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by chromenogethome 4379 days ago
An electric motorcycle is the complete opposite of what Harley sells and how it succeeds.

Interesting that a company that's succeeded by selling... old technology is attempting to innovate again.

The V-Rod(attempt at innovation) was met meekly.

Buell, where they actually innovated, shut down a few years ago.

Harley Riders don't want innovation and change. They want noise and an image.

The 'young crowd' wants cheap bikes made to look tough and vintage. Hence the redesigning and marketing of the Sportster(entry model).

The rockstar lawyers want big heavy cruisers that can carry their leather shells loudly across the country.

3 comments

Erik Buell (who did the innovating at Buell) continues his work at EBR: http://www.erikbuellracing.com
An electric motorcycle is the complete opposite of what Harley sells

I was quite surprised at the styling of the electric Harley. Admittedly, I am not remotely in the motorcycling world, but to me a Harley is a bike with a big fat end to go with its big fat sound. Something meaty. I would never have thought Harley if I saw this bike.

I read several times that the situation for Harley Davidson is quite bleak, so this might be the try to extend to new markets and save the company in the long run?
They killed Buell 5 years ago and sold MV Agusta 4 years ago to focus on the HD brand. Is this the end of that plan or do they think the brand will stretch to encompass this new technology?