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Makes And Models => Zero Motorcycles Forum | 2013+ => Topic started by: frodus on August 04, 2014, 11:39:43 PM

Title: Zero SR Gear ratios and Torque
Post by: frodus on August 04, 2014, 11:39:43 PM
I wanted to post some gear ratio and torque I calculated for the Zero SR.

Zero SR:
Peak torque: 144Nm
Rear tire: 140/70-17 0.32 meter (1.03ft) radius
Final Drive: 4.4:1
Torque at rear axle: 633.6 N-m or 467.32 ft-lbs

As a fun little exercise, I wondered how much force is that on the road from the rear tire? I did this wrong the first time by using ftlbs and newton-meters interchangably, thanks to Protomech for questioning me, I was rushing :)

We know Torque = radius * force * sin(90). We have torque, so the equation becomes Force = torque* 1/r
The angle is 90 degrees since the road is tangential to the tire, so its just 1. So one newton-meter of rotational force would equal one newton of force at 1 meter away. My "rear tire ratio" is 1/r, or 3.13. If calculating using feet, the ratio is 0.97.

Rear Tire ratio: meters: 3.13:1 (feet 0.97:1)

Rear tire peak force at rubber: 1983 N or 445.80 lbf


Here's some tools to convert from N-m to ft-lbs and from Newtons to lbf (pound force):
http://www.unitconversion.org/energy/newton-meters-to-foot-pounds-conversion.html (http://www.unitconversion.org/energy/newton-meters-to-foot-pounds-conversion.html)
and
http://www.unitconversion.org/force/newtons-to-pound-forces-conversion.html (http://www.unitconversion.org/force/newtons-to-pound-forces-conversion.html)
Title: Re: Zero SR Gear ratios and Torque
Post by: NoiseBoy on August 05, 2014, 04:53:08 AM
What about some comparisons to gas bikes?
Title: Re: Zero SR Gear ratios and Torque
Post by: Doug S on August 05, 2014, 06:16:31 AM
Fantastic info, frodus. I always get a lot out of your posts! It's interesting that the Empulse has very similar torque at the rear wheel with their gearbox.
Title: Re: Zero SR Gear ratios and Torque
Post by: RickSteeb on August 05, 2014, 08:15:20 AM
What's that work out to in lbs of thrust at the pavement? :o
Title: Re: Zero SR Gear ratios and Torque
Post by: Doug S on August 05, 2014, 08:47:22 AM
What's that work out to in lbs of thrust at the pavement? :o

Rick, torque is in foot-pounds in English measurements, or Newton-Meters in metric. Since frodus gave us the radius of the rear tire, 12.3 inches or 0.315 meters, thrust in Newtons would be 615 N-m / 0.315 m, or 1950 Newtons. That's equivalent to 438 pounds of force. That's why the front wheel doesn't always like to stay on the ground so much.
Title: Re: Zero SR Gear ratios and Torque
Post by: RickSteeb on August 05, 2014, 09:06:56 PM
What's that work out to in lbs of thrust at the pavement? :o

Rick, torque is in foot-pounds in English measurements, or Newton-Meters in metric. Since frodus gave us the radius of the rear tire, 12.3 inches or 0.315 meters, thrust in Newtons would be 615 N-m / 0.315 m, or 1950 Newtons. That's equivalent to 438 pounds of force. That's why the front wheel doesn't always like to stay on the ground so much.

Ah-hah, that much force would accelerate a 438 lb bike at 1G without a rider [given sufficient traction...].  Wheee!
Title: Re: Zero SR Gear ratios and Torque
Post by: frodus on August 05, 2014, 09:50:46 PM
I had my rear tire torque on the road wrong, its a force, and I was calculating it incorrectly. Edited my original post with correct info, and how I calculated it. I used Newtons because I like metric. I posted links to a couple conversion calculators.
Title: Re: Zero SR Gear ratios and Torque
Post by: frodus on February 21, 2015, 04:46:49 AM
Zero S:
Peak torque: 92Nm
Rear tire: 140/70-17 0.32 meter (1.03ft) radius
Final Drive: 4.7:1
Torque at rear axle: 432.4 N-m or 318.92 ft-lbs

Rear Tire ratio: meters: 3.13:1 (feet 0.97:1)

Rear tire peak force at rubber: 1353 N or 309 lbf