quick blast route is about 100 miles. It includes a stop at a nice little cafe in the country. Nowhere to charge there but half a dozen petrol stations on route.
One of the best motorcycle reviews that I've ever watched. Great job man... you can tell that you put a lot of consideration, thought and care into this review... I'd happily accept your opinion on any matter. Cheers.
I like the concept and the initial offering, but for me, the $$ is too high and I would not purchase one without a 200 mile range and true fast charge for on the go.
You don't like electric bikes. You like extremely quiet exhausts and very linear torque. BEV's need to do two things before I'm interested: 1) Batteries need to do DOUBLE (at a minimum) what they do right now. 2) Price needs to be HALVED. Batteries doing double: Half the time charging on 220v than the best charging times can deliver as of today, assuming infrastructure allows it nearly as much as petrol stations availability. Half the cost. Half the weight. Double the energy density. 50% greater ambient temperature operating range, without diminishing performance. 50% greater use-duty without overheating or any problems. Why do I ask this much from electric propulsion? Because petrol powered engines are already doing this without being squeezed to the utter last BTU available, in fact quite easily.
You’ve totally nailed it there. And as you rightly point out that would be an ABSOLUTE minimum list of requirements. I have nothing against electric bikes but they are nowhere near ready for production and selling to the masses as ‘the future’…
Exceptionally well articulated review. Fantastic. Interesting bike. Probably quite a bit better than most were expecting. The e-motor whine of any electric will take a while to get used to...
Thank you for this super nice Video. I really appreciate the balanced style of figuring out the pros and cons of this special Bike. Especially the part where you where talking about Engine noises and engines itself. I definitely agree on liking the sound of an combustion engine. But this new type of riding on a silent electric bike sounds definitely nice to me. I need to get to ride one of these. Maybe it's the only way to keep the roads open for motorcycle rides. Greetings from Germany
Long distance touring with your mates would be a nightmare. For a 300 mile journey, You would be full on pies & coffee from each lengthy charge, your mates would be almost home again given the 2-3 charges you need. Would be a good work commuter, or shorter ride bike. Eventually the battery technology will be sufficient, but those charge times are the killer for me at the moment (not to mention the lack of charging points)
Charging network is everything. I can easily do a 500+mile day on my LiveWire. Is it the same 500+ day as a petrol bike? No. The EV ownership and riding experience is very different from petrol - even though it's easy to compare the two.
I really like the Livewire. I don't really have an issue with the electric part despite having a 208HP V4 in the garage. But the range is just not quite there yet. When I can get 200-250 miles from a charge, I'll be all for it. Also, the Damon looks super interesting and if that becomes a reality, I think I may prefer the looks of that.
I brought it as a goal to keep me alive and to fight the cancers I've got. And mate even though it cost me $50000 AUD here down under, to me its worth every cent. Every time I ride it, I have a smile on my face. The sheer joy and quietness of the bike, it has rekindled my love of motorcycle riding. No matter what speed you are doing, you have always got more power at hand to get out of trouble if you need it. My old bike of almost 20 years vintage that I traded in on the Livewire had done only 20000 km in that time, the Livewire in just 4 weeks I've done 3900 km. ( And that's in winter here) Yes the range is slack if your tear-arsing on the freeways but who gives a f when it puts a smile on your face. And when you conquer the range by using regenerative braking to put more range in the bike like I did ( I had 127 km to nearest DC fast charger or 102 km to get home and I only had 86 km left on the range. 5 km from home the screen was showing 0% range and 0 km left and the bike got me home, I did not have to push it.) Man I felt 10 feet tall after that.
@@Worldsbestname Thanks Matey, I hope you get to either test ride the bike or it comes down in price so you can buy it and own it. It would not bother me if it did drop big in price, I have already got my monies worth in ear to ear grins and it gives me a goal to keep doing the chemotherapy.
@@markkingston9444 Hey mate, thanks for the great response - glad to see you still fighting you legend (truly wish you all the best) and actually will be checking one out in the next week or so as there’s a couple ‘round me for sale for $34-35k (AUD) which is a sweet price point I reckon. Genuinely made the ‘you know what, let’s do this’ decision thanks to your comment haha so thank you!
HD singlehandedly saved their company from extinction with the Livewire, then instantly signed their own death sentence by pricing it like a Ferrari and then crying like a spoilt child when people wouldn't buy them at that price and then cancelled the bike entirely. HD will be remembered as the single most stupidly managed motorcycle company of the century. RIP HD.
Great review. Harley is dropping the HD name, rebranding it as Livewire (the brand), and reselling it for 30% less, which is what it should have been from the get-go. It's a great bike, and on the money (when a third cheaper). It's not for everyone. But as Henry Ford said, when building the Model T - if I asked people want they want, they'd of said a faster horse. You can't stop progress, and EV is our future.
