I have riden loud bikes for a long time. I owned RD and RZ 350 Yamahas and RZ500 and ride a quite loud HD Night Train now. I don't agree that loud saves lives. Riding safe and smart saves lives. I can't wait to try the Livewire. Just waiting for HD to bring it on the demo tour in my area.
so what your saying is .......there is never a time when a motorist might not see you but will hear you first.... and that won't save any lives????? your a fucking idiot. ANYTHING YOU CAN DO ON A MOTORCYCLE THAT CAN GET YOU NOTICED ( BY CAR DRIVERS THAT COULD KILL YOU ) is worth it.
It's still Vapor-Ware, 4 years later, being made by Harley Davidson that is, there are small companies like the Zero Bike and some others that are making this a reality.
Natty Bushdoctor That actually happened to me. I seen a friend of mine driving ahead of me. I sped up and caught up with him. I was pulling up alongside of him when he pulled into the passing lane. A really close call. I was in his blind spot and he didn't hear me and I was riding my V-Max with stock exhaust. He would have heard my Fat Boy if I had been riding that. Yeah, people hear those Harleys coming up along side. It keeps them from turning into you.
Dragan M Imagine riding 60-70 mph on a country road, there is a small hill that you cant see over, a car backs out and you hit it because the car never heard you coming. No way not for me, all my bikes are loud, i use the exhaust sound multiple times during a
Riding safe and smart saves lives indeed; I ride as if everyone is trying to kill me. That is not to say I ride slowly. I have a Shovel and an ex military Armstrong MT500 which is near silent. The number of times I nearly get sideswiped on the MT is unreal. It never happens on my Shovel.
Coming back to this video after almost 5 years, it's pretty amazing to see how similar this concept bike is to the finished product .. at least in the looks-department, that is.
Its great to see Harley attempting something like this because as Jay said, so many companies have gone because they didn't progress. Even car companies have done this, Lincoln, Cadillac, Jaguar spring to mind. Companies that depended on an ageing demographic, which eventually died off leaving them with no customers. And lets face it, I don't know anyone under the age of 45 who rides a Harley. So, building something which hopefully will bring in a younger demographic thus securing a future for the company can only be a good thing!
Considering what Harley paid for this "ad," they should not have sent a marketing robot. Send older guys who have more stories and experience...like Jay.
Rode one yesterday 11/23/2019 and it was impressive. Great power and cool looking. I was really impressed, I'm not much a of an HD fan but this bike was awesome. It has different modes Street, Sport, Rain and Eco. Sport having the most Regen braking and the other modes have less especially Rain mode, almost no regen.
I took a look at them in Nov in Houston area and they said that the ones we were looking at did well over a 100 miles and recharge time was about 3 hours. If you listen you will here him say that the demo models have 53/59 miles of range. Its fantastic, Thanks Harley for braking the norm
Drove the Zero electric bikes with my son recently. About 100 miles minimum and close to 200 with acc. package. Very fast and you can change power modes on the fly. We were able to talk while riding around town. Would be nice for another backup bike ( just what I need , another bike) but the price for the top model with extended range is scary.
As someone that doesn't ride, but drives a car; the biggest factor of me knowing that a bike is around, besides actually being observant/checking my mirrors and blind spots, is the "big sound". Silent bikes seem a bit....deadly. Yes, some people might point out that bicycles are also silent, but they're not weaving in and out of traffic at 120 km/h on the highway.
There are cars coming down pipe soon that will warn you when a bike is approaching . I think it's called accident avoidance technology or something like that . I think volvo of mercedes are looking into that .
Very interesting to see HD doing such an exercise... Makes it more mainstream... Maybe now other manufacturers will follow suit and the technology will evolve to make electric bikes a real viable alternative.. I must admit however, that I love the sound of a bike.. Lol
Paul Mccarter Took the words outta my mouth brother :P. Looks too much like a japanese scooter with a bigger front wheel with that plastick-y look, *it needs to replace all the chrome that we expect to see on a harley's engine/exhaust*.
Paul Mccarter did you look at the link +trekgeek posted? Top model is under 18 grand, goes 185 miles, weighs 452 pounds, and charges in 2.8 hours zero to %100 (with their optional faster charger). The battery tech on cars is such that they have supercharge stations that charge 0-80% in 30 minutes ...this, I believe, is the limit for how fast each individual cell can charge.... so its completely conceivable that this would be available on an electric at some point. For city riders and commuters an electric bike like the zero-s would be awesome, even with reduced range doing freeway speeds...
Eric B I've seen it, and I stand by what I said before: faster charging and double the range, because without some subsidizing, petrol is just more convenient for the average consumer. If I had the money, I would def go this way even at this point of dev because I believe it's the future and why not learn to embrace it now..plus they look fun as hell..
Its just that in your first comment you say you want 3 times the range of the harley, then you say, 3 times isn't enough I want double that. As for the charge time, faster charging is possible and has been attained on other bikes. The lightning supports the 440 volt DC fast charing, so full charge in 30 minutes and 180 miles with the big battery claiming thats at highway speeds. You could modify the zero with a faster charger, if you were electrically inclined, and you could definitely charge in well under 2 hours. I don't think many people would be willing or have the skill to make those mods, but some guy did it on his electric car. Just saying its possible.
Just test rode one and NOW I believe Harley did a great deal of changes since then. Just as light. Feels nimble. 0-60 in 3 sec. I enjoyed the experience! Time for an updated review, I think.
I think that the level of noise that the conventional bike makes, is an essential safety measure for the rider. Being on a bike immediately puts you in a lower, slimmer profile making you much less visible to cars...especially when the drivers of said cars are either distracted (phone, music etc) or just zoned off...with a conventional bike where they can hear you coming from a mile away, an immediate reaction of a driver is 'oh, theres a bike somewhere' and he/she will check their mirrors almost by reflex...the noiseless bike might actually put its rider at danger...i hope they can work their way around it because it's an exciting prospect
I have to say, as a person who had their motorcycle licence 2 years before I got a car licence, I'd buy one of these in a heartbeat. I've had everything from a 125 enduro, 400/4 honda, ninjas, harley's, and one of my favourite things was to get to the top of a big hill, turn off the bike, pull in the clutch and coast down doing 80 to 100 kph hearing nothing but the wind.... My one concern from looking at it was the ride position. My tired old back was aching just looking at it but after seeing Jay ride it, the upright position doesn't look that bad actually......
