Why go through all this trouble to go electric, though, when Harley is coming out with a true ADV bike of their own, the Pan America? Their crew can help pick up the bikes, and aftermarket parts can turn a LiveWire into an ADV bike as easily as they can turn a hardcore dual-sport into a supermoto that seriously tears up pavement. Now, yes, they're being assisted by a fleet of Rivian electric trucks to keep the batteries charged.

Can you imagine picking up a LiveWire after dropping it in the mud or sand? It weighs 549 pounds, plus all their luggage and equipment on top of that. They're also not built for the rough conditions these guys typically encounter in their travels. Their limited range and long charging time is a weakness of all electric bikes.

The LiveWire isn't made for the long-distance adventures they take. The problem, though, is that Harley gave them the wrong bike. Now Harley-Davidson stands to gain the same sort of benefit that BMW did. How many thousands of adventure bikes have BMW sold as a direct result of these guys riding them on TV? I'll bet someone at KTM got fired. After some deliberation, KTM declined, afraid that they would fail in their journey. In the beginning, back when they were planning Long Way Round, Charley and Ewan had hit up KTM to provide their bikes for the trip. It was a major coup for Harley to win the honor of providing these motorcycles.

Charley Boorman Confirms Long Way Up Is In The Making

Long way round motorcycle