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[Richard230]

Tonight I received a call from my local Zero dealer, Mission Motorcycles in Daly City, CA.  They told me that a new 2012 Zero DS will be arriving in their showroom tonight and will be on display tomorrow morning.  Naturally, I plan to check it out.  I was also told that the new models are being produced faster than expected and the 2012 Zero S that I ordered less than a month ago was expected to be delivered within two to three weeks.  Good news!    

Quite a change from Zero's slipping production schedules when they first started taking orders for their early models.

[Richard230]

So I visited Mission Motorcycles this morning and checked out the new 2012 Zero DS.  All I did was to sit on and inspect it.  I was offered a test ride, but declined as traffic in the area is kind of crazy and I don't really like to ride anyone else's bike, especially the only one of its type in the shop.

Anyway, the DS model that they had in the shop was very much blacked-out, too much so for my taste. It really needs some "bold new graphics" to liven it up a bit. The seat on this model is very high and I could not reach the floor with my 30" inseam. Also the seat felt very hard and had a hard, but durable-looking, rubber-like covering.  The mirrors were not positioned very well and should be higher and wider.  The front brake looked kind of wimpy, but perhaps that is typical for an off-road bike.  The rear shock also looked smaller and less robust than I am used to, but then most of my IC motorcycles weigh a lot more than the DS.

I liked the instrument cluster and gauges, they are neat, compact and readable. The motor looked very much "Mars-like" and I didn't see any sort of forced-air cooling system, other than the slots in the motor through which you can see the motor windings.  There is a very large heat-sink under the seat, which I assume houses the controller.  The drive belt is quite thin, much thinner than any motorcycle drive belt that I have ever seen. (I have seen the ones on Harleys, BMWs, Buells, and it is thinner even than the belt on the 1983 Kawasaki GPz 305 that I used to own.)

I took several photos of the bike and its parts, but unfortunately my photo files are too large for this forum.  However, I did attach about 9 photos in my similar post on the El Moto forum if you want to go there to see them:

http://www.elmoto.net/showthread.php/1960-2012-Zeros-are-arriving-at-dealerships

[Richard230]

I finished reading the 110-page 2012 Zero S/DS owners manual last night and here are some items that I found interesting:

The motor is described as a "High efficiency, double-stator axial flux permanent magnet, brushless motor with integrated forced air cooling".

The controller is a "High efficiency, 420 amp, 3-phase brushless controller with re-generative deceleration".

The motor is rated at 12.2 HP.

Estimated top speed (max) is 88 mph, estimated top speed (sustained) is 75 mph.

The batteries are "Z-Force Patented Li-ion Intelligent Power Pack". Nominal capacities are 5.3 kWh and 7.9 kWh. Charge times are 6.0 hours and 9.0 hours (using the on-board 120V/240V charger). The charger is a 1 kW "integrated" device.

Ranges are 76/114 miles per the EPA UDDS cycle and with an estimated 43/63 miles at 70 mph.

Final drive is "28T/132T Sprockets, 8 mm pitch, 200 tooth, 14 mm width, Poly Chain GT Carbon (belt)".

Seat height for the "S" is 32.5" for the ZF6 and 33" for the ZF9. A low seat option drops that height by one inch. For the DS (which is what I sat on), seat height is 35.3 (ZF6) and 34.8 (ZF9) (?).

Weight for both the S and DS is given as 297/341 pounds and GVWR is 637/681 pounds.

Maximum carrying capacity is 340 pounds and at this load the bike can be started on a 13% hill from a dead stop.

The replacement interval for the final drive belt is 12,500 miles.

Anything else you want to know?

[Richard230]

I forgot to mention that the owners manual references a chain-drive option, presumably for those who want to ride the DS off-road. Having a chain drive is more reliable when riding in the dirt and altering the final-drive gearing would be much easier and cheaper than trying to locate a different cog wheel.  I also forgot to add that the DS uses a 25-tooth front cogwheel to go with the 132-tooth rear cogwheel, which both models use. Also, the DS has a maximum speed of 80 mph and a sustained speed of 70 mph, most likely due to its lower gearing.

[skadamo]

Thanks for all the information Richard! The bike is very black. I like it personally.

[cirrus pete]

any word on how the regen works?

[Richard230]

The owner's manual says that the "sport/eco" toggle switch exerts some control over the regen system.  In "sport" mode, the regen is light and in "eco" mode, it is more pronounced.  I think it's activation is controlled by closing the throttle, but other than that, the manual doesn't give any technical details.

