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[RNM]

Hey guys,

I would like to know the differences between the 2014 Zero S and DS
I've found so far:

• Wheels
• Tires
• Rear shock
• Tank plastics

What am I missing?

Attach are 2015 pics to compare

[Camresearch]

This article outlines some of the changes between a DS and S.  The classic difference was The tire types and wheel sizes, a 17 front and longer forks on the DS, the S had a 16 front and the forks were an inch shorter. ( they didn't seem to worry about the affect on the headlight on the DS, good for spotting Koalas not much else)... Otherwise very similar. http://www.ridermagazine.com/latest-news/2014-zero-motorcycles-first-look-review.htm/

Hope that helps,

I want to convert my 2010 from a DS to more of an S.... Sand ruined the motor when my brother had it... I don't want to go off road.

Cam 

[Camresearch]

That is the S model from 2014.  Notice the front tire, different wheels, forks and the mud guard travels with the wheel, it is not set up high to catch the breeze.



This one is the DS notice the difference in the wheels, the off road tire on the front and larger wheel, it is a 17, and the back tire is a dual purpose tire

Cam .

[Camresearch]

This was the original DS and S from 2010, that is the same model as mine.  That was when they developed one bike in to two flavors.  They started with the S and made a DS by modification.  Not the best approach to make a good off road bike IMHO.  It did work ok though.   The CEO of Zero said about designing the DS that I quote "Zero replaced the S model’s street-oriented 16-inch front and rear rims with a beefier 17-inch front and 16-inch rear, and swapped tires to on/off-road knobbies. The rebound and compression-adjustable fork now provides 9 inches of travel, instead of 8, and different graphics",  That is all it took to make it an off road bike... hmmmm.  They could have remembered to point the headlight down if they were going to aim the bike skywards... I still like them though.

Cam 

[RNM]

Thanks for the help CAM.

It seems that the forks are the same:

[Camresearch]

No problemo.  Glad to help if I can.  This forum has been of great help to me and I just got here myself.

I can't say for sure about the forks on the 2014 models, I know they were different on the 2010 models.

Cam 

[Cortezdtv]

Pretty sure the forks are not the same, I know the fronts are different. The s forks are much shorter. Rear should also be different along with the gear
 on the motor, some have a 28 and some have 30 not sure which goes to which....


And then the obvious the wheels are different.... You need to have the ds or s forks to have the caliper bolt on ( the fx has much smaller rotor and different mounting points.
Fx and ds forks are basically the same thing except for the bottom side shoe that holds the caliper.


The s wheels when I was looking into buying a set or 2 are apparently very very expensive. If anyone can track down a red rear wheel let me know !!!

[Cortezdtv]

Thanks for the help CAM.

It seems that the forks are the same:

This is a 2015

The pictures at the beginning are the 2014s and the forks are different

[Camresearch]

2014 DS                                                       
 
Front Suspension Size (in)   1.7
Front Travel (in)  7
Front Suspension Type   Inverted Fork
 
Rear Suspension
Rear Travel (in)   7   
Rear Suspension Type   Twin Sided Swing Arm


 2014 S

Front Suspension Size (in)   1.7
Front Travel (in)  6.3
Front Suspension Type   Inverted Fork
 
Rear Suspension
Rear Travel (in)  6.4 
Rear Suspension Type   Twin Sided Swing Arm

I would have to say they are indeed different.  You can find all the specs here: 
For the S 2014:

http://www.powersportstv.com/2014/Zero/S/ZF8.5/Motorcycle/157935/

For the DS 2014:

http://www.powersportstv.com/2014/Zero/DS/ZF8.5/Motorcycle/158602/
 

[RNM]

Cortezdtv, you're right.

Not only different forks but also different headset angles (because of the longer fork and bigger wheel)

[Cortezdtv]

The conversion would require the whole front end
Fortunately because you are going from same frame to same frame you won't have to build a custom top head, or custom bolt to connect the front end.

You wouldn't have to replace bearings just get the:
Headset top and bottom
Front forks + hugger and mounting brackets
The wheels
Rear shock ( I don't know the difference between ds and s)  my guess is the fx is the rear shock in the ds, only because they used the same forks from fx to ds, only difference was the bottom shoe despite the ds being easy 100 lbs heavier than the fx

15' is the big step up in suspension
To give you a comparison, a fox rear off-road shock made for a fx will perform better than any fast ace stuff made for the street...(on the street).   . But once you get the real street Showa stuff, there is no way anything will compare fox, or not...even the 14 (full size) fast ace suspension is much better than the 13s normal small tube forks

I'm trying to cram showa rear on my 13' fx "road racing bike" but I'm going to have to make custom holders to move the shock 1-1.5" back to adapt the much larger eyelets

[Cortezdtv]

If zero made usually possible to adapt older bikes with some of the newer parts suspension wheels tires a lot of people would buy many many more parts for their bikes I know I did and I still had to custom everything on them. Now if I had to do it again it would take me 10 seconds because I have all the custom parts or I know exactly how I would make the same custom part it took me four hours before.

It would cost zero little to offer a suspension upgrade kit, it is probably the only thing people complain about is a very weak suspension and bad breaks the 15th have a good suspension and good breaks it would all bolt if you had the right center pin. (Which I have the proto on my FXr)

This would work the same with the s and ds, but even less work. From my "research" the fx frame got upgraded. But the s frame kept the same bearings and "hozLe" neck as the previous years so it would be as easy as in clip electronics and under 10 bolts for a completely new retrofit suspension....

[Camresearch]

I have to agree with you Cortezdtv, Zero is crazy not to make upgrade parts for their early models.  The riders like my brother who bought their bike with the intention of keeping it for a long time haven't, due to the motor failing.  He has just let his dead DS sit, due to the really expensive and proven to be inadequate parts that are available for his bike in Australia.  Also now in the case of myself, inheriting his bike as a project, I am not in the market for a new bike, I want to fix this one.  If they make it too difficult for me to fix, the chances of me ever forking out for a new one diminish greatly, as I won't buy a bike if the long term support sucks.  We are talking about a bike that is from 2010 not 1964.... you should be able to get parts easily!!! That is not the case.

Cam 

[Richard230]

My impression of Zero is that they just want to look forward and not backward. 

[Camresearch]

Cultivating new customers and ignoring your old customers is business death in the long run.  You can't underestimate brand loyalty.  I had a Toyota Corolla, great small car, parts were cheap and available.  I always consider Toyota now when I am looking for vehicles.  I had a bad experience with a Subaru, with I think the EA32 motor from memory, or something like that.  I went through 2 engines at great expense.  I was unlucky to get a lemon, built on a Monday unit.  I would never buy another Subaru, despite regular and expensive services, parts cost double of any other car I have owned and the car let me down all the time.  I tell everyone now, you guys are the latest, just what I think of these cars.  I hear the new Subarus are great, I don't care, I am not interested in even looking at them anymore!!!  When people ask my advice on buying a car, and they do, Subaru is on the black list......  Zero is in danger of going the same way with me, depending on how things pan out.....  I hope that is not the case....

Cam