Harley-Davidson Tests Electric Hog

Prototype “LiveWire” bike toured Florida and captured customer feedback.

December 15, 2014

TAMPA, Fla. – Last week, Harley-Davidson rolled into Florida to show off its new electric-powered “LiveWire” motorcycle and solicit customer feedback, reports TBO.com.

“The bike could have been made to run virtually silent, like the electric-powered Tesla car,” writes the newspaper, but Harley executives weren’t about to let go of iconic roar of the motor. Engineers tuned the electric motor to produce a special sound that several riders said “sounded futuristic, almost like the bikes in the science fiction movie Tron.”

Although Harley’s LiveWire is not the first electric bike on the market, the concept of an electric bike is “a departure” for the company, “and at least a few test drivers Thursday found them thrilling.”

“The handling is awesome,” said customer Chris Padolik. “It’s got kind of that Tron bike feeling.”

“‘Man, when can I buy it?” asked Tim Parrotte. “There are no gears, no clutch, and it brakes on its own. It’s so quiet that it’s just you and the road out there ... I guess the sound is kind of like hearing a siren in the distance. I kind of like it.”

Harley spokesman Kris Schoonover said the advanced prototypes are still in development and could reach commercial production in several years.

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