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[togo]

I saw an LS-218 that was purportedly in for repair, that I was told was the daily driver of an fruit company bigwig.

Richard Hatfield just announced the delivery of the first Strike.

It's weird how secretive this company is in some ways and open in others.

[Jayski]

I have a Lightning LS-218.  It is in the Lightning facility now for update to Charge System and battery maintenance.  I have run it in standing, 1/2 and 1 mile events.  it is a prototype motor.  it is the street bike body with no lights except the tail light. 

[TacoChrist]

I saw an LS-218 that was purportedly in for repair, that I was told was the daily driver of an fruit company bigwig.

Richard Hatfield just announced the delivery of the first Strike.

It's weird how secretive this company is in some ways and open in others.

It is so weird how lightning operates.
There are lots of us who want to pay good money for any one of their bikes, but there is almost no info out there from people who own these bikes. A

Even the photo just posted to Instagram announcing delivery of their first strike only shows it being delivered to the front of the lightning offices and not to a customer.

If I were lightning: I would get at least one strike to someone who actually rides it. And races it. Which may explain why one of the few confirmed bikes in existence belongs to someone at a high profile fruit company. It needs to be seen.

Let’s hope whoever gets this first strike isn’t a secretive hermit. I really want to start seeing them around.

I would put full money down on one tomorrow if I started seeing new  photos and videos of the bike being ridden by owners, and not stationary.



I want lightning to succeed. I want one of their bikes.

[Richard230]

Perhaps a pre-production Strike was delivered to the Lightning HQ from their Chinese factory.   

[TacoChrist]

I have a Lightning LS-218.  It is in the Lightning facility now for update to Charge System and battery maintenance.  I have run it in standing, 1/2 and 1 mile events.  it is a prototype motor.  it is the street bike body with no lights except the tail light.

What is it like to ride the bike?

Does it feel like you're riding a prototype?
I see that back wheel has quite the strip worn off in the middle of it. I imagine it's fun to pin the throttle in a straight line, or is it more of a balancing act with constant wheel spin?

 I imagine you have been working with lightning for awhile, because you actually received a bike after what I guess was a lengthy process, and you have it in for work currently. How does what you are seeing at lightning now compare to what you saw when you first decided to purchase a bike from them?

Do you think they are capable of delivering an end product with the Strike to consumers anytime before 2020? 2021? 2022?
Or will lightning continue to be a boutique bike company building somewhat bespoken bikes for one or two people every few years?

Lastly: How did the bike do in the standing mile and the others? Have any numbers you can give us?

It's so hard to get real information on any of these incredibly interesting bikes.

[Jayski]

I have a Lightning LS-218.  It is in the Lightning facility now for update to Charge System and battery maintenance.  I have run it in standing, 1/2 and 1 mile events.  it is a prototype motor.  it is the street bike body with no lights except the tail light.

I'll try and answer your questions below.

What is it like to ride the bike?

It rides like any of my sport bikes.  It is heavy to push but once moving it is compliant, fast, tips in and stays.  I ride it around the street when I need to run the batteries down.

Does it feel like you're riding a prototype?

It is a prototype motor only.  The chassis, swing arm, brakes, forms rear shock, triple tree etc. are all LS218 production.


I see that back wheel has quite the strip worn off in the middle of it. I imagine it's fun to pin the throttle in a straight line, or is it more of a balancing act with constant wheel spin?

I run it at the drag strip, and 1/2 mile. and 1 mile speed trial events.  That happened to be the tire on the bike when the pics were taken.  I currently own and ride a Ducati Superleggera, Ducati 999R, Ducati Desmosedici, Ducati V4R, BMW HP4 Race, Kawasaki H2R, BMW S1000RR, Honda Super Blackbird.  I have owned and ridden a Kawasaki ZX14RR, Ducati 1199R, Aprilia RSVR, KTM RC8R and a couple of others.  The lightning does everything you want a sport bike to do.  I bought it as I want to set the Electric motorcycle Landspeed record at Bonneville.  We are trying to figure out the gearing as it is needs to be different depending on the charge and all the other variables.  We couldn't get the battery to accept a full charge at the Colorado Mile last year, and had gearing on that we were going to use at Bonneville, but we didn't think the salt condition was what we wanted.  So, we decided to just hit the mile event in Colorado.  Even at that it easily went 191.7 MPH.  I ran past the finish for a bit and it was still pulling, just overt 2000rpm below max.  It is smooth, and very compliant.  I have a little course I run in my neighborhood with all my bikes and it is as good as any of them.  My main focus is to reach 300MPH with production chassis and bodywork.  Again why the tire looks like it does as it had just been at the drag strip the night before. It will not disappoint when it comes to any aspect of riding.  Even with the prototype motor I have ridden 40+ miles to run the battery down for storage.   It has the kick of the H2R once reaching 100MPH.  The first time I ran it all out It was ok to 100 then launched and almost threw me off the back it accelerated so hard.  It doesn't have the electronics of the HP4 Race but it close in performance. 