Paul Dutton So, I was so annoyed with him I would so liked to have thrown my phone!.. So there ! Seriously, it looked like Jay was having a hard time listening to this puke. I was.
I LOVE this bike and hope it makes it to production for a reasonable price! The two things they need to fix are; on/off switch for the fake exhaust noise and they need to extend the range to 100-200mi at least.
Funny about some HD owners who talk about fuel stops. They ride an Ultra with a range of 240-280 miles but they still stop at 120-150 anyway. I do agree range to a point and most important time of charging is an issue. Really like the sound and the styling rocks! Can't wait for the release
It wasn't a production bike, this is just a proof of concept. It's not fully loaded with batteries like a production bike would. Like the man said, 50 miles is good enough for what that bike is doing, showcasing.
I think they should consider: -building in a wheel based motor on front, you would need one motor for accelerating(torque), and one for keeping the pace(power),we know that starting a movement requires more energy than keeping up that movement. -pack a lot of energy cells, which are easily chargeable.(removable perhaps) -cut weight, improve aerodynamics. Would love to have one of these.
The technology is there. Look at the Tesla Model S. It has a range of 265 miles and the battery is so small and well integrated that the car has much more cargo space than any petrol car of the same size. HD just didn't put much effort in building it for a longer range. This is just a demo bike to get feedback and see if it's worth developing and producing an electric motorcycle.
TheSharkcookie Yes, I know about the Tesla. Like some other posters have said...Unless you can get to 250-300 miles per-charge (minimum).. the masses will reject it. We're close though and technology will continue to advance.
***** I know for me it wouldn't work at the moment because of the distances I drive for work etc.. But I'm on board with it. I would love to see electric vehicles get 400 miles on a charge (prices come down a bit) I would also like to see full electric SUV's for families that need lots of room. I am excited for the future of electric. The only concern is.. I believe a switch will result in massive mileage taxes, that could hurt ppl like me who do lots of driving. That's going on here in Cali already b/c of the increase of hybrid vehicles bringing down the amount of gasoline being used (less state revenue).
westy40 I totally get it. I'm more interested in them getting cheaper though. If I could afford to switch then the savings would not only pay for my vacation but also a rental car to take me there. And I totally agree about the taxes.
SamDM1 You gave me a good idea, *harley should make a HYBRID!* That way you can make someones ears bleed like a traditional harley AND use the smooth and quiet electric feature for when your going through a parking lot or don't want to wake up the girlfriend hehe. That way the traditional guys are still happy, they have a neat electric (maybe "quiet" or "shiftless" ) mode to try out (or use in case of running out of fuel) and *you could even use the electric and gas together to fill in shifting speed! (aka "torque fill" :P) aah?*
Elitist, arrogant people like this Harley employee will never listen. They already know everything and we are just too obtuse to realize and understand this new world we live in.
stirlingfromla Battery tech has improved greatly in the last 5 years. Density doubled from the Tesla Roadster to the Model S. Zero Motorcycles has made huge progress in both power (2x) and range (4x) from 2011 to 2014: imgur.com/SgFqdnH.png The tech is here now it just needs to get cheaper and thats happening at about 10%/year.
+J Boy H-D excel at sales, but this is a joke. "Jet engine on an aircraft carrier"? XD. I've heard louder electric wheelchairs. The engineers probably didn't want anything to do with the bike once they were finished building it. 53 mile range, slow top speed, hours needed to recharge.. The best things about the bike are its looks (imo) and its LED lighting.
Talking about wristwatches......which one do you want, a battery one or........ I'm glad I'm old enough to enjoy mechanical things, cars, bikes, watches and glad to be gone when it's not possible to run them anymore. Part of loving cars and bikes is the garagetime maintaining them.
Looks fantastic but more like a Buell than a Harley. That range is just not good enough though. I'm sure most people are like me, when I go for a ride I always seem to go be gone for longer than I intended... I'd be running out of power almost every day.
Yeah it looks a lot like a modern version of my old tuber m2. I'd like a 1200cc version of this to have a reliable version of it. But once they figure out nano batteries oh man it will be a hard choice.
The Gentleman Biker A little afternoon hop around the mountains is 250 miles...it takes 40 miles just to get out of town...definitely not a riders bike. However it may have just enough range that my buddy could ride it to the Harley shop and back since he is constantly having to work on his Electra Glides. I can see it now...being a Harley, the battery pack will have to be replaced every year at half the original cost of the bike, the noisy gears will have to be replaced constantly and the electric motor will leak oil.
it's really good for someone who hasn't ridden any kind of bike, excepting for maybe a moped, like I done for a long time.it looks like it's easy to ride. Jay's right the range has to go up a bit and have some type of cord to plug into when you are at someone's house to charge while you are doing something else you would think that others would have BEEN had done this, especially HONDA or some of the others.I think that once it can get the things done like range and so on,it'll sell very well. Like I said it's a good starter bike for a beginner to ride, don't have to worry about shifting which what I like about it. That was so funny getting close to a CHP and didn't hear it.
krutoysilnostarina i agree, ok its a prototype but it sucks as a motorcycle, i think only non motorcycle owners would like this big electric slow scooter.
I was told by a live wire engineer that as of today they have almost 250 miles and 110 on top speed for 170 miles. Also an optional boom box shaker ...basically fake sound and vibration. So the newest prototype might be awesome.
I've ridden the 2015 Zero SR with the 12.5 battery pack on a good long ride. It's a fantastic ride, in fact, it's in the same class as the best motorcycles I've ever ridden. It's instant throttle is beyond intoxicating. Forget the noise and vibration. That's not what makes motorcycling fun. It's the performance! And the Zero has it, dialed in to perfection. While I've not ridden this Harley, I suspect it's as fun as the Zero. That is to say, really, really fun. Before you discount modern electric motorcycles, consider that the Zero SR has more range than my Suzuki SV1000s, and it's real world performance is better too. No downshifting, instant power, so much fun!
Harley is supposed to put this on sale in 2019 (next year). This video is from 2014, that means it is taking 5 years to get this in the show room. Top speed is 92 miles an hour. Tough to attract the youthful crotch rocket crowd Harley is trying to capture, when there are bikes that will do double that speed.
