HARLEY-DAVIDSON LIVEWIRE & ZERO SR/F featuring CHARLEY BOORMAN | FULLY CHARGED 

SUBSCRIBE, LIKE & SHARE to support FULLY CHARGED! We've wanted to cover electric motorbikes for some time now and in this episode have struck gold with two of the best bikes reviewed by two of the best riders. Charley Boorman is no stranger to epic motorbike journeys, most recently on a Harley-Davidson Livewire with Ewan McGregor in their Long Way Up adventure. Now with an electric Harley of his own he runs us through the features of this magnificent bike as he rides it through the beautiful Surrey Hills. Also a long-time motorbike fan, Andy Torbet takes out the impressive Zero SR/F bike, very kindly loaned to us by English Electric Motor Company, to see how it stacks up against the Harley. Which would you choose? English Electric Motor Company www.englishelectricmotorco.com/ Make sure you are subscribed then enter 'The Great EV Giveaway' for your chance to win an EV for a year and lots of other fantastic prizes fullycharged.show/EV-Giveaway/ Fully Charged is 100% independent thanks to RU-vid Memberships and Patreons. Without you this channel wouldn’t be possible! If you’d like to help support the Fully Charged channel and its mission: Become a Patreon: www.patreon.com/FullyChargedShow Become a RU-vid member: use JOIN button above Subscribe to Fully Charged & the Fully Charged PLUS channels Buy the Fully Charged Guide to Electric Vehicles & Clean Energy : buff.ly/2GybGt0 Browse the Fully Charged store: shop.fullycharged.show/ Visit our LIVE exhibitions in the UK, USA & Europe: FullyCharged.Show/events Subscribe for episode alerts and the Fully Charged newsletter: fullycharged.show/zap-sign-up/ Visit: FullyCharged.Show Find us on Twitter: twitter.com/fullychargedshw Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/fullychargedshow

More bikes and Charley? Yes please!

I ride a 2016 Zero S and love it. Get on, put in the key, safety checks, go. No oil levels, choke, warmup, worry of overheating in rush-hour traffic. Prior to the Zero I rode old BMW R-bikes and a modern Bonneville, all great rides, and the Zero is a very different experience. At a stop sign all is quiet, sometimes I linger a moment listening to the surroundings and being a part of that place, not just someone passing through on a cloud of noise and exhaust. Five years of refinement can only make the newest Zeros a more satisfying experience.

I've owned a Zero SR/F since Nov 2019 and have utterly loved it. Use it for my daily commute (30 miles each way) which is a mixture of urban and dual carriageway riding. I've got charge points at work so I can charge there if needed although the SR/F easily gets me to work and back on a single charge even if I'm in sport mode the whole way. A few things I've learned. 1) For taller riders you can get a higher seat and also the SR/S footpegs fit the SR/F, these sit lower than the SR/F's which give you more legroom. I'm 6 foot (1m84cm) and I'd recommend those changes for anyone my height (or taller). 2) The best I've ever managed is 109 miles on a charge but that was ECO mode the whole time and very little over 50mph (80kmh) - realistically you're looking at between 70-90 miles. 3) I know Charlie recommended getting the extra charge tank for the SR/F but think hard about that option as the storage area is really really useful (which you lose if you add the charge tank). I can fit my charging cable, a bike lock, my pack lunch, and a thin waterproof top in there. Obviously the decision will be if you need the extra range the charge tank gives you but don't just add it by default if you're ordering one. 4) Zero should fit LED indicators by default on this bike. It's a + £20,000 cool futuristic bike and I'm still using old school bulbs in my turn signals!! You can buy LED indicators as an optional extra but I think they should be standard on a bike of this price level 5) The rear hugger is utterly useless. It needs to be longer as it does very little to protect the rear section of the bike. A longer one wouldn't look as cool but once you've owned it a few months and you realise how much dirt is getting flicked up you'd prefer a better hugger 6) I disagree with Charlie on throttle response, I find mine absolutely as smooth as silk. Sure, in Sport mode it is very responsive and if you're not ready it will really snap your head back but I haven't found it an issue at all. I will add that I haven't had the pleasure of riding a LiveWire so maybe that's smoother still? 7) Cruise control implementation on the SR/F is really poor. The button to activate and set cruise is on the right-hand side and just a littttle bit too far away so you have to streeetch your thumb to reach it. It's a small issue but I notice it daily as a section of my commute is average speed camera so cruise control is useful for those bits. 8) Traction control is really good on the SR/F. It has 100% saved me on two occasions when I was overzealous in slightly damp conditions. Without TC i would have certainly been in a hedge. 9) Filtering is really easy, the low down weight makes it a doddle to handle at slow speeds as you thread through a traffic jam. 10) They're still too expensive. The LiveWire is still waaaay out of my reach and the SR/F was only just in reach after a lot of saving and tweaking of budgets. I hope they get cheaper soon as it is a true barrier to many riders. 11) I've had ICE bikes all my life (am 42 now) but when I test rode the SR/F I knew it was the bike for me. I love it. Even if you're not thinking of buying one I really recommend getting a test ride just to experience the torque and smoothness of power delivery. Also thanks Fully Charged and Charlie for the review, nice to hear your thoughts.

