HONORABLE DISCHARGE

Two class-leading EV motorcycles ride the short circuit to the future

- DON CANET

There’s a buzz within Cycle World headquarters lately. The hum of electric motorcycles charging during the workday can be heard in the halls as staff members have plugged into the merits of two-wheeled EV transportation. Whether zapping to and from work or effortlessly whistling about the greater Los Angeles area without so much as pulling a clutch or toeing a shift lever, EV bikes have proven to be a viable mode of urban transportation.

Enthusiasm has been recently supercharged with the simultaneous arrival of the 2020 Harley-Davidson LiveWire and Zero SR/F Premium, a pair of preeminent models within the segment and the natural makings of a heads-up comparison.

These full-fledged roadbikes are each endowed with chassis specifications, ergonomics, and styling well in line with a contemporary petrol-powered liter-class sport naked. Both feature comprehensive IMU-based rider aids with lean-sensing traction control and cornering ABS, and have selectable ride modes for Sport, Street, Rain, and Eco that tailor throttle response, peak power output, regenerative braking, and TC sensitivity. Both have a TFT dash display providing a wealth of info to monitor charging status, estimated range, state of charge, ride mode selection, and more.

The physical size and load capacity of these bikes facilitates use of a larger lithium-ion battery pack than any EV motorcycle we’ve tested in the past. Each bike’s power pack is encased in an aluminum heat-sink housing, lending a stylistic appearance along with the strength and rigidity to serve as a stressed member of the frame. Zero employs a tubular steel-trellis frame wrapping its 14.4 kWh Z-Force battery unit, while Harley’s frame structure is composed of aluminum-cast members bolted to its 15.5 kWh Rechargeable Energy Storage System (RESS) that join at the steering head.