When Harley-Davidson spun off its inner electrical motorbike division right into a separate sub-brand often called LiveWire, I used to be initially a bit frightened about what that will imply for future initiatives. However as quickly as I noticed the reveal of LiveWire’s subsequent electrical motorbike, the S2 Del Mar, I knew my considerations have been unfounded.
Right here’s the story of how LiveWire received my cash and why I’m excited to be a reservation holder for the upcoming S2 Del Mar electrical motorbike.
The bike isn’t fairly right here but, as LiveWire says that the primary deliveries of the S2 Del Mar will start this summer time. However that hasn’t stopped me from using the bike, or not less than a prototype.
I beloved it after I tried it
Final September, I had the prospect to check out an almost full prototype and expertise the brand new Arrow structure of the S2 Del Mar. In contrast to the LiveWire One flagship motorbike that shops its battery cradled inside its body, the Arrow platform for LiveWire’s subsequent few fashions makes use of the battery as a structural ingredient. To grossly oversimplify it, the battery is the body.
And but, because of slick engineering, the bike nonetheless appears good, with a reasonably conventional design regardless of the novel structure.
Testing out the bike confirmed me that the S2 Del Mar inherited its large brother LiveWire One’s fast, almost 3-second 0-60 mph acceleration, which means you may beat nearly anybody off the road, it doesn’t matter what they trip or drive. And because the bike is electrical, these launches are easy and repeatable each time.
I don’t know what the highest pace is, as that determine, together with the motor energy and battery capability, hasn’t been revealed but. That mentioned, my testing received the bike as much as speeds that aren’t authorized wherever within the US, so I’m not terribly involved with what the ultimate pace seems to be. It’s enjoyable using a Zero Motorbike or Energica able to 125 mph speeds, however the few occasions I could or might not have seen triple digits on these bikes additionally might or might not have made me fear about dropping my license. Hypothetically talking, after all.
Testing out the S2 Del Mar prototype confirmed me what a enjoyable bike it’s to trip in each the town and on the freeway. This, after all, isn’t a touring bike, and I do not know the way it’d deal with canyon carving since I did my testing in New York and New Jersey. However as a street bike, it’s a blast to trip.
I discovered it to be extra comfy than the LiveWire One and extra my pace. The LiveWire One is a formidable bike, one which I bounce at each likelihood I get to trip, however the S2 Del Mar can be my alternative for one to really personal.
The LiveWire S2 Del Mar has the suitable specs for many of us
The specs match precisely the kind of using I need to use it for, a mixture of city and freeway using. Whether or not for commuting or pleasure using, it’s quick sufficient and has sufficient vary for my wants.
As I discussed, the battery capability remains to be a thriller (although I’m guessing will probably be round 9.5 to 10 kWh). However LiveWire has introduced a metropolis vary of not less than 100 miles (160 km), which is loads for many cities.
There isn’t stage 3 DC quick charging like on the LiveWire One, however bikes inherently cost shortly on stage 2 public chargers because the batteries aren’t as giant as these in electrical automobiles. LiveWire says {that a} 20-80% cost can high up the vast majority of the pack in simply over an hour. Meaning a lunch cease or procuring errands is sufficient time to almost fill the battery.
20 years from now, after we’re all having fun with five-minute cost occasions, we would look again on this and snort. However for now, that’s loads for me. Most individuals, myself included, will seemingly cost in a single day anyway. Whenever you begin every day with a “full tank,” and your using is usually city, vary anxiousness merely doesn’t exist.
I like the way in which it appears
This one is subjective. However have you ever ever heard of a extra subjective and polarizing automobile than a bike?
Personally, I just like the design. In actual fact, I like the Comet Indigo colorway, which is among the causes I jumped to get a LiveWire S2 Del Mar Launch Version with the particular colour possibility.
To me, the bike appears stylish and trendy. It has sufficient character that it doesn’t disappear right into a non-offensive, please-as-many-people-as-possible design that some electrical bikes attempt to purpose for. Nevertheless it’s additionally not overly wild. It’s tasteful, and I prefer it.
Although I even have extra egocentric causes for liking the indigo Launch Version bike. There are solely 100 of those individually numbered LE bikes being made, ever. It’s an extremely essential mannequin, each as LiveWire’s first in-house launch (the LiveWire One began out as a Harley-badged bike) and because the first to make use of the brand new Arrow platform. Positive, the worth will drop the minute the tires first contact the asphalt, however maybe at some point, it can turn into a collector’s merchandise, simply 1 of 100. And whereas each bike is particular, I sort of like understanding that mine is further particular. You possibly can assume that’s foolish; I don’t care. I’m too busy using and smiling inside my helmet.
