I have the new model seat on my year-old Phantom, and I haven't tightened the mesh at all yet. I've fallen a few times and scratched the mesh on the outside of the seat frame, and it may have to be repaired.
Also, all of my dealings with Tim Brummer, from purchasing to ordering to follow-up questions, have been excellent.
The seat on my old thunder bolt is shot. It's not the old school, laced with p-cord style - but more like a sack pulled down from the top and tensioned with a single strap under the seat. Although I think I would be willing to go that old school route if I could get one cheap and easy, or even just easy.
On mine that single strap gave out a couple years ago, but sitting on the boom hasn't been that bad, well the slack in the seat fabric isn't enough that my weight is totally on the boom either, just enough to know where it is. But now the front and back are fixing to come apart at the seams and I want a new one before I go off on pee-wee's big adventure.
My experience has been that ordering parts & miscellaneous bits directly from lightning is a bit of a hassle. HostelShoppe used to be my guy, but apparently he doesn't want to deal with 'em any more either and he's gone dry.
I lost one of the special seat washers while on a recent vacation. I emailed a request for three (2 spares) and promised a check in the mail. I got the package within a couple of days and an invoice which I gladly paid very promptly. This was not my first order from Lightning and I have always received great service even though I bought my bike used from a private party.
Gary "Satisfied Customer of Lightning Cycle Dynamics"
Silver P-38
Every time I e-mailed Lightning they responded back within a couple of days - very prompt. Each time I called Tim was very helpful too. No problems, just praise !!
I don't understand this ,have you actually had a problem ordering from Lightning or just repeating what you've heard?
I e-mailed Tim 2 times this month asking for pricing on idlers and seat mesh. He responded within 2 days and I ordered idlers,got them in about 3 days.
I just now ordered a seat mesh.
I've been dealing with Tim for about 8 years now and have had zero problems.
Ben
It took at least half a dozen phone calls and more than just a few un answered emails to purchase a longer bottom bracket bit. There were several phone calls before I could ascertain that such a part might exist. I kinda figured that since the bike came in two frame sizes it would be quite unlikely that they would use different diameter pipes on the two, but hey what do I know. I tried to engage via email as I greatly prefer it to the telephone, but this didn't seem to be an option.
Anyway, you allude to other people having reported similar issues - I'm not the only person whose emails to sales@lightningbikes.com go un-responded to? Am I using the wrong email address? Or maybe jsut the wrong from address?
Idlers you say: It might be cool to upgrade to what the new phantom has. Are you reselling these parts you order from him or something? Regarding the seat mesh: Are you some place that I could come pick it after it arrived (DFW)? Can I get it in any other colors but black? What would you want for it?
I have heard people say Lightning as a bad reputation for customer service ,but as I said,I have never experienced this,just the opposite.
As far as the parts I ordered,idlers, seat mesh,they are for my P-38.
My idlers last about 3000 to 4000 miles ,power side idler goes first.
I've thought about Terracycle idlers ,but think the price is too high.
My seat mesh is stretched so much that it's now resting on the frame and can't be tightened anymore.
I'm going on The Tour Dakota in 2 weeks and don't want the seat mesh to start rubbing the rear wheel during the tour.
The new style seat mesh only comes in black with a yellow seat panel.
Tim said it cost $90.
I guess I'll find out if the service is still good ,as I ordered it Sunday night and need it within the next 2 weeks.
Ben
yeah, I too have exchanged email with Tim this week, he provided a price and I gave him credit card info... I didn't get a confirmation or a commitment to ship as you did. But still this is a way more positive exchange than either the longer boom or the quick-fit kit were. Granted both of those occasions were years ago, back when my Thunderbolt was new.
The strap that tensions my seat mesh broke a couple years ago. My bum has been resting on the boom for a while. But even totaly slacked as it is it's still a sack so there are only a couple inches of play, and with that foam pad (which is 'bout to disintegrate too) it hasn't been that uncomfortable. But the seam that holds the two halves of the sack together is beginning to separate and I don't want it to fail on RAGBRAI. Things that work fine on my daily rounds always seem to fail in the worst way on RAGBRAI. Uh, sometimes the new bits that I put on to keep the worn stuff from failing fail on RAGBRAI... I guess if anything is ever gonna break it's gonna be when I'm the farthest from home and have the least resources for getting a replacement, or at least those are the occasions that are gonna stick in my mind.
Dakota, you say... sounds kinda hilly. Sounds like it might be a much longer walk for spare parts than on RAGBRAI too.
The kickstand for the 2008 Phantome was ordered through Tim by phone on 5/27 and arrived by FedEx 6/4 late in the evening from Lompoc Ca to East Tennessee. Not bad at
all and no complaints. Excellent products.
Phanton seat
I have the new model seat on my year-old Phantom, and I haven't tightened the mesh at all yet. I've fallen a few times and scratched the mesh on the outside of the seat frame, and it may have to be repaired.
Also, all of my dealings with Tim Brummer, from purchasing to ordering to follow-up questions, have been excellent.
new seat fabric
I have a new one, but am waiting for my old seat mesh to completely disintegrate before switching to the new style.
