I got to ride a Lightning LS-218!!

[@loopie007]

I too visited Lighting and Richard invited me out for a test ride. I found the Strike model to be set up more like a traditional sport bike, whereas the LS-218 was set up for all-out performance. Driving the Strike on the highway was comfortable and fun. The LS-218 seating was more like a Ducati with a more stretched-out position and lower bars. The seat is much lower than the Ducati's which can make taller riders feel bound up, but makes it easy to touch the ground and lessens the "top-heavy" feel Duc's can have. The bikes do come with remote preload adjusters so raising the back should be no issue and if needed, they can set up a bike with a taller Corbin saddle very easily. I preferred the "Strike R" as it was way faster and easier to drive around in traffic.

[@awo1fman]

Wow, I'm full of envy! I would be really nervous about riding that, though. It's good to see an unscripted test ride. I always enjoy your videos.

[@NewZeroland]

Thanks! I wish I got some more time on this thing, but limiting the ride to just going around the block was probably safer 😂

[@dennisnl7125]

Only 1 problem always occures riding a better version: 'I want it !!!' 🤣😉

[@NewZeroland]

More power is always the answer.

[@stevenb7319]

That’s sweet. And you say your channel isn’t a good one but I strongly disagree . You may not have a huge amount of followers but you put out good videos.

[@P3lusio]

Agree with that one. Only you make easy to understand zero videos. And thanks to you i bought used zero s 11kw

[@NewZeroland]

Thanks!! I'm lucky to have such awesome fans 😁⚡

[@bsmith2340]

For sure love ur vids brother what's the deal with the lightning have you gotten it yet are you getting a little scared about it since I've been hearing so much bad things about it

[@ronaldxmparadise]

totes agree! new fan here, you're definitely a pioneer in electric motorcycle vlog, in 5-10 years it will become mainstream :)

[@petrihietanen1102]

Absolutely WOW😲! As you mentioned, only few people has had possibility to testride one. Lucky you👍! I just wish Lightning had more media exposure, since I hear from them very rarely.

[@NewZeroland]

You and me both. Hopefully this sparks more videos shot by actual Lightning owners.

[@octopusenvy]

Really hope that all the wait and down time to see them out in the wild means that they will be leaps and bounds ahead when they do regress from unicorn to albino thoroughbred. And agreed, a bike for the racers vs a bike for the masses, but I'm sure ergo's can be adjusted. A belt kit for the Energica would be a very cool aftermarket addition/option, but not sure anyone will do it? Lunacycle, call on line ONE!

[@NewZeroland]

Heeeey that's a good idea. I'd love it if they went belt! And yeah, gotta wait and see, but for now I'm excited to just get to ride these crazy things.

[@rsajay6256]

@ALCLCF belts by most accounts are more reliable than chains, require less maintenance, and cost less by mileage to replace. I know of 3 guys riding Buell Lightnings (1×996cc & 2×1200cc) and 1×1200cc Firebolt here in South Africa as their daily commutes. The Firebolt was a used grey import from the US, and has had it's original belt replaced, but that bike has done over 160 000km since it was brought over here (original imperial clocks had to be swapped for metric, and the bike already had 30 000 miles on it, plus another 40 000km before the belt started to look sketchy), meaning it's already done another 120 000km on the new Dunlop Hybrex belt. The Lightnings are all legit HDSA bikes and have less than or just over 100 000km each. They were all on their original belts. I take an interest in Buells because I nearly bought one of the first ones, really wanted a Firebolt but we never got that model, only the Lightning and Lightning CityX. Would have bought one except the place I was working for went tits up and we all lost our jobs with no salary for the last 2 months there and no post liquidation payout either. But yeah, every time I see one I chat with the owner. Only 1 sofar has had a belt replaced. The belts also cost a little less than 2x the price of a DID O-Ring chain like most superbikes use and get 3~5 times the life with no maintenance to speak of. And having ridden a few Buells and a BMW F650 CS I can vouch for the lovely damped feeling they give to all movements in the drivetrain. I'd prefer a chain for harsh off-road use if a shaft drive wasn't an option - why only the big pretender fatties have shafts I cannot say, a Tiger 800 is perfect for a shaft, if only eh...

