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Makes And Models => Lightning => Topic started by: enaef on February 19, 2020, 01:20:44 AM

Title: Podcast Discussion about Lightning
Post by: enaef on February 19, 2020, 01:20:44 AM
Start listening at  ~ 27:00
https://soundcloud.com/re-cyclegarage/podcast-355-elastic-trickery-general-shennigans-liza-is-in-england?fbclid=IwAR3GANlOlRA2rMfAr43Jb_zZhgp769xUlDlED538JIpjZMQZMkIT6vHDf98

35:04
... but that torque sounds so monstrous, but it wasn't there ...
Title: Re: Podcast Discussion about Lightning
Post by: MVetter on February 19, 2020, 02:40:14 AM
We were walking on eggshells for that discussion because we want to make it clear we're not trying to speak for all Strikes that may be out there. All we can do is discuss the one we saw and physically interacted with. What I saw up close was not good. There is pitting and rough spots on the carbon bodywork. The handlebars don't have stops, meaning they slap into the body if you turn it all the way. There was no functioning kickstand sensor. No rider modes, no traction control, no working SoC. Despite having a back seat, there are no passenger pegs. When asked on a Facebook discussion, Richard Hatfield said the passenger pegs are a free option for all owners. The owner's manual, however, describes it as a single person vehicle.
Title: Re: Podcast Discussion about Lightning
Post by: togo on February 19, 2020, 02:43:52 AM
I think you did well being careful. Hopefully Lightning will get in gear, so to speak. 


Title: Re: Podcast Discussion about Lightning
Post by: ultrarnr on February 19, 2020, 06:01:33 PM
I realize some riders don't want a lot of bells and whistles on their bikes but I can not imagine riding an electric motorcycle without a state of charge indicator. I guess it will help you find out who your friends really are when you call them because you ran out of juice. I wonder what the logic was of shipping bikes to customers with these issues with the promise of upgrading them at a later date is. I think it would be far cheaper to do things right the first time instead of shipping out a bike that has to be mostly rebuilt at a later date.
Title: Re: Podcast Discussion about Lightning
Post by: Richard230 on February 19, 2020, 08:28:48 PM
I realize some riders don't want a lot of bells and whistles on their bikes but I can not imagine riding an electric motorcycle without a state of charge indicator. I guess it will help you find out who your friends really are when you call them because you ran out of juice. I wonder what the logic was of shipping bikes to customers with these issues with the promise of upgrading them at a later date is. I think it would be far cheaper to do things right the first time instead of shipping out a bike that has to be mostly rebuilt at a later date.

The life of a "beta tester", perhaps?  ::) Or maybe the people who own these Strike models are actually factory test riders and are riding pre-production bikes?   ???
Title: Re: Podcast Discussion about Lightning
Post by: NEW2elec on February 19, 2020, 08:53:07 PM
I heard it the other night and it reminded me of school picture day.  The rowdy kids all dressed up for the pictures and having to sit still and smile.
In other words you guys behaved like non biased test riders.  Your growing up so fast.  LOL

I thought I heard or saw somewhere that the bike had a volt meter on it and Sam or an owner was told don't ride it below 100 volts.

I was impressed to hear how much you liked the chassis so that's a start.
Title: Re: Podcast Discussion about Lightning
Post by: MVetter on February 19, 2020, 10:18:40 PM
The life of a "beta tester", perhaps?  ::) Or maybe the people who own these Strike models are actually factory test riders and are riding pre-production bikes?   ???

The owner we encountered is a brand new rider. This is literally his first motorcycle.


I thought I heard or saw somewhere that the bike had a volt meter on it and Sam or an owner was told don't ride it below 100 volts.

The bike has a CycleAnalyst. It looks like this:

(https://i.imgur.com/xOjcFqh.jpg)

I know how to interpret what I'm looking at, but I still very much want an SoC gauge. There is an option in the AIM dash to grant a SINGLE DIGIT SoC gauge. For instance it will display "8" for when you're somewhere around 80% SoC. Does that mean 75-85, or between 80-89? No idea.

edit- I will interpret this picture as best as I can for if you if you'd like.

