We know that Harley-Davidson, like Indian, is extremely serious about mass producing electric motorcycles as soon as possible, possibly as a model year 2019. H-D just filed an application to trademark the name “Revelation” with the United States Patent and Trademark Office for motorcycle powertrain, batteries and chargers. Milwaukee already uses similar sounding names like the “Evolution” and “Revolution X” for some of its v-twin engine models.
In 2016, about three dozen LiveWire electric motorcycles produced by Harley-Davidson were tested by about 6,800 riders at dealer events around the U.S and Europe. These demos brought the company a lot of information about what riders like in terms of design, and sound and their expectations regarding clutch-free acceleration, riding range and price.
Overall, the Livewire project received a very positive reception. Even the low-pitched whine was not an obstacle and didn’t bother many, especially under 40 riders who are more environment conscious and more open to any new technology. Maybe, Harley will even try to trademark its own-fabricated sound…
Revelation? Wow. Get off the cross, we need the wood.
I for one am looking forward to seeing new in the industry and anything positive makes it good for all.
Boss Hawg
Harley should design it so you can choose any number of sounds. I mean really, it’s just a stereo on wheels. It could make the Roadrunner sound when you take off fast for instance.
HD is going for Christian’s now.
Great wish I could have one. They could of come up with a better name.
Smart. This is the future; at least part of it short term and most definitely long term. Best to get out ahead of it and establish a foothold from the beginning. One day technology breakthroughs will catapult e-vehicles into the mainstream. I like the idea of a very low maintenance bike. Tires, brake pads and rotors, and maybe the occasional drive belt change sounds nice when coupled with low to free energy cost. Think solar panels on the garage charging the bike when not using it. As soon as wireless charging is the norm; look out! Park the bike and it instantly starts “smartly” charging the battery. At the store it could charge then bill your credit card the energy used if wanted. At least until Mr. Fusion is invented. 😉 Then our landfill problem will also go away as it uses trash to make energy.
I used to do contract work on fusion projects. Never heard of trash as fuel. It must’ve been above my security clearance.
Sorry, I thought you meant fusion reactors, not Mister Fusion.
Glad they’re pursuing electrics, hope it doesn’t distract the funding enough to kill off the current conventional product development and perhaps, re-development 😉
rpm regulated potato potato shift point soundtrack, for the geezers
Until you can do a 1,000 mile day on one, it’s just a joke. Another way to show off being politically correct, like the Tesla…
Given the look and sound why not call it the Hoover-Davidson 😉
And on the third day…..
Can’t wait to see the new colors,oops,I mean models!
Does anyone really give a shet
‘Maybe, Harley will even try to trademark its own-fabricated sound…”
••••
They had to try with the gasoline motor, to protect shareholders, but they court ruled it an “engineered sound” that can be created by the “lost spark detonation” within 720-degrees of rotation – and it was a “sound” that anyone could make using that specific timing sequence. H-D created it, but they don’t own it.
With the Live Wire, H-D could compose a sound and have it published just like Bobby Sherman’s, “I Fought the Law, and the Law Won”, and then they’d own it. Courts Adjourned!
Until the problem of range per charge is resolved it’s a no go, riding is about putting miles on the bike and 25 out and 25 back is not going to sell bikes!
Here is a quick video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=TcjMUg38NdU
Boss Hawg
I want one that makes a farting sound like the pile of crap that it is. Yuck!
I got a Nissan Leaf because Georgia was paying its citizens to lease one. I had extreme doubts but figured the lease would be up in two years – so what the heck.
It was great. I want another. Off the line, very few gas engines can compete for the first 100 yards. Not surprising, as electric motors spool up nearly instantaneously.
The thing seemed to be bulletproof.
An electric Harley – bring it on.