Harley’s ‘LiveWire’ Debuts Second Electric Model, The 80hp S2 Del Mar

Rumors and spy pictures hold turning into actual merchandise at Harley-Davidson, which lately debuted a brand new clean-sheet high-performance Sportster mannequin and has now lifted the veil on a second full-size electrical bike mannequin.

Referred to as the LiveWire S2 Del Mar, the brand new electrical bike joins “LiveWire ONE,” the newest replace derived from the unique LiveWire mannequin again in 2019, earlier than that identify was spun off as its personal model for future electrical fashions. Clearly, the long run is now.

LiveWire says the preliminary batch of 100 Del Mar “Launch Version” machines can be particular $17,699 models achieved up in particular paint schemes (laboriously utilized techno-zebra patterns known as Jasper Grey and Comet Indigo), and production-series machines may have a “goal MSRP” of $15,000, a very good non-specific value that may be hit or missed in accordance with components like demand, components points, and incentives. In case you don’t suppose Harley has been promoting the LiveWire electrics, you’re flawed, because the restricted version run is already offered out in accordance with the web site, though the phrases “Bought Out” have been struck by as if they could change their thoughts and make extra. LiveWire stated the primary bikes ought to arrive for homeowners and showrooms in spring of 2023.

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Particular tech numbers for the S2 Del Mar are usually not fairly out but, however a press launch from LiveWire specifies that the brand new bike will make 80 horsepower. No torque determine was launched, which is backwards for H-D as they often brag on their torque figures for his or her new gas-powered bikes however gained’t admit to horsepower stats, and torque is the place it’s at with electrical mobility tech as of late.

Nonetheless, some tech particulars are identified concerning the S2 Del Mar, together with the bike’s considerably distinctive structure, which makes use of the battery case because the central body component reasonably than wrapping a metallic body across the battery case as they did with the unique LiveWire machine – and which most opponents, together with phase chief Zero – nonetheless do. Harley CEO Jochen Zeitz says the bikes are a product of the crew working at LiveWire Labs in Mountain View, California – a Silicon Valley hub close to Apple, Google, and different main tech gamers.

LiveWire additionally dropped some efficiency numbers, together with a 0-60 time of three.5 seconds and a acknowledged vary goal of 100 miles. Weight is acknowledged as 440 kilos, which places it on the lighter finish of the dimensions versus the ONE machine and much of Zero’s offerings, most of which simply clear 500 kilos.

All that tech within the air seems to be settling into LiveWire designers’ espresso, because the Del Mar encompasses a considerably odd alternative of 19-inch wheels wrapped in specially-designed Dunlop DT1 tires which are “equally succesful on paved and grime surfaces.” As famous, the bikes’ underpinnings are additionally all new, but additionally echo some design decisions across the new gas-powered Sportster Nightster’s engine-as-a-stressed-member modular sub-frame system. Referred to as the “ARROW” structure, the benefits embody saving all that weight a typical body consists of whereas giving the Harley/LiveWire bikes a extra modular baseline design to construct different future bikes round. Harley/LiveWire does have a deal in place with South Korean scooter and light-weight bike maker KYMCO for cooperation on future fashions, however in a press launch, LiveWire stated the S2 can be constructed at Harley’s plant in Pennsylvania.

In case you’re protecting rating, that places once-stodgy Harley-Davidson, lengthy the maker of neo-classic cruisers with old-tech, air-cooled pushrod engines, forward of Ducati, Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, BMW, MV Agusta, Kawasaki, Aprilia and just about each different legacy bike maker 2-nil within the burgeoning electrical bike market. Sorry, scooters don’t depend at this degree. What’s subsequent? Electrical bicycles? They’re already there with the Serial 1 model. Unusual days certainly.