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[JaimeC]

First off, Nick has better friends than I do:
https://www.cycleworld.com/zero-fxs-as-thank-you-gift

And then he got to beat on it and almost not get home:
https://www.cycleworld.com/first-ride-on-zero-fxs-electric-motorcycle

[qorw]

Yes, he seems blissfully ignorant of what is behind that "gift". Zero is pushing so hard to get sales up so that they can afford their previous failures (see many posts on firmware fiasco and 2012 model buy back). I think its going to bite them when the current models fail and they continue to give bad service. Then I tried to reply to his post where he "marvels" at the low maintenance, to tell him it is BS because when any zero electronic board fails one cant repair it, you have to buy a new one for mega dollars; but he deleted my comment...

[Richard230]

Did I detect a little BMW-bashing in that article?   

[JaimeC]

Did I detect a little BMW-bashing in that article?   

Maybe that's why I enjoyed it. 

I love my K1200LT, but I wouldn't buy a new BMW motorcycle OR car if you put a gun to my head.

[dennis-NL]

Yes, he seems blissfully ignorant of what is behind that "gift". Zero is pushing so hard to get sales up so that they can afford their previous failures (see many posts on firmware fiasco and 2012 model buy back). I think its going to bite them when the current models fail and they continue to give bad service. Then I tried to reply to his post where he "marvels" at the low maintenance, to tell him it is BS because when any zero electronic board fails one cant repair it, you have to buy a new one for mega dollars; but he deleted my comment...

I find it logical they deleted it.
Ofcourse such a comment isn't selling and don't forget probably most Zero owners are happy to ride one (see my little Poll for an indication).
You got a really bad one, but don't think they all are...

Don't be so negative at all what is Zero:  yours sucked and they didn't handle it correct.
Hopefully they learn from it, they don't want bad publicity I'm sure.

Their basic bike / frame / motor / handling / power smoothness is really good.
It's just mostly their firmware upgrades that need more testing before releasing it...

[Richard230]

Yes, he seems blissfully ignorant of what is behind that "gift". Zero is pushing so hard to get sales up so that they can afford their previous failures (see many posts on firmware fiasco and 2012 model buy back). I think its going to bite them when the current models fail and they continue to give bad service. Then I tried to reply to his post where he "marvels" at the low maintenance, to tell him it is BS because when any zero electronic board fails one cant repair it, you have to buy a new one for mega dollars; but he deleted my comment...

I find it logical they deleted it.
Ofcourse such a comment isn't selling and don't forget probably most Zero owners are happy to ride one (see my little Poll for an indication).
You got a really bad one, but don't think they all are...

Don't be so negative at all what is Zero:  yours sucked and they didn't handle it correct.
Hopefully they learn from it, they don't want bad publicity I'm sure.

Their basic bike / frame / motor / handling / power smoothness is really good.
It's just mostly their firmware upgrades that need more testing before releasing it...

But what doesn't make any sense is that the basic design is fine.  If you get a good one like most of us do, Zeros run just fine. But I have no explanation why a few seem to be (or turn into) lemons, especially if their owners haven't messed with them. I can only assume that either water got into the works and caused corrosion or a short, a circuit board failed, or there was an assembly error at the factory. But the fact that a few owners have had such a terrible experience with their Zero really seems strange. I guess stuff happens and any vehicle can develop problems that seem unsolvable at times. However, it sure would be nice to know why these sort of apparently unsolvable things happen so that a data base could be developed to correct the problem(s) should other owners suffer the same mysterious issues.

[ctrlburn]

Yes, he seems blissfully ignorant of what is behind that "gift". Zero is pushing so hard to get sales up so that they can afford their previous failures (see many posts on firmware fiasco and 2012 model buy back). I think its going to bite them when the current models fail and they continue to give bad service. Then I tried to reply to his post where he "marvels" at the low maintenance, to tell him it is BS because when any zero electronic board fails one cant repair it, you have to buy a new one for mega dollars; but he deleted my comment...

