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[wavelet]

Let's hope they can pull this off... If they do, it might finally get one of the manufacturers to dip their toes and announce a commercial electric model.

There is this little company in the USA called "Harley Davidson."  I know they aren't very well known but perhaps you may have heard of them at some point?

H-D haven't given the full specs yet (in particular, motor kW, torque, battery capacity & bike weight), but some interpolation/extrapolation from other models seems to indicate a 12-15kWh bottom-end battery. We'll see, but the announced price makes it a non-credible effort, especially together with weird talk about drawing a younger generation of urban commuting riders in.

[JaimeC]

Oh, they're DEFINITELY targeting younger riders now:
https://electrek.co/2019/03/06/harley-davidson-kids-electric-bike/

[Richard230]

I'm so torn on this bike.  All past actions say BS but I'd like to believe.
Just to compare to the LS218 which is accepting "reservations" by the way.  It comes with a 12kWh or 15kWh or 20kWh battery option.
The 12kWh is $38,888 while the 20kWh is $46,888.
There was either a video or article showing a LS218 under a small electric scooter/ 250 style sport bike company from China's show tent.
For the life of me I can't find it again.  That seems to be the only way he could be offering anything that cheap.  Of course if he can get his parts and batteries that much cheaper now then why hasn't the price and availability of the LS218 changed?

The difference of $8K for an additional 8kWh worth of batteries would imply to me that Lightning is charging $1000 for each addition kWh of batteries.  That would mean that one of their bikes with an 18kWh battery pack should cost $18K just for the batteries.  So you can see my confusion regarding the low price of the Strike.   

[BrianTRice@gmail.com]

My hypothesis for a low price to capacity entry point is that the Strike may involve some special / partnership deal for batteries with a larger manufacturer.

This would be unprecedented AFAICT for motorcycle-compatible power densities, but it's been unclear what Hatfield's been up to for a few years so I can't help entertain the possibility.

[NEW2elec]

Well a 500 mile range was the goal in Feb 2017.  It's things like this that hurt my faith that they can make anything close to what they claim any time soon.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/lightning-motorcycles-working-electric-bike-004042672.html

[Curt]

Oh, they're DEFINITELY targeting younger riders now:
https://electrek.co/2019/03/06/harley-davidson-kids-electric-bike/

Eight year olds should NEVER be allowed to ride a Livewire!
(unless it's on private property or a closed track )

[Richard230]

Well a 500 mile range was the goal in Feb 2017.  It's things like this that hurt my faith that they can make anything close to what they claim any time soon.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/lightning-motorcycles-working-electric-bike-004042672.html

If Lightning markets an electric motorcycle that weighs less than 600 pounds and can travel 500 miles on a single charge, I'll buy one.  But I am not going to hold my breath until that happens and I will let someone else be the beta-test customer first. 

And speaking about Lightning and their Strike model (again): Why is it that we haven't heard anything about retail outlets, distribution plans, warranty, service, parts availability and the like.  My experience with Electric Motorsport is that these things are at least as important to vehicle customers as the specifications, price, performance and reliability of the vehicle itself.   

[NEW2elec]

Oh I agree Richard, that's what has me so torn.  The website says "Free Shipping" so I think that is the sum total of a distribution plan.
I mean they win Pike's Peak and your like wow this guy's got it all figured out.  Then only a handful of sales that I know of, this pie in the sky 500 mile range goal and a H2R beating top speed run that was spinning up the rear wheel at the salt flats and then, nothing else ever said about it.
Now being vague about what the 12k bike has and about what the Carbon bike costs.
We'll see, I hope he proves my scepticism wrong.

[JaimeC]

Over the years I've learned:  If something sounds too good to be true, it usually is.

[ElectricRiders.net]

No updates? No teasers? March is almost gone..

[Richard230]

No updates? No teasers? March is almost gone..

About what I expected. 

[Haag13]

"March is almost gone" might be a bit of an overstatement with 2 weeks left, but I agree that it's time for some more information on these bikes!  Are they real, or just more vaporware?

[ultrarnr]

This is the start of the last week of March so if Lightning is going to be true to their word we should get the details on the Strike in a few days.

[JaimeC]

This is the start of the last week of March so if Lightning is going to be true to their word we should get the details on the Strike in a few days.

My thoughts exactly.  They certainly hyped this more than they did their "500 mile bike" of a couple of years ago.  I don't think that ever materialized...

[Richard230]

I must say that I have always wondered what Lightning's business plan is - other than occasional media hype.