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[WindRider]

The snow is melting here in the frozen NorthWest and I am starting to sneak a few rides in on my new 2013 FX 5.7 now.

I came from a '12 DS ZF9 so I anticipated lower range on the FX but I have been disappointed with how far I can go on it and wanted to compare notes with other riders who have FX 5.7s in the wild.

When I rode it to the dealer for the recall I went an indicated 31.7 miles and arrived on the last flashing bar.   To dissect that route the first 2.5 miles are downhill 1,000 feet at 10-20 MPH so they are pretty much free miles.   Then 18 miles of 2 lane highway at 45-65 MPH with a 1,000 hill climb and descent.  Top it all off with 11.5 miles of cross town 35-40 MPH stop and go traffic.   It was 36 degrees F, so cold and the bike only has 160 miles on it now, so it might still be breaking in.   It has sat for 3 months now pretty much steady on the charger so that batteries have not been cycling at all.   I made this ride in ECO mode and I was very smooth and steady with throttle input.  No power wheelies or rapid acceleration the whole route.   The 65 MPH top speed was downhill.

On the Zero Site the FX 5.7 claims 54 miles of range for "combined" riding range which is how I would classify this ride.   If I subtract 20% for cold weather I should still be able to roll 43 miles so I am wondering if something is amiss with the bike.

If anyone could compare range numbers for their FX please reply.   Thanks.

[LiveandLetDrive]

For one thing as you may know the bike will go several miles flashing empty (zero bars), though I've never felt like taking the walk home to figure out exactly how far.  That last bit of energy is surely included in their estimations.  Also, when it goes to 3 bars that is still 39% remaining (roughly), not 30% or less.

Personally I mostly ride my commute which is 2.5mi city (0-45mph stop-go), 9mi highway (75-89mph), and finally another 4mi city (0-50mph minimal stops).  I arrive with 3 or 4 bars.  If I take the back roads it is 15mi (0-50mph stop-go) and I arrive with 5 or 6 bars.  I accelerate hard from pretty much every stop and spend a lot of time over 80mph (indicated, I have a smaller rear tire now.)  I keep meaning to do a hypermiling run one of these days but that's not really my idea of a good time...  You can turn the torque limit all the way down to 1% apparently.  Not sure what Eco mode is set to from the factory but the lowest I've ridden at is 20% and it still pulls away from cars at the stoplight easily but probably can't maintain highway speed.  70-75mph takes ~12kW if I remember correctly.  Grades are a big deal too.



Their numbers are pretty crazy-optimistic but I guess I went in expecting that.  Not inaccurate perhaps, but far from real-world.  They're not doing themselves any favors leading people to false expectations and should really have a calculator like Tesla does showing how different driving choices affect the real-world range.

http://www.teslamotors.com/goelectric#range  (scroll down a bit)

Unfortunately the speed-sensitivity for a motorcycle is pretty ugly, and the FX lends itself to high-kW play which can rapidly deplete the packs as well.  Your range doesn't surprise me from my experience I'm afraid.

[WindRider]

I picked up the FX after the recall today and rode it home today.   It was quite nice here and almost 60 deg F which should help range.   I made the same route in reverse and arrived at home with 3 bars left.   I also rode a couple of extra miles on some dirt road and did some rapid acceleration and ran the heated grips about 1/3 of the duration of the ride.   

I plugged in the bike and started up the Zero App and the App tells me that the bike used 78 WH/Mile.   I guess that is all that really matters in terms of range for an E Bike, along with stored energy.   The app also indicated 33% SOC with indicated 33 miles on the tripmeter so that would extrapolate out to about 48 miles.

I am happier with that than the trip in.    When the recall was done it apparently erased the bikes "stats" to date.   I can't remember for certain but I think that my earlier consumption rate that was displaying on the app was something like 108 WH/Mile.   I wonder if the firmware update increased the efficiency in some way or if the batteries are just happier about getting some use and enjoyed the warmer weather.

If I can get 45 miles of range from mixed riding and 50-70 miles on trails and dirt roads I will be happy with the FX.   It is sure a blast to ride.   You are certainly right about the FX "lending itself to "high KW play".    What does your app say for WH/Mile currently?

[WindRider]

Would other Zero owners please post up your current WH/mile reading from the app to your bikes?

It would be interesting to see how other bikes are doing out there in the wild and see if there is significant differences in power used to roll a mile for different models as well.    Thanks in advance.

