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[oobflyer]

I took advantage of my day off of work today (President's day woo-hoo!) and of the nice weather (70F!) to ride my new toy on a longer ride.

I headed east up into the foothills to try some twisties - which were a blast. Boy that torque is nice while leaning and exiting the corners  :-)

After 33 miles and a decrease in battery capacity from 100% to 62% I stopped for lunch. The restaurant had a 20A outlet outside - so I asked if I could plug in while eating. The waitress gave me a blank stare, but noded in the affirmative (Thanks La Tierra!)

With a full stomach and a 78% charge, I headed back down to the valley and rode another 50+ miles to a friends house so he could check out the bike and test-ride it (he was blown away). I arrived there with 22% left on the dash, but I charged for another hour back up to 35% - which got me back home (30 miles) with just 6% charge left in the battery.

So I rode a total of 119 miles using 125% of the battery capacity. Not bad. I rode at "freeway" speeds between 55 and 65 MPH, mostly in Eco mode (also experimented with the Custom mode). I'm sure the claimed range of 94 miles (70 MPH Hwy) is exaggerated (why do they always do that!?), but compared to my 2012 it's a significant improvement. Not only is range improved, but the bike is much more comfortable (seat and suspension), handling is improved (cornering is as is should be). This bike has a look and feel of a "standard" established gasoline powered bike (without all of the racket of an ICE drivetrain).

I'm very happy with the bike and will enjoy riding it for a long, long time :-)

[Straightedg4lif]

oobflyer,

First let me say lucky you for having off for President's Day! Second wow 70 degrees, in Philly yesterday it was wind chill -16 degrees F! Third I am jealous of your bike! I can't wait to get mine.

It sounds like you had a blast, and I am sure everyone figured that the Zero stated mileage was going to be a bit of a stretch! It seems like you did get a good amount of miles out of it, and luckily there were some places to plug it in at.

Keep enjoying and keeping us informed of your fun with your bike, so those who don't have one yet can live vicariously through you!

[Larry295]

oobflyer, can you post more pics of your bike? I am interested in taking a look at how well that top box integrates. Thx

[Burton]

if you want to get your 94 miles at 70mph go out on a windless day, where the temp is under 80 but above 70, and find a nice flat piece of land then crouch down as much as you can and go ride. You will get your advertised range

[MichaelJohn]

I had a very similar Presidents' day ride as the weather in the Bay Area was perfect. I decided to stay off the freeway as much as possible so I left Walnut Creek and headed for Niles, CA which is a quaint little old town tucked behind Fremont where they used to make movies in the old days before everything went to Hollywood. I went via surface streets and Crow Canyon road which is about 7 miles of twisties. When I got to Niles (30 -35 miles roughly) I had 75% battery left. I came back via Niles Canyon Road (6 more miles of twisties) and then some fast empty surface roads (lots of 80+ blasts) then a little freeway. I got home with 70.7 miles on the odo and 38% battery so I used quite a bit more juice on the way back. After bringing the charge back up to 57% I just had to go out again since the weather was so nice. After 38 more miles of wonderful aimless cruising on back roads I got home with 23% battery left. All together I rode 108.8 miles and used 96% of battery with mixed riding. I am very happy with the range and I find Zero's range estimates to be fairly accurate. However I am only 150 lbs so that probably helps. I started riding at 10:00, got home early afternoon for some food and a charge, went back out and didn't get home until after dark. When I finally walked in my wife looked at me and said "really, all day?" I just shrugged my shoulders and said "can't help it, it's the bike".

[oobflyer]

However I am only 150 lbs so that probably helps.

I weigh 160 lbs, and I had my top box attached (less aerodynamic?) and I had about 20 lbs of extras (riding gear, Quic charger, extension cords, adapters, etc.) - maybe the extra 30 lbs or so made a significant difference in the range... I haven't ridden it yet without the top box - I'll have to make another run now and see!

