Photo credit: ebikes-international | Twitter: @ebikesinternatl

Nearly a year after announcing plans to launch its own electric bike company, Serial 1, Harley-Davidson has announced that it will sell a “limited” number of the stunning, vintage-inspired models that it had previously described as a “styling exercise.”

The S1 Mosh/Tribute is named after “Serial Number One,” Harley-Davidson’s oldest known motorcycle, which was built in 1903. The bike’s design harkens back to that first prototype, with white tires, leather saddle and handgrips, and a sleek black frame with gold lettering.

The bike is identical to Serial 1’s entry-level Mosh/Cty model underneath the glossy black paint and honey-colored leather accents.

Many of the same features as the Mosh/Cty are included in the S1 Mosh/Tribute, including a Gates Carbon Drive belt, Brose mid-drive motor, TRP hydraulic disc brakes, internally routed cables and wires, and integrated lighting.

The white-toned Schwalbe Super Moto-X tires are unique to Serial 1, as are the Brooks England leather saddle and matching leather grips.

It’s a welcome update for many potential customers who were disappointed when Harley-Davidson refused to say whether or not the prototype would go into production in October 2020.

However, it’s also a sign that the company is reverting to its motorcycle roots by relying on one-offs and limited runs to establish a brand identity in what is proving to be a crowded and competitive market.

Photo credit: Pixel Hosts | Twitter: @pixel_hosts

The company announced last month that it would auction off a series of exclusive, one-of-a-kind e-bikes under the 1-OFF series brand name, with the Schwinn Sting-Ray-inspired Mosh/Chopper as the first offering. (The winning bid was $14,200, which is quite impressive.) Serial 1 said at the time that, similar to the motorcycle industry, customization and personalization would play a big role in the types of e-bikes it designs.

According to product manager Aaron Frank, the S1 Mosh/Tribute will serve as a “springboard to launch our S1 Series, which will see even more exclusive and highly-desirable Serial 1 eBike models in the future.”

Frank explained:

“When Serial 1 launched in October 2020, the first e-bike shown to the public was a stunning prototype drawn from the vintage motorcycle that inspired the creation of the Serial 1 e-bike brand. We are thrilled now to offer a limited-edition that so faithfully captures the iconic look and feel of that first prototype, and to use this moment as a springboard to launch our S1 Series that will see even more exclusive and highly-desirable Serial 1 eBike models in the future.”

Harley-Davidson has stated that only 650 units will be produced, half of which will be sold in the United States and the other half in Europe. Customers can pre-order one on the company’s website starting today, with deliveries expected to begin in the fourth quarter of this year.

Following in the footsteps of its previous one-off custom electric bicycles, Serial 1 plans to release more special editions of its electric bicycles under the S1 line.

While we don’t yet know what other tribute or custom electric bicycles Serial 1 is working on, we’ll keep you updated as soon as we find out.