I ride a 2010 fat bob, I would be in line to buy the live wire. I would still ride my big v-twin for the days i want the traditional Harley ride. Good job Harley Davidson. Jay thanks for the review, Good job as always
Absolutely gorgeous machine. 2014 SG owner here...but I decided months ago my next bike will be all electric. Will I stay with HD? Price point HD, that’s all I’ll say.
If they do make this bike it won't sell and I'll tell you why. Thee guy who wants a sleek, nice handling, street fighter bike won't want a Harley Davidson, and the guys who are fans of Harley Davidson motorcycles won't like the look or lack of the the loud oily bit in the middle. It kinda of like the new turbo four mustang, people who like turbo fours don't want to buy a mustang and people who like mustangs don't want a four banger under the bonnet. The lack of range doesn't help either.
IndyHelis It will sell but only to a very small, commuter based audience. I doubt if they will sell enough to make it profitable. You may never see this bike come to market especially if they don't extend the range....29 miles in power mode....give me a break....why even have a "power mode". I literally could not ride to my clubhouse and make it back home in power mode......
You have a point. Even the VRod (Porsche designed) hasn't been a runaway success. Traditional customers won't touch it. They may be getting new customers that never owned a Harley before, I am sure they are younger (than Harley rider average, maybe 40s) but not crotch rocket young like 20s.
I think it would work well with people that aren't really into bikes. I personally do like turbo 4s and you're right about the mustang problem, but tbh if I had a short commute, I would definitely take a look at this and I'm not a bike guy really.
It's a prototype ,demo,I'm sure any production machine will get the 150 200 mile range people would be moderately satisfied. Maybe a fuel cell option would help. What a really neat machine.
this is ACTUALLY a MOTOR cycle! First time Harley.. and most companies are starting to use the right term. An Engine is internal combustion, a Motor is electric..
As of 5/25 white lightning harley in Chattanooga Tennessee has 2 of them and a charging station . I don’t see myself ever buying one with the $30,000 price tag. They won’t even let you test ride it unless you fill out a credit application but it’s really not a horrible looking bike. I like that Jay isn’t bias to one thing, he’s open minded to all vehicles and motorcycles. He’s got a good point electric vehicles have been around a lot longer than most people know , harley just had the balls to make it happen but with a $30,000 prices I can get a new 2020 ultra limited
Jay Leno saying a noiseless bike is pleasent... blimey! never thought I would hear that. Hope Victory do well with their electric bike at the IOM TT this year. Nice to see Harley Davidson be innovative.
I'm just seeing this thing for the first time ? Sure looks good, and by now they probably have a ton of torgue. And, Jay Leno's perspective is from an authentic "Biker'. At the end when he talks about the bike I dig his absorption with it.
It is a great idea.BUT it is not ready for marketing yet.It seems more like H.D. is selling a prototype .Maybe Collectors and Eco people will buy one .Most people want longer rides than 53 miles.I do not think Live Wire will sell very well.
I want one of these now as my weekly commuter and keep the 88" FatBoy for the weekends. I remember having everyone pulling out on me all the time when I rode my quiet 125cc to work but that has a little more road presence so hopefully wouldn't have as much trouble.
While I admire Harley-Davidson for taking the plunge. It's typical HD, with worse specs that their competitors. The ZERO SR has far more range, is faster and lighter. I don't get why HD has to always be a step behind everyone else. Hell they should have had a multi-cylinder 4 designed about 40 years ago for the mainstream market. Maybe team up with GM or something to create a small in-line triple or four and pop it in a Buell frame, they would have dominated the world. But no they have to design bikes whose heyday was the 1930's, slow and loud. While nostalgic, it will never capture the mainstream markets that they need to survive.
For you and I that's exactly what they think. Unfortunately they have captured the market not interested in actual innovation, technology, and the competition. HD sells an incredible amount of motorcycles and continues to not only survive, but thrive because people buy them simply because "it's a Harley"
they havent changed b/c they feel if they do they will lose their identity as a company. and b/c of that Harley has had the most dedicated and loyal base of customers than any other company (yes more than ford) for the last 50+ years now those guys are getting old and dying off and dont have a new generation of customers to replace them
Charge as you go. Just decelerate more than you accelerate and you will generate more than enough power. [joke] I'm for hydrogen internal combustion engines. The distribution system is everywhere, gasoline stations everywhere, phase in tanks of hydrogen, no pollution, no exhausting finite oil underground.
I'm also glad that Harley engineers and marketing folks are thinking outside of the box. As far as the 58 mile range is concerned, I only get about 70 miles out of the peanut tank on my Sportster 72 so it all depends on the type of riding you do. And I'm sure the battery engineering guys are hard at work developing long range battery technology.
"Tesla battery cells"? Tesla uses THOUSANDS of A-123 cells for it's cars. Their "small" cars weigh as much as most half ton trucks. Not exactly ideal for a motorcycle.
Its awesome to think of live wire as the future of motorcycles the only sad part i won’t be around to experience it in its prime .motorcycles are my life. RIDE TO LIVE LIVE TO RIDE Harley Davison you are on the right track ride on brother
Dear God! Who is this guy from HD?! "Reinvention and multicultural diversity"?! Just tell me about the f'ing bike! 😠 I've never seen a worse example of a salesman in auto-spiel mode.
Thought the same thing. Harley has always talked about evolution(not reinventing) until the Revolution Motor in the V-ROD. And wtf does multiculturalism have to do with it?! This goofball represents HD? Sad.
@@alwaysopen7970 hahahahahaah i have noticed that too. but i wouldnt target it towards a generation. its mostly liberal hipster fucktards that probably vote for Hillary or bernie
Ken does a great job of not confirming any of Leno's criticism, especially about the console (I agree with Leno on that). Ken knows exactly what is expected of him and he does a great job of selling the bike.
This marketing gentleman is hugely annoying. It seems he is selling "awesome" engineered appliances that have been created by "awesome" team of designers that are "awesome" as they have always been. That is just "awesome." Nothing against this particullar peace of craftmanship.
As a "traditional" Harley rider, I think this motorcycle looks great! Give me about 100 miles more range (150 miles on a charge should be more than reasonable in this age) and I'll be down at my dealership signing the papers. GREAT JOB HD!!
I had to stop the video because this dude was annoying. Every sentence began with "So..." and every seventh or eighth word he says is "so." I don't know how many people realize our language has been polluted by ummm, uhhh, so, yaknow..like, surfer talk, ya know?
