on the LS-218, there's lots of time
for Lightning to address these
issues before production com-
mences, as they must. The chas-
sis of the Strike was machined
up in China by the array of hi-tech
CNC machines in Lightning's
factory there, and that includes
the beautifully crafted swingarm
machined from solid aluminum bil-
let. I wasn't allowed to remove the
LS-218 bodywork adapted to what
is a much smaller motorcycle. So
no chance to peer at the Strike's
switchback sequential turns pro-
vide a stern test of handling and
especially torque, ideal terrain to
test an E-bike to best advantage,
and even in raw, undeveloped
form, the Lightning Strike didn't
disappoint.
However, at the stage in its
development cycle which I rode it
in, the prototype Strike was based
on the architecture of the LS-218,
with virtually the same chassis
package including brakes and
suspension, as well as styling de-
motorcycles in the coming years,
and Lightning will be there to
serve them."
So mostly what Richard Hat-
field is doing is to follow Apple's
strategy, and do the technology
in Silicon Valley, then manu-
facture the end result in China.
According to Hatfield, the Strike
is scheduled to be unveiled in
March, with the production of
complete motorcycles to sat-
isfy what he says are the many
sight-unseen pre-orders Lightning
already has for the bike, starting
in June. Its debut will thus be
the opening roll of the dice for a
proven strategy, which, however,
has never yet been applied to the
motorcycle industry.
My opportunity to become
the first person outside Light-
ning to ride the prototype Strike
happened in Glendora, Califor-
nia, whose steep inclines and
(Left) Cathcart found
the bike to perform
well but cockpit
comfort needs some
work before it goes
into final production.
(Right) The Lightning
Strike and its creator,
Richard Hatfield.
rived from it. This led Hatfield to in-
sist on covering it with camouflage
tape, even if the end result was
surely so noticeable as to shout—
"I'm a prototype, photograph me!"
Riding the prototype Strike was
a joy, even if there were inevitably
several areas for improvement,
principally in the rider packaging
of the bike. However, since I was
riding what was primarily a proof-
of-concept model closely based
array of batteries and assorted
hardware, much less photograph
these, although when deliveries
begin Hatfield is aware he'll have
to accept exposing his technology
for all to see.
In the meantime, suffice to say
that the Strike essentially consists
of an aluminum shell housing the
batteries which double as a mono-
coque frame. The prototype's
fully-adjustable Öhlins suspension
VOL. 56 ISSUE 11 MARCH 19, 2019 P103