Really nice review and great style Chris, easy watching and nice multi-cam set-up.... an inspiration for my car review channel. Very cool bike and a chilled review style! 👌🏻
@@BikeWorldTVshow thank you! Back to the LiveWire, I've heard there's a chance the pricing is coming down in the US which the UK may benefit from in 2022. Would it be worth holding out?
I see a lot of people who are happy with the sound of the ebike, which is fine obviously, we all our opinions and preferences but sound is a safety feature for riders.
Such a critical point - everyone rides for different reasons. Not everyone wants loud pipes, just how not everyone wants a silent ride. To each their own - happy riding.
They decreased from 30k to 15k when they sold and they lie about the range and listening to this one guys story they refused to address his warranty and dealer did not even have tools to do the 1000 mile check up They black listed him at all dealers so he got stuck with a 30k paper weight . 4 gauge clusters also 👺
I watched every single review of this motorcycle on UA-cam, including the ones from the major outlets, and this one was the most personal and revealing from a user perspective. So good, I had to watch it twice. I test rode this today, but it was not my first time.... I first rode it two years ago. I just absolutely love this bike!
Nice review. Balanced and informative. I love that you actually put a bunch of miles on, not just a quick weekend. I don’t think my next bike will be electric, but the one after that…
So this only applies when you need to charge to max out range. Most EV riders charge to 80% and ride to the next charging station, so we're not waiting that long unless we need to cover that full distance between charging stations. The level 3 charger maximizes charging rates up to 60% battery, then a slow decline to around 95%. So if you want to keep riding with the shortest amount of time, stop riding close to 20% battery, then unplug around 80% (which usually takes 30 mins). I'm not sure what the term for this would be (leapfrog charging?). It's a different way of thinking, as most people completely top off their petrol vehicles per stop - it's not always needed with EVs. You just need enough juice to get you to the next station (or destination)
I've had a chance to test ride the Livewire and a few Zero motorcycles, the Harley was a hoot, the price they wanted not so. The larger battery Zeros pretty much the same, the diamond in the rough was the Zero FXS their 15kW supermoto it was fantastic, for a commuter bike it's the one I would choose. In fact lobbying the company I work for to bring the likes into its bike to work scheme where you get the tax relief off from your wage at source. My only true concern is how they will hold up under winter conditions?
Im a petrol head myself but when I test rode one on their initial release I could not stop grinning and giggling in my helmet. Definitely made me change the way I thought of electric bikes. Now that they’re significantly cheaper hopefully they will sell a good amount of them. Priced where it should be. Right there with Zero’s flagship bike.
Unless Zero converts back to Level 3 (they had a CHadEMO version a few years ago), then they'll be left in the dust in the coming years from a charging standpoint. Doesn't mean that Level 2 is going away, just a little more cumbersome at the moment. I had a Zero DSR with extra charging capabilities - I needed two Level 2 charging cables to take advantage of the extra charging power (Zero SR/F and /S mitigate this with premium tanks, however you need a Level 2 station that is 12kW or higher - somewhat rare at the moment). I switched to the LiveWire because the capabilities are so much simpler than with the Zero - I don't feel the need to slice'n'dice my LiveWire because it has all the features I was looking for as a stock unit. I modified my zero heavily to get it to the same performance/comfort level that my Livewire is at now.
@@Shah_creates I had a 2017 DSR prior, and only test rode the SR/S. While the SR/S is certainly quick and sporty - it's still very much a Zero underneath. I found the riding style to be the biggest tactile difference to my DSR. The LiveWire is on a different level of enjoyment for me. When I test rode my LW, the only word I could keep thinking of was "premium, premium, premium". There are so many comfort features on the LW that were seriously lacking on my DSR. I have zero (no pun intended) regrets selling my DSR and getting the LW
I bit the bullet and bought this because I really wanted an electric motorbike and this was the only one currently selling in Australia of this size. I don't regret it at all. Price point high, but the bike is too good not to fall in love with - I can't see myself going back to traditional gas bikes any time soon, it's too addictive. Those in America have the Livewire One for a much lower price now so that's good!
I'm a fellow Aussie and I too brought the H.D. Livewire. And I absolutely love it despite it costing me 50 grand AUD. But its paid me back in the smiles that are plastered on my face every time I ride it. I love the fact that it is very quiet when you are stopped in major traffic. It allows you to take in the scenery and also listen for the semi or car that is trying to do a emergency stop 3 car lengths behind you, so you can take evasive action. I also like the power it still has on hand, no matter what speed you are doing. I was going to have a look at the Zero company of fine electric motorcycles but like their name, a few years ago, they had zero confidence in the Aussie public buying their product and so they pissed off out of Australia and went back to the USA with their f'n tail between their legs. Its ironic, if they were still here, I may have brought one of their bikes instead of the Livewire. Anyway I too will not go back to a ICE motorcycle, I will stick with electric.
