Harley-Davidson finally confirms that it is bringing its first electric motorcycle to market

[TheRobSJ]

I work by a Harley dealer who must have a few hundred bikes in stock and maybe a half dozen customer cars in the parking lot at any given time.

I would love to have half a dozen customers at my dealership at any given time. Six customers milling around in a Target or Walmart would signal some hard times ahead, but not for a car or bike dealer.

 

[firstbuell]

If you want to be treated like sh!t, just buy something from Harley-Davidson that isn't a fat-boy screamin-eagle hog "real-man's" motorcycle.

Don't believe me? Ask anyone who ever went into an HD dealer and exprressed interest in a Buell, or made the mistake of actually buying a Buell.

As far as service and parts support you can expect: most HD dealers will treat you like sh!t right on up to the short time later that HD dumps the product completely.

troof !
/thread

 

[72SBC]

I've owned a Buell, a V-rod, a sportster and 2 Dynas. Never been treated different at any dealer. It might help I look like a criminal so they don't run their mouths to me though.... LOL

My family has been into Harley's since the 50's till present and I never caught any slack from some pretty serious guys about any of my bikes.

People thought it was the end of the world with the V-rods too but they come around after a while.

I think that e-bike is pretty dope, good for Harley. I wouldn't mind riding it. If the price point is reasonable I think it could get a lot of new people into them.

 

[firstbuell]

Good on HD for attempting to look forward rather than repurpose older tech. I'm curious if any Barf members have tested out the Livewire.

why, yes, that’d be Tuono Joice & me, among a few others - we motored her Ape & my M2 Cyclone down to SJ H-D for the Livewire demo

I’m too relaxed (at poolside in Kep, Cambodia) to search for the old thread - suffice it to say that while the demo ride was super-tightly controlled @ 25mph, the bike was zippy & the non-moto public reaction (auto drivers & pedestrians) unbelievably surprised & inquisitive

if these new H-Ds aren’t at Zero level (or higher) when they hit the stealerships, then Harley’s cooked yet again.....

if they somehow really are competitive & up-2-date, then current Harley retail ‘tudes will quickly short-circuit the enterprise.....

for those who don’t know/remember, Zero’s self-effacing Engineering honcho (Abe Ashkenazi) bailed on the same job from Buell before H-D closed their doors

 

[ob1ventura]

Not many are going to want a harley that doesn't make any noise

Yeh, nobody mounts up aftermarket pipes on repli racers

60 mile range. Sounds like a Hardley. Enough juice to ride to the bar and back.

Damn Dyna's only get a get around 45 mpg w/ a 5 gal tank. Even after flunking math I guessing that's a range of what..........over 200 mi? Better off w/ the Duc or Ape and lay down 120 mi between stops. Hell that doubles the damn Hardley.

 

[motorider365]

It's a sign of an eye on the future. Ten years ago, people scoffed at electric cars that could only go 100 miles, yet in today's world, people drive a lot of them in that range. It's all going to depend on how they attach to chargers (will it be a current designed charging station that can connect to anything but a Tesla?) or will it be something unique. Those that only want 60-80 miles for an urban commute may want something fun and sporty, and again, that can connect to the current infrastructure. I say good on them for trying.

 

[ScarySpikes]

Not many are going to want a harley that doesn't make any noise

Their normal crowd might not like it, but their normal crowd is aging and the younger population isn't interested in their product because of the Sons of Anarchy image they have cultivated.

They need a new image that appeals more to younger folks, for a long term view, an E bike isn't a bad choice for that. Add to that the current crop of e bikes are either not very stylish, fill a specific niche, or are otherwise very expensive.

 

[Schnellbandit]

Most e-cars aren't being driven for pleasure so that range isn't as critical if the purpose is a shorter commute. A bike though, let a nice weekend come around and 100 miles isn't going to cut it. The riding, not the destination is the fun. Burning through 150 is way easy. Then what?

I bet plenty of riders that commute on their bikes will also use those bikes for pleasure. I haven't seen too many e-cars going for a full day ride.

I have seen Teslas but they are usually parked.

As a commuter bike, sure but then is that why most Harley riders buy that brand?

 

[ST Guy]

Not many are going to want a harley that doesn't make any noise

I see an aftermarket opportunity. Large speakers in panniers hooked up to a big amp, playing potato, potato, potato........

 

[Kornholio]

Not many are going to want a harley that doesn't make any noise

According to their financials, not many want a Harley in general in the first place anyway.

 

[firstbuell]

I see an aftermarket opportunity. Large speakers in panniers hooked up to a big amp, playing potato, potato, potato........

in all seriousness, this has been my position since day1 with eBikes -
a virtual sound track is an important component of the experience,
one which needn't be audible to others, just the piloto

ol' Matt Oxley repeated similar thoughts in his most recent tome about eBike GP

I sincerely desire at least the following 'exhaust' options,
electronically keyed to vehicle dynamics:

Honda 250-6
Honda CBX
Yamaha TZ750
Triumph Bonneville [late-'60s]
BSA 750 triple
H-D XR750
dual-exhaust, V8 drag boat
F-15 on afterburner
Saturn rocket liftoff

oh, also some necessary alert options:

diesel locomotive air horn
steam locomotive whistle
ah-oooo-gah !
happy bells

really, how difficult would this be to enact?