The more I ride my Zero SRS, the more I love it! People's aggressive comments against these things make me smile, bless them. 😂

I’m so glad to see Charlie back. When he did his first video with Fully Charged and asked to be invited back I was excited to see the next one with him. Also it’s interesting that both of the riders in this video love to ride but both have very beat up knees and hips and still maintain their enthusiasm.

One of the many benefits of e-bikes is that we can launch hard off the line without drawing attention from law enforcement. Doing that on a loud bike ensures police will look your way, and that increases the chance you'll get pulled over. I get to play a lot more without causing harm to others with noise or pollution. I'm on my 6th Zero, currently riding an SR/S.

I really enjoyed Long Way Up and the electric bikes and Rivian prototypes. I'm tempted to at least give an emotorbike a try one day for a possible commute bike.

Always lovely watching Charley driving and talking bikes. :)

Favorite part is sounding like a RC car going down the road.

arrrrhhhhgggg! that damn music! It's electric; beautiful subtle sound; I want to hear it!

Wow. I got a huge rush of nostalgia when I saw Charley. I've followed every adventure of his with Ewan with absolute passion and found myself grinning at the screen when Charley came on.

I detest noisy motorbikes. This is progress, EVERY way you look at it.

Having Charley on the show is simply awesome!

Where's Energica in this review, guys? Considerably bigger batteries at approx the price of the Zero. I've just got one and love it! (Also sold by English Electric)

Awesome video, surprising how long this Harley has been around now. Well done Andy and keep sharing your input Charlie...Spot on!

Really great seeing Charley! I loved all the long way documentaries. Charley really has me considering an Ebike. Thanks for the great review.

Great to see some electric bike content on the channel. More needed ;)

I love this video. Obsessed with the livewire. Particularly the new livewire one. Im new to riding. And can’t wait to get my hands on one. The film long way up was truly inspiring. This looks like complete joy. Thanks for the in depth video.

That’s a mighty fine episode and both these gentlemen are enjoying their machines. 🙂

Two impossibly cool bikes. The whole EV thing just gets better and better. Looks like Newlands Corner will need to invest in some type two chargers now.

Excellent episode as always. Really happy to see the EV motorcycles coming out. I'm not a rider but I won't miss the noise at all. It would be a lot more British if the motorcycles had sidecars occupied by an English Bulldog.

Don't forget the Energica, for the moment they seem better compared too both HD and Zero.

So fun seeing Charlie Boorman on the show. I loved all the Long Way shows, they are so great.

The Livewire is my first EV and Charley and Ewan riding them was a big inspiration for that. I love Fully Charged so I'm very happy this!

This is like from some sci-fi movies I have seen in the past. Absolutely cool!

4:32 - "Charley-Davidson" 😂

I wish they would make a cruiser version of these bikes. i own a Zero DS and love it.

My XSR 900 doesn't have much more range. With more fastchargers for longer tours and lower prices (~10K€), this could get a huge boost in the future. I'm currently transitioning to an electric car (ID.3) and could myself see on an electric bike in the future. Awesome to see Charley in this video.

Soon all bikers cafes will have fast chargers. Range anxiety becomes enjoyable coffee stops

Charley is such a legend, apparently hasn't changed at all since "Long Way Round". He (and Ewan) is/are the reason why I got my drivers license for the big bikes. Much love from Germany!

Charley should really get a letter C made up and add it to the name on the tank. Tank? lol

Charley is in his element on Fully Charged. More please.

Sweeeeet!!! But please please please do Energica next!

When a Harley Davidson rider starts criticizing other bikes for being old fashioned....

Where are the Energica's? Best electric bikes on the market by far!

Beautiful cinematography and the "Charley Davidson" quote wasn't lost on me. Superb as always FC 👌🏻

I'm a male, hetero, Charley-aged lover of big motos and I think these two sexy bikes promoted by these two sexy men is the PERFECT way for my PATREON support of FullyCharged to be spent. Well done all of you.

I was waiting for Charley to do a wheelie.

I think a hybrid motorcycle would be the right bike right now in the transition forward. Efficiency and range.

Great video! Great bikes the pair of them, the Harley would be my choice. I've had multiple bikes in my time, including Harley's. It's definitely the new era in bikes! More videos with Charley please, he's so EV enthusiastic.

I would love to see a comparison vs the new Energica e bike with the bigger battery. They claim over 200 miles of range.