[@Sero3_]

I had got it right, if you get to ride the strike you won't just go home without playing with the 218 first. Awesome stuff they make, it's sad how few they make each year. Hopefully they get into production faster. Relieving to see that they're not a myth or scam, but a company within people's reach (somewhat).

[@NewZeroland]

Yeah! It really seems like, at the moment, they're still a boutique shop with a small team, building and selling bikes from California. Once China ramps up I'm sure we'll see way more of these. Maybe not more of the LS218's 😂 Those things are insane.

[@stevenb7319]

NewZeroland boutique shop huh? Sounds like someone else I know of. Alway replying to comments and giving the small business experiences. I think when your OLD you will have to open up a museum with all your special edition bikes and collections. And the bikes you influenced and changed the production of through your channel and influence.

[@NewZeroland]

@@stevenb7319 haha man that will be the day 😂

[@knightstar7264]

Wonderful,world's most powerful electric bike,i like lightning ls and wants to achieve it,bike with advance features of modern technology

[@usmcsaxoki]

It's a pretty good KZbin channel. Just very niche subject content. It's a unicorn, but a unicorn from the future.

[@NewZeroland]

Hahaha thanks man! Such a crazy bike. I couldn't see myself ever wanting one, but the Strike.. that was perfect.

[@RadiantFreeEnergyResearch]

I would love my zero sr to have 12 minute quick charging capabilities. it will be great once energica begins integrating 12 minute fast charging technology into their motorcycle as well.

[@stevenkoski228]

Once Lightning gets their dealer networking in place, they should conquer the current leader Zero. I test rode their SR/F model & loved it, but the rush of acceleration falls off quickly once I hit 80mph. For me, I require all day comfort, which the SR/F has; std riding position & a generously padded seat👍. Lightning is a Bespoke M/C with a lot of hand assembly, no mass assembly line, more akin to Bimota than MV Agusta. At $20K I’d buy the Carbon Strike model over all others. I’d seek out a custom upholstered seat, & a kit to raise the handlebars, & I’d be happy! The LS218 requires a chain to handle it’s power, which is somewhat of a drawback but necessary. I still own since new & ride daily, my ‘05 Triumph Speed Triple 1050, now w/80K on it, & have loved it since day 1. I’ve ridden it cross country, logging 800 miles in a day. I can’t see a rider on Lightning doing that🤣. I’m now retired & on a fixed budget, but I’d buy a Lightning in a heartbeat.

[@NewZeroland]

Great points all around! I felt the same about the SR/F. Lightning is still doing a small-run production but their bikes are really unique. So far nobody else has anything like them. I hope they do well!

[@ABCABC-sq5db]

Do you know what the queue is currently like for the strike carbon edition being delivered?

[@NewZeroland]

Nope, sorry. That's a good question. I'm going to ask Richard soon, because I put my order on hold and want to get back in line.

[@UnyieldingOctopus]

Love the content about Lightning Motorcycles, so hard to find info about those bikes!

[@NewZeroland]

Thanks! That was the main reason for shooting these. I'm glad to help share what the bikes are like, because they're amazing!

[@warrioroflight346]

I love Lightning LS-218 💪⚡

[@Dankwheelie]

What a unit

[@rsajay6256]

I've suggested everywhere possible, that Lightning should use popular KZbin moto vloggers to spread the word. Unfortunately Lightning has had substantial bad press due to problematic/ non delivery on orders. Thus far there appears to not actually be a single Strike in existence, despite numerous people having paid in full more than a year ago - or was it a year after the promised delivery date and much longer since payment... I don't look too closely at the detractors as all of their stories have a small caveat here or there. Including the 2 businesses here in South Africa that wanted to become agents... I sincerely hope Lightning comes right with getting the Strike into production, I really would take a Strike Carbon over almost anything else out there, it even overshadows my desire for the as yet unconfirmed higher capacity 202x Triumph Speed Triple.