 

[CDONA]

Not 1 v12?
How about a big radial?
I want the power & thunder of offshore racing boats with three big motors piped thru my kayak.

 

[firstbuell]

Not 1 v12?
How about a big radial?
I want the power & thunder of offshore racing boats with three big motors piped thru my kayak.

oh, agreed on all counts -
please note, I did say, "at least".....

 

[Schnellbandit]

According to their financials, not many want a Harley in general in the first place anyway.

That is why they sell more motorcycles than every other brand than Honda right? Honda also sells bikes not in the same classifcations as Honda and it also sells in markets where Harley doesn't even compete with Honda.

Come on, other than what are more than forced purchases in countries where ultra cheap designs are prevalent in poor areas, Harley is a top selling brand.

So unless you ride a Honda, Harley sells more bikes than your brand ever hopes to sell.

I don't ride a Harley nor have I ever owned one.

 

[Marcoose]

That is why they sell more motorcycles than every other brand than Honda right? Honda also sells bikes not in the same classifcations as Honda and it also sells in markets where Harley doesn't even compete with Honda.

Come on, other than what are more than forced purchases in countries where ultra cheap designs are prevalent in poor areas, Harley is a top selling brand.

So unless you ride a Honda, Harley sells more bikes than your brand ever hopes to sell.

I don't ride a Harley nor have I ever owned one.

You're almost at 10 posts per day. Good work!

What Jason said, with sarcasm, is the new generation coming of age, leaving home, graduating from college, starting life on their own, are mostly broke. Loaded with school debt, college degrees that don't translate into good jobs, jobs with shitty pays. Even the first of the Millenniums, now in their mid/late 30s, aren't doing all that well. A Harley is a $20K toy, plus gear, maintenance, insurance, petrol, farkles. Not small change.

But go ahead, please post your rebuttal.

 

[Schnellbandit]

You're almost at 10 posts per day. Good work!

What Jason said, with sarcasm, is the new generation coming of age, leaving home, graduating from college, starting life on their own, are mostly broke. Loaded with school debt, college degrees that don't translate into good jobs, jobs with shitty pays. Even the first of the Millenniums, now in their mid/late 30s, aren't doing all that well. A Harley is a $20K toy, plus gear, maintenance, insurance, petrol, farkles. Not small change.

But go ahead, please post your rebuttal.

And there I was thinking I'd need a calculator to add them up and then you came along. What will you do when it gets to 21 and you run out of fingers and toes?

Then, to top that off, you even explain posts. The benefits you provide are endless.

 

[Marcoose]

And there I was thinking I'd need a calculator to add them up and then you came along. What will you do when it gets to 21 and you run out of fingers and toes?

Then, to top that off, you even explain posts. The benefits you provide are endless.

Man, and I thought I have problems. You twist a post into something that wasn't, get called on it, and instead of taking it as an opportunity to be a better person, you double-down on your antics. Go figure. Sociably-challenged people of your level make me feel less sorry for myself.

 

[Schnellbandit]

Man, and I thought I have problems. You twist a post into something that wasn't, get called on it, and instead of taking it as an opportunity to be a better person, you double-down on your antics. Go figure. Sociably-challenged people of your level make me feel less sorry for myself.

Because your intent was to help out right? Look, if you didn't pull that stuff all the time I might have taken you seriously but its your pattern and you do it to others as well. Save it.

 

[Marcoose]

Because your intent was to help out right? Look, if you didn't pull that stuff all the time I might have taken you seriously but its your pattern and you do it to others as well. Save it.

10-4, bandaid. You win again. You always do. You're a rockstar. The best of all here. Second to none.

Unsubscribed.

 

[ST Guy]

in all seriousness, this has been my position since day1 with eBikes -
a virtual sound track is an important component of the experience,
one which needn't be audible to others, just the piloto

ol' Matt Oxley repeated similar thoughts in his most recent tome about eBike GP

I sincerely desire at least the following 'exhaust' options,
electronically keyed to vehicle dynamics:

Honda 250-6
Honda CBX
Yamaha TZ750
Triumph Bonneville [late-'60s]
BSA 750 triple
H-D XR750
dual-exhaust, V8 drag boat
F-15 on afterburner
Saturn rocket liftoff

oh, also some necessary alert options:

diesel locomotive air horn
steam locomotive whistle
ah-oooo-gah !
happy bells

really, how difficult would this be to enact?

Not difficult at all:

http://www.soundracer.se/?p=98

https://appfelstrudel.com/id/506486124/xlr8.html

https://appfelstrudel.com/a/506486124/alternative-to-xlr8.html