▲ 2019 Lightning Strike. Ten years ago American outfit Lightning whizzed into the motorcycle arena with their first prototype electric bike and aimed it squarely at Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah and Pikes Peak, Colorado. That bike hit 173mph and claimed a world record. The firm quickly ramped that up to 218mph, and presently brought to market the LS-218. At around £30k ($38k), the queue was shorter rather than longer. But the cred, performance, build quality was sound. So now Lighting (actually founded in 2006 in San Carlos, California) has produced the more budget conscious Strike. Features include a 380V liquid-cooled motor, direct drive transmission, a 10kWh battery, a 3.3kW charger, a range of 70 - 100 miles, Brembo Monobloc calipers up front, a RaceTech front fork, a billet aluminium swinging arm, Öhlins TTX36 rear shock/damper, and 120/70ZR17 & 190/55ZR17 wheels. The weight is a claimed 495lbs. Power and range upgrades are available. The UK price is £12,960.

MOTORCYCLE NEWS

April 2019

Biking news | Motor bike stories | New bikes | Motorcycle products

H O M E

T O P

S H O P

Kawasaki W, H & Z book

The first thing we noticed when we received our review copy of this book is simply that the cover is dull and boring. Sorry to say it, but the main image just isn't inspiring, and the heading and sub-heading looks pretty klunky, style-wise.

The next thing we noticed was when we opened the book; most of the images are small, or fairly small. We flipped through the covers and couldn't find a single full page picture.

More than once we've criticised Veloce Publishing for that omission. All books, we feel, deserve at least two or three VERY LARGE images meaning a full page if not a two page spread.

That said, there are a couple of half-pagers tucked away here, and the vast majority of the other images are at least reasonable-to-good quality. As for the writing, it's a little convoluted in places, so you occasionally have to read a sentence more than once to understand what's being said. [More...]

BMW S1000 RR upgrades

Evotech Performance, based in Alford, Lincolnshire, has released details of its range of upgrades and accessories for the 2019 BMW S 1000 RR. There are 11 new products on offer. These are:

EP Tail tidy
EP Radiator/Oil Cooler Guard Set
EP Crash Protectors
EP Front Wheel Spindle Bobbins
EP Rear Wheel Spindle Bobbins
EP Front Brake & Clutch Lever Protector Set
EP Front Brake Protector Kit
EP Clutch Lever Protector Kit
EP Bar End Weights
EP Pillion Footrest Blanking Plate Kit
EP Paddock Stand Bobbins

The accessories will also fit the S 1000 RR Sport and the S 1000 RR with M package. And naturally you can buy the parts individually or as a set, but once again we haven't been given prices. So talk directly to the manufacturer. [More...]

2019 Gold Wing arrives

Honda Motorcycles has sent us details of the firm's latest variation on the Gold Wing theme. And we're pleased to report that the weight has gone down rather than up.

The idea, clearly, is to make a virtue out of what this bagger-styled bike hasn't, rather than what it has. And to stick a cherry on this particular cake, the asking price has come down hugely.

As reported on Sump in late 2017, the engine is a 1,833cc liquid-cooled flat six promising 124bhp and 125lb-ft of torque. The weight has been cut by 105lbs (48kg), largely by trimming fat all over the bike (including the engine and transmission). The rear top box has been given the elbow. The electrically operated screen has been truncated. [More...]

Click the link for: March 2019 motorcycle news from Sump

Sump workshirt £26.99

All purpose street & garage wear

We spend much of our miserable lives in the garage. Usually we're fixing bikes and stuff, and all too often we're re-fixing the stuff we ought to have fixed properly the first time around.

So it goes.

Anyway, we wanted to increase our product range (that's partly how we fund Sump) and we've been thinking for some time about introducing workshirts and general shirts that we might want to wear when the weather closes in—which is most of the time in the UK. Anyway, this is the result; our first Sump branded garage/all purpose shirt.

The Sump logo is featured above the left-side pocket only (notice how we cunningly avoided saying "breast"?). The image quality is very good and will last the life of the shirt.

We think these are pretty good quality and worth the money. First come, first served, etc.

Hit the button below, baby...

BSA M20/M21

workshirt £26.99

All purpose street & garage wear

Seems that plenty of folk love our BSA M20/M21 T-shirt design which features the above roundel. So, to widen the appea we decided to reproduce it on a more formal shirt that you might want to wear in the garage or in the magistrate's court.

The shirts are 100% cotton twill, which means they're tougher than ordinary cotton. We wear these ourselves, and we're perfectly happy with them—and we're nothing if not hard to please. Follow the links and see if they're right for you (Hint: they probably are).

The BSA M20/M21 roundel is featured above the left-side pocket only. And when you wear this, other BSA folk will notice and might even become your friend and take you out for walks and stuff. It happens.

The image quality is very good and will last the life of the shirt. You know you want it, and you know we've got it.

New motorcycle launches and reviews

Motorcycle news

There's news, and then there's Sump news, and we usually see it differently from the rest of the world. Come check it with us...

Latest motorcycling products and accessories

Biking product news

In a world of plenty, there's plenty more coming down the pike. Stay with us for new motorcycle gear.

Motorcycle industry news

Bike industry news

Without industry, the wheels won't turn. We're keeping an eye on the guys who grease your spindles.

New motorcycling laws

Motorcycle legal news

Fortunately, in the UK we have the rule of law. Unfortunately, few know what all those laws are, and the government keeps changing them anyway. But if it affects you, we'll tip you the wink...

Safety news for bikers