With the new price being in line with Zero bikes, I would consider the live wire. However, 80 miles at best at 70mph is ridiculously low. I couldn’t even get to work and back. Let alone in 3 years when the range dips a bit. Until they can get 140 miles+ at highway speeds, there’s no point. Would be a great commuter bike, but the range is a no go for anyone outside the city.
Beautiful machine, would love to ride one at some point. Definitely couldn’t own it though, lol. Really makes me hope they decide to bring the Bronx to market.
Idk if other places did this but my dealer had one left and listed it for 20k brand new. It was gone in 2 days. If that doesn’t speak volumes idk what does.
Best review I've seen on any bike in a long time. Answered all the questions I had with regard to what it would be like to live with beyond the gushy short term reviews I've seen on these bikes.
"WOW there's no clutch!" - so many 'reviews' are like this. So hard to find a good review on these bikes, especially for someone researching to purchase. I agree, this was a great review!
You understand the cost of engineering over time? I bet you are one of those guys who moans about paying a tradesman to do a job because you can't understand that you are paying for years of experience and not just a 1 hour fitting of an electrical socket.
@@Jafmanz I totally understand and use experienced tradesmen all the time. But if one them said I charge double because I’ve get some new tools they can bob on. Harley need to find a way of halving the price now or forget the project until they can. They’ll end up being the typical pioneers who pump money into a project that ‘at the moment’, isn’t commercially viable. Let see how many they sell. Wait a moment, they won’t disclose that….
Tested one recently and hated it 😮 Cramped, confusing controls..... totally useless mirrors, but worst of all "soul less" . I dont think electric bikes and me are going to work. In fairness I am quite tall, this is probably not the best bike for taller people
Don't buy this bike if you are a REAL biker. You will have to stop after you have traveled 80 miles to recharge the battery. For $30,000 dollars, I want a bike that does not worry me after traveling over to beach and back. I'm in New Hampshire where we have lots of hills and the 140 miles that Harley claims is bullshit. That's measured on flat roads with a 100 lb. tiny woman at the helm. They are both flat and expensive to maintain.
I own an Electraglide, a Buell Ulysses, a Bourget custom and a ‘20 HD LiveWire. After three years of ownership I continue to really like the LW. It is great for local riding . No regrets here.
I like it, I really like how quiet it is. I don’t like the price tag.
Good job they've just announced a new version at almost half the price.
@@TheAegisClaw it's a good bit more than half, but it is suddenly a real option for me
@@TheAegisClaw what's the new version called?
@@dr.ogremitsu-77 Livewire One
It’s basically the same but cheaper because no Harley brand
I used to watch countless YT channels with motorcycle reviews . . . . nowadays i only have 3 left, and the only one I realy enjoy is Chris for Bike World.
Thanks for those great insides on bikes Chris
what are the other twom
@@LifeOnTwoWheels 1.Fortnine
2.Motorcyclist mag.
@@BMWHP2 fortnines production is on another level..
What about Daily Rider on RevZilla?
@@musguelha14 Sometimes.
Brilliant take on this wonderful bike. Also can’t get enough of it! ❤
I've had mine here in Australia for 2 years and 11,000 kms from new. Fantastic. I've been riding for 62 years, yes since I was 5, and have owned 64 motorbikes. This is VERY unusual, but a ton of fun! When I go from, say my BMW R18 to this, I have no clutch or gear changes, no vibration, no sound, so you are deprived of many inputs that help you "know" where the bike is. In this regard, it's tricky and not to be messed with. The instant acceleration has to be treated with care!
Amazing review. I'm just re watching this now I watched it over a year ago and then went out and bought one :) I have had mine now since January and have absolutely loved it. The novelty hasn't worn off yet 7000 kms in. It really is something special.
Thanks for coming back, amazing!
I love the sound of the tires on the road…its immersive in and of itself.
Riding the LiveWire (and most electric motorcycles) is a very grounding experience. The lack of engine and exhaust sounds doesn't diminish or drown out the surrounding noises (sans the rushing wind), a really peaceful and calming experience.
Great review and I don't mind stopping for 'fuel'. Stop, get a cup of tea and enjoy the ride. I think relaxing, eating a sandwich, and spending an hour or so in reflection and contemplating the ride is part of the whole experience.
