Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[WindRider]

Dear Zero Motorcycles,

I bought your FX.  I love it!   It is a great motorcycle but could get even better in the future with some optional accessories.   Here is my list:

1.  Handguards:   I have the Zero Cycras on my bike.   Excellent.  Nice work.
2.  Grip Heaters:   I have the Zero Keis heated grips installed.   Also excellent and a perfect complement to the hand guards.  Good choice.
3.  ZF20 battery pack module that slides into the existing frame.   I am sure that you are working on that and it might take some time.....
4.  Stealth Windscreen.   Small, smoked, streamlined.   This bike has enough power to scream down the highway and a little windbreak
     would add to rider comfort, bike looks, and efficiency.   Should come off in seconds for dirt riding.
5.  Rear passenger pegs.   These were rumored for 2014... still not on your site?   While the FX is not for 2 up touring sometimes it is nice
     to give a friend or kid a lift for a short distance.
6.  Rear cargo rack.   That big back fender is the perfect place to carry some things.   A light but sturdy rack would be a really popular
     accessory.   
7.  Faster charging!!   Sure there is that ChadeMO thingy but if you read these forums you see that most of us live in places where ChadeMO
     does not.   Make some lower cost options that max out the charging capability of standard 120V outlet.   Make them small, inexpensive
    and modular.   And make them easily snap on and off of the rear cargo rack in seconds.    As much as we all like to dream about a future
    where fast DC charging stations sprout from the ground every 20 miles we own your bikes today and 120V outlets are still the most
    widespread charging power source.   Adding some quick charge capability to the FX based on standard 120V power makes the bike more
    practical.
8.  Rear Cargo Rack luggage.   Make several sizes or simply pick some quality company like First Gear or Kriega and then put some little loops
     on the rear cargo rack that mate perfectly to these bags.   
9.   More Power!!   5.7KW is somewhat range limiting.   Make some modular battery packs that can be locked on and off the bike in seconds
     and quickly connect to the power bus.   These could be mounted on the sides of the existing battery cage (think Battery Boxer) or on racks
     that go over the back of the bike.   Think RotoPax style battery panniers.   Power Panniers to complement the Power tank?   It would be
     nice to have some modular options that could increase the FX stored energy to as high as 10KW and removed from the bike when not
     needed.   This is of course just a stop gap until you get that FX20 power pack worked out.  Keep working on that please.

One more thing:   I know that you made a lot of changes to the 2014 FX and I appreciate your commitment to continuous improvement but I sunk a considerable amount of money into a 2013 model.   Please make all of these new accessories backward compatible to the 2013 model and don't strand it from the future.

Thanks for making a great American Electric Motorcycle and keep up the good work.   Looking forward to some updates on your website's accessory page soon and feel free to contact me directly if you need a product tester as you develop out these accessories.

[LiveandLetDrive]

I concur!  Mostly.  #9 should read "More Energy" and designing a vehicle you have to consider that very low take rate options like spending another $5000 on batteries are going to be a loss for the company and not feasible.  Another 100lbs on the bike would fundamentally alter the experience too; I'd be on the fence about even a 50lb Power Tank which is centered but high.  I bought a second set to do swap-outs and I'd bet less than 10% have done that.  Probably less than 5%, especially as some just get the single pack.  There are engineering costs and low-volume costs for even the seemingly simplest change.  (Source: working for an automotive OEM.)

[Richard230]

Speaking of the Power Tank, my seat-of-the-pants tells me that roll-on performance of my standard 2014 ZF11.4 S, with the power tank installed, does not accelerate much faster than my 2012 ZF9 S did once rolling.  That extra 100 pounds really makes a big difference when rolling on the throttle.  On the other hand, I don't really notice the additional weight when riding, only when lifting the bike off of the side stand.  The power tank just feels like having a full tank of gas on a ICE bike.

[WindRider]

Good comments.

I also really like the low weight of the FX5.7 but if I could quickly put more stored energy on board for occasional use when I need more range I would do that and take the weight penalty only when desired range required more energy.

[aaronzeromoto]

WindRider,

Great feedback. 

5.  Rear passenger pegs.   These were rumored for 2014... still not on your site?   While the FX is not for 2 up touring sometimes it is nice to give a friend or kid a lift for a short distance.

These are available (p/n 10-07417), but not compatible with MY2013 Zero FX.  There was a frame change to accommodate them.  The 2013 also was not homologated for 2-up riding.  I'll get these up on the site shortly.

7.  Faster charging!!

You can use our Quick Charger (p/n 10-06919), which I think you know but wanted to mention for others reading this topic. It's doesn't meet your other requirements as small and modular.  But it adds about 1kW of charging, which will cut charging time in more than half. 

Unfortunately, we can't often make things backwards compatible and homologate them (e.g. passenger pegs).  But I am sure some people on these forums can help find solutions to those problems.

FWIW, I do believe the MY14 seat (p/n 24-06001) will work on the MY13 FX.  On the storage side, I am using our soft bags and there a other vendors that have great solutions here.

Thanks for the feedback!

aaronzeromoto 

[WindRider]

Hey Aaron,

Thanks for reading and participating in the forum here.   It is great that Zero Motorcycles makes a presence here and sees what riders do with and say about Zero Motorcycles products.

[LiveandLetDrive]

I've found the soft luggage to be easy to install, stable, and pretty useful for day to day use but you'd want to put some kind of support frame in to carry anything like, say, a Thanksgiving ham, or you might get some tire rub.  The zippers don't like turning the corners much.

[NoiseBoy]

I do find some of this stuff a bit odd. Honda don't sell all these touring accessories for their CRF250X so I can't see it making much sense for Zero.  This is, after all, why they build the DS.  For people who want to travel longer distances and do a bit of off roading.

[WindRider]

Rear cargo rack and some luggage options are good for commuting which is a core use for an FX or any Zero Motorcycle.    Commuting you always end having to carry some stuff:  layers of clothing, a few errands on the way home, things for the office, etc.   As posted above the Zero
soft bags can be used with the FX already so maybe that is all that they offer but I think a rear cargo rack would add a lot of utility and be a popular accessory.

The battery modules are a stretch for sure but would allow the FX to stretch to do occasional DS range without having to carry that weight around all the time.   So commute and trail ride light but add some weight for an occasional weekend ride that requires more range than 5.7KW can deliver.

And you are right: it is unlikely that Zero will do any of the tiems that they don't already offer,  but I can always ask and if nothing comes of it there is the aftermarket and a welder.

[Richard230]

I am still waiting for my paid-for  luggage rack and Givi top box to arrive.     Right now I would be happy if they just had their existing accessories in stock.

[Richard230]

My dealer received a Zero accessory box dump from UPS the other day and I picked up my share of boxes today.  I now have the rear rack and top box that I ordered some time ago.     As soon as the weather stops being so nice, I will install the farkles and provide installation observations and photos.