The technology used is probably resistive. Therefore, you can it with gloves. It works with pressure. You can see it in the vid, as he has to press hard on the screen.
t0mmiiiii i'm pretty sure he is referring to the fact that your fingers are much larger with gloves on. so touch that little area will be very difficult, especially while riding! This is a very common problem with motor sports....try using a gps while ATVing or snowmobiling. Or changing the radio station on your motorcycle while going down the highway
When I rode the bike, I had no problems with the touch screen and my leather gloves. Plus, there's no real need to touch the screen while riding. And when at a stop, I didn't encounter any issues with icons being too small to touch.
Jay, since you've ridden the Zeros as well I would appreciate a comparison from your point of view. Having ridden the Zero myself it looks like a big difference will be the brakes and the riding position. While I appreciate those who like HD, I've never been much of a fan, but I do like the styling of this bike ... love the positioning of the mirrors ...
The problem I see is larger batteries will probably require a radical change in styling which is too bad because it looks pretty cool the way it is. But it is a good start. Being that I own some of their stock I'm glad to see they are looking ahead and are willing to explore. They will have to change whether they like it or not and I think they see that. I think they have carried air-cooled engines to their limit. To meet future EPA requirements they will have to at least go water-cooled like the V-Rod. Water cooled heads will only carry them so far.
My BMW C evolution scoot is a fantastic fun ride. Not as fast as the HD but really fast acceleration, long range so 80 miles but if you give it the berries 60 miles range . Fist service £40 next service £60 plus tyres probably . This is the future . I have. 1250 GSA and an Enfield woodsman . A good cross section of bikes but my go to is the Evo 😎
As much as I love my combustion engine, I don't know why but after driving an electric van at work I am quite excited by a future with Electric vehicles, when they can bring the charging time down and make the batteries last longer between charge then I think it will be all systems go.
You should do a revisited video on this! After all, it's been six years and this is now a production model!
WOW, Jay is asking question's and the dude is giving a sales pitch.
They ALL do it. When will they learn?! So annoying!!
well he got the marketing guy when he needed the engineer
“It’s good for little guys, big guys and girls” 😋🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️ sooo everyone?!
@@EndeavorsDnB What a coincidence! It is perfect for everyone! Ha.
wow its like its an ad
The 2014 Zero S Electric Motorcycle has a range of 171 miles. And looks just as good, might as well just buy that
Not really.
More like 120 miles.
Alta Motors has made a new Supermoto with 200 mile range. They're getting up there fast!
... and Harley Davidson just invested in and partnered with Alta Motors.
ZERO motorbikes all the way. you can even remove the battery and Charge it at work .
I have riden loud bikes for a long time. I owned RD and RZ 350 Yamahas and RZ500 and ride a quite loud HD Night Train now. I don't agree that loud saves lives. Riding safe and smart saves lives. I can't wait to try the Livewire. Just waiting for HD to bring it on the demo tour in my area.
so what your saying is .......there is never a time when a motorist might not see you but will hear you first.... and that won't save any lives????? your a fucking idiot. ANYTHING YOU CAN DO ON A MOTORCYCLE THAT CAN GET YOU NOTICED ( BY CAR DRIVERS THAT COULD KILL YOU ) is worth it.
It's still Vapor-Ware, 4 years later, being made by Harley Davidson that is, there are small companies like the Zero Bike and some others that are making this a reality.
Natty Bushdoctor
That actually happened to me. I seen a friend of mine driving ahead of me. I sped up and caught up with him. I was pulling up alongside of him when he pulled into the passing lane. A really close call. I was in his blind spot and he didn't hear me and I was riding my V-Max with stock exhaust. He would have heard my Fat Boy if I had been riding that. Yeah, people hear those Harleys coming up along side. It keeps them from turning into you.
Dragan M Imagine riding 60-70 mph on a country road, there is a small hill that you cant see over, a car backs out and you hit it because the car never heard you coming. No way not for me, all my bikes are loud, i use the exhaust sound multiple times during a
Riding safe and smart saves lives indeed; I ride as if everyone is trying to kill me. That is not to say I ride slowly. I have a Shovel and an ex military Armstrong MT500 which is near silent. The number of times I nearly get sideswiped on the MT is unreal. It never happens on my Shovel.
It's 5 years later. They will sell this on August. Please Jay make an follow video
Coming back to this video after almost 5 years, it's pretty amazing to see how similar this concept bike is to the finished product .. at least in the looks-department, that is.
Its great to see Harley attempting something like this because as Jay said, so many companies have gone because they didn't progress. Even car companies have done this, Lincoln, Cadillac, Jaguar spring to mind. Companies that depended on an ageing demographic, which eventually died off leaving them with no customers. And lets face it, I don't know anyone under the age of 45 who rides a Harley. So, building something which hopefully will bring in a younger demographic thus securing a future for the company can only be a good thing!
That guy has the eloquence and the smooth blablabla of a typical salesman.
Needs a card in the spokes for motor noises.
=D =D =D
😁😁😁😁😁😁😁
That"s stupid(BUT FUNNY) ......Whether ya like it, electric is here, and OLD 100+ year ancient tech is on its way out. ENJOY THE HUMMMM!!!
Or a microphone in the helmet so one can make one's own vroom vroom noises.
@@williamsaloka9043 ancient lmao. these things just have a compressed battery. Enjoy the humm like from a dentist drill ?
I rode LiveWire in NYC when it debuted. LOVE! It was a blast, fast and fun. Plus no clutching in NYC traffic - how great is that!
Considering what Harley paid for this "ad," they should not have sent a marketing robot. Send older guys who have more stories and experience...like Jay.
Absolutely agree!
Rode one yesterday 11/23/2019 and it was impressive. Great power and cool looking. I was really impressed, I'm not much a of an HD fan but this bike was awesome. It has different modes Street, Sport, Rain and Eco. Sport having the most Regen braking and the other modes have less especially Rain mode, almost no regen.
