A quick look at the Harley-Davidson LiveWire electric motorcycles used in the show, Long Way Up, reveal they’re far from the stock models available in showrooms.
It actually took a lot of research, testing, and heavy modification. Thankfully, the process behind building these long-distance electric motorcycles was chronicled in Harley-Davidson’s official podcast, specifically, starting episode 14, available at the Apple iTunes store and Spotify.
This six-part series documents how near-production LiveWire models were modified to take on dirt roads, single tracks, and desert trails over 13,000 miles of extreme off-road conditions.
A development team was composed of a select group from the pool of engineers and designers that developed the LiveWire.
This team designed, modified, and assembled a motorcycle in under 30 days. After initial testing, the team incorporated feedback to finalize ergonomic and storage systems on the bikes. In 60 days, the motorcycles were headed to the southern tip of Argentina.
The modified LiveWire motorcycles used production specification RESS (Rechargeable Energy Storage System) hardware, chassis, and Harley-Davidson Revelation powertrain components. To handle the heavier loads and rougher conditions, the motorcycles were modified with prototype rotors, wheels, and tires from the upcoming Harley-Davidson Pan America adventure touring motorcycle. Some parts had to be fabricated like a custom windshield, rear shock, and triple clamps made specifically for this project.
Before delivery, both modified LiveWire motorcycles were evaluated at Harley-Davidson’s Willie G. Davidson Product Development Center for initial testing and ridden under similar development validation conditions at Harley-Davidson's Proving Grounds facility.
"Harley-Davidson stands for the timeless pursuit of adventure,” said Jochen Zeitz, Chairman, President and CEO, Harley-Davidson.
The podcast series chronicles how Harley-Davidson’s staff of engineers and designers went above and beyond in their mission to create the ultimate electric adventuer motorcycles. Listen to the H-D Podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and subscribe to get new episodes of the show automatically each week.
