Lightning Strike Is An All-Electric Sports Bike Starting At $13k

The age of all-electric motorcycles is upon us and the Lightning Strike is one of the most exciting we’ve seen so far.

Created by Lightning Motorcycles, the Strike is an aggressive sports bike which will be sold in three different configurations. When you first set eyes on it, it look like a traditional, ICE-powered motorcycle, with a twin-spar frame, upside-down forks and a modern double swingarm. There is, however, no exhaust in sight; if you take off that aerodynamic fairing, you’ll discover it doesn’t need one as it has an electric powertrain.

The Strike family kicks off with the entry-level ‘Standard’ model that’s outfitted with a 10 kWh battery pack which offers up 70 miles (112 km) of range on the highway and 100 miles (160 km) in the city. Prices for the Strike Standard start at $12,998, with power sitting at 90 hp and 180 lb-ft (244 Nm) of torque.

Next in the line-up is the ‘Mid-Range’, which utilizes a larger 15 kWh battery that offers up to 105 miles (169 km) of highway driving and 150 miles (241 km) of driving in the city. Like the Standard, the Mid-Range has 90 hp and 180 lb-ft of twisting force. This model will set customers back $16,998.

Topping out the Lightning Strike range is the long-range Carbon Edition, outfitted with a 20 kWh battery that provides 200 miles (321 km) of range in the city. Power for this model sits at 120 hp and 180 lb-ft of torque and it starts at $19,998.

Lightning will sell the entry- and mid-level models with a 3.3 kW charger as standard, but for an extra $1,500, this can be upgraded to a 6.6 kW charger. Level 3 fast charging can be added for another $1,500. The Carbon Edition comes standard with the 6.6 kW charger. The bike can also be optioned with a Performance Package which adds Ohlins suspension, Brembo brakes and an AIM Strada racing dash. Even though we don’t know their price, we’d go for the Ohlins and Brembo combo, as they should further improve the bike’s dynamics.

The company says that the sleek design of the Strike makes it the most aerodynamically efficient electric motorcycle on the market. Production of the Carbon Fiber will start in July 2019, with lesser models to follow shortly after.