Photo: Harley-Davidson
Harley-Davidson is expanding the knowledge base for its debut electric bike project LiveWire. A non-commercial vehicle at the moment, H-D LiveWire is nevertheless a fully-working prototype which can be (and is being currently) ridden on public roads. In fact, the MoCo has initiated a massive campaign in 2014, extensively touring with the LiveWire in North America and inviting riders, media and other bike enthusiasts to test it and provide feedback.
The Project LiveWire will now travel around the world with select consumers in Asia, and Europe joining those in Canada and the United States helping guiding the development process. In fact LiveWire is already in Malaysia, and will be available between 25 February and 4 March as part of the Asian tour. Access to the H-D LiveWire experience is reserved to media and invite-only riders. However, the number of people who will get in contact with Harley’s electric motorcycle is expected to be quite generous, given how much info Milwaukee needs if a production version of the LiveWire is to be considered.
After all, this is easy to understand, since the MoCo accounts for around half the number of new bikes sold each year in the US. An electric cruiser would normally appeal to the home crowds more, simply because it conveys all the H-D mojo, and this will maybe be enough to convince even the purist Harley fans to give it a try.
“Project LiveWire has reset expectations about what a Harley-Davidson motorcycle can be. The first phase of the Project LiveWire Experience tour provided valuable feedback about the features and experience riders expect from an electric Harley-Davidson motorcycle. This year we’re expanding that experience to a global audience to gain even deeper insights from riders to help us shape the future direction of this exciting technology,” says Harley-Davidson Chief Marketing Officer Mark-Hans Richer.
So far, only 8 countries on three continents will get the change to throw a leg over the LiveWire, but who knows when Harley adds more to the list…
More 15,000 feedbacks in 2014 and 6,800 rides in the US speaks about the main market
In 2014, H-D got feedback on the LiveWire from more than 15,000 people and offered more than 6,800 demo rides, including to Peter Fonda. Even though 2015 will see the LiveWire reaching United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands from May to August, plus other Asian dates and a 13-stop tour in the US and Canada in April, it’s pretty obvious that Harley is focusing on the domestic market.After all, this is easy to understand, since the MoCo accounts for around half the number of new bikes sold each year in the US. An electric cruiser would normally appeal to the home crowds more, simply because it conveys all the H-D mojo, and this will maybe be enough to convince even the purist Harley fans to give it a try.
“Project LiveWire has reset expectations about what a Harley-Davidson motorcycle can be. The first phase of the Project LiveWire Experience tour provided valuable feedback about the features and experience riders expect from an electric Harley-Davidson motorcycle. This year we’re expanding that experience to a global audience to gain even deeper insights from riders to help us shape the future direction of this exciting technology,” says Harley-Davidson Chief Marketing Officer Mark-Hans Richer.
So far, only 8 countries on three continents will get the change to throw a leg over the LiveWire, but who knows when Harley adds more to the list…
Google News