No More Teasers: The Lightning Strike Is Finally Here
Lightning Motorcycles has finally taken the wraps off its eagerly-awaited Strike, and if the specs – and the price – are anything to go off of, Lightning’s latest creation promises to be hugely impressive.
Banking on its sportbike roots, the Strike’s design borrows heavily from the LS-218 flagship model, though Lightning says the Strike is slightly more compact. Its full fairing and nose section largely resembles that of its bigger sibling. Of course, the fully-faired design gives it greater aerodynamic efficiency compared to naked bikes, and Lightning says its wind tunnel testing revealed the Strike to produce 30% less aero drag at 70 mph compared other non-faired motorcycles.
Underneath the bodywork is where you can find the Strike’s magic combination of electric propulsion. Using a liquid-cooled AC induction motor, Lightning claims the standard model produces 90 hp, while the up-spec Strike Carbon Edition makes 30 more horses, for a total of 120 hp. Top speed for the standard is set to 135 mph, while the Carbon gets a 15 mph bump to 150 mph. All three models deliver 180 lb-ft of torque.
Wait, three? You read that right. Standard edition Strikes will be available with three different battery options, with claimed range figures outlines below:
- 10 kWh: 70 – 100 miles highway/city range
- 15 kWh: 105 – 150 miles highway/city range
- 20 kWh: 150 – 200 miles highway/city range (standard on the Carbon edition)
As far as charging is concerned, the Strike’s onboard charger is rated at 3.3 kW and comes standard with Level 1 and Level 2 charging capability, which should yield a full charge in as fast as 2-3 hours. A Level 3 DC fast charge option is a $1,500 extra, and when combined with the optional $1,500 6.6 kW onboard charger, can top up the Strike in as little as 30 minutes and provide 100 miles of range in 20 minutes.
If you opt for the $19,998 Strike Carbon Edition you don’t need to worry about options, as the 20 kWh battery, Level 3 fast charge option, and 6.6 kW onboard charger are all included. True to the name, the Carbon Edition features full carbon fiber bodywork, Öhlins suspension at both ends, Brembo monobloc brakes, and AIM Strada racing dash with lap timer and GPS-based data logging built in.
Production of the Strike will begin with Carbon Edition units the first to come off the production line for delivery starting in July 2019. Afterward, Standard Edition reservation holders will be contacted to configure their Strike to their liking. Strike deliveries will initially start in the United States, but Lightning will announce plans for international expansion in late 2019.
In case you couldn’t keep up, here’s a breakdown of the Strike in chart form:
Needless to say, the Strike promises to be an exciting addition to the Lightning lineup, and the e-bike landscape as a whole. Even in standard trim it promises a lot of bang for the buck. Upgrade to the Carbon and the performance-to-value proposition really picks up – at least as far as electrics are concerned. We’ll reserve final judgment until units start making their way into customer’s hands and we get a chance to put one through its paces – which, we’re told, should happen relatively soon. Keep your eyes on this space for a First Ride Review in the coming weeks.
Troy's been riding motorcycles and writing about them since 2006, getting his start at Rider Magazine. From there, he moved to Sport Rider Magazine before finally landing at Motorcycle.com in 2011. A lifelong gearhead who didn't fully immerse himself in motorcycles until his teenage years, Troy's interests have always been in technology, performance, and going fast. Naturally, racing was the perfect avenue to combine all three. Troy has been racing nearly as long as he's been riding and has competed at the AMA national level. He's also won multiple club races throughout the country, culminating in a Utah Sport Bike Association championship in 2011. He has been invited as a guest instructor for the Yamaha Champions Riding School, and when he's not out riding, he's either wrenching on bikes or watching MotoGP.
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Only complaint is that it is a sportbike. I'll take a loaded streetfighter, standard, or adventure.
Get urself a Skully helmet and be the ultimate Beta-Cuck!! The last time I had a electric powered vehicle I was about 8... and it had a remote control.. loved chasing the dog with it...