LiveWire

That's a Harley-Davidson. No, really. And it's electric.

No. Really.

It seems the Milwaukee motorcycle firm is in a bit of a sales bind -- primarily because they're still selling the Same Old Shit while the rest of industry has moved on to the 21st century. One way they intend to address this image problem is by sailing full speed ahead into the unexplored waters of electric motorcycles for the 2019 model year. They're also introducing three additional, conventionally-powered new models, including a high trim dual-purpose -- or "adventure bike," as the kids call them now.

I'm actually less skeptical of an electric motorcycle than I am of electrically-driven automobiles. Motorcycles, at least in America, are not primary transportation, (long-time reader RustyC is an exception). For 95% of riders they are toys. Oh sure, I'll ride the bike into work once or twice a week, but that's the point: it's when I want to, it's over short ranges on surface roads, not in freeway traffic, and on a day when I'm not worried about getting called out to bumfuck Egypt for some work-related reason. For that use, an electric bike offers several advantages, mechanical simplicity among them.

Internal combustion engines will of course continue to reign supreme in touring bikes; not many charging stations in the middle of the desert. But as city commuters and street fighters? Yeah, I can see it. Might even look into one myself. First time in my life I've even entertained the notion of buying a Hardley.

Piclick for more.