| Author | Message | ||
     Electraglider_1997 |
Demo'd the FX and SR models at Werner Cycle Works in Omaha, NE. The FX is a hoot to ride and the demos were unsupervised so we got to ride where we wanted to ride. My wife, son and I rode together on 3 Zero bikes. The SR has double the batteries and more motor, with 106 ft-lbs if torque. It really moves out in a hurry. More power that the ULY it seemed when you really hit the throttle. Loved the quiet of the electric bikes. I'm waiting to see what the 2016 model specs are and just might buy a Zero when they come out. My wife demo'd and has given the go ahead if I get rid of the 97' Electraglide. I would just love to have an electric motorcycle for all the around town riding that I do. Not ever having to gas up is certainly a big plus. No oil changes either. (Message edited by electraglider_1997 on August 22, 2015) | ||
| Buewulf |
I really wanted to get an FX to double as a dirt bike / commuter (being able to commute on it is how I justify a $12,000 dirt bike in my head - even though I don't often commute on my bikes), but it doesn't have the range I need even with the double battery. I was allowed to keep a demo overnight and it barely got me from my house to the office in the morning. I'd be worried that the distance to the office would grow out of reach as the battery aged and lost some of its charge capacity. I actually made the ride home from the office with plenty of battery to spare because nearly half the route becomes a parking lot during the afternoon commute, allowing me to use much less of the FX's juice. I really like that bike. So now I am gravitating towards the DS, though it pains me to pay more for a bike I don't want quite as much as the FX. It wouldn't be nearly as fun as the FX but would make the commute easily, and I'd still take it off-road even through it is a lot heavier than the FX. Unfortunately, the local dealer dumped Zero last year, so I wouldn't be able to get such a thorough test on the DS like I did with the FX before buying. | ||
| Hughlysses |
Motorcyclist posted a long-term wrapup of their test of the S model today: http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/2015-zero-s-long -term-wrap-doin-time | ||
| Reepicheep |
I want a zero bad, I just can't afford one. | ||
| Sagehawk |
Buewulf: what dealer was that? | ||
| Figorvonbuellingham |
Do they lease the batteries out? Quite a few of those Nissan Leaf owners got a shock when it came time to replace batteries and they had to fork of $5000. I'd love an electric bike with like 1000 mile range. | ||
| Froggy |
Got proof? I ask because the car has only been out for about 5 years, and they have an 8 year warranty on the battery. Also, batteries can be refurbished or replaced yourself for a fraction of the cost. | ||
| Buewulf |
"and they have an 8 year warranty on the battery." That is against defects. It is 5 years or 60K miles against capacity loss which is what most people need to change batteries for. That said, I have no idea how many Leaf batteries (or batteries for any other type of electric vehicle or hybrid) have had to be replaced outside of warranty. | ||
| Buewulf |
"Buewulf: what dealer was that?" Sagehawk, Gulf Coast used to sell Zeros. Or tried to sell them, anyway. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
http://www.electricvehiclewiki.com/Battery_Capacit y_Loss | ||
| Jim2 |
I think this recent breakthrough will be very good for electric vehicles. This is not the best article I've read on this but you get the idea. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&so urce=web&cd=1&ved=0CB0QFjAAahUKEwj1t_2z1MfHAhVTQZI KHcxmDA0&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailydot.com%2Ftechn ology%2Frechargeable-battery-research-mit-samsung% 2F&ei=MCveVfXfCNOCyQTMzbFo&usg=AFQjCNFH7NSBdM0vSms xoJozgdRAJAZz1A&cad=rja | ||
| Jim2 |
Here is a better article on the same news https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&so urce=web&cd=2&ved=0CCQQFjABahUKEwjbnMS31cfHAhWNEZI KHVEHB8A&url=http%3A%2F%2Frevolution-green.com%2Fp otential-battery-longevity-breakthrough-from-mit-a nd-samsung%2F&ei=RCzeVdvqAY2jyATRjpyADA&usg=AFQjCN Hoz9CEZ1Zd0mGTQILvbpfpG5_JLQ&cad=rja | ||
| Sagehawk |
Yeah, bout that. Now they have taken on motus I understand | ||
| Buewulf |
"Now they have taken on motus I understand" Yes, I guess they are just gluttons for punishment, Sagehawk. That is an interesting article, there, Jim2. I'd like to be more optimistic about that, but if I had a dollar for every "game-changing battery technology breakthrough on the horizon!" article I've read over the past 20 years... | ||
| Figorvonbuellingham |
No proof. Just something I read here on this website somewhere so take it as you wish. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
I'm of the opinion that Elon Musk's gigafactory will bring down battery prices once they get the place up and running. I demo'd a Tesla and that power was very impressive but the price was over $100K and to me that is $70K too much. The power that the Zero motorcycle's have should be felt by everyone that rides bikes. It is just so instantaneous, no building up, just right now. Low speed was so darn smooth which is something compared to the ULY. | ||
| Buewulf |
"I'm of the opinion that Elon Musk's gigafactory will bring down battery prices once they get the place up and running." Unfortunately, Zero uses a completely different battery cell design in their packs. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Buewulf, That may be so but it doesn't mean they can't make differently shaped cells. They certainly would have all the necessary materials. Just read about solid lithium battery technology that is being developed by Samsung in collaboration with a university that is fire proof and purportedly many-many times the cycle life and more power density. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Check out these developments. http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/130380-future-batt eries-coming-soon-charge-in-seconds-last-months-an d-power-over-the-air | ||
| Buewulf |
EG, The pouch cells used by Zero are nothing like the cylindrical cells that Tesla is tooling up to make. I don't think Tesla is going to invest in the additional tooling to produce a battery format that doesn't advance their goals as an electric car manufacturer. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Found this incredible video about Zero's head battery engineer. He talks about 1000 miles per charge. I say bring it on. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZg237IUdFk |
