The Legendary Lightning P-38
“Blazingly fast, sports-car maneuverability and great seat!”
Bicycling Magazine
Made in the USA
- Now with front and rear Avid disc brakes
- 26×36×48 front gearing with 11–36 10-speed rear cassette provides an incredibly wide gear range
- Average riders can climb grades up to 10%
“Comments on the bike? Most of the bike shops visited to test ride bikes said that the P-38 was ‘twitchy.’ After 10 feet on the P-38. I realized that they’d never been on a P-38. You don’t really ride a P-38, you more or less pilot it. This is a finely tuned machine worthy of great respect. It reigns supreme in the SWB market.”
DW White Wolf Racing
“After testing out most recumbents in the world from many manufacturers, my favourite is the P-38. It is the most comfortable all-around bike that can do loaded touring, hills, commutes, etc.”
Corbett Rowell, Velocity Racers
No less than legendary
The legendary Lightning P-38. With the efficient and unique, patented space type frame that is very stiff in the direction of pedaling forces, but at the same time very light and strong. Unconventional in design, yes. But also, comfort, safety, and speed many times greater than conventional bikes. Experience what thousands of Lightning riders have already discovered, the pure cycling enjoyment and exhilaration of the P-38.
The P-38 is Lightning’s flagship bicycle and it’s not hard to see why. Only the P-38 has had nearly 30 years of refinements and record-setting experience to bring it to its current state of development. The P-38 is one of the lightest recumbents made, at just 22–26 pounds (depending on size and components), and only its cousin the R-84 climbs better. If you’re ready for the best, the P-38 is ready for you.
Forget what you’ve heard about recumbents not being good climbers. Bicycling magazine dubbed its latest review of the P-38 “A recumbent that can climb!” After about a month of acclimation, a P-38 rider will normally match or exceed his previous performance on an upright. The key is training, as a recumbent uses slightly different muscles than an upright bike, especially during climbing. To see a Lightning climb hills, see the video on our Cyber Test Ride page.
Key P-38 design features
- Race-proven design: has set numerous world distance records with optional F-40 fairing, and numerous speed records with non-production X-2 fairing.
- Chromoly space frame design for stiffness, strength, and light weight
- Compact overall size: no larger than a conventional bicycle
- Standard 700c rear wheel for numerous tire choices
- Patent-pending Ergofit seat integral to frame for strength
- Oversized TiG welded stem and handlebars
- Optional Ergospeed carbon midracer seat
See a video of a P-38 walk-around by Lightning dealer Rose City Recumbent Cycles.
Why such a good climber?
The seat and bottom bracket position result in higher power production, and the stiff space frame design means most of this power is transferred to the rear wheel, not lost in frame flex like other designs. No other recumbent matches the P-38’s stiffness and pedaling efficiency.
The many faces of the P-38
The P-38 seems to have multiple personalities. The standard bike works well for many uses. With the Lightning Seat Bag and Fenders it’s ready for all-weather commuting or recreational riding. Add a standard rear rack and Lightning’s special no-drag panniers, and you have the ultimate in touring comfort and performance. The Performance Wheel and Velocity 2×9 versions are ready with no additions for fast club rides and centuries. Equipped with wheel covers and the optional F-40 fairing, it becomes the world’s fastest road bike, ready to contend for the lead in any event.
Voyager upgrade: The ultimate in take-along bikes!
An entire riding season and almost 10,000 miles in racing and riding (real world) field testing, the P-38 Voyager is ready for prime time! Simply put, the Voyager is a P-38 that collapses conveniently into a suitcase. The bike is safe and secure in its hard-shell case. Assembly or disassembly takes approximately 30-45 minutes.
The Voyager includes three S&S frame couplings (which are actually stronger and stiffer than the original frame tubing), coupled seat frame, quick release seat, boom and stem and hard-shell case. Not some kind of strange folding bike, the P-38 Voyager is a no-compromise high performance bike perfect for flying to races, tours and varied bicycle adventures anywhere in the world with no worries. See the P-38 Voyager page for more details and photos on this amazing bike.
