Harley Electric Bike Review: Your Definitive Guide To The Serial 1 Legacy

An American Legend Enters the Electric Age

One thinks of chrome, the guttural sound of a V-twin engine, the open road, when one thinks of the name Harley-Davidson. And it's a brand founded on a heritage of mechanics and cultural identity. So when this titan of tradition dipped his toes in the quiet, modern waters of electric bikes, it stirred deep curiosity and a fair bit of healthy skepticism as well. It’s not only whether a Harley e-bike is good that weighs on the mind of every potential rider—is it Harleian enough? This isn’t just a review, it’s a deep dive into the engineering, experience, and ethos of Harley-Davidson’s big swing at electric. We will let you know what these machines are, what they feel like, and whether you should throw your hard-earned money down on what is the next chapter of an American legend.

The Serial 1 Lineup: A Deep Dive

The Harley-Davidson electric bicycle brand is called Serial 1, which is a nod to “Serial Number One,” the nickname for the oldest known Harley-Davidson motorcycle. They have a small product offering purposefully created to offer the best quality and rides only for the kinds of riding they are designing for. The current models that you can purchase are all designed around different use cases and feature the premium build quality you'd expect them to. Here is the complete lineup:

Serial 1 RUSH/CTY
Serial 1 MOSH/CTY
Serial 1 RUSH/CTY STEP-THRU
Serial 1 BASH/MTN

To really get a sense of what a Serial 1 electric bike is, you have to ride it. This is where the premium design and engineering philosophy moves from an idea to a feeling. We zeroed in on the two most popular and different models for our ride test: the feature-laden RUSH/CTY and the stripped-down MOSH/CTY. The instant you ride up to the RUSH/CTY, you feel its presence. The frame is substantial, welds so clean they appear sculpted. Internal cable routing for all cables and wires - for an aesthetic and modern look. It’s got a heft to it that suggests not sluggishness but durability. Simply swinging a leg over, the position is comfortable but still controlling, ideal for city riding. It is when you start to ride that the true magic occurs. The Brose S Mag motor produces such hushed power it feels like a natural extension of your own effort. There is the revolutionary Enviolo AUTOMATiQ intelligent automatic transmission - and that is the biggest game changer. There are no gears to change, no clunky shifts. You just pick your preferred pedaling cadence, and then the bike’s brain takes over, automatically tweaking the gear ratio to fit the terrain and your speed. When you’re going up a hill, the system subtly shifts down without losing your pace, and it does the job without you ever realizing it. It is a very smooth and luxurious sort of experience, transforming what could have been a city schlep into a glide. The full length integrated front and rear lights – both bright and tastefully embedded in the frame – and the included fenders and rear rack completely cement its role as top-of-the-line premium commuter. It doesn’t feel like a bicycle so much as a lightweight, two-wheeled personal transportation device.

The rule of thumb is that going from the RUSH/CTY to the MOSH/CTY is like moving from a Rolls Royce to a sports car. It’s made from the same DNA of perfect build quality and high-performance yet hush quiet Brose motor, but it strips everything back to the purest experience. The MOSH/CTY is an e-bike with one gear. This might sound confining, but in practice, it is liberating. The bike is just so focused and sharp in feel. No shifting or derailleurs to worry about, and the pedal-to-road connection is direct and immediate. It inspires you to ride harder, more aggressive, and more playful. You find yourself darting for fun lines, and sprinting up to speed from a standstill, and sneaking through every bumpy piece of urban terrain. The best thing is its simplicity. The handlebars are bare, the frame is simplistic and focus is solely on the exuberance of the ride. It’s a bike that asks to be whipped around corners and sprinted through city traffic. It’s an unapologetically pure, electric delivery of the rawest experience of cycling. It’s a feeling of nimbleness, liberation and a healthy dose of style. Taking the MOSH/CTY isn’t a commute, it’s an urban adventure every time you ride.

More Than a Machine: The Harley-Davidson Ecosystem

Above and beyond the ride, a potential buyer is buying into a much larger ecosystem of value when they purchase a Harley-Davidson Serial 1. This is mission critical information that specs alone cannot communicate. The most important thing is the legacy of a brand and its inherent guarantee of quality. These aren't 'plastic' frames with parts glued on, but a machine which is all designed to work in harmony. The hydroformed aluminum frames, the integrated batteries, the Gates carbon belt drives—everything is selected for long-term use and performance. That has instilled a great deal of confidence about its build quality. Another strong point is the existing dealer/service network. When you buy a Serial 1, you might be able to walk into a certified Harley-Davidson dealership for test rides, service and support. This has a huge impact on the peace of mind of buying in the direct-to-consumer e-bike market, and on a less tangential note, a footprint and professional backing that you just cannot discount. Plus, you’re purchasing a lifestyle. Just like their bikes, if you have a Harley-branded item, you are part of a community and a declaration of quality and American engineering. It’s a great “conversation starter,” as they say in the biz, and it’s a product you’re going to cherish having and displaying, not just a device to get you from A to B. Its design is timeless, so it won’t be obsolete-looking in a few years, which protects its long-term value. That’s direct attention toward core elements that improve the ride — such as silent motors and maintenance-free belt drives — at the expense of flashy but less impactful gadgets, and those suggest a commitment to the rider’s real, long-term smile.

