Lightning Bicycles
What's NEW? Read all about our latest product line changes.
| On this page: | Product Line-Up | Comfort | Safety |
| Riding a Lightning | Speed | Warranty | |
| Jump to: | Accessories | Climbing | Price List |
| Buying a Frameset | |||
Download/Print full color product brochures online! Note, however, that the online pages on this Web site already contain the latest, most up to date information on all our products. The downloadable brochures, however, are great to print out, or give to others.
Lightning's Cyber Test Ride: see downloadable video clips or order the full video tape of Lightning bikes in action on the road, on tour and in races.
"I was
indicating 22 mph using the same amount of effort
that would only give me 15-17 mph on my Vision"
- Bob Krzewinski
Product Line-Up
The Lightning Carbon Fiber Crankset
The
lightest integral crankset and bottom bracket assembly available!
The Lightning Phantom (formerly Stealth)
The Phantom combines the overall geometry and seat of the P-38 with solid chromoly mono-tube construction for a fast bike that's durable, comfortable and very affordable.
The Lightning P-38
The legendary P-38 is still our flagship and the second-lightest recumbent made (only our R-84 is lighter). A stiff, strong patented space frame design, plus the patented ergofit seat make the P-38 one of the finest recumbents you can own for touring, racing and recreational riding.
The Lightning F-40
For racers and high-performance enthusiasts, the record breaking fully-faired F-40 can't be beat. In fact it holds some 12 world speed records.
The Lightning R-84
At only 19 pounds, the carbon fiber R-84 will take you anywhere you want to go in comfort and blazing speed! This is the ultimate high-tech, lightweight recumbent for the ultimate enthusiast.
Thunderbolt
What happened to the Thunderbolt? Well, it is no longer in
production, we did not sell enough of them to make a profit.
However, we still have accessories and replacement parts for the
Thunderbolt.
Important Information
When you've selected a model, be sure to look over the Bike Fitting page and then consider which Accessories you'll want with your bike. Then, give us a call or send us an email, and we can refer you to a dealer near you who can fully take care of you.
The Patented Lightning ergonomic seat design places the rider in a naturally relaxed position, and gives full support for an incredibly comfortable ride. First, the seat bottom is at least three times larger than the seat on any upright bike; this means the pressure applied to your rear is only 1/3 that of an upright bike. Next, the shoulder high seat back supports you like no other bike can, eliminating almost all stress on your back. Additionally, the natural upright position means that almost no weight is placed on the neck, shoulders, arms, and hands, reducing or eliminating pain and soreness in these areas. And finally, the nylon mesh and cantilever of the seat absorb road shock, further helping to increase comfort.
I've become convinced that the recumbent is the bike of the future. It is comfortable to ride for long periods, and it wont produce numb hands or crotch- Dr. David Smith, MD, Bicycling.
I have been a bike rider for 24 years and have concluded standard bikes have one basic flaw: they just are not comfortable. I haven't ridden my upright bike since I received my Lightning. - Ed S. Arizona.
My back keeps getting better with the Lightning. I haven't been to the Chiropractor this year, but my back feels better than it has in the last 30 years. - T. Johnson, Illinois.
Braking distance is about 1/2 that of upright bicycles, and the possibility of going over the handlebars is eliminated. This is a result of the low center of gravity, and the 45% front / 55% rear weight distribution of the Lightning design. Additionally, the seat height and your eye level is similar to that of an average sedan. This fact, plus the upright head position, gives good visibility in traffic, and permits car drivers direct eye contact so they notice you more readily; as a result, safety is maximized.
The ideal weight distribution, combined with a medium wheelbase and direct steering, delivers superb handling, response, and ride comfort. This great handling, along with the unmatched braking performance, makes it possible to avoid almost all unsafe situations.
Braking is fantastic, as nearly idiot-proof as it can be on a bike. Also, rough road performance is great for a recumbent. - Bicycle Guide, May `86.
For 23 years, Lightning has maintained an active racing team for one reason; so that Lightning owners have the best bike possible. Top-level competition and elite riders put demands on bikes which cannot otherwise be duplicates. This ultimate testing ground allows us to rapidly test and implement significant improvements for all our models.
Only Lightning, among recumbent manufacturers HAS SET MULTIPLE WORLD RECORDS and races predominantly with the EXACT SAME BIKES WE SELL. The end result is a much higher level of performance, safety, comfort and durability than comparably priced brands.
During this unequaled product development program, Lightning race teams have logged thousands of competition miles worldwide, posted hundreds of race wins, and set numerous world records, including:
Why So Fast?
The Lightning is smaller than most recumbents and the same size as a standard bike. This means it can be transported on most car racks and is easy to park and store. An added benefit of the medium wheelbase is a six foot turning radius. How to obtain a "free" Lightning Some people unfamiliar with hand-built bicycles remark that the price of a Lightning is somewhat high. However, only the initial expense is high; over a period of a few years it can become FREE and even make you money. Mostly this can be accomplished by riding the bike on some occasions instead of driving your car. Additionally, the exercise you receive results in lower medical bills, not to mention a longer, healthier life span. Following is an example of how to calculate the payback period: The average cost for operating a car is .30 cents per mile. If you ride a bike for 2,000 miles a year instead of driving your vehicle, you are saving $600 (2,000 miles x .30 cents). Additional studies have shown that annual medical bills are about $400 lower for people who exercise regularly. Therefore, the two items add to annual savings of $1,000. In two years, a $2.000 Lightning P-38 has paid for itself; after 4 years, a $4,000 Lightning F-40 is now FREE. After this payback period, the bike is making you $1,000 a year! Fun to Ride Back at the office, it dawned on me that we took the Lightning on the same route I've done hundreds of times. But I honestly didn't think I'd ever before had this much fun! - Bicycle Guide, March 1993. I now have over 8000 miles on my P-38, and as you predicted, it is the only bike I am riding. - Norm K., California. Riding a Lightning recumbent bicycle is easy. Thought it may feel funny at first, the position is so comfortable you'll soon be used to it. Here are a few tips to make getting started easier: 1) The close proximity of the cranks to the front wheel means your feet may hit the front wheel during slow, sharp turns. With practice, it is possible to make slow turns. In any event, this is a problem only below 6 mph. Also, pedal extenders are available which make this much less of a problem. 2) Due to the different seat position, it takes a few minutes to learn the balance of a Lightning. Most people are riding with no problem after one day. It will take somewhat longer for your muscles to become accustomed to the different position and develop an efficient cadence. Clipless pedals and shoes make riding very efficient. After one month, most riders are proficient enough to surpass their best performance on a standard bike. 3) Because the seat is fixed to the frame, the crankset adjusts back and forth to accommodate riders of different heights. 4) Because of the high bottom bracket, your feet will NEVER scrape the ground while cornering. 5) The long chain gives the benefit of NEVER having to adjust the front derailleur while shifting the rear derailleur. All Lightning bicycles are designed to last for many years of usage. We design them based on 10,000 miles of riding per year for 5 years. Since few people ride a bike that much or that hard, most of our bikes are still in service after a decade or more of use. We stand behind our product without reservation. If you ever have a problem with your Lightning bike, we will do our best to resolve it. All Lightning frames and seats are covered by a 5 year warranty. Why don't the pro's use them? If the Lightning is so great, why don't Olympic and professional bike racers use it? The UCI (International Cycling Federation) banned recumbents from competition 60 years ago because of their inherent speed advantage. Because of the UCI restrictions, the standard bicycle most people ride today has changed very little since its inception over 100 years ago. |