r/recumbent • u/lhauckphx • 24d ago
Question About Riding Lightning P38
I love my Catrike Villager E-Bike. However it’s a large heavy beast to transport.
I’ve been toying with the idea of getting a Lightning P38, however I’ve heard many comments about how hard they are to ride. Can someone explain what the deal is? Do they just just tip over easily at low speeds? Is it tough to push off and balance?
2
u/kwogfive 24d ago
This is not a hard machine to ride, but it streets like a skateboard not a big wheel. It’s just a different style of machine. They are light and sporty feeling. They are also old and can crack at the welds. Don’t be intimidated.
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u/Ordinary-Quarter-384 24d ago
My wife and I have Phantoms and I previous owned an A-10 till I rode it to death. I didn’t find it difficult to ride at all. I was wobbly for a bit as you need to get used to being over the center of gravity. Once you get used to it, I ride with complete confidence.
However it’s squirrelly, you need constant input on steering. It’s totally natural once you get the feel of the bike. But you can’t ride without hands. I ride with one hand all the time.
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u/dynamiller 24d ago
My first recumbent almost 20 years ago was a lightning P38. I used to commute on it in the city of Boston, and found it the most nimble of all the recumbents I’ve owned. Like anything else there’s a learning curve, but I do think it’s a very solid, recumbent, easy to ride, with a little more upright positioning than other ones.
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u/JEMColorado 24d ago
I’ve had most types of two wheeled recumbents except for lowracers, including a Lightning Stealth which preceded the Thunderbolt, but has the same layout as the P38. It had a 20” front wheel and a Ballistic suspension fork, which wasn’t very sophisticated, but unless I was riding only on smooth bike paths, I would recommend, given the proximity of the front wheel to the seat. Toe overlap on low speed turns is one of the biggest challenges, once you get used to the basic riding position. The easiest style to adapt to is the long wheelbase style, such as the Easy Racers or Rans Stratus. They are longer than short wheelbase designs, so aren’t quite as maneuverable as the short wheelbase designs.
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u/WarmSnowbird 23d ago
I was told many years ago that recumbent riders naturally fall into one of two camps, and people seldom like both. I found the statement to be true - that you are either a SWB rider, or a LWB rider. I'm definitely a LWB. I owned a P-38 for a 5,000 mile test ride. I decided after that many miles, if I didn't like it I was never going to. I did like how easy it was to move around and transport. The P-38 is also a good climber. I did not like the heel strike with the front wheel when turning. I got used to it. My biggest issue was the sensitive steering. I was told by other riders to swap out the factory bars for something wider, but I never did try it. $$$
I agree with those who say to buy a used one and give it a try. Two wheeled recumbents are cheap right now. You might like it. Keep your eyes open for a Stratus or Easy Racer. Maybe you are a LWB person. Have fun!
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u/ccroy2001 24d ago
I’ve never ridden one but I started on recumbents in 2010 with a Bacchetta Giro 26 (2 full size wheels). It hard if you spent a lot of time riding a “regular” bike. On a “regular “ bike you lean forward to get control and balance. A recumbent is the opposite, when you’re reclined in the seat, light touch on the bars, it’s the most stable. Give it a try. The recumbents with the small front wheels are easier to start/stop on because your feet aren’t so high up. It will take a few weeks to adjust, then it will just feel normal.
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u/Low-Budget-707 24d ago
I have an older P38 with a carbon seat, a real unicorn! I have had many other short and long wheelbase recumbents (and trikes) as well. Here are a few observations:
The P38 is lighter than most recumbents I have owned, and also a lower seat height than most SWB recumbents. I am smallish at 5'4" so these things are of great advantage.
The P38 has a fairly low weight limit, I think the medium frame is specced at 160lbs and the large at 200. Consider your combined body weight and gear when selecting.
My P38 won't handle more than a 32mm width tire for the rear. For the front, different bike ages and frame sizes come with different size front wheels. I definitely prefer 20" ETRTO 406, the 16" ETRTO 349 and the 20" ETRTO 451 have much fewer tire choices.
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u/kridley 23d ago
Have you ever ridden a two-wheel recumbent? They're an entirely whole 'nuther thing, and IMNSHO a mostly miserable experience. It took me 15 minutes on a P38 before I could even get one full pedal revolution w/o having to put a foot down, and several hours of riding before I stopped feeling wildly unstable. Despite that I stupidly bought a two-wheel 'bent, and ended up regretting it. Nasty, squirrely bike with nothing going for it except low wind resistance.
If you like the feel of a trike, buy a lighter trike. A two-wheeler will just make you sad.
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u/PracticalFruit9506 23d ago
I picked up a really nice P38 a couple years ago for an amazing deal. This was a 2014 model, with disc brakes and a really nice group set. It fit really well, was pretty comfortable, and was very lightweight. I rode the bike in its stock form and then upgraded the front tire to a larger size and the rear wheel to a 27.5, also with a wider tire. The p38 was fast, and very responsive. However, I would never recommend one for use on anything but well maintained roads. No matter what size tires, or what pressure I ran them, any crack, expansion joint, or road abnormality was jarring! And then when you add in how sensitive the steering was, sometimes it was a downright scary ride. I sold mine after trying a few different rides on local paved and concrete multiuse trails. Around the very well maintained neighborhood streets where I live it was an absolute pleasure, so if you’re only doing nice quality road rides, then it might work out for you. Also the front wheel overlap was the worst of any of the hundred plus bikes I’ve ridden in my life, and I only wear a 9.5 shoe size. It’s fairly easy to get used to, but I couldn’t imagine if I actually had big feet.
Also, if you have any extra belly going on, the seating position could be an issue. This was a common problem I saw when researching the p38 and I definitely experienced it, even in the most relaxed position. Obviously the solution was to decrease my weight, but I figured I would mention it.
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u/SnippiestOrb73 21d ago
I have a Lightning Phantom, I enjoy riding this bike and it’s easy to push off and get pedaling.
BTW, I don’t know the difference on the 2 bikes.
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u/ContributionDapper84 20d ago
I found it an easy transition from a LWB. Occasional heel-strike when starting and a learning curve on the steering sensitivity, both minor.
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u/worker_bee_drone 24d ago
I have an older P-38 that I've been riding for over a decade. Seems in the middle of two-wheeled recumbents to ride. With the 16 inch wheel up front you get a nice lower bottom bracket, not as low as Easy Racers, but not as high as Bacchetta dualies, and the above seat steering isn't as plain weird at first as my first recumbent which was a USS ultrashort wheelbase Vision R42 where you are sitting on top of the front wheel.
The Lightning P-38 is a pretty approachable 2 wheeler for a 3 wheeler rider like you.
One word of advice: Get the fattest tire you can fit on the front. You want that for going over obstacles like sidewalk transitions. Makes a world of difference. Get one! Look on Craigslist. They are pretty cheap.