Did you say Harley Davidson electric bikes? What are they?
No more whirring? Harley Davidson designs its first electric bikes.
Harley Davidson makes motorbikes that stand out not only for their massive, bulky looks, but also for the sound of their V-twin engine, so distinctive that it would even merit trademarking brand, with all that would entail in the event of litigation.
In contrast to their roaring-engine counterparts, electric-assist bikes weave in and out of traffic very quietly, which is a real pain in the ass for car drivers, who then have to redouble their caution.
But then Harley Davidson started making its own electric bikes.
"More Roads" for Harley
Not much is known about the three models, except that they don't look like a Harley, but rather a normal electric bike: a frame, battery, pedals and saddle.
Harley Davidson remains very discreet about these bikes.
Harley-Davidson's first pedal-assist electric bikes are light, fast and easy to use. Designed to stand out in urban environments, this brand new range of e-bikes proves once again that Harley-Davidson's « More Roads» initiative is actively helping to inspire a new generation of two-wheeled users around the world.
But the image above - created on a computer - is, if you like, a sketch and not a set design of these electric bikes. On closer inspection, they look unreal.
And the sentence above displayed below the marketing text on the official website proves it:
The models shown are prototypes. Production specifications vary. These are not yet available for sale. All future models shown may not be available in all markets.
But electric bikes are not the motorbike giant's first venture into the world of two-wheelers, nor are they just a fad. Indeed, with this "More Roads" growth strategy, it's fair to say that Harley Davidson isn't doing things by halves. As part of this initiative, Harley Davidson wants to produce technologically optimised motorbikes, introduce a modular motorbike model, conquer the Asian market with less powerful two-wheelers in the 250-500 m3 range and enter the electric motorbike market with its LiveWire range.
What if it was to be a motorbike after all
This is nothing out of the ordinary after all, Harley Davidson remaining true to itself with the LiveWire motorbike. More or less. The sound should be lost, but the new electric motorbike offers very nice acceleration with a zero to cent time of 3.1 seconds all the same.
On the other hand, Harley remains true to form: it's unlikely that petrol engines will be ditched so soon. That said, it's nice to see that the American manufacturer is thinking about the future of mobility and embracing new technologies.
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