An Electric Harley? Someone Call the Fun Police!
Image Credit: TEAM HIGH-FIELD.
Where do I start... A Harley-Davidson... that's electric. Yep. No more rumbling V-twin, no more shaking the ground as you ride by. Just the gentle hum of electrons doing their thing. I'm not sure whether to laugh or cry. Or be impressed.
This Frankensteinian creation comes to us from the fine folks at High Field, a custom shop in Japan. Apparently, they got tired of all that pesky noise and pollution and decided to do something about it. With the help of some EV conversion experts, they've managed to cram an electric motor and a couple of battery packs into a Harley-Davidson Fat Boy.
Now, I'm all for electric vehicles. I really am. But a Harley? It's worse than putting a Prius engine in a Lamborghini. It just feels... wrong. I know - I own a Harley. But I'm willing to keep an open mind. Is this electric Fat Boy a hidden gem? Is it the future of motorcycling? Or is it just a monstrosity that should have never seen the light of day? I wish I had a simple answer.
Image Credit: TEAM HIGH-FIELD.
What's the deal with this electric Harley? It's got a range of 99 to 136 miles, which isn't too bad. It's also surprisingly affordable, with a price tag of somewhere between $3,165 and $6,331. That's shockingly good for a custom EV conversion. I hope I got the price right…
But the real question is, does it still feel like a Harley? Does it have that same sense of power and freedom? I'm not so sure. A big part of the Harley experience is the sound. That throaty rumble that makes you feel like you're riding a wild beast. Without that, it's just not the same.
Maybe I'm just being an old fuddy-duddy. Maybe the electric Fat Boy is a sign of things to come. Maybe we'll all be riding electric Harleys in the future. Honestly, for the last few months, I have been toying around with the idea of converting my Sportster. It took me years to come around, but I would entertain the silent ride. I think. I know my wife would love it.
If you're curious about this electric Harley, you can actually go check it out for yourself - as long as you're in Japan. It's on display at the High Field shop, and you can even take it for a test ride.
In the meantime, I'll just be over here, clinging to my old gas-powered Harley. As time goes by and the EV technology improves, I have less and less against the idea of an electric Harley. The power is not an issue - there are plenty of powerful electric motors out there. The battery is still a bit of a bother, but if it lasts for two hours of fun, then that's okay. If it then can be recharged in, say, 15 minutes - I would seriously consider a conversion. And the noise? When you get to my age, the noise will be the last of your concerns.
