Posted on 10/23/2018 10:51:29 AM PDT by Red Badger
Zero has become the biggest name among the ascendant electric motorcycle companies, making bikes for dirt riders, commuters, and even police. I’ve ridden a few, and they’re a blast. The brand's electric bikes have all the benefits of electricity—minimal maintenance, energy efficiency, instant torque—alongside the main benefits of a motorcycle, such as easy parking, paying less than you would for a new car, and feeling cooler than you are.
Today, Zero announced its new lineup of electric motorcycles. The most obvious improvement is range. Zero says the S and SR models with the $3,000 Power Tank option will do 223 miles of city riding, or around 150 miles of combined range. (Electric vehicles actually get more range when stopping and starting in city driving than they do on the highway, which is the opposite of most gasoline vehicles).
Zero FXZ
The S and DS models with the ZF7.2 battery have a shorter range, but go faster thanks to a 35 percent horsepower bump. The S and DS models with the ZF14.4 (longer ranger) now have the same battery chemistry as the performance models, the SR and DSR. These new models also will have a Long Term Storage Mode, which optimizes the battery to last longer if you stash your bike for the winter.
Here’s the pricing breakdown with range for a full charge, city and highway combined:
Zero SR: $16,495 (120 miles), $19,390 (150 miles) Zero S: $10,995 (60 miles), $13,995 (120 miles) $16,890 (150 miles) Zero FX: $8,495 (27 miles), $10,495 (54 miles) Zero FXS: $8,495 (29 miles), $10,495 (57 miles) Zero DSR: $16,495 (105 miles), $19,390 (132 miles) Zero DS: $10,995 (53 miles), $13,995 (105 miles), $16,890 (132 miles)
The bikes get cosmetic changes as well. My personal favorite: the bronze and yellow DSR. That model is a road-focused version of the DS (dual sport), and comes with a windscreen, tank grips (sticky rubber that helps keep your thighs in place), and bark busters—plastic covers over the grips.
Zero DSR
Last year, Zero started selling bikes with a $2,300 optional 6 kW Charge Tank, which meant you could charge it from a Level 2 vehicle charger. Using that tech, Zero says, its bikes will go from empty to 95 percent in an hour, or about 85 miles of city riding per hour plugged in. Now, Zero is selling an aftermarket Charge Tank system that dealerships can install on bikes that weren’t fitted from the factory. It will work with bikes going back to 2015. One cool function: you can also plug the standard 110-volt wall plug in, and it’ll charge even faster.
Zero’s CEO says it sells more electric motorcycles annually than “all our competitors combined.” I believe it. They’re incredible. If you’re game to spend five figures on a bike and aren’t nostalgic about shifting and getting your hands greasy for maintenance, these are a cool way to get around.
I don’t mind. Freedom includes the ability to take risks.
Just don’t misunderstand that motorcycles as a replacement for most other forms of transport is much more dangerous.
Happy riding!
More People + More Motorcycles = More Fun + More Dead = More Organ Donors.....................
Alas, I had a stroke when I was thirty-one, and no longer have the reaction time low enough to ride. At least, not like I used to.
This is my 141,000th THREAD REPLY!....................
Any info on top speed? Horsepower? Can they go on the Freeway? Performance?
“After he won they turned off the light and closed my lane”
I’m the one second in line who the guy in front of me asks if he could break line to get something. I tell the cashier to wait because he will be right back and when he does, the balloons drop from the ceiling, the music plays and the Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders show up to congratulate him.
If it weren’t for bad luck...
no luck at all.
The motorcycle press is owned by conglomerates who have decided to push these ridiculous excuses for bikes.
Get your motor hummin’
Head out on the highway!
Looking for a charger!
And whatever comes our way........................
The Hardly Abelson riders cannot remove the mufflers, not of interest to them. Who will admire you if they cannot be deafened by you as you cruise the boulevard.
I always get the line with some old hag wanting to argue with the checker about coupons or whether something was on sale.
Get some loud speakers and...................
How about a personal check and no ID.
buddah buddah buddah, pop, flatch, wheeze...All sounds Harley wanted to patent.
‘81 GL1100 w/ Vetter Windjammer III. Put 200k miles on that bike. Paid 3100 for it new at the end of the model year and sold it nine years later for 1500. It was one of the 50 prototype bikes that Honda made prior to pruduction. Factory ported & polished, rods and pistons balanced to 1/10 of a gram. Zero-zero runout on the crank. With some electric and carb mods the bike dynoed at 110hp. Added Progessive Precission fork springs, Ken Ross Racing seals, and air adjustable Magnum 1000 rear shocks. The Vetter fairing came with X & K band radar built in. T it was the smoothest motor i ever owned and plenty damn fast. People were lined up to buy that bike when i decided to sel it. If any of you remember Randy at Advanced Cycles in Daytona he did all the work. It was layer painted from top to bottom: silver fading into electric blue fading into black. Sharp if i might say. I had a comfy custom saddle put on it but can’t remember to make. I also had a set of detachable attache style luggauge but ran without it most of the time. Used to commute 120 mi day total. Longest one day ride was 680 mi. Butt wasn’t sore but i sure as heck stagged away from it when i got off. It was one helluva motor. Sold it after a voice came to me one day on the way home. It said, “its time you got off this bike.” Put it up for sale and have been on a motoe since. It was my forth and final motor.
Since power isn’t required for heat, air conditioning, radio, internal lights, etc. electric motor bikes do make more sense than electric cars. At least pending a revolution in battery technology. Of course, you still have the problems of the occasional loss of limbs and skin, or brain matter smears on the highway.
Zero Motorcycles? Got to find where is a dealer... especially if they got models for the woods...
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