I took a look at them in Nov in Houston area and they said that the ones we were looking at did well over a 100 miles and recharge time was about 3 hours. If you listen you will here him say that the demo models have 53/59 miles of range. Its fantastic, Thanks Harley for braking the norm
It has all the excitement, charm and style of a digital toaster. ;)
Drove the Zero electric bikes with my son recently. About 100 miles minimum and close to 200 with acc. package. Very fast and you can change power modes on the fly. We were able to talk while riding around town. Would be nice for another backup bike ( just what I need , another bike) but the price for the top model with extended range is scary.
it will still leak oil
+baDBrad LOL
harleys will always leak no matter what :)
Haha good one but HD is king of all cruiser. Often imitated never duplicated
LMAO
It will leak when i'm done testing her out
Alright guys! The Harley Davidson LiveWire is coming!!! It's almost here!!! Are you ready??!!!!! *crickets chirping*
@Tv 5150 - At $30K, it ain't for a lot of bikers.
@@thomast8539 30k is a deal for a harley lol
As someone that doesn't ride, but drives a car; the biggest factor of me knowing that a bike is around, besides actually being observant/checking my mirrors and blind spots, is the "big sound". Silent bikes seem a bit....deadly. Yes, some people might point out that bicycles are also silent, but they're not weaving in and out of traffic at 120 km/h on the highway.
There are cars coming down pipe soon that will warn you when a bike is approaching . I think it's called accident avoidance technology or something like that . I think volvo of mercedes are looking into that .
Very interesting to see HD doing such an exercise... Makes it more mainstream... Maybe now other manufacturers will follow suit and the technology will evolve to make electric bikes a real viable alternative.. I must admit however, that I love the sound of a bike.. Lol
Ducati is making a e-Bicycle but NOT a Electric Motorcycle.
Getting mine end of February😎 thanks love your show
nice! how are you liking it?
Looks good; polish that frame, extend the range X3, and keep it under 15k...
Paul Mccarter Took the words outta my mouth brother :P. Looks too much like a japanese scooter with a bigger front wheel with that plastick-y look, *it needs to replace all the chrome that we expect to see on a harley's engine/exhaust*.
until new tech doubles the power density and reduces charge-time, I'm not seeing this going mainstream.
Paul Mccarter did you look at the link +trekgeek posted?
Top model is under 18 grand, goes 185 miles, weighs 452 pounds, and charges in 2.8 hours zero to %100 (with their optional faster charger).
The battery tech on cars is such that they have supercharge stations that charge 0-80% in 30 minutes ...this, I believe, is the limit for how fast each individual cell can charge.... so its completely conceivable that this would be available on an electric at some point.
For city riders and commuters an electric bike like the zero-s would be awesome, even with reduced range doing freeway speeds...
Eric B I've seen it, and I stand by what I said before: faster charging and double the range, because without some subsidizing, petrol is just more convenient for the average consumer.
If I had the money, I would def go this way even at this point of dev because I believe it's the future and why not learn to embrace it now..plus they look fun as hell..
Its just that in your first comment you say you want 3 times the range of the harley, then you say, 3 times isn't enough I want double that.
As for the charge time, faster charging is possible and has been attained on other bikes. The lightning supports the 440 volt DC fast charing, so full charge in 30 minutes and 180 miles with the big battery claiming thats at highway speeds.
You could modify the zero with a faster charger, if you were electrically inclined, and you could definitely charge in well under 2 hours. I don't think many people would be willing or have the skill to make those mods, but some guy did it on his electric car. Just saying its possible.
Just test rode one and NOW I believe Harley did a great deal of changes since then. Just as light. Feels nimble. 0-60 in 3 sec. I enjoyed the experience! Time for an updated review, I think.
I think that the level of noise that the conventional bike makes, is an essential safety measure for the rider. Being on a bike immediately puts you in a lower, slimmer profile making you much less visible to cars...especially when the drivers of said cars are either distracted (phone, music etc) or just zoned off...with a conventional bike where they can hear you coming from a mile away, an immediate reaction of a driver is 'oh, theres a bike somewhere' and he/she will check their mirrors almost by reflex...the noiseless bike might actually put its rider at danger...i hope they can work their way around it because it's an exciting prospect
I have to say, as a person who had their motorcycle licence 2 years before I got a car licence, I'd buy one of these in a heartbeat. I've had everything from a 125 enduro, 400/4 honda, ninjas, harley's, and one of my favourite things was to get to the top of a big hill, turn off the bike, pull in the clutch and coast down doing 80 to 100 kph hearing nothing but the wind....
My one concern from looking at it was the ride position. My tired old back was aching just looking at it but after seeing Jay ride it, the upright position doesn't look that bad actually......
I would fire that Harley guy... He talks like a corporate politician. Just answer the f&*king question...
Paul Dutton Thought the same thing.. gets questioned about the battery and answers about the engine..?! So disconnected..
Paul Dutton So, I was so annoyed with him I would so liked to have thrown my phone!.. So there ! Seriously, it looked like Jay was having a hard time listening to this puke. I was.
all Pr guys talk like that . All companies send P R guys who don't know S*** T.
I know - it's MUCH better when Jay just gets on and rides! LOL
OH, He will be working somewhere else in no time at all
I LOVE this bike and hope it makes it to production for a reasonable price! The two things they need to fix are; on/off switch for the fake exhaust noise and they need to extend the range to 100-200mi at least.
5:07 GAZ-21 Volga in the background
Funny about some HD owners who talk about fuel stops. They ride an Ultra with a range of 240-280 miles but they still stop at 120-150 anyway. I do agree range to a point and most important time of charging is an issue. Really like the sound and the styling rocks! Can't wait for the release
59 mile range?!?! I'm good
*****
LOL yeah you're right
*****
Ill stick with gas lol!
It wasn't a production bike, this is just a proof of concept. It's not fully loaded with batteries like a production bike would. Like the man said, 50 miles is good enough for what that bike is doing, showcasing.
Its 53.
The production model is set for next year, and I'm pretty sure it goes a lot farther.
Harley have the balls to make this bike and allow folks to use it while giving feedback.
Great company. Well done.
Awesome review of a futuristic harley... Very nice indeed
I think they should consider:
-building in a wheel based motor on front, you would need one motor for accelerating(torque), and one for keeping the pace(power),we know that starting a movement requires more energy than keeping up that movement.
-pack a lot of energy cells, which are easily chargeable.(removable perhaps)
-cut weight, improve aerodynamics.
Would love to have one of these.
The technology isn't quite there yet. Definitely not opposed to it.
The technology is there. Look at the Tesla Model S. It has a range of 265 miles and the battery is so small and well integrated that the car has much more cargo space than any petrol car of the same size. HD just didn't put much effort in building it for a longer range. This is just a demo bike to get feedback and see if it's worth developing and producing an electric motorcycle.
