Ride The Future
Popular Mechanics South Africa|November/December 2020
An electric Harley? Yeah, right. Well, leave your prejudices at the door and reach for the neck brace.
Peter Frost
Ride The Future

SOUNDS LIKE the worst idea in the world, right? An electric Harley-Davidson. Peter Fonda (who tragically passed away last year) must be turning in his grave. Electric is the future and makes total sense, but we weren’t sure that this marque, known for the loudest, heaviest bikes around, was the ideal company to be touting it.

However, it’s safe to say I came away a convert, and it was a fast conversion too. Harley-Davidson Cape Town wheeled out the orange LiveWire, and it was clear from the look on the manager’s face that, a) he was worried I’d break his baby and, b) it was a seriously heavy monster. Heavy, certainly, as you climb on board, aware that there’s 250 kg beneath you. Except, rethink that – the battery pack and electric motor are set extremely low, which means the moment you are up and rolling, the centre of gravity comes into play, making it agile and easy to ride. The next revelation is the sound. Harley has gone the Blade Runner route, engineering a sci-fi whine that puts you in mind of Christian Bale chasing the Joker in the Batmobile.

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