Harley Davidson to release an Electric Motorcycle

[Map8]

HD embracing electric bikes on any scale is a big deal and good for the future of motorcycling. HD are sticking their neck out and I applaud them for it. If the leaked pics from the movie set are even close to the production model, its a good looking bike.

 

[mrmarklin]

Is that heavyweight motorcycles or heavyweights' motorcycles?

I think both.

 

[CurveSurfer]

Huh, I never gave that movie bike a second thought, but folks have pointed out it has items that wouldn't be included on a prop bike: reflectors, mirrors, rear hugger.

I hope that's a pre-prod version, it has genuine potential as a crossover model.

 

[mrmarklin]

And convince poorley educated, old, fat guys to buy it even though it's slower, less dependable, yet three times more expensive.

In general, I think you'll find Harley riders more educated and have higher incomes that most riders. One has only to look at the price of the machines to realize that the demographic includes a lot of business owners (I'm one), and executive types. In fact the RUB (rich urban biker) market is what's keeping Harley alive, and has for the last 20+ years.

A lot of my clients own Harleys, and they're not a poverty demographic by a long ways. They are the ones who buy CVOs and all the farkles that keep Harley in business.

Laugh if you want, but a well dressed pirate is wearing well over $1k worth of leather etc etc etc.

You do understand that HD stands for Hundred Dollars?????

 

[Lunch Box]

British spelling, obviously! Which makes me much smarter than you, much thinner and fit than you, and much more educated than you. And given all that, probably all-around much more handsome than you.

We British are just born that way. Plus, we're better riders.

Was just having a bit of fun with you. Brits...so serious.
Besides, almost everyone on this forum is thinner and more handsome than I am. That bar is set quite low, I'm afraid.

I've never owned a H-D and their culture isn't for me, but...

In 2013:
HD sold 167,016 bikes in the US among 324,691 total new on-highway bikes sold in the US.

So >50% of all on-road bikes sold in the US in 2013 were H-Ds, and the proportion was the same in 2011 and 2012.

They are hardly the laughing stock of 90% of riders.

Obviously there was some hyperbole in my stated figure. That said, it might come as news to you that there are a few motorcycles sold every year outside of the US. Additionally, there are motorcycles sold that are *gasp* not on-highway bikes. Factor these in and H-D is a wee bit lower than 50%, I would wager.

If you had read my post you would see that I am pulling for H-D, and I would love to see them continue to improve and become more innovative.

 

[afm199]

I've test ridden two electric motos, and my opinion has changed considerably. They can be pretty cool and fun to ride.

 

[Lunch Box]

I've test ridden two electric motos, and my opinion has changed considerably. They can be pretty cool and fun to ride.

Yeah, I am stoked about e-bikes. They aren't quite where I need them to be yet, but they are getting close. I had an absolute blast on the Zero FX that I rode a few months ago.

 

[byke]

Wow. If legit, good for them. I hope it's real.

 

[afm199]

Yeah, I am stoked about e-bikes. They aren't quite where I need them to be yet, but they are getting close. I had an absolute blast on the Zero FX that I rode a few months ago.

I agree, teething problems, but lots of promise and already well along in the development cycle.

 

[Lunch Box]

I agree, teething problems, but lots of promise and already well along in the development cycle.

Yuppers. I will most likely have an e-bike in my stable within the next 2-3 years.

 

[Wack]

If this is legit, I applaud H-D. It is with minimal snark that I say that I'm stoked that they are finally going to have a bike containing technology that was developed after 1975. Maybe this is a sign that they are going to become more innovative? Let's hope so. I'm tired of our only major motorcycle brand being a laughing stock among 90% of riders.

The riders that voted with their dollars picked HD for some reason. No accounting for taste.

 

[kurth83]

I actually applaud HD for staying true to their brand. It is good marketing, they are proud to be Harley and I think they should be.

I don't know much about Harleys wrt tech though. But my little Honda cb500 has a lot of tech packed into the little bike. And modern supersports and big tourers have even more.

 

[carries an axe]

The guy who wants to put speakers on a bike to make it louder may now have a market to corner.

 

[russ69]

And convince poorley educated, old, fat guys to buy it even though it's slower, less dependable, yet three times more expensive.

HEY, I'm not poor, damn it.

 

[Kornholio]

The riders that voted with their dollars picked HD for some reason. No accounting for taste.

You mean they don't have the same tastes you do? Perish the thought that people don't all have to like the same things!

 

[TheRobSJ]

YES!!!. Now maybe finally, the V-Rod will stop being treated as the redheads stepchild by the bar and shield faithful. Because now I can at least say "hey at least is runs on gasoline and makes the brap brap noises!"

 

[TheRobSJ]

To be honest, this bike would have been better suited to come in under the Buell brand had H-D not killed it off. The last Buells had some interesting design tech with the oil tanks in the swing arm, fuel in the frame spars, and so on.

 

[MysterYvil]

British spelling, obviously! Which makes me much smarter than you, much thinner and fit than you, and much more educated than you. And given all that, probably all-around much more handsome than you.

We British are just born that way. Plus, we're better riders.

Nice teeth! And BTW, you're welcome (for you not having to learn German).

 

[HeatXfer]

Funny how this coincides with Tesla's patent release....

 

[sanjuro]

i Wonder How Harley Will Make An Electric Bike Leak Oil And Be Loud

this one