Mention the Harley-Davidson marque in a conversation and most people - whether they're motorcyclists or not - will reply with words such as "archaic", old-fashioned", "slow", "agricultural" etc. The latest news from the Milwaukee-based manufacturer, though, seems to be giving the lie to that.
After having made headlines worldwide recently for having made it onto Donald Trump's "enemies of the people" list, the Motor Company is back in the news, this time to announce its plans for the years to come, in the shape of a whole raft of brand-new bikes. Let's take a closer look.
LiveWire
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| The Harley-Davidson LiveWire - sparking a great buzz |
Of all the un-Harleyesque bikes that the Wisconsin-based marque is introducing over the next couple of years, the LiveWire is the one that will be the most discombobulating to Harley cognoscenti and ignoramuses alike. For one thing there's the riding position, which errs towards the sports roadster end of the spectrum (anybody who's ever ridden a Buell will be on familiar ground). But most importantly - this is an electric motorcycle! That's right: no pushrod V-twin, no "potato-potato", no vibration-per-piston-stroke ratio, no more stopping to "pump gas", as our transatlantic cousins say.
No technical specifications for the LiveWire's electric motor and batteries have yet filtered through, but as soon as we have them we'll be discussing them. In any case, the Harley-Davidson LiveWire is a very sexy-looking motorcycle and possibly one of the nicest-looking two-wheeled EVs we've seen to date. The LiveWire is set to be released next year, in 2019.
Pan America
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| Cross the USA on a Pan America |
To date, the closest Harley-Davidson have ever got to an adventure bike (or "big trailie" on this side of the pond) was the Buell Ulysses, which debuted in 2005. So it's quite a surprise to find that the Bar-and-Shield brand intends to roll out an adventure bike for 2020. Announced as the Pan America, It will be powered by a 1250cc version of the new, modular V-twin engine that is currently under development. From what we can see, this will have DOHC heads (so no more pushrods, then) and will be watercooled. It will exist in variants going from 500cc to 1250cc. Interestingly, Harley-Davidson's design team have chosen not to go for the ubiquitous "duckbill" front end, but instead have gone for a design that suggests they are Futurama fans; in any case the Pan America's oblong headlight and general boxiness has a certain Eighties air, which The Thruxtonian really likes.
Streetfight
Not content with rolling out an electric motorbike and an adventure bike, Harley-Davidson are ticking another box in their "bikes not usually associated with the Bar and Shield" bingo by promising an unfaired sports roadster for 2020. The Streetfight will be powered by a 975cc version of Harley-Davidson's future modular engine and will be taking the (street) fight to the likes of the Triumph Speed Triple, Ducati Monster and Honda CB1000R.
Custom 1250
With this fourth announced new model, we're back in more habitual territory for the Motor Company. The Custom 1250 is a cruiser of the bobber/dragster variety: long, low with forward controls and a tracker-type handlebar. Powered by the same engine as the Pan America, this bike obviously has the undeniably sexy Indian Scout Bobber set firmly in its sights; expect it to hit showroom floors in 2021 - that should give you time to save up a bit!
But that's not all, folks!
Alongside all these confirmed new models coming through, Harley-Davidson has announced that it will also be developing a range of small, urban EVs (Electric Vehicles) in the shape of small urban electric motorcycles and electrically-assisted bicycles. Alongside that the company has confirmed that it will be teaming up with manufacturers in emerging markets (India, Southeast Asia, etc.) to produce small-capacity urban bikes bearing the iconic Bar-and-Shield logo and Harley-Davidson name. Finally, the company will be exploring new bricks-and-mortar retail outlet solutions from which to market their clothing and lifestyle ranges as well as their range of future urban EVs.
Streetfight
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| Harley-Davidson join the Fight Club with the 975 Streetfight |
Not content with rolling out an electric motorbike and an adventure bike, Harley-Davidson are ticking another box in their "bikes not usually associated with the Bar and Shield" bingo by promising an unfaired sports roadster for 2020. The Streetfight will be powered by a 975cc version of Harley-Davidson's future modular engine and will be taking the (street) fight to the likes of the Triumph Speed Triple, Ducati Monster and Honda CB1000R.
Custom 1250
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| Harley-Davidson won't be forgetting about cruisers: meet the Custom 1250 |
With this fourth announced new model, we're back in more habitual territory for the Motor Company. The Custom 1250 is a cruiser of the bobber/dragster variety: long, low with forward controls and a tracker-type handlebar. Powered by the same engine as the Pan America, this bike obviously has the undeniably sexy Indian Scout Bobber set firmly in its sights; expect it to hit showroom floors in 2021 - that should give you time to save up a bit!
But that's not all, folks!
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| "My other Harley is a bicycle" - albeit an electric one! |
Alongside all these confirmed new models coming through, Harley-Davidson has announced that it will also be developing a range of small, urban EVs (Electric Vehicles) in the shape of small urban electric motorcycles and electrically-assisted bicycles. Alongside that the company has confirmed that it will be teaming up with manufacturers in emerging markets (India, Southeast Asia, etc.) to produce small-capacity urban bikes bearing the iconic Bar-and-Shield logo and Harley-Davidson name. Finally, the company will be exploring new bricks-and-mortar retail outlet solutions from which to market their clothing and lifestyle ranges as well as their range of future urban EVs.
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