The regen on my sepex GPR-S was controlled by the controller (naturally).  If you had a programmer (which I did) for the controller, you could adjust the regen effect from 100% to 0%.  No doubt the regen on the Zero is pre-programmed at the factory and not something that they are going to let the customer mess with.  I doubt that the regen on the Zero is going to make much of a difference in its overall range as I never saw more than a 3% amperage payback on any of my rides (which typically involved a lot of hills) and 2% was more typical.  Initially, I had the regen set at 100% and rarely ever needed to use the brakes, except when the regen kicked off around 5 mph while coming to a stop.  I liked it better when set at 50%.

[RickSteeb]

I finished reading the 110-page 2012 Zero S/DS owners manual last night and here are some items that I found interesting:
...
Ranges are 76/114 miles per the EPA UDDS cycle and with an estimated 43/63 miles at 70 mph.
...

It's 35 miles from the Pleasanton dealership to my home in San Jose... I hope to confirm at least THAT much range tomorrow!!!

 

[oobflyer]

It's 35 miles from the Pleasanton dealership to my home in San Jose... I hope to confirm at least THAT much range tomorrow!!!

I'll be riding home from Pleasanton to Stockton (60 miles). Maybe I'll see you at the dealership Rick.

Dave

[RickSteeb]

It's 35 miles from the Pleasanton dealership to my home in San Jose... I hope to confirm at least THAT much range tomorrow!!!

[/quote]

I can now vouch for about a 32 mile range at freeway speed on my new 6kWh DS...  And that it pushes MUCH easier than my 750 Magna...

A nice touch is the thing will pull its own weight for a couple of miles walking along side and twisting the "throttle" after the battery ceases to propel normally.

Nice meeting you, Dave; hope your "9" got you to your waypoint!!

Glad my commute is only 28 miles round-trip!  

[Harlan]

Hey guys.  Just wanted to chime in here on a couple points.

To answer your question, Pete, the regen is activated by fully closing the throttle.  Hitting the brakes and closing the throttle will give you more regen.  The regen is mild in "Sport" mode and heavy in "Eco" mode.

Rick, I think you'll find that after a few charge cycles, you're battery pack will reach it's optimum range.  I'd expect you to get a bit more than 32 miles considering we've regularly seen nearly 30 miles at freeway speeds on the 2011 bikes with a 4.4kWh battery pack.

Hope that helps!

[oobflyer]

I didn't have any problems getting home. I stopped at a friends halfway (30 miles), charged for about 90 minutes (three additional bars on the fuel gauge) and rode the rest of the way (another 30 miles). When I got home I still had three bars on the gauge, so I might have made it without the midway charge, but it was nice to have the buffer.
I rode the speed limit on the freeway all the way home - 55/60/65 MPH.

you'll find that after a few charge cycles, you're battery pack will reach it's optimum range

I look forward to learning the maximum range after charging a few times.

Will the batteries perform more efficiently in warmer weather? I'm really looking forward to summer!

If you are interested I'll be posting some pictures on "V is For Voltage" .

[RickSteeb]

Just got back from a visit to Lick Observatory, 19 miles each way.  "Fuel gauge" indicated half-charge at top of Mt Hamilton, and I got back down the mountain [using "Eco mode" & regen braking mostly] with 3 bars showing.  Will see what the Kill-A-Watt says it takes to recharge it!

[af1 racing]

Hi everyone, we are AF1 Racing in downtown Austin, Texas.  We signed up to sell Zero Motorcycles about a month ago, and are anxiously waiting on the 2012s to arrive.  We've had two 2011 demos for a while, the S, and XU model, and are quite impressed with them so far.  They are so fun to ride, and they havent burned a drop of gas yet...LOL  It's all we use for running errands now.

The 2012s should be a very nice upgrade in speed and range.    We'll have 2012 demos as soon as they arrive, and you are more than welcome to test ride the two 2011s we have now.


Thanks
Ed Cook
AF1 Racing Zero, Aprilia, Piaggio, Vespa, and Moto-Guzzi.

[Richard230]

Hello, AF1 Racing. Congratulations on becoming a Zero dealer. I remember your firm well as I once owned a 2004 Aprilia SR50 and bought a lot of hop-up parts from you – over and over, on occasion.  The 50 finally was retired when the connecting rod broke in half. I guess making 13 hp and riding at 75 mph on the freeway with an 80cc big bore kit, 24mm carb, expansion chamber, etc. didn't agree with the motor.  I sold the rolling chassis to a racer who no doubt is more used to replacing motors than I was.

It was fun while it lasted.