MichaelJohn - were you riding with any extra gear? Do you have a top box? Windshield?

can you post more pics of your bike? I am interested in taking a look at how well that top box integrates.

The top box also doubles as a backrest for a passenger - my wife says it's comfy :-)

[Zorgalouf]

And it looks cool for the passenger because he has got a better place to grab his hands, no?

[Richard230]

Another advantage to the Zero top box mount is that any Givi monokey top box will fit on the mounting plate.  I have both a 30 L top box that I bought 10 years ago and a new 38 L top box that I bought recently.  Both fit the mounting plate perfectly and I interchange them depending upon the load that I am carrying.  I have found that the 30 L box makes no impact on my range and might even improve the aerodynamics slightly.  My longest trip of 150 miles on a charge was taken with the 30 L box installed. 

[DesignerDan]

What I want to know is how you were able to plug both chargers into that outlet without tripping the circuit breaker.

[MichaelJohn]

However I am only 150 lbs so that probably helps.

I weigh 160 lbs, and I had my top box attached (less aerodynamic?) and I had about 20 lbs of extras (riding gear, Quic charger, extension cords, adapters, etc.) - maybe the extra 30 lbs or so made a significant difference in the range... I haven't ridden it yet without the top box - I'll have to make another run now and see!

MichaelJohn - were you riding with any extra gear? Do you have a top box? Windshield?

No top case or windshield however my Givi case sits in the box in the garage waiting for me to put it on. I haven't done it yet because I prefer the look of the bike without it and more importantly, I am lazy. As Richard said above, the box might even help a little aerodynamically as a tailfairing, though not a very efficient one.

Edit: Oobflyer, did your bike come with the windshield or did you add it later? I am wondering how effective it is, it seems fairly small. If anyone else has a before and after experience I would be interested in hearing it.

[oobflyer]

What I want to know is how you were able to plug both chargers into that outlet without tripping the circuit breaker.

It was a 20A circuit (you can tell by the type of outlet). Each charger draws about 7 Amps.

did your bike come with the windshield

Yes I ordered it with the windhshield because I added one to my 2012 Zero and it made a signficant difference in range.

My longest trip of 150 miles on a charge...

Richard - I have to go riding with you one day to learn how you squeeze so many miles out of your battery pack.  :-)

[Richard230]

oobflyer, I have many years of squeezing fuel mileage out of IC motorcycles.  As an example, you won't see very many owners getting 50 mpg out of a 2002 Yamaha FZ1.  I ride efficiently, smoothly and keep my speeds down to the posted limits.  That is why I don't need an SR.   

[Larry295]

thx for the top box photos. It looks like it can take a full helmet too. Nice.
I particularly like the mount, compared to the huge brakets I had on my 2012 to support the box!!

[MichaelJohn]

oobflyer, I have many years of squeezing fuel mileage out of IC motorcycles.  As an example, you won't see very many owners getting 50 mpg out of a 2002 Yamaha FZ1.  I ride efficiently, smoothly and keep my speeds down to the posted limits.  That is why I don't need an SR.   

More power to you for being able to keep it to 65 on the freeway. When I do that with almost everyone speeding past I feel like a sitting duck. When I roll with traffic between 70 and 80 the battery drains so fast it's painful to watch and I start to get range anxiety if I am going any distance. I have been avoiding freeways lately whenever I can.

[Richard230]

oobflyer, I have many years of squeezing fuel mileage out of IC motorcycles.  As an example, you won't see very many owners getting 50 mpg out of a 2002 Yamaha FZ1.  I ride efficiently, smoothly and keep my speeds down to the posted limits.  That is why I don't need an SR.   

More power to you for being able to keep it to 65 on the freeway. When I do that with almost everyone speeding past I feel like a sitting duck. When I roll with traffic between 70 and 80 the battery drains so fast it's painful to watch and I start to get range anxiety if I am going any distance. I have been avoiding freeways lately whenever I can.

I avoid freeways as much as possible and prefer to ride on frontage roads or secondary highways as much as possible.