Harley-Davidson Unveils $30,000 ‘Twist-And-Go’ Electric Motorcycle That Hits 120 Miles Per Hour

Harley-Davidson showed off its first ever electric motorcycle at CES 2019 in Las Vegas.

The ‘twist-and-go’ bike ditches the traditional shifters and chirps out a turbine-like whir in lieu of the characteristic rumble – but with its ease of use, swift acceleration, and agile handling, the firm is hoping to win over new riders and long-time Harley owners alike.

Called LiveWire, Harley’s first EV can hit a top speed of around 120 miles per hour and achieves a range of 110 miles of mixed urban and highway driving. The bike can go from 0 to 60mph in 3.5 seconds, Harley-Davidson says.

Pre-orders for the $29, 799 vehicle are now open in the US, and it should begin shipping by fall 2019.

LiveWire will also launch in Canada and most of Europe later this year, Harley-Davidson says.

The firm demonstrated its new motorcycle at the Panasonic booth at CES, using the Magic Leap augmented reality headset to create an immersive experience on the show-floor.

Even at a quick glance, Harley’s latest motorcycle is a standout from its previous models.

‘Because it’s all-electric, it’s twist-and-go,’ Paul James, Director of Motorcycle Product Planning at Harley-Davidson, told Dailymail.com at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

‘There’s no transmission, there are no shifters, no clutch – it’s very easy to ride.’

LiveWire is equipped with a full suite of electronic lateral aids, with a slew of sensors and programmable touch controls.

It also has cellular connectivity, making it the first mass market motorcycle in North America with the capability.

This means it can alert the owner if the bike has been tampered with or moved. It also has built-in GPS for location tracking.

While it’s easy to see how the sleek EV bike might attract new riders, the motorcycle will be a drastic change for those who have grown accustomed to the traditional Harley-Davidson style.

But, the firm says it’s so far been well received.

Many of them are like “You know, it may not be the bike for me, but I get why Harley is doing it.”

‘Others are saying, “You know what, I’d love to have that in my garage too, alongside my traditional bike.”’

‘So, I think in the first years we’re going to have first-time Harley owners that have never ridden a motorcycle before, we’re going to have a lot of current Harley riders as well,’ James says.

As for the sound, Harley says its electric powertrain will produce a ‘new signature Harley-Davidson sound,’ with minimal vibration, heat, and noise.