Electric Motorcycle Speeds Past 200 MPH

Last month, Bill Warner brought his souped-up Suzuki up to 311 mph. Electric Motorcycles may not be at the 300 mph mark yet, but they are quickly catching up to the petrol predecessors. Lighting Motorcycles and Paul Thede became the first group to ever break the 200 mph barrier on an electric motorcycle.

Thede, a Bonneville Salt Flat veteran, set a land speed record of 206.079 mph for electric motorcycles (class APS-Ω). Thede's average speed during Sunday's record breaking session was 205.538 mph.

Asphalt and Rubber reports that Thede is one of only 65 motorcyclists who have recorded speeds of more than 200 mph at the Bonneville Salt Flats. And Thede is the only man to do so on an electric motorcycle.

The Lightning Motors record is an absolutely incredible feat. Unfortunately, I don't think that it's going to stand for long. The technology behind electric motorcycles is increasing at an incredible rate, and soon, these bikes are going to be catching up to Bill Warner's 311 mph record.

Chip Yates, who has already proved that his electric motorcycle can race with, and beat, gas motorcycles, will be trying for the speed record later this month. Yates may not have 300 mph in him, but he should give the Lightning Motors team a run for their money.

In April, Yates hit 190.6 moh on his electric motorcycle. The Lightning Motors team shattered that record last weekend. Can Yates do the same?