Have you ever had a secret that you really wanted to tell – but held out for the last second to build up suspense? Well – that’s exactly what the folks at the Product Development Center in Wisconsin are doing with public information about the 2019 Harley Davidson Livewire – the first electric-powered Harley introduced to North American consumers. While we’d love to spill the beans on all the juicy details and specs, Harley is simply not ready to disclose this information.
So – lets breakdown what we know for certain, and what we believe will precursor to future all-electric Harleys coming down the pipeline shortly.
At this point, here are the facts we know about the much-anticipated debut of Harley Davidson’s Livewire all-electric motorcycle.
- It’s being built in in Pennsylvania . Many critics of the all-electric Harley Davidson have suggest that this bike would be built overseas due to the complexity of the electric motor and drive system. But, that’s just a rumor. The Livewire was designed 100% in Wisconsin and is being built at Harley’s assembly plant in York, PA – making it a true American motorcycle.
- It’s a Twist-and-Go motorcycle . One of the thrills of riding a Harley is the actual driving input that must be accomplished to ride the bike. However, a lot of those manual features have vanished with the new Livewire. The clutch handle is gone – as is the famous roar of the combustion powered Harley V-Twin. To ride the new 2019 Harley Davidson Livewire, you simply twist the throttle handle – and instant torque is applied to the drive wheel; with reportedly insane acceleration. It’s really that simple.
- It’s derived from Project Livewire . There is a bit of confusion on the difference from the 2019 Harley Davidson Livewire and the 2014 Project Livewire prototype. According to Harley Davidson, “Project LiveWire was an electric prototype model created in 2014. We allowed real riders to test out the motorcycle across the world, and feedback was collected on the experiences and features of the motorcycle. This input was then used to refine the development of the all-new LiveWire™ motorcycle - a next generation electric motorcycle that builds on the performance of the original prototype.”
- The Livewire will feature dual disc brakes and full-size sport tires . Those two details are the only ones being put forth from Harley at this point. It’s rumored that more details should be forthcoming in the upcoming months.
Recently, Harley Davidson also teased a future electric model, with tech developed by their partners at Alta Motors. A recently filed trademark gives a hint that the new name will be referred to as the H-D Revelation.