H 3.58 07  <--- battery cell #7 is the highest voltage at 3.58vdc
L 3.55 22  <--- battery cell #22 is the lowest voltage at 3.55vdc
PK 128.29  <--- pack voltage is at 128.29vdc
AVG 3.56 27 <-- battery cell average voltage is 3.56vdc and ... #27 is the most average-ish? Not 100% sure
90.97 <-- likely a temperature. But of a cell? The BMS? Not 100% sure
1 F <--- not sure
CHG+ <--- bike currently charging
3:36 <--- there are 3 sets of 35 cells in series making up this battery
E-1 <--- not sure
L26 <--- not sure

Is that the kind of data a new riders wants/needs?
Title: Re: Podcast Discussion about Lightning
Post by: BigPoppa on February 19, 2020, 10:25:50 PM
It's hard for me to wrap my mind around a first time rider choosing a high powered electric with no rider aids (traction control, ABS, etc). As the old saying goes...what could possibly go wrong?
Title: Re: Podcast Discussion about Lightning
Post by: MVetter on February 19, 2020, 10:29:16 PM
It's hard for me to wrap my mind around a first time rider choosing a high powered electric with no rider aids (traction control, ABS, etc). As the old saying goes...what could possibly go wrong?

Those things, minus ABS, were promised. Just not delivered. Honestly the guy's logic isn't that unreasonable. He wanted an electric motorcycle to commute with. When he did his research, the Strike Carbon Edition promised the highest range, bar none. Remember Energica hadn't announced their 21.5kWh packs last February. So knowing nothing else he put a deposit down on what he figured to be the bike with the highest range. He had no idea there was a world of electric bikes and other riders. And he certainly had no idea there was so much secrecy surrounding a bike he ordered.
Title: Re: Podcast Discussion about Lightning
Post by: NEW2elec on February 19, 2020, 11:01:07 PM
From the dash view I see the battery column showing 14.5 in volts.  I assume that's 145 volts on the total pack.
I agree it should have some type of SOC meter, but as some have pointed out on Zero's SOC gauge it's not always right and checking your pack voltage shows a more accurate SOC.  With what about 96 volts being about 0% if I remember correctly.
 He may have thought that was the best way to go and leave it at that.  Just guessing though.

The 20kWh battery was THE selling point when he released it.  A 10kWh $12k sport bike didn't interest me at all.
At this point I want to first see a Strike with a 20kWh battery and then see it weighed.
Title: Re: Podcast Discussion about Lightning
Post by: Crissa on February 19, 2020, 11:51:44 PM
14.5 would not be outside spec for the 12v circuit.

-Crissa
Title: Re: Podcast Discussion about Lightning
Post by: MVetter on February 20, 2020, 12:03:43 AM
Correct. Note the CycleAnalyst has the pack voltage at ~128, meaning the figure on the AIM dash is not referring to pack voltage.
Title: Re: Podcast Discussion about Lightning
Post by: togo on February 20, 2020, 12:46:48 AM
The 90.97 on line 3 is not a state of charge?

Googling for Cycle Analyst, I only see 2-line models.
Title: Re: Podcast Discussion about Lightning
Post by: MVetter on February 20, 2020, 01:30:49 AM
The 90.97 on line 3 is not a state of charge?

Googling for Cycle Analyst, I only see 2-line models.

