New LiveWire S2 Alpinista Is A Quirky, Fun, and Affordable Ride
Image Credit: LiveWire.
LiveWire unveiled a new electric motorcycle, and this time it's called the S2 Alpinista. Wait, another electric motorcycle? Yawn… Oh no, not so quick. This one is a little different.
First of all, it's built on the same platform as LiveWire's last two models, the S2 Del Mar and the S2 Mulholland. This platform, called Arrow, is versatile, reliable, and it can be used to create a variety of different bikes.
But why is the S2 Alpinista special? It's LiveWire's first "sport standard" motorcycle. What does that even mean? It means it's a bike that's comfortable both on the streets and on winding roads. It's a hybrid between a street bike and a touring bike, but with a little extra spice thrown in.
The S2 Alpinista has a 10.5 kWh battery that gives it a range of 120 miles in the city. That's not bad, considering that most people only commute about 30 miles a day. And if you need to charge it, you can get from 20% to 80% in just 1 hour and 20 minutes with a Level 2 charger.
Image Credit: LiveWire.
Let's talk about the bit everyone asks for - the power. The Alpinista has a 63 kW motor, which is enough to get it from 0 to 60 mph in 3 seconds. And if you're desperate for some extra dose of adrenaline, you can squeeze out 99 mph from the Alpinista without trying really hard. Just don't try to race any fighter jets.
But the best part? The S2 Alpinista is the most affordable LiveWire motorcycle yet. It costs just $15,999. That's less than the S2 Del Mar and the S2 Mulholland. It's almost as if LiveWire is trying to make electric motorcycles accessible to everyone.
Image Credit: LiveWire.
What else is there to know about this quirky little bike? It has 17-inch wheels that help reduce the seat height, making it easier for shorter riders to handle. It also has Dunlop Roadsmart IV tires that are optimized for both city streets and winding roads. It's essentially two bikes in one. Dr. Jekyl - Mr. Hide of the electric motorcycle world.
If you're a tech geek, you'll be happy to know that the S2 Alpinista comes with a 6-axis IMU from Bosch. This fancy little device provides cornering-enhanced antilock braking and traction control systems. It also has four preset ride modes and two custom modes. It's a personal riding assistant built into your motorcycle.
Image Credit: LiveWire.
The electric motorcycle industry has been a bit rocky lately. Sales haven't been as high as LiveWire had hoped. But I'm an optimist. I believe that electric motorcycles are the future. They're cleaner, quieter, and more fun to ride than gas-powered bikes. Yes, the range can be an issue if you're on a cross-state adventure, but the charging infrastructure is getting better. I know it feels like it's taking forever, but one day soon, it'll no longer be an issue.
With the backing of Harley-Davidson, LiveWire has the resources to keep innovating and creating amazing electric motorcycles. I'm pretty sure that eventually, they'll reach their sales targets and become a household name. Maybe one day, I'll add an S2 Alpinista to my collection. Can you ever have too many motorcycles?