As just mentioned in my last post, my FX is currently running at 78 WattHours/Mile in the last 34 miles.

[DesignerDan]

2013 Zero S 11.4

102 Wh/mile

Averaged from ~13k miles (I never reset my stats)

[Richard230]

2014 Zero S.  Over 350 miles so far and my average is 95 watts per mile.  But then I don't spend a lot of time on the freeway as it just isn't as much fun as riding on two-lane back roads.   

[LiveandLetDrive]

Last I checked I was gradually drifting up over time, up to around 135Wh/mi.  Just passed 1400mi yesterday since November!

[Spires]

Hello! I just opened my crate that contained a new 2014FX 5.7. unfortunately one of the batteries had an issue, so they are going to overnight me one and I'll send the bad one back. But even with the single battery, coming from a 2009x and 2011DS (stripped for dirt), this bike is blow away!
I'll get some real world range just as soon as I get the second battery in. I'm going to strip this bike down and put proper dirt tires on it. Lots of weight to be saved by dumping DS type tires. I'll post a pic when I'm done.

[BSDThw]

What are your plans

I'm going to strip this bike down and put proper dirt tires on it

If you only charge at home you can disassemble the 2 Meanwell in the front off the "Tank" it will save ~4kg in the top-front

[trikester]

My FX wh/mi runs typically what has been listed here by others. Anywhere from 70 to 110, usually, if I'm riding dirt or holding highway speeds to 35 to 45 mph.

You can look back in the forum, in several places, and find my detailed information gathered on dirt rides. Some of those out & back rides I could have gone 70 to 80 miles on the charge. However, on the highway I figure 50 miles is about my max.

Trikester

[Spires]

If you only charge at home you can disassemble the 2 Meanwell in the front off the "Tank" it will save ~4kg in the top-front

Meanwell? What are  those? Where are they and what are they for?

[BSDThw]

2013 use (as much as I can see) modified Meanwell HLG-320H-54. 2 in series can deliver 116VDC. and ~640W.

Where are they and what are they for?

It is the On-board-Charger! The red arrow points to the 2 silver "things" other photo shows the 4 Meanwells (~1300KW) at the bottom of a S/DS Powerpack.
(sorry I have stolen the FX photo at the forum once - hope it is OK. The other is from the PowerTrain informati on from Zero)

[WindRider]

Thanks for posting that pic BSD.   I did not realize that Zero was using MeanWell chargers on board since 2013.  Great power supplies made by MeanWell.   Very reliable and good value.   

Thanks everyone else that posted current WH/mile numbers.   

[TargeT]

(sorry I have stolen the FX photo at the forum once - hope it is OK.

Thats ok, you can use my pic... my FX isn't NEARLY that clean anymore.... haha


I have about 3,000 miles on my FX so far, I'll have to check my stats and post back here.

[KrazyEd]

   I recently purchased a 2013 FX with 450 miles on it. It has an S Front end and brake, S Wheels,
and, the Fox Shock. With the 17" rear wheel, top speed and range were down, so, I installed a
30 tooth counter shaft sprocket. No longer power wheelies, but, better range and top speed.
Speedometer has been calibrated for the new wheel and gearing. My riding is generally conservative,
and, I was getting around 70 WH/M in ECO mode with torque set to Zero, motor regen to 10%~20%
and 100% brake regen.
   My usual commute to work is 6.5 miles of mild downhill 35 mph to 45 mph speed limit. 21 stop lights.
Usual speed around 35 mph. Next is around 12 miles of freeway.  First part of freeway is mostly level,
next part slight downhill for several miles, then, a little over a mile of fair uphill. Finally, around a mile
of city. Freeway speed is usually 55 mph with me crouched for better range. This 20 mile trip usually
leaves me with 73% ~ 78% battery left. A FULL charge on my FX ( not sure about others ) is 95%,
or, 5.06 KW. If I toggle the ignition switch a few times, I can coax it to 100% or, 5.366 KW.
I can easily hit the 70 mile mark for a charge.
   Our local EV club has a 100 mile per charge club. I am working on that for the FX. Real world will
require under 50 KW/M to achieve this. With agonizingly slow riding, ( 25 mph ~ 30 mph ). I have
been able to hit 35 WH/M. I have just under 150 miles with the new gearing and, am at 49 WH/M.
This has been mostly under 35 mph with two blasts in Sport mode, and, one 12 mile freeway run
at 55 mph. Trying to upload screen captures from app. Don't think it is working.