Lightning Motorcycle article in MCN

[Richard230]

In the latest issue of Motorcycle Consumer News is an interesting article by their monthly contributor, Glynn Kerr. Mr. Kerr writes a column every month about motorcycle design and he is a recognized design consultant who has designed motorcycles for a number of major companies in the past. It turns out that he also designed the looks and style of Lightning Motors' production motorcycle. In his full-page article on page 38 of the November MCN he describes the Lightning motorcycle and relates his thought process when choosing its design. He said the choice was to make it look visually different from a conventional motorcycle (I assume, such as Brammo did with the Enertia) or make it look like a more typical IC superbike. He and Lightning motors decided upon the conventional superbike approach because of the need to make the vehicle feel normal when the owner is riding it. "Plus there's the argument that getting customers to accept an alternative power source is already stretching their level of acceptance to the max. Adding an unconventional appearance may be a bridge too far." So it was decided that the bike should look "pretty much like a regular supersport/race bike with cutting edge appeal - in other words, it had to be up there with the best in the class."

The article also mentions that as well as giving the bike sharp looks, an LED headlight was chosen to reduce power consumption and to give the bike an additional high-tech feature. The article notes that the first planned production bike has already been sold and that the company will begin production of a line of more affordable street bikes early next year. Also mentioned is that Lightning is currently testing a 22 kWh battery pack for use in a future model.

[Allen_okc]

Thank You Richard...

but if i may - im thinking the world is ready for a more sci-fi style motorcycle, there is too much of the electric motorcycle keeping the IC style of motorcycle. I would really like to see a electric motorcycle that has the style and looks that would make the gas riders through rocks at the ICE bike...

just my opinion...

[CliC]

I see the point, though, as far as mass-market acceptance goes. If anything, mods to the traditional motorcycle structure should be pursued primarily in the interest of cramming more batteries in

[moon]

but if i may - im thinking the world is ready for a more sci-fi style motorcycle, there is too much of the electric motorcycle keeping the IC style of motorcycle.

Something like this?
saietta-electric-motorcycle-530x388.jpg

Motorcyclists seem to be a very conservative bunch when it comes to styling, not sure if this would gain much traction in the market.

[CliC]

Motorcyclists seem to be a very conservative bunch when it comes to styling, not sure if this would gain much traction in the market.

The point exactly. I applaud this company for taking a styling risk, but this thing (and to a lesser extent the Brutus) look, well, unbalanced. This thing looks like it would do a stoppie as soon as the rider got off the seat

If you want to help sell niche bikes to a niche market, this is something that can help. If you want to make elmotos more mainstream, then radical styling can hurt the cause.