2015 HARLEY DAVIDSON LIVEWIRE ELECTRIC MOTORCYCLE BIKE

 

KTM has shown that a few years ago, Honda and Yamaha are not far away from mass production, and we would not be surprised either if the Italians prepare something.

For lovers of cruisers and retro style, I doubt that anyone thought that would be the legendary Harley-Davidson could have something in mind. Yet times are changing, to look at future products to the already crowded market of motorcycles and thereby to remain on top. So now Harley-Davidson introduces its project called LiveWire, electric motorcycles.

Therefore the company decided to slightly listened what the public thinks about this, and then to withdraw the final move. LiveWire project is specifically designed for the needs of insight into the requirements and expectations of drivers of electric Harley-Davidson motorcycle, starting next week, selected users worldwide will be able to drive and provide feedback.

American tour in 2014, which started its journey on Route 66, will visit more than 30 Harley-Davidson dealerships by the end of the year. In the 2015th year LiveWire Experience Project will continue in the U.S. and expand into Canada and Europe.

Harley-Davidson LiveWire will powered by engine capacity of 7 kWh, which is enough for some 130 km away. Top speed will be 150 km / h, while the 0-100 km / h achieved in 4 seconds. However, looking at the competition in the market is definitely not enough. But it remains to be seen how it will accept the drivers and what they will say.

KTM Electric Scooter & Dirt Bike: KTM E-Speed Debut in 2015 & KTM Freeride E in 2014

 KTM seems to find a renewed interest in electric two-wheelers, which was interesting development. KTM management told Italian journalists that the KTM was scrapping its plans to build an electric dirt bike - the KTM Freeride E.

The Austrians have green-lit the electric scooter for production, and say that both the KTM E-Speed and KTM Freeride E will be available in European KTM dealerships within the next two years: the Freeride E by 2014 and the E-Speed by 2015.

 

 KTM seems to find a renewed interest in electric two-wheelers, which was interesting development. KTM management told Italian journalists that the KTM was scrapping its plans to build an electric dirt bike - the KTM Freeride E.

The Austrians have green-lit the electric scooter for production, and say that both the KTM E-Speed and KTM Freeride E will be available in European KTM dealerships within the next two years: the Freeride E by 2014 and the E-Speed by 2015.

“We believe in the electro-mobility on two wheels. Because offroad sport is our core area, we have developed an E-Crosser, the FREERIDE E, but we are also convinced that urban mobility can succeed in urban areas,” said Harald Plöckinger, KTM Executive Board Member for Production and Business Development.

The E-SPEED is our interpretation of emission-free propulsion for city use, but without compromising on the design and sportiness of our KTM genes!” he continued.

With the E-Speed built off what KTM had learned from the Freeride E, the electric scooter shares the same major electric drivetrain components as the electric dirt bike. 

Honda Mugen Shinden Electric Racebike

The 2012 edition of the TT Zero just got a whole lot more interesting. Mugen, the Japanese performance firm who, rather significantly, lists some of its main clients as Honda Motor Co., Honda R&D Co., and Honda Motorcycle Japan Co., announced they would enter the SES TT Zero Clean Emissions Motorcycle Challenge on the Isle of Man a couple weeks ago. Now, Team Mugen has revealed both its electric superbike and rider.

John McGuinness is the chosen one, and with 17 wins on the famed 37.7-mile Snaefell Mountain Course to his name, clearly has more than just a passing knowledge of the world's most deadly asphalt circuit. When he takes to the saddle of the Mugen machine – named Shinden, meaning god of electricity – he will be aiming to be both win the race and make history by being the first to surpass the 100 mile per hour average speed aboard a battery-powered bike. This mark was just missed by Motoczysz in 2011.

Given the close relationship between Mugen and Honda, it had been widely speculated that the entry would be based on the RC-E concept debuted at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show. While that bike was, indeed, quite beautiful, Shinden also has much to recommend it. Under the grasped-lightning-bolt paint lies a 3-phase, 90-kW (120.7-horsepower) DC brushless motor with 162 ft lbs of twist cradled in a lightweight twin-spar carbon fiber frame. Its 573-lb curb weight and 370-volt system suggests that it has a battery somewhere in the 14 kWh neighborhood of its competitors.

The entrance of such a high profile team and rider is sure to elevate and add legitimacy to the electric competition at the IoM Tourist Trophy races. It should also concentrate the minds of their American rivals Lightning Motors and MotoCzysz, making victory for the newcomers anything but certain. Hit the jump for footage of the unveiling of the Mugen Shinden and its race track debut demonstration.

By Masei Helmet & Luusama