Road test of Harley-DavidsonLiveWire 2015 ''Electriquoi?

"- Electric.
- And Harley does that?" I asked
"- Yeah, and it's a world tour with only one date in France.
- Well, I'll finish up something and get back to you."

i hung up and wiped the grease off my laptop screen. I had to say that I was in the middle of an inventory of my toolkit in preparation for my future trip, and as a result my fingers were all black. An electric bike....As I looked down at my wrenches and screwdrivers, a lot of memories came back to me. I remembered when I had to work on my carburetor while I was somewhere in Bosnia between the Croatian border and Sarajevo, or when my gas pedal cable had failed and I had to replace it in front of a tourist hotel...

and I'm not talking about all those oil changes, all those screws that wouldn't loosen, and all those situations that turn an ordinary motorcyclist into an extraordinary poet when his wrench slips on a nut and hits his knuckles on a cold day. Usually, right afterwards, comes this charming and sensual phrase:

"Holy shit!!!! Who the hell tightened that screw like that? ???? Oh yeah, that's me..."

and then, at least a combustion engine lives, it vibrates, it heats up! It's so hot that once, when I was riding through the length of Casablanca and it was over forty degrees in the shade, it would have been easy to crack an egg on my jeans and wait for the omelette to cook.

an electric bike....

on the other hand... My experience as a motorcycle traveler has taught me to adapt to a wide range of situations, and then there's the fact that the tests will take place at the Michelin center in Clermont-Ferrand, one of the jewels of French industry. I've never ridden an electric bike before. That alone is worth the detour. Let's see what this blender's got...

an electric bike...

re-telephoning, fat stain on the screen again and a decided voice:

"Yeah, that's me. When do you say? June 26th? I'll take it. I'll take it."

d-Day:

it's 10:30 a.m. when I arrive at the Michelin test center in Ladoux, about ten kilometers north of Clermont-Ferrand. I can't overlook the grandeur of this site. First of all, it's huge. This vehicle testing complex covers an area of 450 hectares, with 20 test tracks totalling 45 kms in length! There's enough here to test anything that runs in any condition. It's really quite something. What's more, Michelin is now the original equipment manufacturer for the Sportster range and the Livewire project. So let's hear it for Michelin!

it's shaping up to be a great day, and as I look around the maze of tracks in this treasure trove of French technological history, I can't help imagining all the people who have worked on this or that breakthrough, who have made this or that bike possible. on this or that breakthrough, made mistakes, worked out solutions and, after countless trials, came up with a landmark invention that would open the door to solving other problems and so on. All this so that the average person can go to work, do their shopping or pick up their little one after a soccer match. And yes, if we can do all this, it's also thanks to all the anonymous people at the test centers who contribute to the evolution of technology. A nod of thanks to them is in order.

but let's get back to business. Outside the site, there was the Harley truck with almost every model in the range available for testing. Small coffee, small croissant and small steps around the bikes. The sun was beating down. The team is friendly and the place has a strong history. Mechanical and human. I'm all right.

the shuttle picks us up and takes us inside the site, right to the edge of the test track. The atmosphere is friendly. Many journalists and testers are there. I like the intimate atmosphere. We stop next to the open tent where the prototypes are stored. Come on, I'm going to take a closer look at this hair dryer.

well, reader, as you'll have gathered from my intro, I'm a fan of the 20w50, the sludge and the hacksaw. But you've got to be objective about a thing like this, so yes, I'll say it, it's beautiful. Wide handlebars, a slim rear end, a seat at the right height and a flawless finish. Let's give credit where credit is due: this vegetable juicer is well made. But hey, if that was enough to make me shudder....

a few words about the project :

pROJECT LIVEWIRE is a project. I know, you don't have to be a graduate of Polytechnique to say that, but I'll elaborate: Harley has developed an electric motorcycle which is still in the prototype stage, but which would only need a nameplate to be marketed. They've made a few examples and are taking them around the world, stopping off in quite a few countries, to show them off and let people try them out to get their impressions, opinions and other criticisms. Our approach is more than a simple presentation of a proto, but less than official marketing. We're somewhere in between. A publicity stunt? Perhaps, but...

