Dododo to Quinn.
The wave of electrification is surging like a raging wave to motorcycles, and new companies from Taiwan and China, including Honda, are entering the market, but until now, city commuter scooters have been the main focus. And finally, this summer, a full-fledged electric motorcycle will appear. I thought it was a start-up company like Tesla, but it was founded in 1903, from Harley-Davidson, a long-established company with over 100 years of history.
The name of the electric motorcycle is "LiveWire". When you think of Harley-Davidson, you might think of an American-style bike with a long handlebar that you ride backwards.
But the design is not the only selling point, the performance is also very sporty. Acceleration from 0-60mph takes 3.0 seconds, comparable to that of a supercar, taking advantage of the characteristic of a motor that can produce maximum torque even from 0 rpm. Just hearing that sounds like you're going to do a wheelie, but of course it's full of control functions. Equipped with ABS, traction control, anti-slip and anti-wheelie functions, it is said that anyone can bring out the performance just by twisting the throttle.
This time, I was able to test drive the pre-production model ahead of the US release, so I will deliver the review.
Start with the design and components that interest you. Since it is electric, the most important thing is the battery. The vehicle weight is 249 kg, which is relatively light for Harley, but the battery is 105 kg, which accounts for 40% of that, making it a running battery. Therefore, the battery is sandwiched between the frame parts, the front and rear tires are placed, and the inverter and motor are placed under the battery.
In keeping with ancient traditions, the refueling port is placed above the tank. That said, of course it's just a dummy cover, but it's finished with a clean design that successfully fuses Harley's tradition and the future we want to show.
The area under the dummy tank where the knee hits is covered with a cushion for added comfort. The battery with heat dissipation fins can be seen through the gap in the frame, and the air from the air intake flows cleanly to cool the battery.
It also comes with a radiator for water cooling, but this is to efficiently cool the motor and inverter, whose performance deteriorates when heated, and it is a fusion of function and design.
Charging supports 80% in 40 minutes and 100% in 60 minutes. Even with a 120-240V household power supply, it will be fully charged in 12 hours. This area is similar to electric vehicles such as Tesla and Nissan Leaf.
Of course, there is no such thing as a chrome-plated round analog meter, and various information is displayed on a blacked-out LCD screen just like a smartphone. . In addition, it supports H-D Connect, which connects to the iPhone via bluetooth, so you can not only use it for navigation and music playback, but also remotely monitor it.
The display is a touch screen that can be operated intuitively.
And there are four riding modes that change the riding feel: standard "road", more acceleration, "sport" with stronger deceleration when off-throttle, peace of mind even on rainy days, mild "rain", and cruising range. There is a "range" in which acceleration is mild and regenerative braking is strong in order to extend the
Even when the power is turned on with the cell switch, there is no slight movement, and there is no sound or vibration like an engine car. Only a faint heartbeat like a heartbeat that informs you that the power is turned on is transmitted. This bike is alive!
Then, when you twist the throttle, it starts running quietly, and even at low speeds it runs smoothly without jerking. Of course, there is no shift lever on the clutch lever, so it is easy to concentrate on balance, so it may be suitable for beginners.
The effect of regenerative braking when the throttle is off in standard "road" mode is mild, and coasting is easy. It is easy to adjust the speed by operating the throttle during stop-and-go traffic in the city, and since there is no clutch or shift operation, it is easy even at low speeds.
Since the seat height is low and the feet are easy to reach, it is easy to handle. It's a great companion for commuting to work or school, and maybe even good for shopping, but it takes up almost zero cargo space.
LiveWire is at its best on winding roads, it's fast, it's quiet! The direct acceleration of the motor is truly heart-throbbing, and the high-frequency sound of ``Quiiii! It seems that the body is brought forward faster than the consciousness, and you can have an out-of-body experience while you are still alive.
It is said that bicycles, yachts, and gliders are good because there is no engine noise. I used to think that Harley's selling point was the heavy exhaust sound of thumping thumping, but it doesn't care about that at all, and shows us a smooth and silent future without any gimmicks that make the engine sound.
Also, when you think of Harley, the image of a cruiser that is good at running straight in the movie "Easy Rider", but this LiveWire is a sports bike. I was able to run like dancing on winding roads. In such cases, the powerful regenerative braking in "Sport" mode comes in handy, and off-throttle braking works as expected and slows down. And the rising acceleration is fast, fast.
Of course, this is because the basic performance as a motorcycle, the brakes and suspension are solid. Thanks to the radial mount of Brembo's counter-piston caliper, powerful and controllable brakes, and the control that does not lose the grip of the rear tire, it was not only fast, but also decelerated exactly, so I was relieved.