Yep! This is something that others can't wrap their heads around. EV is great for the adventuring spirit - I often explore my surroundings whilst waiting for a charge.
This very well made review made me interested in this bike and your channels well done 👍
It's an exceptional bike to ride and own!
Another great, balanced review. The arguments against electric are starting to sound a little thin. We know for sure that prices will come down and power density will go up, so it’s great to hear a proper review that treats this like a “real motorbike”. I may keep an ICE bike of some kind for nostalgia, but I’m sure that I will get an electric within the next few years. Our kids won’t know any different.
Excellent review. Very informative. Thanks for doing this. 😊
Excellent video really informative and well done thank you 👍
Had a test drive last year for 30 minutes. Love it! No stress with changing gears. Didn't buy it because the price ($33,000cad+12 %tax wow)
Best Livewire review I've watched. Now that the price has dropped down to around 21 grand I am seriously considering buying one. Mostly ride under 100 miles at a time anymore and surely am sick of the internal combustion engine and it myriad of parts that fail.
It’s still 29k
Great review. I’m one of those guys obsessed with livewire. Especially the new livewire one.
Nice review, mate! Well done, thanks for sharing your impressions.
Great review and very necessary to help understand the complete shift in approach to riding this bike brings. Im interested in owning one, and consider getting rid of my Yamaha for one, would it be worth it to keep a gas bike and EV for different purposes?
Just depends on how you like to ride
thanks for the review. As a tesla owner i appreciate how my cars navigation system has supercharging stops built into it so trip are easy. Does this motorcycle have on its display a nav built in with maps? and does it also show level 2/3 chargers for the locations? I watched long way up and it does seem like there is a nav system on them which we all know are only as good as the maps and data in it. I am seriously considering the new lower priced live wire bike. Thank you!
I think you can connect your mobile via bluetooth and use zap-map for example..
@Doug dorbuck, The display module will give you turn directions on either the left or right side of the display, however won't show a traditional map navigational screen. The H-D Connect app has a feature that enables you to locate Level 3 chargers in a search area (similar to Plugshare or Zappmap), which will give you the normal smart phone navigation experience. I've found it comparable to most navigation apps - except it provides navigation to charge locations and point of interest navigation (ie google maps, Apple Maps, etc).
The boys in Long Way Up used a combination of cell phone navigation and some Zumo 390 navigation elements.
Motorcycle engines good for 100,000 miles?
That's crazy.
I expect my bikes to go 500,000km before I do anything to them.
One of my bikes is a 1991 Goldwing 1500SE with 240,000km and I've done nothing buy wearable items. I expect it to outlive me.
Great video, ride safe.
If one day the companies can mass produce "Solid state batteries" they could about triple the range for the same weight and volume
If it were cheaper and I mean a lot cheaper it would be a great commuter bike to get to and from work. As a main bike I'd still prefer something like the Road King Special or a Fatboy.
Super interested but not enough range for a Sunday afternoon rip
beautiful bike, great review
Looks and sounds better than most Zeros, but maybe not as sporty as an Energica.
How many watts does it take to full charge the battery? Knowing this I can compute how much it will cost here in our country. How long will the battery last? How many years before we replace the battery? How much is the cost of the battery?
13.6 kW
@Ben Marshall , thanks!
Just found You , And I Like You , Great Reviews ,.
Will you do a Sportster S Ride review would love your view
Hi Chris, glad you found us! Not sure if we will, Harley don't seem to like us. They've not been inviting us to the launches, they'd sooner invite obscure influencers.
@@BikeWorldTVshow I'm hopeful ( can you knock on the door , they seem to want alternate views for this newy )
Be looking out for you , love this Guys reviews and ways ...
@@chriscoates2399 We've tried, we might just grab one from a dealer. Cheers Chris!
@@BikeWorldTVshow That's unfortunate. You guys have major pull with buyers. I know because I am one.
I could not let the fact that it’s electric sway my decision to buy or not buy. Either it’s capable or it ain’t…it’s either priced well or it ain’t…and in the end either I want one or I don’t….but I do believe HD plans to offer a number of bikes and the chance there will something for everyone is very good indeed.
Seems like a quite motorcycle would be dangerous asf lol I’m a great driver and still sometimes motorcycles catch me off guard.. couldn’t imagine if you couldn’t hear them as well.
The price is now lower $22,000. Please update your content.
Can you do an electric bike comparison test? Been looking at the Zeros. I'm not really a fan of Harley as I don't trust their reliability but I'm curious to see how all these e bikes stack up.
