Harley-Davidson buys electric bike company for children

Milwaukee, Wisconsin – In a bet on future technologies and future buyers, motorcycle icon Harley-Davidson Inc. has purchased a company that makes electric bicycles for children. StaCyc Inc.’s EDRIVE bikes cost $650 to $700, a massive discount compared to the typical Harley.

StaCyc EDRIVES are sold in the U.S. through powersports dealerships, including 29 Harley-Davidson dealerships, online and in specialty bicycle retailers.

Harley-Davidson Senior Vice President of Marketing and Brand Heather Malenshek said, "The StaCyc team shares the same vision we have for building the next generation of riders globally and we believe that together, we will have a significant impact in bringing the fun and enjoyment of riding to kids everywhere."

The acquisition of StaCyc expands Harley-Davidson's electric portfolio and reinforces its commitment to lead in the electrification of motorcycling. Harley-Davidson previously announced plans to launch LiveWire, a premium, high-performance electric motorcycle in fall 2019 and future lightweight and middleweight electric motorcycles at various price points starting in 2021. Company officials announced Tuesday at the Geneva Auto Show that order books for the LiveWire open in April for bikes to be delivered late this year.

The StaCyc electric two-wheelers will provide an entry point for the youngest riders to enjoy the thrill of riding.

As a subsidiary, a Harley-Davidson branded version of StaCyc's 12” and 16” models will be sold through select Harley-Davidson dealers. The branded products will be available in the U.S. in the third quarter of 2019. StaCyc branded EDRIVES will continue to be sold through StaCyc's existing distribution network.

"After a few conversations with Harley-Davidson, we realized that the ethos of our brands and our commitment to bringing more riders to motorcycling were incredibly aligned," said Ryan Ragland, founder of StaCyc. "The opportunity to work with the team at Harley-Davidson and have the support to carry out our mission to create the next generation of riders is exciting. Together we're building a plan that fast-tracks our ability to help the industry create as many riders as possible."