Specified cruising range is 235km in city driving, 152km in highway and stop & go mode, and 158km in WMTC mode, which is the fuel efficiency standard for motorcycles. It is
This overseas test drive was with Italian media, but as expected, it is Latin. The moment it turns into a suburban winding road, it disappears into the other side of the corner at an unbelievable speed... In many ways, I can't keep up. The battery consumption in such high-speed extreme driving is really intense, and the remaining 40% is 40% after driving about 60km. At this pace, it seems that I can only run a little over 100km, but it won't get any worse.
The regenerative brake works well in urban areas where there is a lot of stop-and-go and ups and downs, and energy can be recovered, so electricity consumption is better than driving on highways and winding roads. The regenerative braking is optimally controlled off-throttle, so you don't have to worry about it normally. A powerful regenerative brake recovers the pounding energy.
When the Nissan LEAF debuted, the cruising range was 200km, and it was said that it was actually about 130km, but is the LiveWire really about that? In the first place, the fuel consumption is bad, and the cruising range is less than 200km for a motorcycle with a small tank, and it is rare to travel long distances at once unless it is used for touring, so it is not so severe. In addition, unlike in the past, there are charging stations here and there, and one quick charger is deployed at each Harley-Davidson dealership in the United States and Europe, so it's safe.
As for the durability of the battery, you don't have to worry about it because it is guaranteed for 5 years with unlimited distance.
Speaking of Harley, it was characterized by a large displacement V-twin engine and a loud exhaust sound, but this is not the case. It's so quiet that when I go out in the morning, I don't get complaints from my neighbors, "Wow, what time do you think it is!"
Because you don't put gasoline in it, you don't smell gasoline, and you don't get exhaust gas that makes your eyes blink. There's no hot engine or muffler, so even if you touch it by mistake, you won't get hit, and you won't get hot from under your crotch in summer traffic jams.
Because there is no clutch lever, you won't lose grip strength in your left hand due to traffic jams.Because there is no shift lever, you may get stuck in neutral when you intended to put it in 1st gear. is not.
Because there is no engine, there is no need to change oil or plugs.Because it is a belt instead of a chain, it is oil-free, maintenance-free, and maintenance costs are low.
Hey, it's all good!
This LiveWire will go on sale in the US and Europe this summer. After that, the sales area will be gradually expanded, and the introduction to the Japanese market is also being considered. At the time of introduction, we want to support the CHAdeMO standard, a quick charger that is popular in Japan, so if that happens, we can use popular highway SAs and quick chargers at car dealers, so there is a sense of security. No, I want it to be introduced in Japan as soon as possible.
The last price that comes to mind is about $30,000 in the US market, or about 3.3 million yen in Japanese yen... As expected, it's expensive, but considering it's a two-wheeled Tesla, it's initially expensive. I can't help it. The resale value is probably high, so it shouldn't actually cost that much, right?
It seems that the target users are Harley-Davidson's core fans, collectors who want to have another one, established people living in the city, and early adopters. The second half will be covered with Tesla users.
Why did Harley make this? 100 years ago, when he founded the company, he made an engine-powered motorcycle, so he wants to innovate with electrification. We, the users, have the prejudice that it is not a Harley unless it is a traditional V-twin engine, and while Harley itself upholds tradition, we will make the most of the potential of electrification, and let's all go for a run every day. I felt like they were saying, "Come on, it's fun."
Indeed, electrification will further expand the possibilities of motorcycles. I can't wait to introduce it to Japan.
In the production of this article, I received an invitation from Harley-Davidson Japan.
And there are four riding modes that change the riding feel: standard "road", more acceleration, "sport" with stronger deceleration when off-throttle, peace of mind even on rainy days, mild "rain", and cruising range. There is a "range" in which acceleration is mild and regenerative braking is strong in order to extend the
Even when the power is turned on with the cell switch, there is no slight movement, and there is no sound or vibration like an engine car. Only a faint heartbeat like a heartbeat that informs you that the power is turned on is transmitted. This bike is alive!
Then, when you twist the throttle, it starts running quietly, and even at low speeds it runs smoothly without jerking. Of course, there is no shift lever on the clutch lever, so it is easy to concentrate on balance, so it may be suitable for beginners.
The effect of regenerative braking when the throttle is off in standard "road" mode is mild, and coasting is easy. It is easy to adjust the speed by operating the throttle during stop-and-go traffic in the city, and since there is no clutch or shift operation, it is easy even at low speeds.
Since the seat height is low and the feet are easy to reach, it is easy to handle. It's a great companion for commuting to work or school, and maybe even good for shopping, but it takes up almost zero cargo space.