What customers say about the P-38
“This summer I took a four day tour in Switzerland, and I climbed a 2,400m (8,000 foot) high pass, named Nuffenen, the highest in Switzerland. The difference of altitude was 2,000m (6,500 feet), and for the last 9 km, the slope was 12%! I even passed two upright bikers in the last part! The downhill run after the pass was fabulous. It was 40 km long with sometimes a speed of 80 km/h (waaahuuu!). The P-38 was very stable and I feel secure on it.”
Gerard Kloos
“On grades up to 6%, I climb faster on my Lightning than on my road bike. Also, the road bike doesn’t have an noticeable advantage unless the grade is greater than 10%.”
Peter Penseyres, 4 time RAAM winner
Read more customer comments on the P-38
Read about the P-38’s design history
P-38 Midracer!
Lightning strikes again with new Midracers! Utilizing a lightweight, hand laid up carbon seat with an integrated strong, rigid frame attachment, and a cool, ventilated, comfortable, plus aerodynamic seat pad, the Midracer upgrade increases speed on the flats plus gives sleek, modern styling. Available with the Performance Wheel and Velocity 2×10 component packages.
More info here: Midracers
Lightning’s Cyber Test Rides: See our collection of video clips showing Lightning bikes in action.
Here’s a list of serial numbers for dating your P-38.
P-38 model specifications
| Component | Sport 3×10 | XT 3×10 | Performance Wheels 3×10 |
Velocity 2×10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sizes | S, M, L, XL | S, M, L, XL | M, L, XL | M, L, XL |
| Rider height range | 4′9″ – 6′8″ | 4′9″ – 6′8″ | 5′2″ – 6′8″ | 5′2″ – 6′8″ |
| Rider weight limit | 160 lbs. (S), 200 lbs. (M), 220 lbs. (L), 250 lbs. (XL) | |||
| Colors | Azure Blue, Metallic Blue, Yellow, Metallic Green, Jet Black, Starlight Silver, Golden Gage, Crimson Red, White, Starlight Red. See the full color chart. | |||
| Weight | 23–26 lbs. | 24–27 lbs. | 23–25 lbs. | 22–24 lbs. |
| Wheelbase | 41 to 45.5 inches | |||
| Overall length | 60 to 74 inches | |||
| BB height | 24 to 26 inches | |||
| Seat height | 18 to 20 inches Ergomesh; 17 to 19 inches Midracer Ergospeed carbon | |||
| Seat angle | 50 to 65 degrees Ergomesh; 35 to 40 degrees Midracer Ergospeed carbon | |||
| Ergomesh seat | Patent-pending Ergofit bend, 7005 Aluminum frame. Nylon mesh back with fitted foam cushion. | |||
| Midracer Ergospeed carbon seat | Hand laid up woven carbon fabric/epoxy resin seat with integrated aluminum bar frame attachment fittings. Ventilated plastic honeycomb type seat pad with fitted aerodynamic cover. | |||
| Rigid fork | Brazed 4130, Custom True Temper Taperlite Blades | |||
| Braze-ons | Water bottle (2), pump peg (for Zefal HP pump), drop-out eyelets, cable guides | |||
| Frame | Nickel Silver brazed Multigauge CrMo, 7005 Aluminum B-B Extension | |||
| Stem | LCD Customlite Aluminum | |||
| Handlebars | Aluminum, Customlite LCD Drop Bars | |||
| Gear range | 19–118″ | 19–118″ | 19–118″ | 26–123″ |
| Brakes | Avid SD7 V type | Avid BB7 Disc | Tektro Quartz Dual Pivot | Tektro Quartz Dual Pivot |
| Brake levers | Tektro SR | |||