It may be something similar to a CycleAnalyst but since that's the closest comparison to it that's how I'm referring to it.
Title: Re: Podcast Discussion about Lightning
Post by: wavelet on February 21, 2020, 03:57:30 AM
We were walking on eggshells for that discussion because we want to make it clear we're not trying to speak for all Strikes that may be out there. All we can do is discuss the one we saw and physically interacted with. What I saw up close was not good. There is pitting and rough spots on the carbon bodywork. The handlebars don't have stops, meaning they slap into the body if you turn it all the way. There was no functioning kickstand sensor. No rider modes, no traction control, no working SoC. Despite having a back seat, there are no passenger pegs. When asked on a Facebook discussion, Richard Hatfield said the passenger pegs are a free option for all owners. The owner's manual, however, describes it as a single person vehicle.
AFAICT, passenger footrests are a Federal legal requirement, if the bike has a seat for a passenger:
FMVSS Standard no. 123, Motorcycle Controls and Displays. part of  49 CFR 571.123, downloadable from here (http://here) (2-page PDF).
It clearly says on p.2:
Quote
S 5.2.5 Footrests. Footrests shall be provided for each designated seating position. Each footrests for a passenger other than an operator shall fold rearward and upward when not in use.
Title: Re: Podcast Discussion about Lightning
Post by: MVetter on February 21, 2020, 05:26:50 AM
AFAICT, passenger footrests are a Federal legal requirement, if the bike has a seat for a passenger:
FMVSS Standard no. 123, Motorcycle Controls and Displays. part of  49 CFR 571.123, downloadable from here (http://here) (2-page PDF).
It clearly says on p.2:
Quote
S 5.2.5 Footrests. Footrests shall be provided for each designated seating position. Each footrests for a passenger other than an operator shall fold rearward and upward when not in use.

(https://i.imgur.com/DnLy2S6.png)
Title: Re: Podcast Discussion about Lightning
Post by: wavelet on February 21, 2020, 05:57:06 AM
^^
Shrug. Every single photo that I've seen of a Strike, here or elsewhere, white or blue bike, had a bog-standard sportbike-type pillion seat pad behind and above the rider's seat.
Ditto for Lightning's images in their marketing & PR materials, and the videos by Alan Cathcart and Sam's New Zeroland YouTube channel.

If Lightning wants to say it isn't a seat, fine  ::).
What is the pad for, then? Incidentally, in the image here (https://lightningmotorcycle.com/strike/), it clearly says "Corbin" on that pad  ;)

And what does "cargo" constitute in that manual page? No tailpack allowed either? How about a tankbag? Where does one carry a charging cable -- velcro'd to the helmet?
Title: Re: Podcast Discussion about Lightning
Post by: Richard230 on February 21, 2020, 05:58:13 AM
Maintenance once a month, no matter how many miles ridden?  :o I wonder what that maintenance could be?  My Zero requires almost no maintenance, other than the recommended 8K-mile "commissioning".
Title: Re: Podcast Discussion about Lightning
Post by: wavelet on February 21, 2020, 06:13:51 AM
Maintenance once a month, no matter how many miles ridden?  :o I wonder what that maintenance could be?  My Zero requires almost no maintenance, other than the recommended 8K-mile "commissioning".
It reminds me of the Driver's Ed textbooks used here when I was studying for my Rider's License in high school. It stated that the driver needed to check tire air pressure, radiator coolant level & engine oil before every single drive/ride, no exceptions.
As it happened, the license exam I received had that question, with the choices being   "before every drive", "weekly", "monthly" and "only if the vehicle doesn't start" . Only the first answer counted as correct; it was probably lifted as-is from the Model T's original manual.
Title: Re: Podcast Discussion about Lightning
Post by: togo on February 22, 2020, 12:31:48 AM
Maintenance once a month, no matter how many miles ridden?  :o I wonder what that maintenance could be?  My Zero requires almost no maintenance, other than the recommended 8K-mile "commissioning".

Check the brake fluid, brake pads, chain, charge level, and tire pressure.
Title: Re: Podcast Discussion about Lightning
Post by: MVetter on February 24, 2020, 11:58:28 PM
New week, new podcast. https://soundcloud.com/re-cyclegarage/podcast-356-its-got-a-heartbeat

Go 57 minutes in for the Strike discussion. Special guest Phil Waters from Cleveland Moto!