let's get down to the details:

my test drive is for later. I take some technical information and attend the press conference. Here's what makes up this beast. We're talking about a machine weighing 210 kgs and delivering the equivalent of 74 horsepower. A weight/power ratio that's far from that of a hypersport bike, but it's not ugly. The frame is a one-piece unit weighing just over 6 kg. There are two riding modes (selectable via the dashboard, which is in fact a small touch-sensitive tablet where all info is accessible): sport mode and standard mode. The principle is simple: in sport mode, you accelerate harder but consume more fuel (with an inevitable loss of range), whereas in standard mode, you accelerate less hard than in sport mode, but your range is increased.

range? Let's talk about it. 85 km in standard mode for 3h30 of recharging. Yeah, I know, it's not much. But this is a prototype. So these values aren't really worth taking into account for the time being; and then there's a good chance that these data will be improved if Harley markets this model.

the static simulator (in fact, a Livewire on a kind of dyno) lets me listen to the noise made by the rider. Because there is a noise! In fact, according to the Harley technical team present, the sound is the result of transmission noises coupled with the resonance obtained by the engine cowling. The whole thing sounds a bit like a turbine. Not unpleasant in the end, even if it might have been preferable to raise the sound level to really fit in with the logic of a motorcycle with high decibels; and possibly disengageable to be able to have a totally silent machine at the same time. And it's true that I prefer the sound of a piston popping out of the muffler.

on the other hand, a funny detail: the dashboard (the touchpad) sits next to the handlebar-mounted commodos, and the latter feature the same typography that has been dear to Harley for many years. Quite a nice effect. They've even kept the starter's "start" icon, which on the Livewire actually powers the mill.

i see the people returning from the various test sessions. They're all smiling and seem very satisfied. How can an ice cream maker make such an impression? I was beginning to have my doubts. Would the electric motor live up to its reputation? Would my beloved internal combustion engine be put to the test by this juicer? Dozens of questions were running through my head, but I have to admit that when I saw the people coming back, my certainties were challenged...

i hear my name on the loudspeaker. Time to get ready. Jacket, helmet and all. My mind is a little foggy, but I'm happy to be able to try this thing out. Ideas jostled. Wind of questions in my head and garage memories in the background. I look up: the smiles of the other testers are still there. I lower my head and slip on my gloves. Then I spot a small oil change stain on the leather, which I'd made the day before....

off we go!

i settle in. The position is roadster-like (you'd have thought!) and rather pleasant. In fact, anyone with something resembling a GSR, Hornet, Z, Street or similar wouldn't be too far off the mark. I turn the handle a little and the dishwasher starts up. The beast moves forward slowly according to the dosage. No surprises, it's smooth and intuitive. A good point for that.

we rejoin the track. First of all, the ride is very similar to a classic motorcycle. I have the impression that the front end is very slightly blurred, but perhaps this is due to the fact that the fork angle is rather closed. In any case, this impression is felt up to
60 - 70 km/h and then, admittedly, it's very balanced. Cornering is really easy and braking....freine! OK, so it's not quite Superbike bite, but it's well within the standards you'd expect from a sporty roadster.

curbless tip, right-hand rotation. Hey, this thing really pushes! No gearbox, but that's no problem at all. In fact, to imagine how it feels, you'd have to think of a 600 roadster with four in-line cylinders. You put it into fourth gear at 2,000 rpm and squeeze. What happens? You feel the engine revving in the hollow, then swelling as the rpm increases. Then comes the thrust, and if you continue to accelerate, the engine runs out of steam. It's when you feel this thrust that you're at torque. Well, with the electric motor, it's exactly that sensation, but from 0 km/h to top speed (limited to 152 km/h on the proto). There's no dip, no breathlessness, no gaps. It pushes as hard as it can from start to finish. Acceleration worthy of the name from start to finish. Really enjoyable.

when a bend comes, the throttle is cut. Engine braking is very effective. Again, to compare with our 600 roadster, when you come up to a bend in normal or even more aggressive driving, you downshift to find the right amount of engine braking and enter the bend. Well, it's more or less the same amount of engine braking that's automatically generated. I hardly touch the brake lever at all. It's time to turn. Natural counter-steering, the bike leans very easily and I enter the curve like any other playful bike. I look towards the outside of the bend and put the sauce back on. Once again, the throttle is very well balanced and it's smooth and natural that I send the mashed potato to the rear gumshoe.

straight on and back again. I'm pushing hard again, with virtually no noise apart from the wind in my helmet, and in the background a slight turbine noise that fades as the speed increases. With the suspension doing its job, I feel a bit like I'm on a magic carpet. The feeling of freedom is heightened, and at times I almost feel as if I'm flying.

the road passes under the wheels and I feel a very slight tugging of the skin under my beard. Then I realize what's happening: I was smiling...

