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[Jayski]

Good day all.  I just recently purchased the Lightning LS2?? electric prototype motorcycle.  My plan is to drag race it [1/4 mile] and do 1/2 and 1 mile speed trials.  I also have a Kawasaki H2R that was fully built and modified to be 334 wheel horsepower.  It is a beast.  LOL I will be able to compare and contrast from real experience on both.  My team and I received the bike from Richard Hatfield a couple of weeks ago.  Unfortunately i had to be out of town the first 4 days after its arrival.  The bike is beautiful and other than the rear sets, it fits me perfectly.  We have been preparing it to meet the requirements of the NHRA for the drag strip.  As well as working on a set up for the strip not just the longer speed trials.  Things sch as moving the rear brake to the clutch side bar, to allow for  controlling wheelies with the rear brake.  I will be testing at a small local airport here in AZ. on the 27th of April then at the drag strip for some shake down launches on the 28th.  I have ridden it on the street a bit and there is a lot to get used to, coming from gas bikes such as the H2R, Ducati Superleggera, and the Ducati Desmosedici, all of which I have turned into and race as drag bikes / speed trial bikes.  I am extremely excited to get on it and feel it out.  The engine braking is a massive change.  On the street I never once used the brake. 

[BrianTRice@gmail.com]

Whoa! Congratulations and welcome.

I think you're the first self-reported Lightning LS-218 owner on the forum, too! And it sounds like you know what this bike is for, and how to use it.

Anything you can tell us about the bike (handling, performance, operational limitations) will be helpful for the community. Lightning has been very hard to learn about publicly.

[Richard230]

You are the first person that I am aware of who has ever purchased a Lightning.  I will be looking forward to your riding experience and comments about the bike's performance and handling.

[Jayski]

Whoa! Congratulations and welcome.

I think you're the first self-reported Lightning LS-218 owner on the forum, too! And it sounds like you know what this bike is for, and how to use it.

Anything you can tell us about the bike (handling, performance, operational limitations) will be helpful for the community. Lightning has been very hard to learn about publicly.

I met with Richard early August 2016.  We sat down for several hours discussing his bikes, his future ideas, and the current LS218,  I was very impressed not only with what he had already done but his vision and more importantly his passion to bring that vision to the real world.  I wrote him a check on the spot.  At that moment i was going to go with the LS218.  Then Richard had an idea and I went along with it.  I have been waiting for 20 months, which was agonizing to say the least.  LOL  Richard actually developed and designed the batteries and charging system for what I wanted to do with it, as well as the ability to package for a R level street bike.   The voltage is well over 2x the LS218.  The idea is to run an 8 second 1/4 and reach 205+ in a standing start 1/2 mile and over 230 in the standing start mile.  The batteries and the way they are configured is one off.  My team and I met with Richard, his team of engineers as well as the company that took Richards battery design and made it come to life, at the speed trials in Bonneville last year.  This will be their street bike in the near future.  We are going to be gathering detailed data, allowing him to adjust for us and perfect the control and ease of operating at speed [ultra high speed] and charging the bike.  Notice the voltage in the picture of the gauge, 748.5 and that is not a full charge.  I am 62, have no children at home, with a loving wife that doesn't necessarily like me going over 210mph on a regular basis,  LOL , but encourages me and cheers me on each run.  This is going to be a new experience as it is soooo different.  i will update as I take it out.  The charger is a work of art.  I'll get a pic tomorrow evening when we are testing.  It is also what took so long to develop, as he didn't want us killing ourselves charging this animal, and complete it in a brief period with a 7500 watt generator!  From what I understand this a ne easy feat. 

[Jayski]

You are the first person that I am aware of who has ever purchased a Lightning.  I will be looking forward to your riding experience and comments about the bike's performance and handling.

I have actually spoken to several, mostly from Australia.  There is also one in Ca.  Richard is a genius with his design but that does not afford him time or opportunity for marketing.  He wants to prove the design in the real world, then I believe he will adjust his business model.  My only experience on an electric bike until this one was a new zero as my crew chief is a zero dealer here in Az.  I rode it for about 10 miles.  I hope to be able to compare and contrast to a variety of high performance bikes I currently own and race.  It will definitely be a steep learning curve. 

[KrazyEd]

I went to Richard's shop, long before his commercial electric motorcycle endeavors. He had converted an R1 to Electric

https://thekneeslider.com/electric-yamaha-r1-lightning-lithium/

He had the bike for sale and I was thinking about purchasing it. I should have. I ended up  with a Katana conversion instead.
Great Guy.
I agree with the "too busy" to market. I had a sponsor when I was racing who was a genius when it came to making what I wanted
but, did not market well.
Congratulations on your purchase.
Your ONE OFF got to you in about half the time ( and counting ) since I put the deposit down for my Model 3. I got the configuration email a
few weeks ago, but, waiting for the small battery. I don't feel like paying over $50,000 for my $35,000 car.

[togo]

> Good day all.  I just recently purchased the Lightning LS2?? electric prototype motorcycle.  ...

Congratulations!  Tell us more!