Lots of good stuff in this but it was somewhat lop-sided insofar as we saw Charley riding the Zero, and commenting on it, but we never saw Andy on the LiveWire, and he barely even mentioned that he'd ridden it! Also, you should have mentioned that while the H-D has rapid Type 3 charging, it doesn't have Type 2, the most common and cheapest form of non-domestic charging, whereas the Zero does. And, with the optional extra Power Tank, the Zero would have a significantly bigger capacity and range than the H-D (18kWh vs 15.5kWh), not the same. As standard it already has nearly the same size battery capacity as the LiveWire (14.4 vs 15.5kWh). Now you need to get a pair of Energicas in the mix, including at least one with their 20kWh option!

Awesome material, as always Fully Charged!!!!

When our children and grandchildren are adults, they will be able to open their bedroom windows at night without fear of being woken by screaming exhaust sounds from racing motorbikes (and cars) in the middle of the night 👍😊

I have an SR/F. It is crazy fun around town. I really look forward to seeing the Triumph electric bike now in development.

This was an exceptional video! I own a Zero DSR and create digital content: very much appreciate the level of production and design that went into this video. Great representation of the performance of the machines and by far the best 'comparison' video I've seen to date. I can sense the amount of respect each rider had for their vehicles - and love seeing Charlie on a Livewire. Superb video, again. Thank you for making this. Earned a subscriber, like and notifications are ON!

The starting of the video is giving vibes like the Tron:Legacy movie. Awesome start.

I love my srf such a fun bike, amazing torque 190nm from go to gone ,all ways makes me smile and thats wots its about for me .100-110 miles and all for a £1

What a fantastic video. It was a pleasure to listen to two knowledgeble people discussing and comparing these bikes. Charlie really knows his stuff, and I love the whine of those motors compared to the deafening roar of their fossil fuelled cousins (I know a lot of enthusiasts love that roar).

Nice bike item. You should have included Energica too. It's so Fast with CCS that it trumps both. Also more quality for the price of a Zero. They can also set riding mode and regen mode sperately.

Do you guys not get Energicas in the UK? Swear I had seen some... but it seems you haven't heard of them. Longer range, faster charging, lower cost than the Harley. Kind of how Tesla is to electric cars (hopefully you heard of Tesla though). Good stuff!

No wheelies? Come on, Charlie!

As a non bike rider, I'm curious to know if as you get older, does riding an electric bike equate to a more comfortable, enjoyable ride? You know, minus the vibrations of an ICE bike - especially if you have dodgy knees & or hips?

Thanks for another great video!! Loved a long way up ! And love evs it’s so much better in a lot or ways ! It’s good to see that ev trills are as good on 2 wheels as 4 !

So funny to hear "it's very heavy" about the Livewire. It's 20 pounds lighter than my CB1100! 🤣

I like the whiny "silent" sounds of e-bikes and e-cars. I live near an intersection in a beautiful rural setting. Every year the noise from the morons with their V8 cars and trucks, not to mention the scores of Harleys gets worse and worse. I'm excited about a quieter future.

I wonder if they can integrate the electric motor into the back wheel at some point to significantly simplify the design and give much more room for a bigger battery.

always so crazy seeing people riding on the "wrong" side..

Electric motorcycles, just like cars, produce their own endearing noises. To the casual observer, it might seem like they make " no noise " but when you're actually on it and hear it accelerate and decelerate and put it through the twists and turns they do make their own unique set of noises. It is possible to hear the noise of the electric motor and have that take a proportional relationship to the amount of work the motor is putting out. I suppose it is true that you don't feel it in the vibratory sense because it's much more refined than bunch of tiny explosions in an internal combustion engine but nonetheless, they have their own personalities - You just have to open up to them and they will show themselves.

Great episode!! love it. Now I want to ride one to check it out, just haven’t rode a motor bike yet. Oh, well.

Fabulous video! You guys should check out the Finnish Start-up "verge motorcycle" and bring the review to us!!! They will be at the good wood festival in the UK next week!!!

Edit: Just got to 20:15 and Charley mentions it 👍 I think people tend to forget that Harley Davidson bought Buell and ran it for years... So they did have their hand in some sport bikes for a while

I made 14 000 kms on a Zero SR-F, and now 20 000 on an Energica. The Energica is far better. I'd like to try the HD but on paper it's less power, less battery, smaller AC charger and more expensive.

A non-noisy Harley Davidson is probably the best invention in a very long time! Now we just need all the remaining noisy ICE Harleys to break down.

There's a lot more to motorcycling than commuting and local rides. Charlie should recognise this with his global travels.. I ride a GS adventure, the king of long rangers... when I fill up in the morning on tour I know I've got 350 miles under my backside without any worries of where I am or where I'm going.. Charlie says these are "so much fun to ride and that makes up for lack of range" what ??? Every bike I've ridden from being 6 years old has been "fun" to ride. Motorbikes, like fast cars are emotive things, and that emotion comes from the different noises that different configurations make, Vtwins, triples or flat twins etc ... that's why we don't all ride the same bikes, we all like different things !! EV is taking away some of that individuality .... sorry, defo not for me. For those on here saying they hate noisy bikes, well, I hate shitty noisy buses in town, trains, small aircraft flying over .. each to their own ...

