Harley-Davidson offers first look at prototype of battery-powered electric BICYCLE with pedal assist

Harley-Davidson has unveiled the first prototype of its anticipated line of e-bikes.

According to the transit blog, Electrek, the motorcycle-maker showcased the bikes as part of an exhibit at the 2019 Milan Motorcycle Show in Italy.

While the bikes were kept behind a glass barrier to avoid revealing too much, Electrek manged to confirm several key features. 

Among the specs are an automatic mid-drive motors, removable batteries, and hydraulic brakes. The bikes may also contain an LED headlight and brake light. 

While Harley hasn’t yet confirmed the price of the bikes, The Verge and Electrek note that many of its features are found in the pricier end of the e-bike spectrum where a single unit costs around $1,000. 

At an annual dealer’s meeting earlier this year, Electrek reported the first-ever renderings teasing the yet-to-be-released bikes.

The company will reportedly sell three different models, including two that require riders to step over a center piece and one with a dropped middle piece that is easier to mount.

Harley Davidson’s electric bicycles were officially unveiled earlier this year. While the models are still prototypes, Harley-Davidson intends to bring the bikes to market

‘Harley-Davidson’s first electric pedal-assist bicycles are light, fast, and easy for anyone to ride’ said the company in a statement.

‘Designed to shine in urban environments, this all-new line of eBicycles is just one more example of how Harley-Davidson’s More Roads initiative is actively working to inspire a new generation of two-wheeled riders around the world.’ 

‘Prototype model shown. Production model features will vary. Not yet available for sale. All future models shown may not be available in all markets,’ reads a disclaimer sent out with an image of the bikes. 

While the bicycles are still very much in the pipeline, they mirror a concurrent effort by the company to make a name into more eco-friendly modes of transit.

One of Harley-Davidson’s most recent offerings is an electric motorcycle that the company calls LiveWire.

The bike was slated for relese this fall but delayed in October.  

In an email sent to dealers, the company announced it had found a ‘non-standard condition’ in its final quality checks but didn’t elaborate further.

The LiveWire was officially announced for commercial release last fall with a planned price of $29,799. 

Harley-Davidson’s foray into the world of electric bikes come as a time with ample competition from the likes of companies that include ride-sharing giants like Uber and Lyft.  

Lyft recently unveiled its line of dockless e-bikes in San Francisco that have features like ‘pedal-assist’ to help riders climb hills and allow them to park the cycles without travelling to a dock.

Coincidentally, or perhaps pointedly, where Uber is beginning to roll out its subscription service in San Francisco to begin with.