Harley-Davidson’s electric offshoot targets a broader global demographic through its partnership with the small vehicle manufacturer KYMCO, making electric urban and trail mini-motos more accessible.
Harley-Davidson's Live Wire Group Inc. has officially commenced production of the highly anticipated lightweight electric Honchos. The S4 Honcho’s manufacturing signals a shift in Harley-Davidson’s business interests. Thus far, we've known and appreciated the iconic heavy Harley-Davidsons and the readily available premium high-performance KYMCO vehicles. Now, we can expect a marriage of the two worlds.
The production-ready S4 Honcho Trail and S4 Honcho Street represent an aggressive move by both parties to capture the attention and business of urban commuters, high-performance hobbyists, and everyone in between. Both models will hit the streets this summer.
How Are They Similar?
Both models are 125cc-equivalent platforms, comparable in speed and range to the average entry-level gas scooter or dirt bike. Both versions of the S4 feature a dual-battery system with a 348 kWh capacity. The batteries are removable and swappable, so you can pull them and plug them into a standard 110 V outlet to charge. Live Wire estimates that it takes about two hours to charge from 20% to 80%.
Both bikes also share a series of performance specs. They can both reach a top speed of 59 mph and accelerate from 0 to 30 mph in 3 seconds. They can both run for about 53 miles on a single charge, according to Live Wire's testing. However, if you limit your top speed to 20 mph, the manufacturer estimates a range of 73 miles.
Now, for what sets them apart.
S4 Honcho Trail: Built For The Dirt
The S4 Honcho Trail costs $4999. It is built strictly for backroads, dirt tracks, and private land. It is important to note that this bike is not street legal because the manufacturer has chosen not to include essential auxiliary parts, such as indicators, mirrors, and others, which are available on the S4 Honcho Street.
That said, the S4 Trail has a series of exclusive features. It features Maxxis Knobby tyres with deep, chunky rubber blocks. They will dig into loose dirt, mud, and gravel to give you traction where smooth tyres would immediately slip.
At 32 inches, the seat on the trail version sits higher than on the street version. This extra space gives you more ground clearance and prevents the bike's bottom from smashing into rocks or logs on rough trails. The trail version weighs 235 pounds (107 k), and lacks mirrors, turn signals, heavy headlights, or license plate holders. Without that gear, which is essential for street legality, the S4 Trail is that much quicker where it matters. Live Wire has chosen to include a 1-year, unlimited-mileage warranty. Off-roading puts extreme stress on parts, causing them to wear out at a higher rate.
S4 Honcho Street: For On & Off The Road
Priced at $5499, the 266-pound (120 kg) S4 Honcho Street is fully homologated, a process in which a manufacturer proves that a vehicle meets government-mandated safety requirements. Seeing as the S4 Street is homologated, it is fully street legal, provided you have the necessary licenses/riding permits from the relevant issuing authority.
The Street model comes equipped with rearview mirrors, bright LED headlights, turn signals, a digital dashboard display and a rear bracket to hold a license plate. All of which are legal requirements so other drivers can see you clearly on city roads.
Instead of the groovy knobby tyres, the Street version utilises a smoother tread pattern. That isn't to say that the tyres are incapable of trail riding, just that they are equally compatible with road-riding. Plus, a relatively smoother tyre prevents vibrating on asphalt roads.
At 31 inches high, the seat on the street version is an inch lower. This drop makes it easier for riders to plant both their feet on the ground when they are inevitably stopped at a red light. Additionally, Live Wire has chosen to include a 2-year, unlimited-mileage warranty. The Verdict
The S4 Honcho platform gives Live Wire two distinct avenues to earn more customers. The Trail version hopes to corner the adventure-focused outdoors market for riders who want a lightweight, quiet performer. Additionally, this type of model is largely legally permissible in most of the UK for use on tracks and private land.
Meanwhile, the S4 Honcho Street is for riders and commuters who want a fully electric two-wheeled vehicle that can handle occasional off-road adventures. Conveniently, the homologated version fits perfectly within the A1-licensing tier in the UK and Europe. Could this street-legal version corner the growing gas-scooter market?
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