2023 LiveWire S2 Del Mar Launch Edition First Look

LiveWire officially revealed its new S2 Del Mar, the brand’s second electric motorcycle and the first to use its new S2 Arrow architecture. Pre-orders for the Launch Edition model are now open, with an MSRP of $17,699 with deliveries to begin in Spring 2023. A full production run will also begin in 2023, with LiveWire targeting an MSRP of $15,000. (UPDATE: Reservations for all 100 units of the Launch Edition got scooped up within 18 minutes of the pre-order window opening.)

“The S2 Del Mar model represents the next step in the evolution of the LiveWire brand,” says Jochen Zeitz, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Harley-Davidson. “The Arrow architecture underpinning the Del Mar, developed in-house at LiveWire Labs, demonstrates our ambition to lead in the EV space and establish LiveWire as the most desirable electric motorcycle brand in the world.”

The proprietary Arrow architecture combines the battery pack, electronics systems, and motor into one single component that will also serve as the chassis for the Del Mar and future LiveWire models. The design is modular, allowing LiveWire to adapt the platform for a range of models. The modular design also makes it easier to assemble, with LiveWire claiming the Del Mar takes 44% less build time than the LiveWire One.

The battery pack uses 21700 cells, a popular format adopted by the likes of Tesla and Samsung. The inverter, onboard charger, and vehicle controller form the power electronics unit. The S2 Del Mar makes use of both L1 and L2 charging, however LiveWire hasn’t provided any charge time estimates as yet. The unit is integrated into the architecture, keeping all high-voltage connections internal. The motor is direct drive, with no secondary gear reduction to maximize efficiency and torque delivery, and reduce noise.

The rear suspension is directly attached to the motor, eliminating the need for a separate frame. The Arrow architecture uses an asymmetrical swingarm, boomerang-shaped on the right side and a straight bar on the left. The weight remains to be finalized, but LiveWire says it’s aiming for a target of 430 pounds.

On the Del Mar, LiveWire is targeting an output of 80 hp with a projected 0-to-60 time of 3.5 seconds. The Del Mar is expected to have a range of 100 miles of city riding. Riders can select from four different ride modes (plus custom modes), with software updates available “Over-the-Air” (OTA).

The performance figures will be identical for both the Launch Edition and regular production models. The only difference will be special graphics and wheels. The Launch Edition will be produced in a choice of Jasper Gray or Comet Indigo, with both paint schemes applied by hand in a process that takes five days. The LE version will come with PCB cast aluminum wheels with vaulted and tapered spokes designed for lateral stiffness.

LiveWire describes the Del Mar as having a street-tracker stance, with 19-inch wheels front and back, both equipped with Dunlop DT1 tires. A raised, “tracker-style” handlebar lends itself to an upright riding position with the footpegs positioned right beside the motor. A thin flyscreen sits above a pill-shaped headlight, bracketed by two round turn indicators. Behind the screen is a circular full-color display.

We don’t have specific details about the suspension or brakes, but upon visual inspection, we note an inverted fork with a single Brembo radial-mount caliper up front.

The S2 Arrow powertrain will be produced in Milwaukee while Del Mar assembly will take place in a dedicated line at Harley-Davidson’s facility in York, PA.

The Del Mar will be just the first model to make use of the S2 (System 2), or middleweight version of the Arrow architecture. A presentation slide hinted that there will be at least two more S2 models to come. The modular Arrow will be scaled down for a number of lightweight models (some of which will be produced by Kymco, a stakeholder in LiveWire) which are currently in development. The company also hinted at another S1-level model that will sit alongside the LiveWire One offering a higher level of performance.

While we were hoping for more details about the S2 Del Mar, at this point, it seems like Harley-Davidson is still trying to achieve certain performance, range, and weight targets. It’s significant that we have a price for the Del Mar LE. At $17,699, it’s a fraction of the price of the original LiveWire’s $29,799, with the full production Del Mar coming in at about half the price. Further information should become available later this year.

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