TheSharkcookie Yes, I know about the Tesla. Like some other posters have said...Unless you can get to 250-300 miles per-charge (minimum).. the masses will reject it. We're close though and technology will continue to advance.
westy40 A recent study showed that 42% of Americans can switch to electric without changing their driving habits.
***** I know for me it wouldn't work at the moment because of the distances I drive for work etc.. But I'm on board with it. I would love to see electric vehicles get 400 miles on a charge (prices come down a bit) I would also like to see full electric SUV's for families that need lots of room.
I am excited for the future of electric. The only concern is.. I believe a switch will result in massive mileage taxes, that could hurt ppl like me who do lots of driving. That's going on here in Cali already b/c of the increase of hybrid vehicles bringing down the amount of gasoline being used (less state revenue).
westy40 I totally get it. I'm more interested in them getting cheaper though. If I could afford to switch then the savings would not only pay for my vacation but also a rental car to take me there.
And I totally agree about the taxes.
I rode one several years ago and loved it. If I can afford one, I will buy one. Fascinating motorcycle.
29 miles with a full charge? I'm no longer interested in this bike.
SamDM1 You gave me a good idea, *harley should make a HYBRID!* That way you can make someones ears bleed like a traditional harley AND use the smooth and quiet electric feature for when your going through a parking lot or don't want to wake up the girlfriend hehe.
That way the traditional guys are still happy, they have a neat electric (maybe "quiet" or "shiftless" ) mode to try out (or use in case of running out of fuel) and *you could even use the electric and gas together to fill in shifting speed! (aka "torque fill" :P) aah?*
cybertree pretty sure that woild be atrociously heavy for a motorcycle. I think no motorcycle should weigh over 500lbs.
Krevin Grard
few decades and nobody will need to be patient anymore,because dead.
Electricity is an Awesome Killer for sure! Were is it built and Made?
Great video, Jay at his peak. Pro tip, marketing guys: don't start every sentence with "So..."
:)
Elitist, arrogant people like this Harley employee will never listen. They already know everything and we are just too obtuse to realize and understand this new world we live in.
Good that you got the pleasure of a quiet ride. We of the BMW community have been touting that fact for years.
Battery tech just needs some more time and then electric vehicles will be worth it
and they have been saying this for over 100 years.....
stirlingfromla but how far has technology evolved in the last 20 years, who knows how far in the next 20
stirlingfromla Battery tech has improved greatly in the last 5 years. Density doubled from the Tesla Roadster to the Model S. Zero Motorcycles has made huge progress in both power (2x) and range (4x) from 2011 to 2014: imgur.com/SgFqdnH.png The tech is here now it just needs to get cheaper and thats happening at about 10%/year.
True, but the price is still out of reach. I have my finger's crossed that Tesla's new battery factory will help lower the price...
They still using Lithium ion which is really old battery technology.
HD Livewire, going live on dealership floors in 2019. What a time to be alive.
This guy talks too much. They should have brought in the engineer instead of the sales guy.
+J Boy H-D excel at sales, but this is a joke. "Jet engine on an aircraft carrier"? XD. I've heard louder electric wheelchairs.
The engineers probably didn't want anything to do with the bike once they were finished building it. 53 mile range, slow top speed, hours needed to recharge.. The best things about the bike are its looks (imo) and its LED lighting.
lol
@@orionslaver432 right! "Jet engine on an aircraft carrier"?!?! Jeez, this guy is terrible.
Jay did all the talking.
It sounds like a tram in Vegas! not for me. I need to hear that engine rumble baby
Look like a Ducati Diavel x Ducati Monster mix
or Eric Buell saying, "See I told you so."
Talking about wristwatches......which one do you want, a battery one or........
I'm glad I'm old enough to enjoy mechanical things, cars, bikes, watches
and glad to be gone when it's not possible to run them anymore.
Part of loving cars and bikes is the garagetime maintaining them.
Looks fantastic but more like a Buell than a Harley. That range is just not good enough though. I'm sure most people are like me, when I go for a ride I always seem to go be gone for longer than I intended... I'd be running out of power almost every day.
Yeah it looks a lot like a modern version of my old tuber m2. I'd like a 1200cc version of this to have a reliable version of it.
But once they figure out nano batteries oh man it will be a hard choice.
Yes, looks like the XB bikes from Buell
The Gentleman Biker **cough** DUCATI! **cough**
oh excuse me. :P
cybertree
*spaff*
The Gentleman Biker A little afternoon hop around the mountains is 250 miles...it takes 40 miles just to get out of town...definitely not a riders bike.
However it may have just enough range that my buddy could ride it to the Harley shop and back since he is constantly having to work on his Electra Glides.
I can see it now...being a Harley, the battery pack will have to be replaced every year at half the original cost of the bike, the noisy gears will have to be replaced constantly and the electric motor will leak oil.
it's really good for someone who hasn't ridden any kind of bike, excepting for maybe a moped, like I done for a long time.it looks like it's easy to ride. Jay's right the range has to go up a bit and have some type of cord to plug into when you are at someone's house to charge while you are doing something else you would think that others would have BEEN had done this, especially HONDA or some of the others.I think that once it can get the things done like range and so on,it'll sell very well. Like I said it's a good starter bike for a beginner to ride, don't have to worry about shifting which what I like about it. That was so funny getting close to a CHP and didn't hear it.
"top speed is about 92 mph, which is okay I guess" sums up the whole bike an video for me............
krutoysilnostarina i agree, ok its a prototype but it sucks as a motorcycle, i think only non motorcycle owners would like this big electric slow scooter.
I didn’t realize that we had 92 mile speed limits.
I go maximum 90mph in my life
@@diemman70 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
What percentage of your motorcycle miles are spent at over 92 mph? I’m guessing .001%
I was told by a live wire engineer that as of today they have almost 250 miles and 110 on top speed for 170 miles. Also an optional boom box shaker ...basically fake sound and vibration. So the newest prototype might be awesome.
Never was interested in a motorbike. I can see myself with one of these.
I wonder when will Tesla come out with one.... mmmm
You gonna get one?? They're coming out in 2019.
Don't tread on me Tesla don’t make motorcycle lol
@@whatswiththissassylostchilld no the livewire comes out this year.
Don't tread on me my bad.
