Set to compete within the MotoAmerica Tremendous Hooligan class, the Lightfighter V3-RH is a unadorned electrical racing motorbike with a proprietary battery pack, an enviable components spec, and a singular companion program.
Those that heap hate on electrical bikes often cite their price and restricted vary as components. Or, in the event that they’re feeling significantly salty, they’re going to point out the dearth of noise and vibration. However few will acknowledge the inconvenient fact: electrical bikes are blisteringly fast off the mark.
The American EV startup Lightfighter is out to alter that notion, in an enviornment that has served main OEMs nicely over time: the race observe. They’re going to be fielding two bikes on this 12 months’s MotoAmerica RSD Tremendous Hooligan class with OrangeCat Racing, they usually’re planning to ruffle feathers.
Headquartered in California, Lightfighter was based by Brian Wismann, whose résumé contains main product growth at Brammo and Zero Motorcycles. The corporate at present has two fashions on its books—the full-faired Lightfighter V3-RS and the bare Lightfighter V3-RH. Tremendous Hooligan guidelines name for bare bikes with upright bars, so it is the V3-RH that they’re going to be competing with.
The ‘V’ nomenclature may recommend an inside combustion engine, however that is not the case. “We name the platform V3 as a result of it is the third iteration of the electrical motorbike program that Brian has been engaged on for the previous eight years,” says Lightfighter’s Director of Strategic Packages, Jensen Beeler.
“They’re principally the identical bike, however with totally different bodywork and handlebar types. ‘RH’ stands for ‘Race Hooligan’ and ‘RS’ stands for ‘Race Supersport.’ They’re probably the most engineering names ever—and we all know it.”
The race-prepped Lightfighter V3-RH definitely seems the half. A vibrant orange trellis body types the centerpiece of the chassis, hugging the battery and suspending the motor.
The motor itself comes from Parker Hannifin, whereas the battery cells are from Farasis Power. The precise battery pack is a proprietary half, manufactured at Lighfighter’s facility in Ashland, Oregon. It boasts a battery density of 300 Wh/kg—nicely above the typical for many electric motorcycles.
Outfitted with an integral fixed mesh gearbox with a 2:1 discount, the Lightfighter’s motor makes 162 Nm at its output shaft and 324 Nm on the gearbox output shaft. There’s 135 horsepower on provide, with an total dry weight of 186 kilos [410 pounds].
These numbers are backed up by a spare-no-expense components package deal. Lightfighter has specced their Tremendous Hooligan bike with Öhlins FGR252 forks and an Öhlins TTX36 shock, plus Brembo GP4-RX entrance calipers and a Brembo SuperSport rear caliper. It is all correct race-spec stuff—as are the Brembo T-Drive entrance discs.
The swingarm is a billet aluminum masterpiece, constructed by Suter Racing in Switzerland. “It accounts for practically 20 % of the bike’s construct price,” Jensen quips. Beautiful OZ Racing cast aluminum hoops full the package deal.
The Lightfighter’s bodywork is a mixture of carbon fiber and fiberglass components, with the monocoque tail part appearing as its personal subframe. The cockpit sports activities Rizoma bars, a Domino throttle and grips, and Brembo controls. The entrance brake lever guard, rear-set foot controls, and dashboard are from certainly one of Lightfighter’s key companions, Alpha Racing in Germany.
“You may see a few of their arduous components on the bike,” says Jensen, “however the true magic is what they’re doing with the electronics—serving to us construct out extra superior traction management algorithms and different electronics. Due to the continual utility of torque from an electrical motor, versus the ability pulses of a fuel engine, high-sides and lack of traction occur loads faster on an electrical observe bike. So Alpha Racing helps us pioneer on this house and performing some top-rate nerdy work.”
“The bike is continually evolving. What you see right here gained’t be what you’ll see in two weeks’ time, and sure gained’t be the identical you’ll see mid-season. That’s one of many enjoyable issues about this challenge, and we actually need to embrace the fixed growth facet of our enterprise into our consumer-level choices.”
“With that, you gained’t see us doing mannequin years like different OEMs. As a substitute, we’ll do half and design variations, with clients in a position to repeatedly profit from the discharge of latest and improved components for his or her bikes. This implies somebody may purchase a Lightfighter subsequent 12 months, and if in a 12 months or two we now have a big leap in battery design, they might improve to the brand new module.”
“The identical will be stated of arduous components just like the chassis, swingarm, or bodywork. We’re baking backwards compatibility into our designs and thought course of.”
On the observe, Lightfighter has MotoAmerica sensation and a number of champion, Josh Herrin, and former MotoAmerica Twins Cup champion, Kaleb de Keyrel, piloting the 2 OrangeCat race bikes. “The place we’re at as an organization proper now’s making an attempt to show our platform on the MotoAmerica stage,” says Jensen, “largely to validate our know-how and designs, and to see if we are able to compete with gas-bikes on a stage enjoying subject. The marketing strategy is efficiency parity with gasoline-powered bikes.”
Lightfighter is not simply counting on its race program for information. They need to launch the fourth iteration of their platform subsequent 12 months, they usually’re trying to interact clients in its growth by way of their Design Accomplice Program. Restricted to 10 clients and priced at $100,000, it is principally a personal beta testing initiative.
Your cash will get you a Lightfighter V3, plus entry to eight observe occasions, which embody personal take a look at classes and beginner races. There, you will take a look at numerous Lightfighter elements, give suggestions, and assist the corporate construct a rider-led data base to tell their selections on the V4. And when the time comes, you can swap your well-worn V3 for a model new V4.
It is a vital chunk of change—however we’re certain well-heeled lovers will fill Lightfighter’s roster very quickly. In any case, they’re going to be getting a boutique race bike, a complete bunch of observe time, a entrance row seat to an OEM’s growth course of, and a free improve.
If our piggybank had $100k in it, we might be reaching for a hammer.
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