[@NewZeroland]

I hear ya. Well, the Strike was only unveiled last March, and the estimated delivery date was July. There were some delays and the first one was sold in September. Slowly but steadily Strike owners have been appearing online, so I have no reason to doubt they're currently delivering bikes.

[@mikepeterson78mp]

Dude, you have an awesome KZbin channel, I love your videos. I'm just jealous that you get to test all these killer bikes lol I want an Ego Rs, and a Lightning Strike bikes. 🥰🤩😍🙂 I ride a Phantom F1 atm, not even close to those bikes, but still nice for what it is. 👍

[@NewZeroland]

Thanks man! I really appreciate it. I've gotten pretty lucky over the last few years 😁 Definitely take an Ego+RS for a test ride. It will blow your mind!!

[@dragonov5635]

No.. You are a good guy with a good youtube channel

[@NewZeroland]

Aw thanks 😁💪⚡🔋

[@cedricpelloux9554]

aww, your chanel is good, dude.

[@NewZeroland]

D'aww thanks 😁

[@bluewater7211]

I want one. I've got my custom one you can see in the pic but my God that's beautiful.

[@NewZeroland]

Whoa, your build is sweet!!

[@bluewater7211]

Thank you.

[@y.a.salimu5601]

Great video dude.

[@NewZeroland]

Cheers!

[@dresdonfury]

Sick ride. The overly aggressiveness would be painful on my 44 year old lanky body but I’d share love to take one out on a test ride.

[@NewZeroland]

Haha yeah, same. It's way too ridiculous for the street.

[@hugot12]

I'm almost 66 and ride sportbikes leaned over since 1978, your still a young punk complaining. If you dont build muscle soon at your age to support your frame, you wont have another chance. Work those back muscles buddy. I mean this all in good fun, but testosterone will diminish and its hard to build muscle past 40. Supporting muscle will help in your riding ability.

[@dresdonfury]

@@hugot12 Gosh I hope that at your age I have your dexterity and fortitude to cut down strangers on the internet. Thanks for giving us future asshats hope.

[@Mark........]

Did he give you a update about your stike delivery ?

[@NewZeroland]

Not yet, but I'll keep everybody posted as time goes by.

[@GoodAtHeart]

"you're going to jail fast" imagine stopping going when youre already going to jail speeds.

[@NewZeroland]

That's what Brembos are for!

[@PantsuGod]

the biggest thing for me about electric bikes like this is you get that top of the line performance without the obscene fuel costs from having to refill them constantly (well you no doubt have to refuel this too a fair bit, but the costs are obviously massively different).

[@NewZeroland]

Great point. Depending on how far you ride per year, it doesn't make financial sense to buy a gas bike. Even with the higher upfront cost of electric, you break even really quick. Not to mention better air quality and the insane torque 😁

[@FFVoyager]

How do you feel about electric powered aerodynamic tandem passenger vehicles now?

[@NewZeroland]

Still not a fan, but they're necessary for the future. I'm excited to see what Lightning does next to make their bikes more aerodynamic and comfortable 😁

[@Miata822]

OK, that's cool. I'm afraid I couldn't have been that responsible on a test ride. If Lightning does turn out to be able to reliably deliver Strikes I may make another attempt to buy a 218.

[@NewZeroland]

Haha oh man. Well apparently they have a bunch of LS218s ready to deliver right now. I wonder how long the wait time is, actually. I didn't know you were interested! Dude it was so powerful, and so cool looking.. if the riding position could be tweaked a bit to make it more comfortable, it'd be the most amazing thing ever :D

[@Miata822]

@@NewZeroland I think I mentioned before (you forgot??!!!) that I tried to buy a 218 some years ago back when it was all over the internet. I couldn't get them to answer emails or return a phone call, could never reach a live person. For now I'll wait and see what the company is going do with its current customers before giving serious thought to dropping $50-ish on a new bike.

[@NewZeroland]

@@Miata822 ohhh man, I totally forgot. Yeah, I feel ya. It'll be a whole lot easier and more confidence inspiring when they're selling bikes from dealerships rather than directly from the shop.

