Lightning Motorcycles sets land speed record of 215 mph on an electric motorcycle

Courtesy lightningmotorcycle.com

SAN CARLOS, Calif. - Lightning Motorcycles recently made their mark in history last Tuesday when they set a new land speed record for an all electric motorcycle during the Bonneville Salt Flats Speed Week.  Achieving an average speed of 215.960 mph, they became the first company to create an electric motorcycle capable of breaking the 200 mph mark.  The record has been recognized by the Southern California Timing Association/Bonneville Nationals Inc.

"Our team was confident and excited to participate at the Bonneville Salt Flats, which is the ultimate proving ground to validate the performance of our Lightning SuperBike," Lightning Motorcycle CEO Richard Hatfield said in a press release.  "We not only succeeded in shattering our previous record, but we confirmed that electric motorcycles will be an important part of our industry's future."

Driver Paul Thede, who is also the designer of the motorcycle's suspension system, reached 214.209 mph on his first run then clocked a speed of 217.712 on a second run to confirm the record.  This accomplishment now makes the Lightning SuperBike the fastest production motorcycle sold in North America, quite a feat considering the competition. 

The Lighting SuperBike sports a Remy HVH250™ electric propulsion motor.  This 3 phase liquid cooled 104kw AC motor is powered by a 345V 11kwh LiFePo4 nano phosphate battery pack that provides a combined city/highway EPA range of 150 miles.  This machine relies on dual Brembo 310mm disc brakes with 4-piston calipers for braking (yes, that’s 4 pistons per caliper).

An impressive record set by an impressive machine, no doubt raising the bar for electric motorcycles.  To learn more about this beast or to place an order for one of your own, visit their website at www.lightningmotorcycle.com.  Finally, check out this video of the record setting run:

  

"Ride With the 40" honors fallen United Flight 93 heroes to celebrate 10th anniversary

Courtesy ridewiththe40.org

San Francisco - Friends and Family members of United Flight 93 left San Francisco today to begin a cross country motorcycle ride to pay tribute to the brave men and women who took a stand against terrorists on the United Airlines flight that crashed in Shenksville, PA. 

Members of "Ride With the 40" left the San Francisco International Airport this morning, departing on a 10-day journey that will lead them from coast to coast. 

"We will start by leaving San Fransisco International Airport," the organization posted on their website.  "We will point our motorcycles east and ride every mile across this great country and arrive at the permanent National Flight 93 Memorial in Shanksville, PA on September 11, on or near the final moments of United Flight 93. We know this is not going to be an easy Journey, but to us, we know that the passengers and crew will be riding right along with us."

The group hopes to raise $250,000 for the memorial of United Flight 93, with all of the funds raised to go directly to the memorial.  In addition to the fund-raising, the organization hopes to bring awareness of the "heroic actions and character of the Heroes of United Flight 93" to Americans who were born after September 11, 2001 as well as to remind others of the stand those brave people made. 

For more information, a ride itinerary, or to donate funds, visit the groups website at ridewiththe40.org.

A brief hiatus and an epic fail

So it has been forever since I have had a chance to update this blog, I know all of you loyal followers were probably getting worried right?  (Insert cricket sounds here).  Between my full-time job, teaching a summer class, and a vacation to Florida, everything has been pushed off a bit.  Since I have been out of the motorcycle news loop lately I decided to do a quick search for some funny videos on Youtube and found this one.  Too bad we don't have any background info on it, because it is something else.  Check it out:

Hopefully granny got up to ride again, but I have a feeling she won't be getting back on a bike anytime soon.  So while I dig up some new stories feel free to have a laugh at granny's expense.  And you never know, maybe there was a swimming pool full of feathers on the other side of that fence.