Throttle open on motorcycle technology
The Progressive International Motorcycle Show was held recently in Rosemont and offered a warm retreat for enthusiasts to get caught up with the very latest in the two-wheeled motoring world.
Among the dazzling displays of the newest offerings, custom builds and a plethora of vendor booths, I spied two motorcycles that employed some ultracool, cutting-edge technology. While not mainstream today, they could become commonplace on the bikes carving up the roads of tomorrow.
2014 Yamaha Star Styrker
This 2014 Star Stryker was showcased in the Progressive Insurance display and employed, quite literally, an electrifying paint job.
From a distance, the bodywork appears solid glossy blue but with a flick of a switch, a “circuit board”-like pattern illuminates and shines brightly.
Dark Side Scientific of Medina, Ohio, is the shop responsible for assembling the build. It also patented the “LumiLor Electroluminescent Coating System” that accomplishes the trick feat. The technology employs a durable electroluminescent coating that glows when energized with a low-amperage electric current. The effect is controlled by a wireless remote, is dimmable and remains cool to the touch.
Dark Side reports LumiLor is available in a variety of colors and can be applied to wood, glass and carbon fiber. Thinking beyond the realm of custom bikes, this radical technology has huge potential in other safety and weight-saving applications.
Project LiveWire: Harley-Davidson E-Bike
This sinister and stealthy two-wheeled machine is badged Harley-Davidson but lacks one key H-D element — a rumbling engine. It's part of a program called Project LiveWire and is the Milwaukee brand's first foray into the world of electric motorcycles.
The onboard battery pack charges in 3½ hours with a 220-volt outlet. A full charge delivers 53 to 60 miles. Harley stresses there are no plans to produce the concept bike and that its use is to gather customer feedback. To gain that valued insight, Harley has been trucking a group of these e-bikes to dealers around the country.
Interested enthusiasts had the opportunity to see the LiveWire e-bike up close and take one for a spin. The traveling roadshow continues in 2015 and Harley intends to expand it to Canada and Europe.
A high-tech bike like this is a bold departure for the storied company. However, the hard part may not be bringing it to market. The challenge could be convincing H-D loyals that it's worthy of the bar and shield logo.