[@Miata822]

@@NewZeroland Yep. That isn't a bike I can tow to my neighborhood mechanic and simply say "It won't go."

[@ezeJeff]

if the workshop and what they have coming out in future blew your minds then I guess that means both left and right hemispheres were blown

[@NewZeroland]

Right, left, north, south. All hemispheres blown haha.

[@YBGuy]

Subbed, awesome vid, awesome channel!

[@NewZeroland]

Thanks man!!

[@YBGuy]

@@NewZeroland Anytime! : )

[@jastheacenz]

Great vid bro , I would love to ride an EV one day. cheers from Wanganui

[@NewZeroland]

Cheers man! If you're ever in Wellington, come ride one of my bikes.

[@revless6485]

Daaaaaamn!!!!

[@NewZeroland]

Yeaaaaah!

[@mustafashamsi6426]

Yoo dude your videos are amazing keep going and try some creative titles its gonna look good

[@NewZeroland]

Cheers man!

[@danieljuno810]

Wow cool experience

[@NewZeroland]

Right?? I got really lucky 😁

[@TheRealAlpha2]

Not a good channel? Blasphemy! This bike sounded a lot like slightly smoother chain drive Zero, but with more power than a mortal should be allowed to have. Even the handle bars put me in the mindset of it being some sort of crime fighting prototype. You were brave to gun it over those bumpy streets!

[@NewZeroland]

Hahaha man, yeah, it was so insane. Like something Robocop would ride 😂 It wasn't even that loud, really. I liked the power a LOT. Normally they're 248hp but this one was turned down to 180hp. It was.. still nuts hahaha.

[@gasdive]

That was scary. I kept thinking back to how far out of shape I've been on the DS in sport mode and then imagining 10 times the power and controlling it with clip on handlebars. I think I'll pass.

[@NewZeroland]

Bwahahaha I actually felt like this amount of power was perfect. It just needs to be in a more comfortable bike.

[@velvia7880]

Can't the regen brake be algorithmically adjusted? To make it smoother or less aggressive?

[@NewZeroland]

Yep, everything's customizable. You could turn it all the way off and coast, or crank it up to the max and never touch the brakes.

[@marcmulholland1017]

Looked scary fast

[@NewZeroland]

I wish I had more time on it to see what it's really capable of! The thing is a monster :D

[@LexSummer]

Finaly i have time to react on your Video 😁👍🏼 Your footage looks like the luckyest 10 minutes in your life 🤩. I pray that Richard can push the BS homoliogation trough and finaly be able to produce the bikes.

[@NewZeroland]

Dude it was sooooo fun! The LS218 ride wasn't very long, but enough to leave a lasting impression :D I'm going to try and get a Strike over to NZ next.

[@freedomofmotion]

Can't wait for electric to me more mainstream. Really want an enduro style bike with decent battery and pricing.

[@NewZeroland]

Keep an eye on Tacita. They entered Dakar this year. Still pretty pricey, but a really cool option.

[@freedomofmotion]

@@NewZeroland Cool, in the interim I'm considering building a 5-8kw e bicycle and messing around on that. 150nm of torque on something that weighs less than 50 kilos should be pretty fun, sure I won't have good top speed but 50 is plenty of speed, if not too much where I live.

[@marktiller7760]

The 218 needs the right owner.East Grinstead a motorcycle town, about 400 motorcycles, most of us Joe average, Steve Welford, special he's the 218 guy. He rides the latest aprilla rsv4r. Steve should of been a GP guy, he missed his vocation in life.

[@NewZeroland]

Yeah, you're right. It takes a talented maniac to daily something like this haha.

[@woodywood3388]

Did you ever take delivery of the Lightning you ordered?

[@NewZeroland]

Nah, I pulled out when covid hit. I haven't been able to go back to California in over a year and probably won't until next year.

[@TheRafaBStudio]

I want one. Period.

[@NewZeroland]

Absolutely!!

[@horizon6947]

They should add a down force wing

[@NewZeroland]

Or wings on the sides so it can fly.

