HD's marketing is pushing new "hip" styles to the "younger" crowd. I think they are running into problems with meeting ever increasing emission standards with old tech air cooled engines. They keep tuning them leaner and leaner which increases heat big time. Then they added a cat in the head pipe which makes things hotter yet. A carb was ditched for mandatory fuel injection years ago.
You can see where they are aiming for a younger rider with the Sportster lineup ads for the 72, 48, and Iron. The Vrod paved the way with liquid cooling and now they are coming out with the liquid cooled 500 and 750. I currently have a street glide and previously had a fat boy. The purists (primarily old guys like me) will still like the air cooled bikes. The noise and ride are reminiscent of a muscle car from the sixties. The heat these things put off in stock form can get pretty unbearable, especially in stop and go summer rush hour traffic which can make them unappealing. Lots of people on the HD boards theorize that the current lineup won't meet future government EPA restrictions which is likely why HD came out with an Ultra Limited this year which hides radiators in the lower fairings.
I like the looks of that Livewire bike and can't wait to see one if it goes into production. I don't know if I would spend what they will want for an electric bike though, but at least they are exploring what will be the likely demands of the future. Personally, the sound and feel of the engine revving through the gears is a lot of the experience for me. I think I'd spend the money on a Ducati Diavel instead.
