Lightning Hits 183-mph In Its Latest 250-mph Bonneville Attempt
- Paul Roberts
- 19 hours ago
- 2 min read
Lightning went back to Bonneville this year chasing 250 mph (402.3 km/h). The salt flats had other ideas.
Lightning Motorcycles took its latest electric prototype to the salt last week for another shot at the 250-mph mark. It didn't get close to that target this time, with its fastest recorded run reaching 183.167 mph (294.8 km/h) as the team worked to keep the bike settled at speed.
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We previously sat down with Lightning CEO Richard Hatfield in: Lightning and the Vapourware Question: A Sit Down with CEO Richard Hatfield
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Back To Bonneville
Lightning and Brazilian materials company CBMM first announced the Tachyon Nb project in 2022, with the same 250-mph-plus target. Four years later, the bike is still chasing that number.
Lightning says it uses its 800-volt EDGE powertrain producing more than 600 hp, along with niobium components designed to keep weight down and dedicated aerodynamics for high-speed Bonneville runs.
At Bonneville, though, power is only part of the equation. Watching the runs, the bigger issue appears to be keeping the bike stable and predictable as speed builds. Lightning hasn't publicly described the problem that way, but its claim that the data shows the Tachyon Nb is capable of exceeding 250 mph suggests the issue wasn't simply a lack of power.
According to the official Bonneville Motorcycle Speed Trials run logs, Lightning entered bike 9998, with Rennie Scaysbrook in the saddle for the 300kg APS-W class.
The fastest recorded pass was 183.167 mph, followed by runs at 181.942 mph and 181.370 mph. One run was affected by a sensor failure, while the final attempt was recorded as “Turned Out.” Lightning says it didn't achieve its target speed, but reckons the data gathered during the week shows the bike has the capability to break 250 mph.
Lightning has plenty of Bonneville history behind it. It set a 203.361 mph record in the 300kg APS-W class in 2013, before its LS-218 programme produced a 215.907 mph sanctioned run and a 218 mph peak.
The BCB Take
183 mph isn't 250 mph. But this doesn't look like a motorcycle that simply ran out of power.
Getting 600-plus horsepower onto Bonneville's salt is one thing. Keeping a motorcycle stable and predictable as the speed climbs is another. From the runs, it looks like the latter may be where the Tachyon Nb is currently struggling.
That's not necessarily bad news for the project. A power problem could mean going back to the drawing board. A stability problem gives Lightning something much more specific to work on — and four years into the Tachyon Nb programme, that's exactly what the next phase should be about.
If Lightning can sort that out, the 250-mph target is still on the table.
We'll be watching.
Ride safe, folks.
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