livewire

The emergence of the LiveWire brand as a standalone vanguard of electric performance is a shift that demands the attention of any serious rider. For years, the project incubated within the hallowed, petrol-soaked halls of Harley-Davidson, a bold experiment by the Milwaukee giant to capture the future. Yet to truly thrive, it needed to shed its heritage shackles. Now operating as a fiercely independent, publicly traded entity, LiveWire has spent the last few years proving it can build machines with its own distinct soul.

​LiveWire is a premium all-electric motorcycle brand. It originally began as "Project LiveWire," an initiative by Harley-Davidson to explore the electric vehicle space. In 2019, Harley-Davidson released its first production electric motorcycle under the LiveWire name.

​Recognising the distinct market for electric motorcycles, Harley-Davidson spun LiveWire out into its own standalone company in 2021, to give it the freedom to act more like a tech startup. Harley-Davidson remains the majority shareholder.

On Sunday, 13th July, at 4.15 am, I quietly pushed the Honda CBR650R press bike out of the garage, trying not to wake the neighbours. 

2 1/2 hours later, I arrived at Goodwood FoS. The doors opened at 7 am, and I needed to be signed on and ready to ride a LiveWire at 8.30 am. 

I met David from the PR company Motocom, one of the nicest and most professional people in the business, and we wandered down to the drivers' club to get me signed on.