 I imagine you have been working with lightning for awhile, because you actually received a bike after what I guess was a lengthy process, and you have it in for work currently. How does what you are seeing at lightning now compare to what you saw when you first decided to purchase a bike from them?

I first flew in to meet Richard 4 years ago at their old facility.  It was very small, cramped, and had parts stacked very high.  With that said it was organized, and they had each department in its own space.  I met with Richard and JOJO all day.  I was impressed and left a check for full payment.  Having been at the new facility, it is huge, and each area has much room to grow and expand.  There are people in specific areas to perform their tasks.  there is an area where they have the full size clay models etc.  The have access to a wind tunnel
and provided me the opportunity to view and discuss the results.  I was fortunate to meet his partners and time with them to discuss the future and their expectations.  The plans are extensive, and it certainly appeared as if the funding was there to complete the plans.  Again I spent several days there visiting with each person in the assembly production process.  Each one took great pride in what they were doing and how it was being done.  They research, and create prototypes, maybe to excess, but at least you know what it will truly be.


Do you think they are capable of delivering an end product with the Strike to consumers anytime before 2020? 2021? 2022?
Or will lightning continue to be a boutique bike company building somewhat bespoken bikes for one or two people every few years?

I believe that they certainly can meet the needs of the Strike production and service.  They appeared to have secured a place in the asian market.  One thing that I personally believe would hold them back here in the states, is that there is sooo much that they could put into this model and the LS218, they have not made a clear decision on what it is and what it isn't.  They are discovering and learning at an accelerated rate and Richard being Richard dives deep into this end of the company.  He loves to create and develop.  Again personally it could be to the detriment of huge production numbers.  I personally and selfishly hope they remain a specialized boutique company.  Once you ride this bike, you will fall in love as it does everything.  When on it, you immediately become part of it. 


Lastly: How did the bike do in the standing mile and the others? Have any numbers you can give us?

Answered above.  We need to get a true full charge to understand the gearing we really need to use.  In a standing mile with me on it at now 194lbs, [I was 235 when I ran the 191.7 in Colorado].  You can verify this speed on the US / Texas Mile web site once you register.  I made 17  1/2 mile hot lap passes in gila Bend Az. a few months ago.  Even with only a 71-72% charge it ran the same 169 to 171MPH with no additional charge.  It was going to sit for a month after that so when I got home I had to ride it almost 24 miles to discharge it to the proper level.  As a side note it was into a 12MPH headwind in Co. and with my equipment I was 250+lbs. 

It's so hard to get real information on any of these incredibly interesting bikes.

It is the best performing electric bike I have ridden.  I have had the opportunity to ride many different electric bikes in Europe as well as here.  Nothing comes close in feel, compliance, speed, and quality of work.  It looks completely hand made and assembled.  I just need it to get a full charge to do what I want it to do.  LOL. Richard and I have begun to discuss taking it to Bolivia next year with Al Lamb, Ralph Hudson, Erin Sills, etc. 

I hope these answers help you.  I tried to be somewhat detailed and complete.  If you have other questions and I can answer them I will be happy to. 

[wavelet]

Jayski,
I very much appreciate your taking the trouble to post your detailed thoughts & experiences. 
As others have said, you're the first person on these forums to identify as an actual owner of a Lightning bike, so that's very useful.

[MVetter]

It's nice that he has a Lightning Prototype, but again no production bikes seem to exist.

[giacomo]

New website update:

https://lightningmotorcycle.com/strike-carbon-edition-specifications/

Giacomo

[TacoChrist]

Jayski, Thank you so much for the answers to those questions.

I would love to own a lightning someday, and I would be willing to pay full price up front for a strike or even an LS218 if I start seeing more than one delivered and being ridden. .  The waiting period of a year sounds rough, but doable.

I don't live in California, and of the few people I've heard that do own lightnings: they seem to need to go back home to Richard quite a bit for tweaks, changes, and repairs. I hope they do deliver a reliable end product someday. I will be in line to buy it whatever it is.

[TacoChrist]

New website update:

https://lightningmotorcycle.com/strike-carbon-edition-specifications/

Giacomo

Almost put the money down, but I'm still not convinced anything is happening anytime soon. I still need to see more bikes delivered, and hear from the owner of the strike.

If that white one was really just delivered to their factory and not to a customer, but is ready for pickup: I would fly there and buy it tomorrow if I could walk out with it that same day and use it to commute.

 

[Richard230]

Lightning is starting to remind me of Mission Motors.   

[BigPoppa]

Interesting...the connections on the motor look very similar. Are they using the same motor?

[Richard230]

Interesting...the connections on the motor look very similar. Are they using the same motor?

Could be. But who knows?  Not me.   

[togo]

Interesting...the connections on the motor look very similar. Are they using the same motor?

Could be. But who knows?  Not me.   

It has been reported that Honda Mugen licensed the Mission Motors IP.