8 minute read
CURRENTS
QUITE THE REVELATION Angelle Sampey Sets eRecord
Powered by the Harley-Davidson Revelation electric powertrain Pro Stock racer Angelle Sampey piloted a LiveWire to records for elapsed time and top speed by an electric-powered production motorcycle on a drag strip. On September 4, the three-time Pro Stock Motorcycle champ swapped her Vance & Hines FXDR Pro Stock bike for a LiveWire and laid down world record-breaking runs on the quarter and eighth-mile.
Sampey lowered the eighth-mile ET to 7.017-seconds and then turned a quarter-mile pass in just 11.156 seconds at 110.35 mph. For the record, the 2020 LiveWire is limited to 110 mph top speed. Both records were set during exhibition runs at the Denso Spark Plugs NHRA U.S. Nationals at the Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis.
“Let me tell you what’s amazing,” said Sampey. “That was the first time I rode the LiveWire. I could not wait to get it on the track. The LiveWire is so easy to ride. Just twist the throttle and go, and you really go!”
Sampey and her Harley-Davidson Screamin’ Eagle/Vance & Hines teammates, Andrew Hines and Ed Krawiec, made a number of head-to-head runs on stock LiveWires, with Sampey posting the quickest times. Sampey is the winningest female in motorsports history with three-time Pro Stock Motorcycle championships (2000-2002) and 43 Pro Stock motorcycle wins.
As Sampey proved in Indy, the instant torque provided by the Revelation “motor” delivers instant acceleration. The LiveWire can go from 0 to 60 mph in 3.0 seconds and 60 to 80 mph in 1.9 seconds. Because maximum torque is always on tap, roll-on acceleration for passing from any speed is outstanding. An optimized center of gravity, rigid aluminum frame and premium suspension components give the LiveWire dynamic handling, while the battery is good for a range up to 146 miles, according to The Motor Company.
The 2020 LiveWire produces minimal vibration, very little heat and minimal sound, all of which enhance rider comfort and creates a unique riding experience, even on the drag strip.
WCGH DETOUR
Diego Cardenas was hoping to spend his 50th birthday in Spain… then the COVID came. He needed a new plan, but it had to be something that allowed social distancing but was also memorable. Riding his LiveWire from the U.S./Mexican border to the U.S./Canadian border using the West Coast Green Highway, WCGH became his detour for the trip to Spain. WCGH is a network of electric vehicle DC fast charging stations located every 25-50 miles along Interstate 5 and other major roadways in Washington, Oregon and California.
“I wanted to be a part of Harley-Davidson history and have my future grandkids be able to talk about how their grandfather was the first H-D electric motorcycle owner to do such a ride,” said Cardenas. “I wanted to show the world that electric charging infrastructure is growing and be an inspiration for others to try riding electric motorcycles like the LiveWire.”
He started from San Ysidro, CA, and rode 1,400 miles. On his 50th birthday, he reached his goal by making it to the U.S. Canadian border town of Blaine, Washington. Along the way, he did live social media reports of his progress and he also made plenty of stops along the way to do a bit of sightseeing with his wife and eight-year old daughter who were along on the trip in a car.
“The trip was unbelievable, such a great journey,” said Cardenas. “The West Coast Green Highway is a really good idea, there are so many options that you can be confident you will get to where you need to go. Also, if you pull up and cannot use one charger, you have additional ones super close by. Please spread the word, this is so doable. If you have an electric motorcycle, or any bike, just get out and ride during these challenging times. Do a road trip, it helps during these stressful times to free your mind and body to see new things.”
For more details on the WCGH click here:
http://www.westcoastgreenhighway.com/index. htm#/find/nearest
ZERO AT THE TOP OF THE WORLD
Miriam Orlandi’s 4,350-mile (7,000 km) journey is a first in a number of ways: She’s the first to do such a long-range trip on the new fully faired Zero SR/S electric sportbike, she’s the first to ride an electric motorcycle to the northernmost tip of Europe and she boosts the underrepresented female presence in longdistance e-moto riding.
Miriam’s journey averaged around 207 miles (333 km) per day. And since the Zero SR/S doesn’t offer DC fast charging, she charged with a combination of Level 2 charging (around two hours to a nearly full charge on an upgraded Zero SR/S) or Level 1 charging (overnight on a standard home wall outlet).
She rode from Brescia, Italy, to North Cape, Norway — 4,350- mile — in just 21 days. Miriam’s trip demonstrates that even a Level 2 charging electric motorcycle can perform long-distance rides. At a certain point it comes down not just to the motorcycle, but to the rider as well.