TESLA might do a e-Bicycle but will NOT do a e-Motorbike, MUSK nearly died on a Motorbike when he was Younger.
I've ridden the 2015 Zero SR with the 12.5 battery pack on a good long ride. It's a fantastic ride, in fact, it's in the same class as the best motorcycles I've ever ridden. It's instant throttle is beyond intoxicating. Forget the noise and vibration. That's not what makes motorcycling fun. It's the performance! And the Zero has it, dialed in to perfection. While I've not ridden this Harley, I suspect it's as fun as the Zero. That is to say, really, really fun. Before you discount modern electric motorcycles, consider that the Zero SR has more range than my Suzuki SV1000s, and it's real world performance is better too. No downshifting, instant power, so much fun!
Harley is supposed to put this on sale in 2019 (next year). This video is from 2014, that means it is taking 5 years to get this in the show room.
Top speed is 92 miles an hour. Tough to attract the youthful crotch rocket crowd Harley is trying to capture, when there are bikes that will do double that speed.
I ride a 2010 fat bob, I would be in line to buy the live wire. I would still ride my big v-twin for the days i want the traditional Harley ride. Good job Harley Davidson. Jay thanks for the review, Good job as always
that's the only harly i would buy
Absolutely gorgeous machine. 2014 SG owner here...but I decided months ago my next bike will be all electric. Will I stay with HD? Price point HD, that’s all I’ll say.
If they do make this bike it won't sell and I'll tell you why.
Thee guy who wants a sleek, nice handling, street fighter bike won't want a Harley Davidson, and the guys who are fans of Harley Davidson motorcycles won't like the look or lack of the the loud oily bit in the middle.
It kinda of like the new turbo four mustang, people who like turbo fours don't want to buy a mustang and people who like mustangs don't want a four banger under the bonnet.
The lack of range doesn't help either.
This bike is for people wanting an electric bike. Makes for a nice commuter and weekend toy.
rtz549 agreed
IndyHelis It will sell but only to a very small, commuter based audience. I doubt if they will sell enough to make it profitable. You may never see this bike come to market especially if they don't extend the range....29 miles in power mode....give me a break....why even have a "power mode". I literally could not ride to my clubhouse and make it back home in power mode......
You have a point. Even the VRod (Porsche designed) hasn't been a runaway success. Traditional customers won't touch it. They may be getting new customers that never owned a Harley before, I am sure they are younger (than Harley rider average, maybe 40s) but not crotch rocket young like 20s.
I think it would work well with people that aren't really into bikes. I personally do like turbo 4s and you're right about the mustang problem, but tbh if I had a short commute, I would definitely take a look at this and I'm not a bike guy really.
It's a prototype ,demo,I'm sure any production machine will get the 150 200 mile range people would be moderately satisfied. Maybe a fuel cell option would help.
What a really neat machine.
this is ACTUALLY a MOTOR cycle! First time Harley.. and most companies are starting to use the right term. An Engine is internal combustion, a Motor is electric..
As of 5/25 white lightning harley in Chattanooga Tennessee has 2 of them and a charging station . I don’t see myself ever buying one with the $30,000 price tag. They won’t even let you test ride it unless you fill out a credit application but it’s really not a horrible looking bike. I like that Jay isn’t bias to one thing, he’s open minded to all vehicles and motorcycles. He’s got a good point electric vehicles have been around a lot longer than most people know , harley just had the balls to make it happen but with a $30,000 prices I can get a new 2020 ultra limited
imagine how far ahead we would be today if we just stuck with electric and didn't make ourselves so damn dependent on gasoline
Brainwashed Millennial
Jay Leno saying a noiseless bike is pleasent... blimey! never thought I would hear that. Hope Victory do well with their electric bike at the IOM TT this year. Nice to see Harley Davidson be innovative.
This thing will be lethal as hundreds of customers will have their right of way taken because the car driver didn't hear them coming.
I like how Jay told that cop who he was, really? With a voice like his not necessary!! Jays the BEST!!!
I walk up to everyone and announce my name.
all I see is an Electric Buell Motorcycle
this turd makes a Buell look like a success
thats exactly what i thought LMAO
As a SuperSport rider, this is something I would seriously consider buying.
that guy is way to much of a salesman/politician
I'm just seeing this thing for the first time ? Sure looks good, and by now they probably have a ton of torgue. And, Jay Leno's perspective is from an authentic "Biker'. At the end when he talks about the bike I dig his absorption with it.
People should be excited about progress, not spew ignorance and bigotry. Imagine the fuel-economy and instant torque with a decent range. Damn.
It is a great idea.BUT it is not ready for marketing yet.It seems more like H.D. is selling a prototype .Maybe Collectors and Eco people will buy one .Most people want longer rides than 53 miles.I do not think Live Wire will sell very well.
I want one of these now as my weekly commuter and keep the 88" FatBoy for the weekends. I remember having everyone pulling out on me all the time when I rode my quiet 125cc to work but that has a little more road presence so hopefully wouldn't have as much trouble.
Loud pipes save lives
Ferdinand Porshe is one of My Role Models... He built the electric carriage that carried Big Bertha... ❤️
While I admire Harley-Davidson for taking the plunge. It's typical HD, with worse specs that their competitors. The ZERO SR has far more range, is faster and lighter. I don't get why HD has to always be a step behind everyone else. Hell they should have had a multi-cylinder 4 designed about 40 years ago for the mainstream market. Maybe team up with GM or something to create a small in-line triple or four and pop it in a Buell frame, they would have dominated the world. But no they have to design bikes whose heyday was the 1930's, slow and loud. While nostalgic, it will never capture the mainstream markets that they need to survive.
For you and I that's exactly what they think. Unfortunately they have captured the market not interested in actual innovation, technology, and the competition. HD sells an incredible amount of motorcycles and continues to not only survive, but thrive because people buy them simply because "it's a Harley"
they havent changed b/c they feel if they do they will lose their identity as a company. and b/c of that Harley has had the most dedicated and loyal base of customers than any other company (yes more than ford) for the last 50+ years now those guys are getting old and dying off and dont have a new generation of customers to replace them
Yes to the regeneration at the throttle and also if possible a reverse gear at the throttle too!
“The frame only weighs about 14 pounds”
“So how much does the whole bike way”
“463 pounds”
😂 wtf Harley.
Battery weight.
