ElectricMotorcycleForum.com

There have been threads about this in the past, not easy to find because forum design ... anyway, I've listed my issues before and can only now add the 2013 battery replacement recall program. Mostly, I've had attentive and responsive dealers in Seattle and then the SF bay area and feel like the bike has been fine for me.

My prior report, with some others: http://electricmotorcycleforum.com/boards/index.php?topic=4235.msg26937#msg26937



Model Year- 2013
Model- DS 11.4
Purchase date (mo/yr)- 03/13
Mileage- 18000
Modifications? If so, what?- Luggage, windscreen, DigiNow dongle, Elcon charger.
Primary terrain during use (city, highway, dirt, combo, etc)- City, highway, occasional dirt.
Max/min/average ambient temperatures during use- 100F/30F/60F

Battery is still in good condition, no loss of capacity noticeable.

Model Year 2013
Model S ZF 11.4
Purchase date (mo/yr)- 07/2013
Mileage- 23000
Modifications? If so, what?- USB Outlet mounted for Smartphone; QuiQ Chargers mounted in side cases for touring
Primary terrain during use (city, highway, dirt, combo, etc)- Fun rides near my home: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franconian_Switzerland
Once a year long distance trips at WAVE Trophy: www.wavetrophy.com

Max/min/average ambient temperatures during use min. 0 max 42 average 20 degree Celsius

Thanks for the info so far, everyone.

As someone who has put over 100,000 miles combined on each model year Zero 2012 and up, I can tell you the bikes have progressively gotten more reliable each year.  Not that there aren't plenty of 2013's out there that have been trouble free, and all of them are receiving the new 2015 battery pack, if having an issue here or there that might require you taking the bike to the dealer is something that will cause you stress or anxiety you are not good at dealing with, I would highly suggest getting a 2016 Zero.  Not just for the better power, range, suspension, brakes, display, seat, motor redesign and cooling, tires and more, but the fine tuning of refinement to prevent issues is huge.  If you haven't bought one yet, go test ride the 2016 and see if you like it enough and what you can save on gas and vehicle maintenance each month can justify the additional cost over getting a 2013, which for most people I think it will and I hope it makes sense for you too.

The other thing I have noticed, is lots of people join the forums either before they buy a bike, or after they have an issue to seek community help.  Many Zero owners I know from facebook that haven't had any issues have never joined the forum as they have had no reason to.  Keep that in mind.  Anyway please take my advice and strongly consider a 2016.  They have gotten better and less expensive each year.  This month there is a "free fuel for life" program that basically will get you an additional $1000 back, reducing the cost of a new 9.8 S or DS to under $9000 with the tax credit.  I want to see every new owner as happy as they can be, and I think you will enjoy a 2016 much more than what you would save by getting a 2013.  Trust me.  I've put in the miles on these bikes to be able to say that. 

Thanks for that. I am indeed considering a new 2016, not a 2013. I posted "2013+" since they are all the same generation from that point forward. I'm really only personally concerned with the 2016's since I wouldn't buy an older one, but I didn't figure there would be enough data yet to post up about 2016's alone. I know you have tons of experience with Zeros and have some ties to the people in the know so it's good to hear that you feel the 2016's should be more reliable. What specifically have they changed to address reliability for the 2016's vs 2015's (aside from the IPM motors, etc.)? Did they simply up the QC inspections and tests or have hard changes been made, or all of the above?
For example, I read about many problems with 2015 on-board chargers and as far as I can tell, those chargers carried over to 2016. Are they all-new chargers or did they fix whatever issues the 2015 units had or are they just inspecting/testing them for problems more carefully?

Zero also needs to fix the issues with service when problems do arise. I've read way too many stories on here of super long waits for diagnosis, parts, and/or repair. Be it dealer problems or factory problems, Zero needs to jump all over it if they want more people to feel comfortable about spending a relatively large sum of money on these. I understand that sometimes unexpected problems arise, but how they are handled counts for a lot. I'm one of those who has not the time or patience (because I don't have the health) to deal with months of back-and-forths without clear and concise resolution. Hopefully they have recently decided to put some serious effort into this, because if some of the previously posted experiences are what is to be expected, I'm not ready to jump in yet.

Again, thanks for all the responses (past and future).

Dear ALLVLTS,

To put things in perspective:

Just remember, among other problems, that 1 out of 27 Audi's needs a new engine within two years time when bought brand new. However in europe, where i live, they sell like hot cakes.
Also keep in mind that consumer rights in europe are much worse then in the US.

Zero has a much better track record in that perspective, but if you want 99,5% trouble-free riding, consider a Honda.

Heh.

Model Year- 2016
Model- S 13.0
Purchase date (mo/yr)- Feb 16
Mileage- 750
Modifications? If so, what?- USB charger, XKChrome light kit, Givi top case w/ Zero rack
Primary terrain during use (city, highway, dirt, combo, etc)- Suburbia
Max/min/average ambient temperatures during use- Max 72F, Min 31F, Average has been around 55F

It has been a glorious, trouble free two months.

My 2015 SR has been fine so far, even after a couple of rain storms that I've been through.

Model Year- 2014

Model- SR 11.4Kwh

Purchase date (mo/yr)- 12/2015 (new old stock, early adopter program)

Mileage- ~10000mi

Modifications?  rear rack, mirrors, police (SP) crash bar, horn

Primary terrain during use (city, highway, dirt, combo, etc)-
city, highway

Max/min/average ambient temperatures during use- 50 - 100 F

My 2011 Zero S was pretty reliable too, except for the whole not able to get the range promised issue.  (45-58 mile range, per the specs, but I could never get it to go the 35 miles for the regular trip I bought it for).  They did replace throttle under warranty (it pulled a little when at full stop sometimes).

My 2014 SR has only had a couple of incidents, and they were related to running the battery very low.  Don't do that.  Solved by a full charge.