I think Harley have played a blinder this bike looks good and goes well I could never afford one but it's ok . The whole infrastructure is just not there really weather it ever will be who knows , ya just gotta think of how many vehicles are on the road today and it's mind bogeying just how many chargers will need to be in place I am not convinced at all yet . I am sure that something else will take over from this really quickly and it will become the beta max of the video world if you have even heard of that one ha : D cheers
Car batteries last ten years on average, how much is the replacement battery pack, because that is one pricey bike.
This video has more likes than this bike sold.
28 grand now, what will it be worth in 5 years time when its been superseded by bikes with better range, faster charge etc. etc. A touch of the latest phone mentality methinks,
That's the thing. They'll be as disposable as cell phones. Nobody will want it because a newer one will have double the range and be faster to charge, etc. and this one will be eWaste.
As always the guinea pig's of new tech go in this direction. I have gone the EV route with cars mini and id.3 and sure the tech will be like dinosaurs in 5 years, but I wanted it now. I have ridden the range of Zero bikes and I really like the SR/S which is 10K cheaper than the Harley, so it looks like I am heading that direction now.
Great review! I want an electric Fat Boy or something!!!
The Chinese will make a copy of this bike in a year or two for half the price.
No need to wait ,there is a "Livewire" being released for half price as a stand alone brand - Livewire
they are still selling this ?
Yep!
Revolution 🤔 wau
So, how long will that battery last over the lifetime of the bike, as we all know the hidden cost is that damn duracell.
after 5-6 years you can expect a gradual and slight reduction in capacity (range). as to the actual lifespan I have no idea.
After looking at the battery cell specifications of this bike, I think it might last more than a 120, 000 miles with the ability to give close to 100% range.
This is the closest to a sports bike Harley Davidson ever made. I'm hoping they make a sports bike someday, that will keep the company alive.
Harley made sport bikes for years under the Buell subsidiary led by Eric Buell. They cut the brand during the 2008 financial crash. For a brief period the company Vance & Hines sponsored a spec racing class based on the Harley XR1200 (a race ready Sportster). It wasn't a super exciting class, and it didn't lead riders to higher levels of competition like other leagues, so the American. Motorcycle Association cut the class.
Harley has experience making sport bikes, they just allowed horrible business decisions and financial crisis to lead them away from that path. It's exciting to have new, interesting American bikes again. We couldn't go on letting the Brits and Italians have all the fun!
If money was no object I'd use my xr for weekends only and happily switch to these for 95 percent of my riding , take a flask and some cake while you wait for it to charge, lets face it when lockdown happened first it was lovely and quiet, be nice to have that silence everywhere but still have decent powered transport, great review 👌
I just test rode this yesterday. Price tag of 18999. I kind of want it :/ but could get a much cheaper petrol bike.
I want it badly, even at this price, which is discounted.
Be like pulling clutch going down steep grade for several miles so quit. Just the tire noise.
When these bikes get light...
Woooooo 😮👍🇹🇷
My 2016 Fatboy S is more my style. I loved my 2005 GSXR1000, but I'm too old for the style now.
2 Wheels and a Battery equals 1 Scooter. One thing stops me from buying one.....I like girls!
Oh god. Now I want a Harley. I've become everything I ever hated
Luckily for you they decided it's not Harley enough and dropped the Harley branding
Great rewiew 👍
The only way I would spend my money on an electric motorcycle would be if it saved me money on my 50mile comute, it would cost about the same as a petrol bike to buy and would offer roughly the same performance as my 600 so I don't see myself owning an EV for a long time, if ever.
Chris...no wheelies? ?
I think that’s the real elephant in the room and the question we want answered. I’m guessing if you don’t show them it can’t?
There was definitely a baby wheelie in there.
Chris is such a cool motorcycle reviewer, love the way he does bike reviews, pleasure to watch
Totally Agree
Agreed, really knows what he's talking about.
I have 10k miles on my Livewire and it still makes me feel like a kid on Christmas morning every time I open my garage door...absolutely incredible machine.
Intelligent review. Thank you. The bike isn’t for me especially given the price. I don’t think electric bikes make much sense given the poor power density of batteries and the necessary limited space for them on a two wheeler. My quick blast route is about 100 miles. It includes a stop at a nice little cafe in the country. Nowhere to charge there but half a dozen petrol stations on route.
One of the best motorcycle reviews that I've ever watched. Great job man... you can tell that you put a lot of consideration, thought and care into this review... I'd happily accept your opinion on any matter. Cheers.
I like the concept and the initial offering, but for me, the $$ is too high and I would not purchase one without a 200 mile range and true fast charge for on the go.
You don't like electric bikes. You like extremely quiet exhausts and very linear torque.
BEV's need to do two things before I'm interested: 1) Batteries need to do DOUBLE (at a minimum) what they do right now. 2) Price needs to be HALVED.
