Close look at the new Harley-Davidson LiveWire electric motorcycle

Harley-Davidson has made a commitment to pursuing electric vehicle development, beginning with their LiveWire electric motorcycle program.

Today the company is showing off the final production prototype of their first electric motorcycle at the EICMA Milan Motorcycle Show, and we got up close and personal with it.

Harley Davidson LiveWire electric motorcycle

When Harley-Davidson first unveiled their LiveWire electric motorcycle project four years ago, there was a lot of speculation about whether the bike would ever see production.

However, Harley-Davidson has been attempting to put that doubt to rest as it promises that sales will begin in 2019.

Today the company has finally revealed what the production LiveWire electric motorcycle will look like. Have a look for yourself:

The Harley-Davidson Livewire production prototype has undergone some substantial redesigns since we last saw the original concept, demonstrating the company’s commitment to promoting their first electric model.

Among a show booth full of dozens of shiny, chromed out gas-powered Harley-Davidson motorcycles, there was only one Harley placed center stage on a spinning pedestal: the LiveWire.

Harley-Davidson isn’t messing around or paying lip service with this bike, they mean business.

Tech specs aren’t publicly available yet, but the company has a press conference scheduled for two hours from now. We’ll be back to update you with all the nuts and bolts details when we have them.

Electrek’s Take

Listen, I didn’t think Harley could do it, but color me impressed.

I’ve been busy drooling over other awesome electric motorcycle designs that have been coming out over the last few years. I had all but written off Harley-Davidson’s LiveWire project as a stunt. Basically, I thought it was a dying company grasping at straws. The stock is down about 40% over the past 5 years.

But seeing the new LiveWire production prototype in the flesh has left me impressed and optimistic. I can actually see people buying, riding and loving this bike. Not the same crowd as you’d normally see in a leather Harley-Davidson jacket, but a new type of rider. Younger, more urban, and interested in sustainability just as much as speed.

And that’s exactly the type of rider Harley-Davidson needs to save the company.

So far, it’s too soon to see if Harley-Davidson’s strategy of targeting a new market of younger, more urban riders will pay off.

As the company attempts to reinvent itself, electric vehicles could be the deciding factor in the company’s success. If the company succeeds – and that is an “if” – then the LiveWire will be leading the charge.

We will report back in a few hours if we learn anything more of substance during the upcoming press conference about the bike.