| Bottom bracket | Shimano XT, tube spindle | Shimano XT, tube spindle | Shimano XT, tube spindle | Lightning carbon integrated, ABEC5 sealed bearings |
| Crankset | Shimano XT Hollowtech 26×36×48 | Shimano XT Hollowtech 26×36×48 | Shimano XT Hollowtech 26×36×48 | Lightning carbon integrated 30×50, 160 to 180 mm |
| Chain | KMC X10 | |||
| Cassette | Shimano LX 11–36, 10 speed | Shimano XT 11–36, 10 speed | Shimano LX 11–36, 10 speed | Shimano XT 11–36, 10 speed |
| Front derailleur | Shimano LX triple | Shimano XT Triple | Shimano LX triple | Shimano XT Triple |
| Rear derailleur | Shimano Deore | Shimano XT | Shimano Deore | Shimano XT |
| Headset | Diatech threadless | |||
| Hubs | Deore LX | Shimano XT | Shimano 105 | Velocity Race |
| Shifters | Shimano Dura Ace bar end | |||
| Front rim 16″ | Sun CR18, 349 mm (16×1-3/8), 28 stainless spokes, S And M | N/A | N/A | |
| Front tire 16″ | Primo Comet 37-349 (16×1-3/8), 100 psi | N/A | N/A | |
| Front rim 20″ | Sun Alloy CR18 406mm, 36 stainless spokes, L and XL | Velocity A23, 406 mm, 20 spokes, M, L, XL | ||
| Front tire 20″ | Panaracer Minits Tough 32-406 (20×1.25) 100 psi | Schwalbe Durano 28-406 (20×1.1), 110 psi * | ||
| Rear rim 700c | Sun Alloy CR18 700C, 36 stainless spokes, L and XL | Shimano 105 Aero, 20 stainless spokes, M, L, XL Mesh seat | Velocity A23 OC, 28 spokes, M, L, XL Mesh seat | |
| Rear tire 700c | Panaracer Ribmo 700×28, 105 psi | Continental Super Sport Plus, 700×23, 120 psi | ||
| Rear rim 26″ | Sun CR18 26×1.5, 36 stainless spokes, S and M | Mavic Aero, 28 stainless spokes, M, L, XL carbon seat | Velocity A23 OC, 28 spokes, M, L, XL carbon seat | |
| Rear tire 26″ | Panaracer Ribmo 32-559, 100psi | Continental 650×23, 120 psi | ||
* Note: Due to limited fork space front tire choices are limited to 28-406 (20″×1.1″) on these models.
Options
| Item | Description | MSRP | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midracer seat | Ergospeed carbon with Aerovent pad, only available with Performance Wheels or Velocity 2×9 components. | ||
| Fairings | Zzipper Lexan windshield (see accessories page), or upgrade to F-40 with addition of body | ||
| Suspended fork | S-1 Chromoly (adds 0.5 lbs). 1.5 inches travel | add | $400 |
| Rear suspension | Shockster RS3.5 (Not available for the Performance Wheels or Velocity 2×10) | $200 | |
| Mirror, bags, rack, fenders | See Accessories page | ||
| Quick Adjust Kit | Adjust bike fit without changing the chain length. | $80 | |
Pricing
| Complete Bikes | MSRP | |
|---|---|---|
| P-38 Sport | $3,600 | |
| P-38 Performance Wheels | $3,600 | |
| P-38 XT FSA 3×10 | $4,060 | |
| P-38 Velocity 2×10 | $4,460 | |
| Upgrades | ||
| Midracer with carbon seat upgrade | add | $250 |
| Suspended front fork upgrade | $400 | |
| Shockster rear suspension | add | $160 |
| Kickstand | $15 | |
| Voyager suitcase modification, S&S frame couplings, coupled seat, and travel case upgrade* | add | $1,800 |
| Frameset | ||
| P-38 Frameset | $2,160 | |
| V-brake braze-ons | add | $60 |
| Disc brake braze-ons | add | $100 |
| Tektro brake levers, modified | $40 | |
*Note: Existing P-38 frames can have the Voyager option retrofitted. Price for this is $2,000.
Framesets
For details on framesets, check the frameset page.