LiveWire’s value is right-ish
So far as I’m involved, electrical bikes have two and solely two downsides in comparison with combustion-engine bikes. They value extra, they usually don’t go as far. As I already coated, the vary is ok for my particular wants (and if I ever need to do motorbike touring, I can simply hire a fast-charging electrical motorbike). That leaves the worth. At $15,499 for the manufacturing model, the LiveWire S2 Del Mar splits the hole in pricing.
Positive, it’s dearer than a equally performing gasoline-powered motorbike. However the ship has lengthy since sailed on me shopping for a gasser. So in comparison with different electrics, the worth is sort of truthful. It is available in a bit larger than Zero’s entry-level bikes, but it surely’s additionally received larger efficiency. And it’s additionally significantly decrease than LiveWire’s flagship One with its $23,000 price ticket.
After all, affordability is relative, and there was a time in my life when a $15k bike was far out of attain. I had an e-bike startup in faculty, and I bear in mind we’d purchase a single spool of heavy-gauge pink wire and paint half of it black to save cash. However I’m proud to be on the level the place I’ve labored arduous sufficient to avoid wasting up for a $15k motorbike. I don’t drive a automotive, so, to me, it is a affordable transportation buy, even when, admittedly, I’ll be getting a variety of leisure use out of it too.
I need to assist corporations which might be shifting in the suitable course
Most of my causes for reserving a LiveWire S2 Del Mar are efficiency and price-based. However one in every of my final causes is ideological. It’s not simply that I like the way in which the bike appears and rides. I additionally like what it stands for.
Of all of the legacy motorbike corporations on the market, Harley-Davidson was the primary to leap ft first into electrical bikes. Almost ten years in the past, H-D was already growing its first electrical mannequin. It took nearly a decade for corporations like Honda, Yamaha, BMW, Triumph, Royal Enfield, and so many others to merely begin to discover actual electrical bikes. None of these corporations have fashions on the street but and are solely now starting to indicate off ideas and prototypes (although BMW can not less than be recommended for its electrical maxi-scooters). So I take my hat off to H-D for being to date forward of the curve in comparison with all different main legacy motorbike producers.
Although that leaves the elephant within the room of the various different electrical motorbike rivals. Why didn’t I am going with them?
Nicely, I considered it. Earlier than placing cash down on the LiveWire S2 Del Mar, the principle options I thought-about have been the Zero FXE, the RYVID Anthem, and the CSC RX1E. I had a loaner 2019 Zero FXS for a number of months a couple of years in the past and completely beloved it. I used to be in Boston on the time, and it was an superior bike for the town. However its smaller battery meant that the 90-mile metropolis vary turned out to be a great bit decrease in observe until I may persist with a stable 30-35 mph common pace and keep away from the enjoyable of placing the entrance wheel within the air when the sunshine turned inexperienced. The brand new FXE that changed it’s an extremely enjoyable bike – I’ve examined that one, too – but it surely doesn’t really feel like the identical efficiency because the S2 Del Mar. It will save me round $2,500 in comparison with the manufacturing S2 Del Mar, however to me, the additional money is value it.
Subsequent was the RYVID Anthem. I examined that bike, too, and was majorly impressed. The value can also be killer, at simply $7,800. This bike most likely gave the LiveWire S2 Del Mar the largest run for its cash, not less than for me. And if I hadn’t reached the purpose in my life the place I may save up the additional dough for the LiveWire, I most likely would have gone with the RYVID Anthem. However once more, the sporty efficiency and elevated vary of the Del Mar gained me over.
That leaves the CSC RX1E – an city commuter motorbike hiding in an journey bike’s physique. I like the RX1E. It’s not attractive, however rattling, is it a great utility bike for on a regular basis commuter functions. It’s quick sufficient to tackle the freeway and has sufficient storage to do every week’s value of grocery procuring. And actually, I did select this one, too, type of. I’ve received one within the household, which means I can trip it anytime I like. As most likely probably the most comfy electrical motorbike I’ve ever examined, I’m glad to have the CSC RX1E in my quiver (and I’ll be glad to share a full evaluate on that quickly).
Extra LiveWire data coming quickly
As we method LiveWire’s anticipated summer time deliveries of the S2 Del Mar, we’re hopefully getting that a lot nearer to the total launch of the ultimate specs. We don’t but know the motor energy, high pace, or battery capability. However having examined the bike myself, I already understand it’s insanely highly effective, quicker than anybody wants, and has sufficient vary for any city or suburban rider.
Whereas it’s not good, the bike provides almost every little thing I used to be searching for and does so in a bundle I might get pleasure from being seen on.
I stay up for coming again to you, hopefully quickly, with a primary trip expertise after taking supply of my bike. Till then, be happy to take a look at my check trip video on the S2 Del Mar prototype under.