I find it logical they deleted it.
Ofcourse such a comment isn't selling and don't forget probably most Zero owners are happy to ride one (see my little Poll for an indication).
You got a really bad one, but don't think they all are...

Nick Ienatsch's series closes the discussions since late 2017, you could have posted the solution for the "Hadamard conjecture" and it would have been deleted.

[qorw]

You got a really bad one, but don't think they all are...

Don't be so negative at all what is Zero:  yours sucked and they didn't handle it correct.
Hopefully they learn from it, they don't want bad publicity I'm sure.

Their basic bike / frame / motor / handling / power smoothness is really good.
It's just mostly their firmware upgrades that need more testing before releasing it...

Its actually just a matter of time, I was really happy with mine initially too until reality caught up with me. The reality is that electronic components and assembly boards have a significantly shorter life than mechanical parts! Just concider mobile phones and home / laptop computers! Not only have they got a possible three to four year life, but the manufacturers almost want them to last a short while only so that people will buy the new models! What's more is that most modern ICE vehicle complain about the most, is the unreliable modern extravagant use of electronics in our cars! For example, the electronic ABS is sure to give one trouble long before the master or slave cylinders and/ or brake rotors and calipers fail! So good luck to those with happy Zeros, long may they last...

[JaimeC]

You might be buying the wrong laptops.  I've been using refurbished Thinkpads and in the past ten years I've only had two.  I just replaced my refurbished T410 with a T420; not because any electronic parts were failing but because after nearly a decade of being stuffed in my saddlebag on numerous cross country motorcycle trips some of the plastic parts were starting to crack.

But I hear you on the electronics in modern automobiles.  I actually purchased the ten year extended warranty on my 2018 Subaru because all of the electronic systems frankly scare me.  If that car ever does break down on a trip I doubt Goober's Garage in West Bumf**k will be able to get it running again.

I had one major problem with my Zero (I mean, other than it being destroyed by an inattentive asshole), and that was the motor itself (a mechanical part).  It was replaced under warranty and it was running just fine until the encounter with the previously mentioned asshole.

[qorw]

I had one major problem with my Zero (I mean, other than it being destroyed by an inattentive asshole), and that was the motor itself (a mechanical part).  It was replaced under warranty and it was running just fine until the encounter with the previously mentioned asshole.

The Zero's electric motor has a mechanical part!? I would love to know what that is? Do you have a photo?
I am a qualified electrical engineer and in my understanding the only part of the motor that could remotely be called "mechanical" is the rotor itself, it has supermagnets glued into it. On old "Zero-force" motors the magnets can come off due to centrifugal force and destroy the stator (the outside casing with the windings in it). But the later Zero-force motor has the magnets slotted into cut-outs at an angle so that they can never come out mechanically. The diagram below shows the various possible arrangements for permanent magnet motors.

[JaimeC]

Not too hard to figure out.  Yes, it has a mechanical part and you properly identified it.  That rotor spins in a couple of sealed bearings at either end (also, technically, a mechanical part) and it was one of those bearings that went bad.

Do I have a photo?  No, the motor was replaced by the dealer and sent back to Zero and now the whole bike is gone because of some asshole more interested in racing into a gas station with an empty pump than the fact that I was passing the driveway at the instant he decided to swerve.

[qorw]

Oh yes the bearing, probably the "drive end" one, which can happen if the belt is tensioned too tight. Glad it was sorted though, and that you are OK after that other accident and still riding.

[JaimeC]

Not riding yet.  I was told the earliest I should even THINK about getting back on a bike is October.  Hopefully I'll be able to take advantage of some end-of-year deals on a new Zero S.

I always kept the belt on the looser end of spec, so I'm not sure why the bearing failed.  The fact that it was replaced under warranty, though, seems to indicate to me that Zero accepted the responsibility for the failure. I'm pretty sure if they thought it was my fault they wouldn't've replaced it.

[dennis-NL]

On topic, a nice article.
I wanted me jumping on my Zero with a big smile instantly after reading both.