A Versatile Competitor: The ENGWE EP-2 Boost

While Harley-Davidson occupies the premium, heritage-centric motorcycle space, some riders demand a different blend of features, desiring versatility and practical innovation above all. The ENGWE brand exhibits exceptional proficiency at incorporating unbelievable levels of functionality into their bikes. The ENGWE EP-2 Boost folding e-bike is an exemplary manifestation of this concept. Intended for the rider who is committed to conquering any route one moment and storing their bike in a confined area a few moments later, the EP-2's 20x4-inch fat tires are obviously its most distinct feature. This fat tires will provide you with unparalleled traction and cushioning, allowing you to traverse the sticky tarmac and through rough or sandy terrain with confidence. The Serial 1 lineup does not deliver the same off-road capability. The EP-2 Boost is also a workhorse. It is powered by a 250W brushless motor with an intelligent torque sensor that delivers extremely clean, natural-feeling power assist. A single press on the “Boost” key activates the motor and produces an impressive 55Nm of torque, which makes climbing steep grades such a piece of cake. The bike’s utility is further increased by a maximum 120km range on a single 48v13ah detachable battery charge, effectively eradicating concrete range fear. The battery can be easily removed for charging at home or in the workplace with no additional batteries. The EP-2 Boost leaves the factory with everything you need to transport cargo: a durable rear rack that can support up to 25kg with specially designed stabilizing bars, full fenders, a kickstand, and an easily readable LCD display. It folds easily, making it simple to store in a vehicle’s cargo hold or in an apartment.

Harley-Davidson Serial 1 Model Comparison

Frequently Asked Questions

So, what does it feel like when you actually ride the RUSH/CTY models with the Enviolo AUTOMATiQ automatic transmission? Is it a gimmick?

It’s not a gimmick; it is a game changer for urban and commuter riding. In use it feels the most natural and plush. You fix your preferred pedaling speed (cadence) via the app and let the bike manage all “shifting” for you, silently and seemingly in the background. At a stop, it defaults to a low “gear” for easy getaways. As you cruise around, it figures out the optimal ratio. It changes as you go up a hill so that with constant effort, you’re using the right amount of resistance. The end result — an almost gearless ride that allows you to concentrate completely on the world around you and the pleasures of movement, rather than on what gear you’re in — speaks for itself. It’s the kind of thing that actually makes the bike feel like a smart, high-end vehicle.

What is the meaning of real-world battery range?

These official range estimates (which differ between models, ranging from about 55km to more than 160km) are derived from ideal conditions in the lowest-assist mode. In the real world, your range will be highly dependent on a number of factors: your weight, the terrain (hills are going to exert your battery more), which level of assistance you choose, and how much you are starting and stopping. The RUSH/CTY with bigger 706Wh battery, achieved around 80-100km of mixed use riding in moderate assist modes, which is the average most riders reported. The reality for the 529Wh battery in all the other models is about 45-75km for mixed everyday riding. The idea is that for almost any urban commute or recreational ride, the range is more than adequate.

How heavy are these bikes for daily use: carrying up stairs, etc.?

This is a valid consideration. Serial 1 bikes are designed to be durable and are not in-and-out light at somewhere between 22kg and 27kg. Although the weight makes them feel very stable and planted on the road, it does mean they’re also hard to carry up several flights of stairs three times a day. They’re ideal for riders who have ground-floor storage, garage access or elevators. This RUSH/CTY STEP-THRU model is a bit easier to manage thanks to its lower center of balance, but weight is something to think about depending on your living situation.

Can I really have my Serial 1 e-bike maintained at a Harley-Davidson motorcycle dealership?

Yes, you can and this is one of the best parts of this brand. The number of authorized Harley-Davidson dealerships that are also Serial 1 retailers and service centers is increasing. That means you can have a professional service and maintain your bike, work on warranty repairs, and so on. It's a level of trust and ease of use that few e-bike manufacturers can claim. But it’s always better to check with your local dealer first to make sure it’s a Serial 1 dealer ahead of time.

Is a one speed electric bike like the MOSH/CTY or BASH/MTN realistic? Won't I miss having gears?

It’s all up to your riding style and riding condition. For an easy, direct connection to the road or path — the simple, practical and comfort-obsessed MOSH/CTY single-speed is just plain fun to ride, pure and simple. The strong feeling of the motor gives plenty of additional boost to help you get up to speed or up some moderate grades without much difficulty. You exchange finely turned gear shifting for a carefree smooth ride in a neat package. The BASH/MTN is a purist's machine, made for experienced mountain bikers looking to have a raw and challenging experience while pursuing the thrill of the off-road world. For generalist riders tackling mixed, challenging terrain, you can’t get around a geared model like the RUSH/CTY, but solely for what it intends to do, the single-speed design is a curious display of focused engineering.

In the end, the choice of a Harley-Davidson electric bike depends less on where we’re going than on making an investment in a new kind of electric freedom––to reimagine a legendary journey for an electric age.