LiveWire Files “S4 Honcho” Trademark for Heavyweight EV

LiveWire has filed a trademark for the S4 Honcho, hinting at its first heavyweight electric motorcycle. The move signals expansion beyond the S2 range as the brand eyes future growth.

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LiveWire is once again stirring speculation about its long-term product roadmap. After building out its S2 lineup with the Del Mar, Mulholland, and Alpinista, and teasing smaller concepts under the S3 banner, the Harley-Davidson spin-off has now filed a trademark for what appears to be its first heavyweight-class electric motorcycle: the S4 Honcho.

A Name With Weight

The trademark application, filed on September 5 with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, covers “motorcycles and structural parts therefor.” While filings never reveal design or technical details, the choice of name is telling. “Honcho” derives from the Japanese word hanchō, meaning “group leader.” It suggests LiveWire wants the S4 to serve as a flagship, larger, more capable, and potentially a range leader compared to its current offerings.

Filling Out the Portfolio

When Harley-Davidson separated LiveWire into its own brand, it sketched out a clear product ladder:

• S2 for middleweight models — now represented by the Del Mar, Mulholland, and Alpinista.
• S3 for lightweight, entry-level machines developed with Kymco, including 125cc-equivalent concepts previewed this summer.
• S4 for heavyweight motorcycles, with greater range and faster charging.

The S4 Honcho, then, is likely the first step into that upper tier. Crucially, the filing does not refer to scooters, unlike the earlier trademarks “Doki” and “Spur,” which appear tied to LiveWire’s planned Kymco co-developed maxi-scooters.

The Timing Question

Officially, LiveWire’s confirmed roadmap runs only through 2026, with the lightweight S3 models and the Kymco scooters scheduled for launch that year. On that basis, the S4 Honcho would likely appear no earlier than 2027. Still, a concept bike could break cover at EICMA to test the waters, much as the company did with its smaller prototypes.

This creates a curious tension. As recently as February, Harley-Davidson executives emphasised cutting costs and prioritising the S2 lineup over new platforms. Yet since then, LiveWire has rolled out fresh concepts and now registered a heavyweight nameplate.

Signs of New Investment

One explanation may lie in recent financial filings. In August, LiveWire received SEC approval to sell up to $50 million in new shares. If the company is close to securing fresh backing, it may finally have the resources to expand beyond its struggling S2 sales base. An S4 model could serve as the halo product needed to re-energise the brand and attract both investors and riders.

Looking Ahead

Between Harley-Davidson and LiveWire’s Q3 earnings call in October and the EICMA show in November, we should know more about how the Honcho fits into the company’s future. For now, the trademark filing is the clearest sign yet that LiveWire is preparing to move into a new segment of electric motorcycling—one that could redefine its position in the EV marketplace.