34 / American Iron / Issue #379 AIMag.com
The motor output shaft mates to a gearbox containing a
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belt transfers power from the gearbox output pulley to the
rear wheel with a 3:1 ratio. The gearset produces a faint
whining sound as the bike accelerates and gains speed.
Actually, it’s barely noticeable, and not annoying at all. The
usual joke among the uninformed is whether Harley will
add a phony motorcycle noise. And as factory reps refresh-
ingly stated, “That would be stupid.” I recall the Project
LiveWire prototypes which were displayed at bike events
emitted a shrill whine, and I’m happy the production bikes
do not. Overall, the H-D Revelation electric powertrain
produces minimal vibration, heat, and noise, all of which
enhance rider comfort.
The quiet of the LiveWire does pose a unique problem.
Those that live by the mantra Loud Pipes Save Lives might
actually have a point. With the LiveWire, you can’t argue
with other motorists when they say, “I didn’t know he was
there.” And you need to now
accept the new mantra of Ride
Like You’re Invisible, because
aboard the LiveWire, you’re
halfway there.
Naturally the electric mo-
tor needs power to run, and
the LiveWire has a beast of a
battery. But it’s so much more
than just a battery (that’s why
I’m not going to call it a bat-
tery.) The LiveWire features a
Rechargeable Energy Storage
System (RESS), composed
of lithium-ion cells and other
internal electronics surrounded
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aluminum housing weighing
250 pounds. LiveWire is also
equipped with a small, sepa-
rately mounted conventional
design 12-volt lithium-ion accessory bat-
tery that powers the lights, controls, horn,
power for start-up, key fob recognition,
and instrument display. And the larger
RESS actually charges the smaller conven-
tional battery.
The RESS is positioned in the center
of the motorcycle and surrounded by the
motorcycle’s aluminum spar frame. Small
air scoops on the motorcycle bodywork duct
cooling air to the upper portion of the RESS
housing. The RESS housing is attached to
the frame at several points and contributes
to the over-all rigidity of the chassis.
The 15.5kWh high-voltage RESS is
recharged via a Level 3 D-C Fast Charge
(DCFC) through a SAE J1772 connector
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Davidson dealers who sell the LiveWire will offer at least
one public DCFC charging station. (and some dealers are
installing multiple chargers). DCFC can provide a 0-80% of
battery capacity in 40 minutes or 0-100% in 60 minutes. Built
in Michigan the RESS smart module controls the charge.
Some people have “range anxiety,” and the LiveWire’s rangeDQGQRJHDUVKLIWLQJULGLQJLVJUHDWO\VLPSOLßHGIRUQHZ
riders. While some may argue the LiveWire is not an
entry-level bike, by price point or performance ability, this
technology does show that the company has what it takes to
produce easy-to-use equipment for future riders. All riders
will appreciate the braking effect of the power regeneration
mode as it adds charge to the battery, especially in stop-and-
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ride in Portland, Oregon, and came away impressed with the
bike’s speed, agility, and handling. While gearing up for my
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darkened left toe. I earned that mismatched leather treatment
from years of upshifting conventional bikes. As we prepared
for the ride I instinctively reached in my left pocket for my
earplugs, just like I have countless times before, and then re-
alized ... I won’t be needing them on this ride. With the tech-
heavy LiveWire, Harley-Davidson just made writing New
Bike Reviews a lot tougher.
The LiveWire motorcycle
is built in York, Pennsylvania,
and is propelled by the all-new
H-D Revelation permanent-
magnet electric motor rated at
105 hp (78 kW) and 86 ft. lbs.
of torque. Unlike an internal
combustion engine (ICE), the
H-D Revelation can produce
100 percent of its torque the
instant the throttle is twisted,
(15000 max rpm) and 100
percent of that torque is always
available, resulting in incredibly
quick, seamless, smooth acceler-
ation. The 150-pound motor is
mounted low in the motorcycle
to lower the center of gravity
and help the motorcycle handle
well at speed and be easy to
control when crawling at a snail’s pace.
With a Haptic Pulse heartbeat, even sit-
ting still the bike comes alive. The LiveWire
features a keyless remote fob. Mount the
bike, thumb the familiar Harley ignition
button, and press the starter button. The
bike won’t move, but you’ll begin to feel a
faint thump throughout the bike. It’s the
equivalent of the bike letting you know it’s
“in gear” and ready to go. The pulse can
be set to low, high, or turned off by your
dealer. About the middle of the develop-
ment process the haptic beat was added
to give the rider some feedback about the
status of bike readiness.
The Revelation motor is cooled by a
water jacket, with a small pump circulating
lightweight water-based coolant through a small radiator
which actually looks like an oil cooler. The coolant also cools
the electrical components under the tank, and the entire
process was likened to a water-cooled gaming computer.
A spiral bevel cut gearset is required to turn the output
90 degrees to align the drive belt sprocket with the rear
wheel which contributes to LiveWire’s distinctive sound.