Last week we reported on two men from Florida who designed their own electric motorcycle using a 1970s era body and a lot of creative engineering. We used that post to let readers know that the era of electric motorcycles was fast approaching. However, even we didn't know how fast things were heating up. We are beginning to get a clearer picture.
Electric motorcycles have been around for about five or six years now. However, there has been no commercial market to warrant R&D or mass production thus far. Nevertheless, that might be on the cusp of changing.
Two recent news stories suggest that a commercially viable electric motorcycle is a lot closer to reality than we previously thought. The first story comes by way of the Los Angeles police department (LAPD) and their recent order of a new electric motorcycle from Zero Motorcycles. It will soon be taking delivery of the Zero MMX, a limited-edition bike specifically designed for military and law enforcement use. The MMX will not be made available on the retail market.
According to sources, the motorcycle has a top speed of 86 mph and can travel more than 160 miles on a single charge. It is an ultra lightweight bike that is virtually silent as long as all of the parts are properly lubricated and maintained. The LAPD intends to test the bike for special operations purposes before determining whether to order additional machines or not.
Our second story comes from none other than Harley-Davidson. The company unveiled their first street ready electric bike on June 19, a machine it called the LiveWire. Harley-Davidson expects to send a LiveWire on a nationwide tour of dealerships in order to introduce it to a 'younger generation' of riders. They apparently hope to convince the next generation that electric is the way to go. We're not so sure.
One of the things that make the Harley so recognizable is the throaty sound of its engine; a sound that no other bike manufacturer has been able to replicate. It's hard for us to imagine a club of riders pulling into Sturgis or Daytona on LiveWire bikes that make virtually no noise. However, give Harley-Davidson time. They are likely to find a market for the strange new bike.
Times Are Changing
Change is always hard, isn't it? That's what we have to keep telling ourselves as we witness the new wave of electric motorcycles emerging in the modern biker community. While the total elimination of the internal combustion engine might still be generations away, there's no doubt that many of us will live long enough to see a good percentage of our younger peers ride the electric bikes of the future. It is progress. It is something we cannot do anything about.
The reality is that we are going to have to get used to the new machines. We are also going to have to be just as accepting of electric riders as we are to trike owners. As we've always said, what you ride is less important than the fact that you do ride. If another biker can get as much satisfaction out of a Harley LiveWire as you get from your 2013 Fat Boy, so be it. We'll all just have to learn to get along.
For a great selection of Harley-Davidson motorcycle patches, click right here.
