Last Updated on: 26th April 2022, 10:05 am
Electric motorcycles are generating a lot of buzz. They’re being called the bikes of the future and it’s easy to see the appeal, despite the drawbacks. One of the most hyped electric bikes to hit the market, the Harley-Davidson LiveWire is helping to fuel excitement for the electric motorcycle segment. Since the 2019 Harley Davidson LiveWire release date, the bike has become the best-selling electric motorcycle in the United States.
The LiveWire, the first Harley-Davidson all-electric motorcycle, launched in 2019. In May 2021, ahead of the release of the 2021 Harley-Davidson LiveWire ONE, H-D announced LiveWire will become a separate, all-electric brand, not the electric division as previously planned.
Thinking about taking a Harley-Davidson LiveWire test drive? Wondering if you can actually see yourself on an electric motorcycle? Here’s what you want to know about the H-D LiveWire ONE motorcycle.
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Table of Contents
How Much Does a Harley-Davidson LiveWire Motorcycle Cost? – 2022 LiveWire ONE Priced Lower than Predecessor
The original Harley-Davidson LiveWire debuted in 2019 with an MSRP of $29,799. The Harley-Davidson LiveWire ONE 2022 model has a starting MSRP of $21,999, more than $8,000 below the debut model.
The LiveWire is the most expensive electric motorcycle on the market, although it’s now a step closer to the competition. The 2020 model was priced at almost $30,000 while the closest competition, the Zero SR/F, had an MSRP of $21,495.
Why are electric motorcycles so expensive? The lithium-ion battery is one of the most crucial components, and one of the most expensive. Because electric motorcycle sales remain far lower compared to internal combustion bikes, research, development, and production costs are also higher.
The good news is prices are definitely coming down! Lithium-ion battery prices have dropped from $1,160 per kWh in 2010 to $577 in 2014 and $156 in 2019. By 2024, Bloomberg predicts prices will reach $94 per kWh.
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Harley LiveWire Riding Experience – How it Rides & Differences Between an Electric Motorcycle vs Gas
If you’ve never taken a test ride on an electric motorcycle, you probably have a lot of questions and concerns. How can an electric motorcycle replace the distinctive deep rumble of a Harley and the vibrations of the bike underneath you? It may seem like an electric Harley Davidson motorcycle is a poor substitute for the feeling of taking your hog out on the open road and engaging all the senses.
There are a lot of misconceptions about electric motorcycles that the Harley Davidson electric motorcycle is on its way to dispelling.
To be clear, electric motorcycles are not silent. Their engines aren’t powered by combustion, but there are still noises from the engine and belts. Like gas bikes, they can be quite loud on the highway. However, the noise is one of many differences that may take time to get used to – or turn out to be something you prefer.
Does the Harley LiveWire make noise?
Years before the Harley-Davidson LiveWire motorcycle launched in 2019, Harley-Davidson began showing off its electric concept motorcycle. it caught some hog owners off-guard: the iconic rumble of a Harley was replaced by the high-pitched whirring noise of an electric motor.
H-D said in 2014 that they knew they couldn’t make a noiseless electric motorcycle, but they didn’t want to fake the distinctive roar of the engine. They chose to tweak the gearbox and motor arrangement to create a sound similar to a flying jet or, as some describe it, like the whine of a spaceship.
While riding, you don’t just hear the sound of the bike – you hear the sounds of everything else around you, from the birds chirping to raindrops hitting your helmet.
Below, you can hear what the LiveWire sounds like during a test ride.
Do you shift a Harley LiveWire?
One of the benefits of electric motorcycles that are making them such a great entry point for beginner riders is the fact that you don’t need to shift. There’s no clutch and no shifting gears – a simplified riding experience that, combined with the high-tech sound and smooth ride, has many riders describing the experience as futuristic.
For new riders, not needing to shift means they can focus on the ride, where they are looking, and how they are shifting their weight. Even die-hard gas engine enthusiasts, though, find the experience satisfying – especially in urban areas and traffic. Say goodbye to clutching and shifting hundreds of times an hour!
Is the Harley LiveWire fast?
Don’t make the mistake of assuming Harley Davidson electric motorcycles are wimpy, sluggish, or lacking in power. How fast is the electric Harley Davidson? The LiveWire motorcycle goes 0 to 60 in three seconds with instant torque and power.
The electric Harley Davidson top speed is an impressive 110 mph. The LiveWire set a record for elapsed time and top speed by an electric motorcycle, covering a quarter-mile in just 11.156 seconds!
Thunder Press editor Mitch Boehm summed up the experience after his Harley Davidson LiveWire test ride:
The thing is shockingly fast, amazingly smooth, easy to get used to and ride quickly, forgiving, and most of all, Big Fun.
Electric Motorcycles Are More Comfortable
Every rider knows just how exhausting a long ride can be. Hours of vibrations, leaning and compensating, clutching and shifting… by the end, you may be left with aches and pains, numbness, and throttle hand pain, no matter how accustomed you are to riding.
When you’re riding the Harley-Davidson LiveWire motorcycle, you’ll quickly notice the lack of vibration. Your bike won’t shake on the road or stopped at a light. The extra comfort is great on short leisure trips but especially noticeable on long rides, particularly if you have arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, sciatica, and other conditions aggravated by the vibration while riding.
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Harley LiveWire Charge Time & Range – Is Riding an Electric Motorcycle Practical?
A common concern about buying an all-electric motorcycle is its range and how difficult it will be to find a charging station. Fortunately, you won’t run into many issues with the Harley Davidson LiveWire. Charging your bike is as easy as charging your phone – although it does take longer!
Owning a Harley Davidson LiveWire ONE is essentially like having a gas station in your garage. Plug in your bike at night and it’s ready to go in the morning, fully charged. You can charge your motorcycle from any three-prong outlet at home.
Many EV owners choose to install a Level 2 charging station at their home to fully charge the bike’s battery in 12 hours.
At a charging station with a DC charger, the LiveWire is charged from 0% to 100% in less than an hour. You can charge the LiveWire battery from 0% to 80% in 40 minutes. This fast charge is usually priced per minute at retail parking lots.
If you’re new to electric vehicles, you may be surprised just how many public charging stations there are in the United States. You probably don’t even notice them when you fill up your tank!
Of course, using apps like ChargePoint and PlugShare will become an important part of planning a motorcycle trip on an electric Harley-Davidson! That, of course, brings us to the next concern:
What is the range of a Harley-Davidson electric motorcycle?
According to H-D, the Harley-Davidson LiveWire range is 146 city miles and 95 miles of combined highway and stop-and-go riding. The Harley Davidson LiveWire 2022 range is a step up from the 110 city mile range with the original model.
The faster you go, the shorter your range. You can maximize your distance by sticking to the 55-60 mph range.
Planning to Bring Home the New Harley-Davidson LiveWire ONE?
Want to experience the LiveWire yourself? You can schedule a LiveWire ONE test ride here to see if it’s the right ride for you.
The LiveWire ONE launched with only 12 authorized dealerships in three states, focusing on a hybrid sales approach that allows customers to shop online and take delivery from their dealership. LiveWire motorcycles will be sold through their own network of dealers separate from H-D. However, LiveWire would only ship within 50 miles of one of their dozen dealerships. Live too far from a dealership? Call Federal Motorcycle Transport for dependable motorcycle transport and Harley Davidson motorcycle shipping from the dealership!