TO BOLDLY GO WHERE NO DEALER HAS GONE BEFORE…
In the past 20 years, Windy City-Fox Motorsports has expanded to 15 locations in Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin. To develop new customers, the Chicago-based operation also runs Chicago Motorcycle School, Chicago Motorcycle Rentals and Chicago Motorcycle Tours to keep more riders actively engaged. Given this horsepower, the flagship dealership Chicago HarleyDavidson was looking for a little star power for their latest promotion.
Who better to boldly take them where no dealer has gone before than Captain James T. Kirk himself, William Shatner? The Star Trek actor’s personal 2019 LiveWire is being auctioned off. “This is my very own bike. I hope you love it as much as I do,” says Shatner.
In addition to signing the title over, the Boston Legal star will also autograph the tank and treat the winner to lunch in LA for a once in a lifetime conversation. Bid on brunch and the bike here:
https://www.chicagoharley.com/shatner
California Governor Gavin Newsom upstaged HarleyDavidson’s plans to celebrate National Drive Electric Week when he signed an executive order that would end the sale of all new internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles in the Golden State by 2035 the week before. To put this in perspective, California’s nearly 40 million people currently account for more than one out of every 10 new cars sold in the U.S. National Drive Electric Week, set for September 26-Oct 4, 2020, is a nationwide celebration to raise awareness of the many benefits of all-electric and plug-in hybrid cars, trucks and motorcycles. To celebrate, Harley-Davidson is extending opportunities to ride, charge and experience LiveWire to bring the accessibility of exciting electric vehicle (EV) experiences to a global audience. “Harley-Davidson stands for the timeless pursuit of adventure,” said Jochen Zeitz, Chairman, President and CEO, Harley-Davidson. “We build machines that unlock adventure to find freedom for the soul. Harley-Davidson’s first electric motorcycle, LiveWire, is a shining example of how we innovate to inspire this mission and how we are leading the electrification of motorcycling. It’s a premier experience that can only be truly understood after riding it.” Zeitz notes the LiveWire leads in the electrification of motorcycling by pushing EV technology forward in pursuit of advancing and growing the segment. “Through global partnerships, activations, and creating experiences that challenge the capabilities of EV propulsion, Harley-Davidson continues to not only innovate and inspire the EV segment of motorcycling, but to lead in that segment’s growth.” The eBike is backed by a global network of Authorized LiveWire Harley-Davidson dealerships, each equipped with DC Fast Charge stations and specialized training and equipment to foster a growing community of LiveWire owners and electric vehicle (EV) enthusiasts. Adding to the value proposition is free juice.
LiveWire motorcycle owners in Canada and the U.S. receive free charging for two years on ChargePoint stations at participating Harley-Davidson dealerships. Additionally, LiveWire owners in the U.S. receive complimentary charging up to 500kW for two years from their delivery date on the
CELEBRATING NATIONAL EV WEEK LiveWire Style
Electrify America network.
ICING ON THE CAKE Ösa Wins 2 German Design Awards!
“Being recognized for the Ösa by the German Design Council is a true honor and amplifies CAKE’s mission of inspiring towards a zero-emission society — combining excitement with responsibility,” says the Swedish eBike’s boss Stefan Ytterborn. Winning TWO of the design awards is unprecedented. It was also gratifying that the Germans got it, adds Ytterborn.
“While the Ösa is a super simple and easy to operate motorcycle, it’s a somewhat complex creation; it’s an electric vehicle that has the modularity of LEGO — sort of a hybrid between a truck and a Swiss Army knife. While it serves individual needs for transportation, its main attribute is the ability to facilitate so many activities while off the bike through its mobile power station,” he explains.
SMASHING INTRODUCTION
Vanderhall unveils one of its greatest ideas yet... “In an effort to provide new and disruptive products to bolster our dealer’s profitability, cement our brand’s status as the premium powersports manufacturer, and expand our total market share, Vanderhall is pleased to announce the Navarro as our next evolutionary model. The four-wheel, all-electric, off-road Vanderhall Navarro will have many groundbreaking technologies and firsts for any production powersports model,” said R. Scott Bell, Vanderhall COO.
The video release first references the 200,000 square foot expansion that effectively doubles Vanderhall’s existing production space “to make room for one of our greatest ideas ever.” Then it teases a supposed Three-Wheeled Venice Off-Road Edition as that idea. However, a huge 30,000 lb. concrete block suddenly falls onto and crushes the prototype in a ball of flame as a silhouetted off-road vehicle rumbles up on top of the wall and crushed Venice, introducing the actual new model, the Vanderhall Navarro. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjDpgeQ7Vuc
