LiveWire Honcho Launches, Mini Electric Motorcycle Feels 125cc

JAKARTA - Harley-Davidson's electric motorcycle division, LiveWire, has teamed up with Taiwan-based Kymco to release two electric mini-motorcycles, the S4 Honcho Trail and S4 Honcho Street. Both will enter the British market this summer.

Citing MotorCycleNews, Saturday, June 13, the Honcho was first introduced at the Harley festival in Milwaukee, USA, last summer. This motorcycle is designed to be equivalent to a 125cc gasoline motorcycle, a class familiar to beginner riders.

Both variants use the same drive system. The top speed is 59 mph or about 95 km/h. Acceleration 0-30 mph can be achieved in three seconds.

With these specifications, Honcho is in the A1 license category in the UK. This motorcycle can be driven by users over the age of 17 with CBT and L plates. CBT is a mandatory basic training for novice motorcyclists in the UK, while L plates are a sign for riders who are still learning.

Its power source comes from two removable batteries with a capacity of 1.74 kWh each. The driving range is estimated at 53 miles or about 85 km. If you drive steadily at 20 mph, the distance can reach 73 miles or about 117 km.

Charging from 20 percent to 80 percent is estimated to take two hours. The battery can be charged while it is attached to the motorcycle or removed. This feature is useful for users who live in apartments.

The Street legal variant is used on the highway because it is equipped with headlights, mirrors, turn signals, speedometers, and number plate holders. The Trail variant does not carry these equipment. This motorcycle uses knobby tires, which are rough pattern tires for land terrain, and are more directed for off-road use.

The size of both is still beginner-friendly. The height of the Trail seat is 737 mm, while the Street is 762 mm. The weight is in the range of 114-120 kg. Both use 12-inch rims.

However, the price cannot be called cheap. The Honcho Trail is priced at 4,599 pounds sterling, while the Honcho Street is 4,999 pounds sterling. This figure is about 1,000 pounds sterling more expensive than the Honda Dax 125 gasoline engine.

Honcho is the fifth LiveWire model in this decade and its first in the small segment. This move makes sense in the UK. According to the Motor Cycle Industry Association quoted by MotorCycleNews, a 125cc-powered electric motorcycle with 14.8 bhp contributed 62 percent of electric motorcycle sales last month. BHP is a unit of engine power.

Honcho production began in May. This motorcycle will first be available in the UK in the summer, followed by the global market at the end of the year. The color options are Mossy Oat or light green, and Liquid Black. The Street variant has a two-year warranty.