Alta Redshift, Energica Ego, Damon HyperSport... sick bikes !! Please, test them! HD LiveWire is great though

The louder the bike, the smaller the pee pee. Noisy bikes are a menace in urban environments.

Saw this on Twitter. Thought the announcement of 5pm was for tomorrow [Friday]. Whoopee, not so. EDIT: Charley very sweetly excuses himself for not being sure of the tag-line. Of course you're going to use that take. And did Andy say Charley Davidson at one point. It never occurred to me that Charley and Harley were just one letter different.

Was it intentional to exclude the Italians by only looking at American electric motorcycles? Energica beats both of them in virtually any metric you throw out. Why not discussion of them?

About time they made an electric Charley Davidson brilliant 😊😊👍

Excellent!

Also liked the “Charlie Davidson” line

Great episode, I don’t even ride bikes; but it’s interesting to see other forms of transport transitioning to electric.

Great video. Both killer bikes. Got my eye on the new livewire one

Thank you for the quality content, the wait for motorcycle content has been a long time coming but the video content more than makes up or it! Thank you sooo much... May this be the start of more please. May be EEMC would be a good next step?

Love the new tag line - stick with that and name it after Charlie - what a guy ;o)

Very nice video. Thank you. I'm going to buy the Zero

If I could unload 3 of my old bikes (1983, 1992, 2001), I'd be up for an electric for sure but just can't justify in my head spending more on a bike than I'd barely spend on a car or truck. It's interesting that according to Charley the zero is almost as good as the HD especially since Zero has been manufacturing Electric motorcycles for quite a while now. At 70, I'm about ready to give up riding but who knows maybe I'll jump on a Livewire or an SRF for a new experience.

Brilliant video, thank you! Great to see Charley on here!

The first manufacturer who figures out how to transpose the sound of the drivetrain down about ten octaves will sell tons of bikes. I've always been extremely sensitive to high-frequency sounds--back when CRT TVs were common, the high-pitched whine would make me almost nauseous. Even at 61 YO, my first response to the sound of both these machines is to wince and shudder, as though it's fingernails on a blackboard. Surely the tone can be made more musical and satisfying, while still being 100% analog and not a silly synthesized tootle.

We need a 3 way comparison with Energica included

14:57 how could you not want a bike that sounds like a Tie Fighter?!

Would love to have either bike but if I had my choice on the zero it would be the SR/S.

Can you do a review on the Sondors Metacyle when it’s out? 👍

Think Charlie had the first C Evo BMW….way back. Great bikes I have a latest one now.

Wwoohhooooo Charley !!!!! Hell yeah!!

Sine there isn't a clutch lever I wonder why they can't have the front and rear brakes like a pedal bike? I mean I have gotten used to the foot brake over the years but after years of mountain biking also, I much prefer the dual hand lever brake setup.

alright, i'll get one

Bring on the day when all bikes are quiet. Motorbike noise is trashing all our national parks. Saving up now to buy one.

My FOREHEAD was out here thinking this was a new bike by Harley called the "Zero" right untill the end 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

Movement...the new realization......surprised hd didn't develope the cruiser/std design route...to build through their design heritage ...could use part of the saddlebags as battery...

I love biking, I’ve had many superbikes from ninja to Bmw..I wish I could afford an electric ⚡️ bike.

i'd interestingly like to see what impact damage of a Livewire, Zero vs a standard 650/700 bike on a tbone with an average car! be interested to see what the damage pattern changes are with the weight change and distribution.

I love both these bikes and am looking forward to owning a EV motorcycle one day to run alongside my very old-fashioned and noisy Moto Guzzi.

Brilliant video but I’m not that well off, so I’ll start with a Sur Ron X then see where it goes from there. I live in Mongolia usually so I need off road more than on road. As Charlie knows well, in Mongolia you want a light bike unless you want to be stuck in deep mud and sand.

Aw man, i wish some better battery tech and efficient motors comes along for e-motorcycles. Cuz I'm the type who likes taking very long bike rides and for that the range ain't good enough yet

My first thought is, if you're buying an electric bike for urban commuting then why spend the wrong side of £20-30k when you can spend a sixth of that and get yourself a Super Soco TCMax which has all the performance you need in town and a battery you can pull out and charge in a couple of hours at work?

Thx for the review, I prefer the HD! To me Zero motorcycles don't look good. Design flaw. Check Energica (motoE!) and Damon out ! Both are sick, especially Damon !

Can I just say that leather jacket is gorgeous