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[Richard230]

I would like to see the "Livewire" brand to become an independent company.
I'm not convinced that Harley is really able to transform the way they need to.

But: The Livewire is a great bike (even though it's far too expensive for my taste) and I also like what I saw in "Long Way Up".
So, the potential is definitely there and they know how to build bikes.

Give'm time. Harley will passively allow (or even actively engage in) the Livewire to wither and then sell it for a fraction of their investment just like with MV Agusta.

The MV Agusta purchase was one of Harley's greatest corporate financial achievements.  The bought the company for millions of dollars and sold it back to a Italian investors a couple of years later for something like one U.S. dollar - or was it one Lira?    And then MV started to create new motorcycle models and are making money again.  When it comes loosing money and investing in dead ends of their own creation, it is hard to beat the Motor Company. 

[umrath]

"Harley-Davidson announces new chief electric vehicle officer"

https://electrek.co/2021/03/10/harley-davidson-announces-new-chief-electric-vehicle-officer/

[princec]

The plot thickens.

Cas

[flynnstig82r]

I've heard tales of Livewires being sold for as little as $18k in areas where people have no interest in e-motos. If I were in that market segment, though, I would still hesitate based on H-D's history of introducing good ideas, models, or sub-brands like Buell, the V-Rod, and the XR and then not properly supporting them. There's no benefit from their huge dealer network if my discontinued electric bike is going to be sneered at when I try to diagnose issues or order parts. I would need to see a 5-year track record from Harley with trained and available mechanics to work on it before I would buy an electric from them.

EDIT: Changed the wording to be more accurate.

[Richard230]

"Harley-Davidson announces new chief electric vehicle officer"

https://electrek.co/2021/03/10/harley-davidson-announces-new-chief-electric-vehicle-officer/

As I was reading that news, I was listening to a financial report on the radio which was also making that announcement. However, the reporter said that H-D claimed that their new e-bike division was going to keep its distance from their ICE V-twin customers - and dealerships?    I guess this in no surprise for anyone following the history of the company. They are really concerned about upsetting their traditional customers who want to keep saving lives with lots of ICE noise. 

[princec]

But nearly all Harley's customers will be dead within 20 years...

Cas

[Richard230]

But nearly all Harley's customers will be dead within 20 years...

Cas

Well, there is that. Likely me too. 

[Oldun]

But nearly all Harley's customers will be dead within 20 years...

Cas

Thanks for that! That's longer than my doctor gave me, you've really made my day :-)

[NEW2elec]

Over on Zero owners FB page there is one smoking away at a dealership down in FL.

The camera guy says it was just plugged up in the showroom and started smoking.

The fire department squirted some water (?) on it until it stopped smoking and that was the end of the video.

[MVetter]

The entire battery case was too hot to touch. Looked like one or more cells caught fire and were venting. Those firefighters were completely untrained as to how to deal with that. Thankfully no one got hurt. Unknown cause of the fire at this time.

[Crissa]

How would you cool the bike's battery pack?

Dipping it in water is one way, but not always possible.

-Crissa

[MVetter]

get the FUCK away from it

[Oldun]

As we said back in the day "That should buff out..."

[Crissa]

get the FUCK away from it

That's entirely unuseful information.

-Crissa

[reini]

get the FUCK away from it

That's entirely unuseful information.

Not if you stand right next to it!