Batteries doing double:
Half the time charging on 220v than the best charging times can deliver as of today, assuming infrastructure allows it nearly as much as petrol stations availability.
Half the cost.
Half the weight.
Double the energy density.
50% greater ambient temperature operating range, without diminishing performance.
50% greater use-duty without overheating or any problems.
Why do I ask this much from electric propulsion? Because petrol powered engines are already doing this without being squeezed to the utter last BTU available, in fact quite easily.
You’ve totally nailed it there. And as you rightly point out that would be an ABSOLUTE minimum list of requirements. I have nothing against electric bikes but they are nowhere near ready for production and selling to the masses as ‘the future’…
@@dt6949 And the industry hasn't, because it's a science issue, it's a physics issue, not a financial issue.
Love Chris's videos. Totally respect his opinion.
Exceptionally well articulated review. Fantastic.
Interesting bike. Probably quite a bit better than most were expecting.
The e-motor whine of any electric will take a while to get used to...
Imagine this bike with the pan-america engine. Thoughts?
Thank you for this super nice Video. I really appreciate the balanced style of figuring out the pros and cons of this special Bike. Especially the part where you where talking about Engine noises and engines itself. I definitely agree on liking the sound of an combustion engine. But this new type of riding on a silent electric bike sounds definitely nice to me. I need to get to ride one of these. Maybe it's the only way to keep the roads open for motorcycle rides. Greetings from Germany
Long distance touring with your mates would be a nightmare. For a 300 mile journey, You would be full on pies & coffee from each lengthy charge, your mates would be almost home again given the 2-3 charges you need. Would be a good work commuter, or shorter ride bike. Eventually the battery technology will be sufficient, but those charge times are the killer for me at the moment (not to mention the lack of charging points)
Charging network is everything. I can easily do a 500+mile day on my LiveWire. Is it the same 500+ day as a petrol bike? No. The EV ownership and riding experience is very different from petrol - even though it's easy to compare the two.
I really like the Livewire. I don't really have an issue with the electric part despite having a 208HP V4 in the garage. But the range is just not quite there yet. When I can get 200-250 miles from a charge, I'll be all for it. Also, the Damon looks super interesting and if that becomes a reality, I think I may prefer the looks of that.
I brought it as a goal to keep me alive and to fight the cancers I've got. And mate even though it cost me $50000 AUD here down under, to me its worth every cent. Every time I ride it, I have a smile on my face. The sheer joy and quietness of the bike, it has rekindled my love of motorcycle riding. No matter what speed you are doing, you have always got more power at hand to get out of trouble if you need it. My old bike of almost 20 years vintage that I traded in on the Livewire had done only 20000 km in that time, the Livewire in just 4 weeks I've done 3900 km. ( And that's in winter here)
Yes the range is slack if your tear-arsing on the freeways but who gives a f when it puts a smile on your face. And when you conquer the range by using regenerative braking to put more range in the bike like I did ( I had 127 km to nearest DC fast charger or 102 km to get home and I only had 86 km left on the range. 5 km from home the screen was showing 0% range and 0 km left and the bike got me home, I did not have to push it.) Man I felt 10 feet tall after that.
Awesome feedback Mark thank you - I hope you’re doing better/ great also, from a fellow Aussie!
@@Worldsbestname Thanks Matey, I hope you get to either test ride the bike or it comes down in price so you can buy it and own it. It would not bother me if it did drop big in price, I have already got my monies worth in ear to ear grins and it gives me a goal to keep doing the chemotherapy.
@@markkingston9444 Hey mate, thanks for the great response - glad to see you still fighting you legend (truly wish you all the best) and actually will be checking one out in the next week or so as there’s a couple ‘round me for sale for $34-35k (AUD) which is a sweet price point I reckon. Genuinely made the ‘you know what, let’s do this’ decision thanks to your comment haha so thank you!
@@Worldsbestname By the way I have now done over 9388 km and all it has cost me in electron fuel is a whopping $2.42 AUD to do all those km.
Here in Canada they are asking 37,000 +. NO THANK YOU.
Was on a Triumph off road trip on Friday and pretty sure you rode past us. Bike looked fantastic and certainly caused a stir!!
Hi Matt, Yep that was us. We were in a van a few minutes behind Chris, love that Army range location.
You'll never get tired of riding this one! You'll have to stop and charge well before you're tired.
Get some sleep while it charges!
HD singlehandedly saved their company from extinction with the Livewire, then instantly signed their own death sentence by pricing it like a Ferrari and then crying like a spoilt child when people wouldn't buy them at that price and then cancelled the bike entirely. HD will be remembered as the single most stupidly managed motorcycle company of the century. RIP HD.
