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[bergercurtis]

When it comes to the SR/F though, with the bike already being much heavier I think an upgraded main battery is more important at this point. We need to move past 14.4kwh for the main battery. Lightning is supposedly squeezing 20kwh into their bike, Zero should be doing the same for 2020. If there was a 20kwh SR/F I'd most likely be riding one home.

Yeah, I wonder where the weight is. The carbon comes in around 485lbs with a 20kW battery. Either the carbon fiber really does a ton of weight reduction or they are really skimping elsewhere. The SR/F doesn't seem to have to much for excess weight.

[MVetter]

Or the Strike's numbers are made up because it doesn't exist.

[bergercurtis]

Or the Strike's numbers are made up because it doesn't exist.

Yeah I'm wondering where even a prototype is. I've been checking for any summer 2019 updates (since they were set to release about now) and can't find anything yet. Apparently they are taking deposits or orders though, so I'm curious as to what exactly is happening.

[MVetter]

There's an Open House in 2 days about an hour and a half north of me. From what I can glean they will be scheduling demo rides at this event. That is to say there will not be demo rides at the event, but this event will be used to schedule demos in the future.

I saw the Strike in person on July 4th at Corbin's. No one rode it; they pushed it around to maneuver it. I spoke with a Lightning employee who wandered over to our booth. Very nice guy. I asked him the operating voltage of the Strike, and he said, "About 150V"
"So how does that work with CCS needing 200V minimum?" I asked
"Uh. You'd have to ask Richard" he stuttered and hurried off.

[Bill822]

  ... That is to say there will not be demo rides at the event, but this event will be used to schedule demos in the future. ...

After paying a deposit I'm sure. This company just doesn't smell right. quite some time back I tried to order an LS218 and couldn't get them to get back to me. Then they came out with these specs that just don't add up (see weight vs. battery). Remember Zero's power tank adds less than 3kWhr but weighs 45 pounds.

[DonTom]

So the LS218 is only vaporcycleware?

Specs sound a bit too good, IMO also.

-Don-  Reno, NV

[MVetter]

You're both correct. That chart claims that for 30 lbs more you can get:

+ 10kWh battery capacity
+ 3.3kW AC charging
+ CCS charge controller on a bike that operates at 150V but needs minimum 200V to use CCS

Anyone going to the Open House?

[Richard230]

Here are the specs for the LS-218 as of 2014. 

[flattetyre]

The LS218 definitely exists. It ran Pikes Peak and you can buy one yourself if you're rich. It's also an extremely dangerous and hard to ride bike. The only thing it has in common with a SR/F is 2 wheels and electrons.

[Bill822]

...
Anyone going to the Open House?

I wish I could. Would be interesting to try to get a squint at some components, see what grade stuff they are using, see if it looks realistic.
FWIW, I hope what they say is true. I hope they deliver bikes. I just can't have confidence in that with what we've seen so far.
What I do know is that false promises undermine the whole industry.

[flattetyre]

After paying a deposit I'm sure. This company just doesn't smell right. quite some time back I tried to order an LS218 and couldn't get them to get back to me. Then they came out with these specs that just don't add up (see weight vs. battery).

How hard did you inquire about the bike? Emails get lost, phone calls can be missed and not returned, and most people who inquire probably are not serious. It's true that the company's behavior doesn't look great.

Also re the battery weight my understanding was that the higher capacity models also had further weight reduction from lighter components. Is that not true?

[Bill822]

...higher capacity models also had further weight reduction from lighter components. Is that not true?

The "Carbon" version has carbon fiber bodywork and maybe some other bits. Custom carbon parts engineered and manufactured to actually save weight, not just looks, cost as much as they are asking for the whole bike. That's OK since a 20kWhr battery, 90kW motor, and high power controller also cost as much as they are asking for the whole bike. Since weight savings with carbon are a low benefit to cost option it only makes sense once you have done everything else. The numbers on these things just don't add up.

I watched the same thing happen with the Elio Motors fiasco. Somebody got some quotes, looked up some parts in a wholesale catalog, and decided they could build a car for cheap. I'm speculating here, giving the benefit of the doubt. I think most people start out wanting to be honest and do something great. Details just tend to get in the way. Engineering is hard. Manufacturing is hard.

[flattetyre]

I calculate ~$7K for battery and motor + controller in volume assuming they use canned cells.

[bergercurtis]

I calculate ~$7K for battery and motor + controller in volume assuming they use canned cells.

Now plus Ohlins, Brembo, carbon fiber, swingarm, frame, fairings... R&D, staff and two facilities paid for, assembled and QA tested ready to warranty made in small quantities- that's a hell of a deal at $20k. Almost like a backwards early adoption (I dream for XRP) cost.

[flattetyre]

I want to believe!!!