After 6 years of research and development of E2W’s (electric 2 wheel motorcycles), Lightning Motors Corp. succeeds in designing and producing a Sport Bike sure to change the mind of all those doubting that electric motorcycles can be extremely performant. The company, after setting several speed records and winning many road races, released the specifications of the Lightning LS-218 claiming to be now the world’s fastest production motorcycle, gas or electric. Lightning is now taking reservations with prices starting at $38,888 (3 options: 12, 15 or 20 KW battery pack)
100 Miles. Distance the LS-218 can travel per charge at highway speed (12 KW battery pack). 168 FT-LBS. Amount of torque the electric motor can produce. 200 HP. Amount of horsepower the electric motor can produce. 218 MPH. Top speed with high speed gear and fairing (15 KW battery pack) 10,500 RPM. Number of rotations the electric motor can produce per minute.
I don’t think anyone with a prior 30 seconds of research would doubt electric bikes can be amazing performers, the problem is still expecting someone to pay $30k-$40 for a bike that has to be parked after a 100 or so miles.
Solar helmet recharging system!!!
Haters, Negitive Nellies, Debbie Downers, etc…
I think the future is DANG exciting!
@jjtx-are you referring to me, sir? If so, why?
I wonder how long it would last at a track day event where you aren’t exactly cruising around at “highway speed”
With regard to range electric bikes are opposite of gas bikes. You get more range by braking and accelerating than you do holding a steady cruise. As for the 100 miles I’m thinking most big V-Twins hardly ever see 100 miles in a day and Sport bikes even less. I would absolutely consider one for commuting or for fun, would still keep the big luxo-barge touring bike for vacation time.
As battery technology continues to improve and prices come down, so also will the market for the LS-218. Nonetheless, I know a few people that would seriously consider adding this bike to their stable right now.
I will have an E-bike as soon as they become affordable. Probably an enduro/dual sport type mc.
I love the direction this is going, but I’m afraid the silence would be a safety issue, it’s easy to not see a motorcycle, but if you hear that roar coming you know what’s there. I think it’d be great to put a hidden speaker with some sort of futuristic sound to define it. Basically what Audi tried for the e-tron.
It’s not the fastest until an actual bike achieves that speed on an actual road / runway / track / dry lake bed / whatever. Until a physical bike achieves a physical speed, it’s vaporware.
looks like fun, if electric motorcycles were just more affordable it would be the way to go… bring on the coal fired power plants lol
The biggest thing with all the eletric bikes coming out is the cost of the Batteries, everyone always gets focused on the range and never cares to ask about the life span or what the cost of replacements will be. I know on some other manufactures they last about two years and are so expensive it’s not worth it to buy new ones.
No one ever mentions the diesel bikes!
That is a beautiful bike, no doubt the best looking e-bike I have seen yet.
But I still don’t want one, and I don’t know anyone who does, yet.
Price, range, still too many details to work out before the market may turn… cut the cost in half, and triple the range, that’s when it might become interesting!
It looks about as nice as any other full-bodywork bike……
But just like them…… it doesn’t look very interesting.
-nicker-
Guys, look at what happens to the price tag on all electronic devices. Remember when a Betamax VCR cost over $1000? Remember when a microwave oven cost $500? I remember that I paid $2500 for a midrange laptop in ’95 that was a piece of junk compared to the $600 one that I am using as I post this! These prices will continually drop as time goes by and technology improves.
The range seems tiny but as BobS pointed out, probably half of all bikes out there never see 100 miles use in any one day.
We are watching as future technology develops and it would not surprise me if some years from now, perhaps ten, most of us were riding electric rides.
As far as the sound goes, although many believe and some have a vested interest in believing that loud pipes save lives, this is like believing that evolution is just a theory or that cigarette smoking is just another choice and is not that dangerous. The fact is that, since most serious crashes involve cars coming the other way (that ‘left turn’ riders), cars whose drivers cannot hear even the loudest pipes in time for them to be a safety factor, the safety of louder pipes is highly debatable.
Absolutely beautiful to see in person.
The swing arm alone is unbelievable.
This electric is the leading edge of EB s.
Whole new World getting started, right in our times.
Corbin is installing a J 1772 charging station on our Hollister building.
Corbin Gentry made the first full size electric motorcycle in 1972, produced 100 units in gas line times.
Our City Bike was capable of 40 MPH , 25 miles / charge.
Corbin set Land Speed Electric Motorcycle record of 165.387 in 1974, record held for 38 years.
Lightning set the new Bonneville record in 2012 @ 218 MPH.
This company is excellent and extremely capable of holding the leading edge.