Great review. Harley is dropping the HD name, rebranding it as Livewire (the brand), and reselling it for 30% less, which is what it should have been from the get-go. It's a great bike, and on the money (when a third cheaper). It's not for everyone. But as Henry Ford said, when building the Model T - if I asked people want they want, they'd of said a faster horse. You can't stop progress, and EV is our future.
Really nice review and great style Chris, easy watching and nice multi-cam set-up.... an inspiration for my car review channel.
Very cool bike and a chilled review style! 👌🏻
Thanks, good luck with the channel
@@BikeWorldTVshow thank you!
Back to the LiveWire, I've heard there's a chance the pricing is coming down in the US which the UK may benefit from in 2022. Would it be worth holding out?
Wow! Very surprised to hear Chris's takeaways. Hats off to Harley for taking risks.
Hella good review of a brilliant innovative bike. Have a blast!!
That's a really heartening review. Totally agree with you, the future looks a lot of fun.
I see a lot of people who are happy with the sound of the ebike, which is fine obviously, we all our opinions and preferences but sound is a safety feature for riders.
Interesting, but not for me, half of riding for me is the sound. Millennials will love it tho!!!!😎😎😎
Such a critical point - everyone rides for different reasons. Not everyone wants loud pipes, just how not everyone wants a silent ride. To each their own - happy riding.
Absolutely the most incredible bike I’ve ever ridden. Came back from the demo a changed man. Bravo.
They decreased from 30k to 15k when they sold and they lie about the range and listening to this one guys story they refused to address his warranty and dealer did not even have tools to do the 1000 mile check up They black listed him at all dealers so he got stuck with a 30k paper weight . 4 gauge clusters also 👺
I watched every single review of this motorcycle on UA-cam, including the ones from the major outlets, and this one was the most personal and revealing from a user perspective. So good, I had to watch it twice. I test rode this today, but it was not my first time.... I first rode it two years ago. I just absolutely love this bike!
Ditto! Loved the test ride, going to order one!
Nice review. Balanced and informative. I love that you actually put a bunch of miles on, not just a quick weekend. I don’t think my next bike will be electric, but the one after that…
40 minutes to an hour to charge. Nope simply not interested whatsoever.........
..... Yet?
So this only applies when you need to charge to max out range. Most EV riders charge to 80% and ride to the next charging station, so we're not waiting that long unless we need to cover that full distance between charging stations. The level 3 charger maximizes charging rates up to 60% battery, then a slow decline to around 95%. So if you want to keep riding with the shortest amount of time, stop riding close to 20% battery, then unplug around 80% (which usually takes 30 mins). I'm not sure what the term for this would be (leapfrog charging?). It's a different way of thinking, as most people completely top off their petrol vehicles per stop - it's not always needed with EVs. You just need enough juice to get you to the next station (or destination)
kawasaki zx - rr bike video
Watching a commuter scooter pass you with better range as you're waiting to charge an overpriced battery toy... How painful.
So what about the none HD Livewire that is being released in US for half the price??!!!
What ever you do, don't look a the pink unicorn at 9:36 in the background eating grass...
too late...now what am I supposed to do??!
Is there any sort of engine braking effect?
Yes
Man, brilliant review!
Sounds like a bike in a Sci-fi movie 😄
I've had a chance to test ride the Livewire and a few Zero motorcycles, the Harley was a hoot, the price they wanted not so. The larger battery Zeros pretty much the same, the diamond in the rough was the Zero FXS their 15kW supermoto it was fantastic, for a commuter bike it's the one I would choose.
In fact lobbying the company I work for to bring the likes into its bike to work scheme where you get the tax relief off from your wage at source.
My only true concern is how they will hold up under winter conditions?
Im a petrol head myself but when I test rode one on their initial release I could not stop grinning and giggling in my helmet. Definitely made me change the way I thought of electric bikes. Now that they’re significantly cheaper hopefully they will sell a good amount of them. Priced where it should be. Right there with Zero’s flagship bike.
Unless Zero converts back to Level 3 (they had a CHadEMO version a few years ago), then they'll be left in the dust in the coming years from a charging standpoint. Doesn't mean that Level 2 is going away, just a little more cumbersome at the moment. I had a Zero DSR with extra charging capabilities - I needed two Level 2 charging cables to take advantage of the extra charging power (Zero SR/F and /S mitigate this with premium tanks, however you need a Level 2 station that is 12kW or higher - somewhat rare at the moment). I switched to the LiveWire because the capabilities are so much simpler than with the Zero - I don't feel the need to slice'n'dice my LiveWire because it has all the features I was looking for as a stock unit. I modified my zero heavily to get it to the same performance/comfort level that my Livewire is at now.
