[harleyhoonigan]

Seeing how the automotive industry is slowly bringing in more EV's, it seems like bikes could one day be all-electric, especially as lithium ion batteries improve, packing more of a punch requiring less to cut down on weight.
Would you guys ever buy an all-electric bike from harley?

 

[Yusef]

I think that Harley is a company that will avoid doing electric bikes. The idea of a Harley brings up memories of the sound of a Harley. An electric Harley wouldn't make the same sound, and that would be bad for their brand.

I think that it will be quite a bit before we see Harley-Davidson jump on that wagon.

 

[Livin On]

the harley crowd doesnt care about that stuff anyways. Besides for bikes that only see pavement maybe once a week I dont think the fuel concerns are there.

 

[harleyhoonigan]

the harley crowd doesnt care about that stuff anyways. Besides for bikes that only see pavement maybe once a week I dont think the fuel concerns are there.

The current harley crowd doesn't care about that stuff**

This won't be for the hardcore old school harley guy. it will be a way for them to bring a new type of customer to the brand.

 

[Testiphony]

I do have to admit that when I think of a harley rider or Harley fan generally I think of someone who like to go fast, making, lots of noise. An all electric Harely would do neither of these two things. It just doesn't make sense for the harley customer.

 

[fkystreet]

I don't think a Harley Davidson is a suitable brand to push an electric motorcycle

It would have to be a new brand or maybe one of the Japanese brands.

I just dont think the HD client base has any interest in a whisper quiet electric motorcycle.

Sure it has great torque but does it make noise?

Iron 833

 

[stude]

Does Vance & Hines make loud pipes for electric motors... you know, to save lives?
They would have to design a V-twin electric motor, air cooled, too... complete with an imbalance shaft to make it vibrate.

 

[harleyhoonigan]

It wont be true to harley but as long it looks like a harley im sure people would buy it, remember it would be for people new to the brand that want an electric bike that looks cool and is a cruiser.

 

[Organik]

Harley would do well to be the American bike company of the future, and all electric is one way to do it. I would buy one. Zero is a fantastic electric bike but just looks...different. If harley could keep the badass look in an electric, it would be a winner. ICE engines are just lame ancient tech, no matter how cool they sound. Would be expensive though, batts still cost way too much.

No gas, no oil, no emissions, all the torque at 0 rpm, so many advantages.

 

[fkystreet]

I think it would be a difficult sell.

Having such a badass style with no exhaust note to back it up. Just some electric motor whine...

 

[Organik]

I don't think it would be difficult to sell at all with younger folks. From my experience as many people dislike a loud motorcycle as those that think it's cool. As things evolve I'd hate to see a classic American brand cede the future of motorcycling to someone else, I mean, the street models are evidence of harley needing to evolve, electric is the next obvious step.

 

[HarleyVest]

When we think of motorcycles especially with harley many often think of the noise level right away and associate the two. For the next egeneration it might no be the same way. With strict air quality control kicking in electric bikes "can" be a solution. L'll stick to gas engine till the end but thats just me.

 

[harleyhoonigan]

When we think of motorcycles especially with harley many often think of the noise level right away and associate the two. For the next egeneration it might no be the same way. With strict air quality control kicking in electric bikes "can" be a solution. L'll stick to gas engine till the end but thats just me.

IMO it's just a matter of when.
They're already making a big shift in the automotive world. Next will be motorcycles which is slowly happening but will pick up speed.

 

[stude]

The problem is the limited distance capability with all-electric. Can't fit much of a battery on a motorcycle. Then you need charging stations along your route, and would have to wait for it to charge... major PITA.
Hybrid would require even more room to mount an engine.
I would think smaller displacement engines with turbos would be a better alternative, like what Ford is doing with their Eco-Boost power plants. Keep the power levels up with smaller engines, and better fuel economy.
One problem is that most people live by "bigger is better" (which really means "bigger is cooler").
The technology would have to be better and cheaper than it is now for me to consider an electric motorcycle, or car for that matter.

 

[harleyhoonigan]

regen systems will what plays a major role into getting the range needed from how I see it.

 

[fkystreet]

unlike filling up a gas engine - it takes time to charge an electric battery.
and you can imagine how inconvenient that is