I agree with Leno about the tach/display unit. It should be a bit diff. but it isn't terribly bad
Hydrogen is the future, not electric unless you find a way to charge as you go.
Charge as you go. Just decelerate more than you accelerate and you will generate more than enough power. [joke] I'm for hydrogen internal combustion engines. The distribution system is everywhere, gasoline stations everywhere, phase in tanks of hydrogen, no pollution, no exhausting finite oil underground.
The livewire charges itself when coasting . It's pretty neat
I'm also glad that Harley engineers and marketing folks are thinking outside of the box. As far as the 58 mile range is concerned, I only get about 70 miles out of the peanut tank on my Sportster 72 so it all depends on the type of riding you do. And I'm sure the battery engineering guys are hard at work developing long range battery technology.
53 miles? that's totally useless
It's a prototype. It's going on sale in August of 2019. They could probably get 100 miles in production unit with Tesla battery cells.
"Tesla battery cells"? Tesla uses THOUSANDS of A-123 cells for it's cars. Their "small" cars weigh as much as most half ton trucks. Not exactly ideal for a motorcycle.
Its awesome to think of live wire as the future of motorcycles the only sad part i won’t be around to experience it in its prime .motorcycles are my life. RIDE TO LIVE LIVE TO RIDE Harley Davison you are on the right track ride on brother
Dear God! Who is this guy from HD?!
"Reinvention and multicultural diversity"?!
Just tell me about the f'ing bike! 😠
I've never seen a worse example of a salesman in auto-spiel mode.
Thought the same thing. Harley has always talked about evolution(not reinventing) until the Revolution Motor in the V-ROD. And wtf does multiculturalism have to do with it?! This goofball represents HD? Sad.
He, like most of his generation starts most replies with "So". Watch and find out. WTF does "So" have to do with anything?
Yes, when I think of Harley Davidson the first thing that comes to mind is multicultural diversity.
@@alwaysopen7970 hahahahahaah i have noticed that too. but i wouldnt target it towards a generation. its mostly liberal hipster fucktards that probably vote for Hillary or bernie
@@alwaysopen7970 It's the modern version of "like".
Love how they sound ngl, and I have a straight piped v twin
-The little marketing dweeb just had to throw in "multiculturalism", didn't he?
Sorry you got triggered
Lol and the white supremacist go crazy! You weak minded imbeciles.
Oh the horror, you mean America is not 100% white??
Hey @Gama Goat yes they need "Multiculturalism" As all of the Old White Male Harley owners are dying off..
Gama Goat - bc this is all about cultural marxism
Ken does a great job of not confirming any of Leno's criticism, especially about the console (I agree with Leno on that). Ken knows exactly what is expected of him and he does a great job of selling the bike.
This marketing gentleman is hugely annoying. It seems he is selling "awesome" engineered appliances that have been created by "awesome" team of designers that are "awesome" as they have always been. That is just "awesome." Nothing against this particullar peace of craftmanship.
As a "traditional" Harley rider, I think this motorcycle looks great! Give me about 100 miles more range (150 miles on a charge should be more than reasonable in this age) and I'll be down at my dealership signing the papers. GREAT JOB HD!!
I had to stop the video because this dude was annoying. Every sentence began with "So..." and every seventh or eighth word he says is "so." I don't know how many people realize our language has been polluted by ummm, uhhh, so, yaknow..like, surfer talk, ya know?
I got as far as "diversity".
Well thank you Jay, and excited to be here. First hint were not getting to technical here.
touch screen on motorcycle? how about gloves? FAIL
The technology used is probably resistive. Therefore, you can it with gloves. It works with pressure. You can see it in the vid, as he has to press hard on the screen.
t0mmiiiii i'm pretty sure he is referring to the fact that your fingers are much larger with gloves on. so touch that little area will be very difficult, especially while riding! This is a very common problem with motor sports....try using a gps while ATVing or snowmobiling. Or changing the radio station on your motorcycle while going down the highway
When I rode the bike, I had no problems with the touch screen and my leather gloves. Plus, there's no real need to touch the screen while riding. And when at a stop, I didn't encounter any issues with icons being too small to touch.
Tadas - gloves with Capacitance TIPS.
Glad you started this series on youtube. Thanks Jay!!
11:06 Can see the cameraman's hand, and 11:10 the whole lens. Ugh! So unprofessional! Unsubcribed! :D
Who cares? We know they are using cameras to record it.
OMG, a hand!
what a fucking snob.
Travis Kraft
They are using cameras to record the show? I always thought Jay Leno lives in my laptop and has his garage there too...
I agree! it's the camera man fault that he has hands
I like the wristwatch analogy he tied into the electric bike. I'd buy one (probably not this one) when they get the prices more affordable for me.
Multicultural diversity? Soyboys have taken over the moco.
Love to see this revisited 4 years later with the just launched production version
Jay is so my Idol. I would do anything to have the opportunity to be one of his restoration/ maintenance tech's....would be a dream come true
Jay, since you've ridden the Zeros as well I would appreciate a comparison from your point of view. Having ridden the Zero myself it looks like a big difference will be the brakes and the riding position. While I appreciate those who like HD, I've never been much of a fan, but I do like the styling of this bike ... love the positioning of the mirrors ...
Fast forward to May '19. On sale in August and 3 seconds 0 - 60 with 150 miles range. Definitely COOL !
The problem I see is larger batteries will probably require a radical change in styling which is too bad because it looks pretty cool the way it is. But it is a good start. Being that I own some of their stock I'm glad to see they are looking ahead and are willing to explore. They will have to change whether they like it or not and I think they see that. I think they have carried air-cooled engines to their limit. To meet future EPA requirements they will have to at least go water-cooled like the V-Rod. Water cooled heads will only carry them so far.
My BMW C evolution scoot is a fantastic fun ride. Not as fast as the HD but really fast acceleration, long range so 80 miles but if you give it the berries 60 miles range . Fist service £40 next service £60 plus tyres probably . This is the future . I have. 1250 GSA and an Enfield woodsman . A good cross section of bikes but my go to is the Evo 😎
Jays a legend, he is trying so hard to look enthused !!
"We get the bike fired up" 11:40
yeah lol...
As much as I love my combustion engine, I don't know why but after driving an electric van at work I am quite excited by a future with Electric vehicles, when they can bring the charging time down and make the batteries last longer between charge then I think it will be all systems go.