When I make the change, and get some miles on the new one, I will post a note giving my impressions, for good and/or ill.
Safe riding,
Joel
easy way to get a new one?
The seat on my old thunder bolt is shot. It's not the old school, laced with p-cord style - but more like a sack pulled down from the top and tensioned with a single strap under the seat. Although I think I would be willing to go that old school route if I could get one cheap and easy, or even just easy.
On mine that single strap gave out a couple years ago, but sitting on the boom hasn't been that bad, well the slack in the seat fabric isn't enough that my weight is totally on the boom either, just enough to know where it is. But now the front and back are fixing to come apart at the seams and I want a new one before I go off on pee-wee's big adventure.
My experience has been that ordering parts & miscellaneous bits directly from lightning is a bit of a hassle. HostelShoppe used to be my guy, but apparently he doesn't want to deal with 'em any more either and he's gone dry.
Anybody got a source of an easy score?
Ordering direct from Lightning
I lost one of the special seat washers while on a recent vacation. I emailed a request for three (2 spares) and promised a check in the mail. I got the package within a couple of days and an invoice which I gladly paid very promptly. This was not my first order from Lightning and I have always received great service even though I bought my bike used from a private party.
Gary "Satisfied Customer of Lightning Cycle Dynamics"
Silver P-38
ordering parts
Every time I e-mailed Lightning they responded back within a couple of days - very prompt. Each time I called Tim was very helpful too. No problems, just praise !!
ordering from Lightning
I don't understand this ,have you actually had a problem ordering from Lightning or just repeating what you've heard?
I e-mailed Tim 2 times this month asking for pricing on idlers and seat mesh. He responded within 2 days and I ordered idlers,got them in about 3 days.
I just now ordered a seat mesh.
I've been dealing with Tim for about 8 years now and have had zero problems.
Ben
yep
It took at least half a dozen phone calls and more than just a few un answered emails to purchase a longer bottom bracket bit. There were several phone calls before I could ascertain that such a part might exist. I kinda figured that since the bike came in two frame sizes it would be quite unlikely that they would use different diameter pipes on the two, but hey what do I know. I tried to engage via email as I greatly prefer it to the telephone, but this didn't seem to be an option.
Anyway, you allude to other people having reported similar issues - I'm not the only person whose emails to sales@lightningbikes.com go un-responded to? Am I using the wrong email address? Or maybe jsut the wrong from address?
Idlers you say: It might be cool to upgrade to what the new phantom has. Are you reselling these parts you order from him or something? Regarding the seat mesh: Are you some place that I could come pick it after it arrived (DFW)? Can I get it in any other colors but black? What would you want for it?
Lightning service
I have heard people say Lightning as a bad reputation for customer service ,but as I said,I have never experienced this,just the opposite.
As far as the parts I ordered,idlers, seat mesh,they are for my P-38.
My idlers last about 3000 to 4000 miles ,power side idler goes first.
I've thought about Terracycle idlers ,but think the price is too high.
My seat mesh is stretched so much that it's now resting on the frame and can't be tightened anymore.
I'm going on The Tour Dakota in 2 weeks and don't want the seat mesh to start rubbing the rear wheel during the tour.
The new style seat mesh only comes in black with a yellow seat panel.
Tim said it cost $90.
I guess I'll find out if the service is still good ,as I ordered it Sunday night and need it within the next 2 weeks.
Ben
hopeful
yeah, I too have exchanged email with Tim this week, he provided a price and I gave him credit card info... I didn't get a confirmation or a commitment to ship as you did. But still this is a way more positive exchange than either the longer boom or the quick-fit kit were. Granted both of those occasions were years ago, back when my Thunderbolt was new.
The strap that tensions my seat mesh broke a couple years ago. My bum has been resting on the boom for a while. But even totaly slacked as it is it's still a sack so there are only a couple inches of play, and with that foam pad (which is 'bout to disintegrate too) it hasn't been that uncomfortable. But the seam that holds the two halves of the sack together is beginning to separate and I don't want it to fail on RAGBRAI. Things that work fine on my daily rounds always seem to fail in the worst way on RAGBRAI. Uh, sometimes the new bits that I put on to keep the worn stuff from failing fail on RAGBRAI... I guess if anything is ever gonna break it's gonna be when I'm the farthest from home and have the least resources for getting a replacement, or at least those are the occasions that are gonna stick in my mind.
Dakota, you say... sounds kinda hilly. Sounds like it might be a much longer walk for spare parts than on RAGBRAI too.
order
Ordered seat mesh Sunday night,Monday was a holiday, Tuesday night got e-mail from Tim ,said he would ship it Wednesday.
Ben
Ordering Kickstand
My 2008 Phantom came without a Kickstand, so I'm
testing the Lightning parts system today.
All's well at Lightning
The kickstand for the 2008 Phantome was ordered through Tim by phone on 5/27 and arrived by FedEx 6/4 late in the evening from Lompoc Ca to East Tennessee. Not bad at
all and no complaints. Excellent products.