@@AdventuresonZero Ride wise, how do you like the LW compared to the previous Zero? I rode both.
@@Shah_creates I had a 2017 DSR prior, and only test rode the SR/S. While the SR/S is certainly quick and sporty - it's still very much a Zero underneath. I found the riding style to be the biggest tactile difference to my DSR. The LiveWire is on a different level of enjoyment for me. When I test rode my LW, the only word I could keep thinking of was "premium, premium, premium". There are so many comfort features on the LW that were seriously lacking on my DSR. I have zero (no pun intended) regrets selling my DSR and getting the LW
I bit the bullet and bought this because I really wanted an electric motorbike and this was the only one currently selling in Australia of this size. I don't regret it at all. Price point high, but the bike is too good not to fall in love with - I can't see myself going back to traditional gas bikes any time soon, it's too addictive. Those in America have the Livewire One for a much lower price now so that's good!
I'm a fellow Aussie and I too brought the H.D. Livewire. And I absolutely love it despite it costing me 50 grand AUD. But its paid me back in the smiles that are plastered on my face every time I ride it. I love the fact that it is very quiet when you are stopped in major traffic. It allows you to take in the scenery and also listen for the semi or car that is trying to do a emergency stop 3 car lengths behind you, so you can take evasive action. I also like the power it still has on hand, no matter what speed you are doing.
I was going to have a look at the Zero company of fine electric motorcycles but like their name, a few years ago, they had zero confidence in the Aussie public buying their product and so they pissed off out of Australia and went back to the USA with their f'n tail between their legs. Its ironic, if they were still here, I may have brought one of their bikes instead of the Livewire.
Anyway I too will not go back to a ICE motorcycle, I will stick with electric.
With the new price being in line with Zero bikes, I would consider the live wire. However, 80 miles at best at 70mph is ridiculously low. I couldn’t even get to work and back. Let alone in 3 years when the range dips a bit. Until they can get 140 miles+ at highway speeds, there’s no point. Would be a great commuter bike, but the range is a no go for anyone outside the city.
Beautiful machine, would love to ride one at some point. Definitely couldn’t own it though, lol. Really makes me hope they decide to bring the Bronx to market.
How would you feel about riding this bike in highway traffic or in a city everyday as a commuter?
I ride mine everyday. Highway and city. It's fun no matter where I ride. Questions?
It's actually designed for city/urban riding. That's what I do with my Ducati, but with this, I found out to be even easier to negotiate busy traffic.
No stunting Chris I guess the 250kgs and lack of clutch doesn't help! 😂
Idk if other places did this but my dealer had one left and listed it for 20k brand new. It was gone in 2 days. If that doesn’t speak volumes idk what does.
Best review I've seen on any bike in a long time. Answered all the questions I had with regard to what it would be like to live with beyond the gushy short term reviews I've seen on these bikes.
Cheers!
"WOW there's no clutch!" - so many 'reviews' are like this. So hard to find a good review on these bikes, especially for someone researching to purchase. I agree, this was a great review!
How's it going a year later?
I was hoping to get one cheap once they got a bit older but still silly money.
Your reviews are always great and unbiased, your reviews helped me buy my 2020 KTM SDR. Keep us the great work mate.
I was with you until you said something along the lines of £28,000. That implies the battery and motor are worth at least £20,000. Bollocks.
You understand the cost of engineering over time? I bet you are one of those guys who moans about paying a tradesman to do a job because you can't understand that you are paying for years of experience and not just a 1 hour fitting of an electrical socket.
@@Jafmanz I totally understand and use experienced tradesmen all the time. But if one them said I charge double because I’ve get some new tools they can bob on. Harley need to find a way of halving the price now or forget the project until they can. They’ll end up being the typical pioneers who pump money into a project that ‘at the moment’, isn’t commercially viable. Let see how many they sell. Wait a moment, they won’t disclose that….
Tested one recently and hated it 😮 Cramped, confusing controls..... totally useless mirrors, but worst of all "soul less" . I dont think electric bikes and me are going to work. In fairness I am quite tall, this is probably not the best bike for taller people
Don't buy this bike if you are a REAL biker. You will have to stop after you have traveled 80 miles to recharge the battery. For $30,000 dollars, I want a bike that does not worry me after traveling over to beach and back. I'm in New Hampshire where we have lots of hills and the 140 miles that Harley claims is bullshit. That's measured on flat roads with a 100 lb. tiny woman at the helm. They are both flat and expensive to maintain.
I own an Electraglide, a Buell Ulysses, a Bourget custom and a ‘20 HD LiveWire. After three years of ownership I continue to really like the LW. It is great for local riding . No regrets here.