[@seekingthetruth3410]

H Its an awesome bike, but when can we buy one

[@NewZeroland]

I think there's a 3 month wait for LS218's.

[@AkilJacob]

You can't really get one. The the second version is slow, 0-60 in 5, tons of quality issues, safety issues and 104-110 top speed. Go look at the reviews. Also there is chance you never get the bike after your deposit!

[@acesmith4710]

what is your go pro set up

[@NewZeroland]

In this video I was using an insta360 One X, but now I have a GoPro Hero 9.

[@dustinbrown6753]

We all know you popped a wheelie with the camera off.

[@NewZeroland]

Shhhhhhhhhh don't tell Richard hahahaa

[@davehunter6019]

when are you getting your strike?

[@NewZeroland]

Goooood question. Hopefully I'll be able to answer that soon 😁

[@davehunter6019]

NewZeroland I’ll be waiting for that video upload!

[@rchot84]

Actually faster than H2

[@pinaero]

First, though I feel like I have been here before lol

[@NewZeroland]

Always here, always first.

[@jjimmy_brainz]

Bro did you ever get it?😅

[@NewZeroland]

Nope, but check out my recent videos to see what I did get!

[@moviesonly5939]

Does it have gear?🙄

[@NewZeroland]

One gear 😁💪⚡🔋

[@namelic9619]

subbed my g

[@NewZeroland]

Cheers bro!

[@0721dessertwillow]

There like let’s get the guy that had pre ordered one and that also has a zero. And put everyone’s mind at ease that he might get his lightening but never will.

[@NewZeroland]

Haha, this is where my experiment goes to the next step. I have to see it through to the very end, to find out if it's possible to buy one, so once I figure out how to import one to New Zealand, I'll be completing my order. Stay tuned!

[@rsajay6256]

@@NewZeroland NZ seems very straight forward, I spoke to a Suzuki place in Wellington and a Multi-franchise in Auckland late last year and they tell me that for privately owned motorcycles you need to get 3 valuation quotes from the country the bike is registered in for calculating import duty, proof of ownership, and proof the bike is road legal in that country. When it gets to NZ you need to take it to a legit bike shop where they will have to vouch/ certify that the bike "appears" to be in original spec. - no aftermarket exhaust etc. (it can have a built motor, but must have the stock end can) and LOL they have to measure the thickness of the front brake disks. If they are too worn they need to be replaced before the hike can be made road legal in NZ. I tried emigrating last year but with all the crap happening all over the world the job market is crowded with foreigners on open work visas. And being South African the work visa rules are more complex for me than most folks from western nations #untrustworthyafricans LOL

[@NewZeroland]

@@rsajay6256 bikes are actually a lot easier than that. All you have to do is import it and take it to get inspected at the same place as everyone else (we have yearly motorcycle inspections). The problem is that they've passed a new law requiring ABS on all new models this year, and the Strike doesn't have ABS. I think as long as it's an import, though.. and I've already registered it in California or something, that might be the loophole. We'll see.

[@rsajay6256]

@@NewZeroland ABS may be problematic... So no Royal Enfields for you guys, that newish adventure bike of theirs looks very promising...

[@NewZeroland]

@@rsajay6256 oh wow, didn't know Enfields had no ABS. That will definitely make it hard for them. I think it's possible to do a personal import to get around the ABS thing. It might only be for new bikes sold in New Zealand from dealerships.

[@binhbla3651]

Good

[@zufasahtv1720]

You can’t hear it… I think not being able to hear it is dangerous

[@NewZeroland]

Did you have the sound on? This thing is crazy loud.

[@LordVladimort]

How do you have less than 4K subs? I wish youtube algorithm would suggest channels like yours more often, instead they promote idiots.

[@NewZeroland]

HAHAHA thanks buddy! That's the best comment ever :D I need to learn how to tag my videos or something. Surely there's something I'm doing wrong.

[@VeeFour]

Luckeeeeeeeeeee!

[@NewZeroland]

Duuude I know!!

[@alexandermathar7780]

Range is moot on a superbike. But nobody wants to buy a bike that sounds like a Hoover.