on my glove, I see the oil stain again. It's a bit different from before...

shots and photos. Track laps and sensations, then back to the start. Crutch. I get off the bike. Yes, from now on, I'll call it a motorcycle. I give my impressions and go for a coffee. I can see why the other testers are so happy, because I had the same bike.

let's imagine the future:

an electric bike... that's it! I did it and I was seduced. Once the problems of autonomy and charging have been solved, electric motorcycles look set for a bright future. The sensations are different from those provoked by a combustion engine, but really pleasant. In fact, Harley is talking about marketing an electric two-wheeler (not necessarily the Livewire) around 2020. It's true that if they've decided on a roadster, we can imagine that it's primarily to appeal to the European and Asian markets, the American territory being more conducive to Touring or Cruiser-type frames. Nonetheless, this Livewire is a real success, and very accomplished for being just a prototype. It's really between the beginning of an adventure and its official launch. What's more, the means employed to show it around the world are too important to think that this is just a simple presentation. No, I have the impression - and this is just me - that there are other ideas behind it. But what are they? Only time will tell.

and why not imagine Harley also releasing a Livewire equipped with a combustion engine? It would then be a serious competitor to what's on offer today. An idea worth exploring for the Motor Company. But then we'd have to think about making a mill that would live up to the expectations of potential customers, and fitting it with a passenger seat.

the sun drops a little over the test center. Behind us, the mountains greet us. The Livewire has lived up to its promise. It's true that the sensations aren't the same as with a combustion engine, but they're different and really pleasant. The sensation of freedom is really brought to the fore, and you feel yourself flowing through the layers of air, while still being able to work on your trajectories, braking and getting back on top of your mates, all of which is an endless topic of conversation over a drink at the end of an arsou... er, a ride. er a ride.

time to go home:

time to leave. The shuttle takes me back to where the classic models are on display, outside the complex. We chat, take a model for a spin, chat again and say hello. Something happened that day.

on the way home, I can't help but think about all the sensations I've discovered, all the certainties I've shaken, all the day I've had. But Harley isn't the only motorcycle manufacturer to go electric...

back home, I look at everything that's being done on the Internet and invite everyone to do the same.r, for the time being, we'll have to overlook the fact that the range is still not very interesting (except for a few rare models) and charging times are as long as a day without bread. But you'll be able to discover quite a few small manufacturers who have embarked on this adventure with the risk of losing everything. For that alone, they deserve our respect.

let's never forget that every model designed, marketed and driven is often the result of countless tests. Sometimes successful, sometimes unsuccessful, and that behind all these failed models, which have led to the emergence of more successful ideas, there are men and women, families, passions, illusions, broken dreams... And, of course, all of us.and sometimes, I'm sure, even tears shed on the forecourt of a warehouse full of parts yet to be marketed.
let's always keep that in mind. Because it's from these adventures, sometimes happy, sometimes unhappy, that tomorrow's motorcycles will be born.

i return the car to the garage and find my tool kit. The wrenches and screwdrivers have not moved. There are still deep memories and acquired experience between these utensils. Yet I don't feel sad. No. In a few decades, it may no longer be necessary to change an engine oil or remove a spark plug, but I'll still keep my pliers and other accessories. Why should I? Because I'll be using them for other things. To assemble suitcases, to adjust the position of the footrests so I can ride without too much knee pain, to assemble various accessories designed to improve long trips or rides, and so on...

in short, even if the internal combustion engine has been put to the test by this experiment, the bolt seems to have a bright future ahead of it. And who knows, we may no longer be talking about the richness of carburetors, injection curves or direct intakes, but more efficient transformers, power managers or stronger rheostats. A different kind of pleasure, yes, but a pleasure all the same, driven by the same desire never to be satisfied with turnkey solutions, to try, to make mistakes, to be mocked, and then, after several months of testing, to find THE configuration that will enable you to have not just a motorcycle, but YOUR motorcycle.

...On my glove, the same greasy trace and the memory of that Moroccan pump attendant in the suburbs of Agadir who had started filling my tank with diesel...

at the end of the day, it doesn't matter whether your boat is motor or sail. If you're a sailor, you're a sailor. The techniques for sailing and for getting in and out of curves are different, the mode of transport changes, but the way you look at the ocean is the same as the way you look at it when you put on your leather. Electric or thermal? The question arises...

but riding, yes, always!

A.Bonnet - Manufacturer photos / Michelin / A. Bonnet