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Author Topic: Alta MX / Zero FX comparison (sort of)  (Read 2584 times)

rayivers

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Alta MX / Zero FX comparison (sort of)
« on: June 17, 2017, 06:54:27 PM »


I just tried out an Alta MX on 6/15 - details in this post in the Alta section.  It's not a back-to-back comparison, but having ridden my 'MX' recently & repeatedly its performance is etched into my mind.

Ray

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'14 Zero FX 5.7 (now 2.8, MX), '14 Zero FX 2.8 (street), '19 Alta MXR, '18 Alta MXR, various '74 - '08 ICE dirt bikes

Ireek

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Re: Alta MX / Zero FX comparison (sort of)
« Reply #1 on: October 08, 2017, 05:37:17 AM »

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rayivers

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Re: Alta MX / Zero FX comparison (sort of)
« Reply #2 on: October 08, 2017, 08:04:29 AM »

Yes - thanks.

Ray
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'14 Zero FX 5.7 (now 2.8, MX), '14 Zero FX 2.8 (street), '19 Alta MXR, '18 Alta MXR, various '74 - '08 ICE dirt bikes

Ireek

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Re: Alta MX / Zero FX comparison (sort of)
« Reply #3 on: October 08, 2017, 05:43:14 PM »

« Last Edit: October 08, 2017, 05:53:38 PM by Ireek »
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Maribo

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Re: Alta MX / Zero FX comparison (sort of)
« Reply #4 on: October 09, 2017, 08:06:21 PM »

‘Seems like better quality, more money, less weight (than the FX 6.5), less flexibility (than the FX modular).


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odedmaz

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Re: Alta MX / Zero FX comparison (sort of)
« Reply #5 on: March 09, 2018, 07:53:37 PM »

Own the Redshift EX for about a month, and have over 2 years of previous experience with the Zero FX.

A quick highlights comparison -
Build quality is higher in the Alta. Plastics are not brittle and faded like in the Zero (mostly in previous models), bolts are high quality and don't strip easily.

Been riding a lot with friends on Zero, and can now say that the Alta battery lasts for about the same range as the 2 battery packs FX. Amazing how close they get. In the Alta there is no distinguish power loss when the battery weakens.

Sitting position is much higher in the Alta. Great for tall & off road riders. Not so great for shorter and dual sport guys.

The power of the Alta is incredible, more than I can handle. Although I never felt like the Zero lacks power.
I use map 4 in the Alta for its motor deceleration during steep descends only. No brakes are needed..

For off road use, the Alta is superb. for dual sport riding, the FX is more comfortable and can handle the job great.

Attaching some side by side photos for comparison.

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odedmaz

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Re: Alta MX / Zero FX comparison (sort of)
« Reply #6 on: March 09, 2018, 07:55:47 PM »

One more

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Fran K

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Re: Alta MX / Zero FX comparison (sort of)
« Reply #7 on: March 09, 2018, 08:07:43 PM »

The bolts were mentioned.  What is metric and what is inch?  I would guess there are some of each on either one but how do they compare in this aspect?
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stopper90004

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Re: Alta MX / Zero FX comparison (sort of)
« Reply #8 on: March 10, 2018, 01:43:16 AM »

Own the Redshift EX for about a month, and have over 2 years of previous experience with the Zero FX.

A quick highlights comparison -
Build quality is higher in the Alta. Plastics are not brittle and faded like in the Zero (mostly in previous models), bolts are high quality and don't strip easily.

Been riding a lot with friends on Zero, and can now say that the Alta battery lasts for about the same range as the 2 battery packs FX. Amazing how close they get. In the Alta there is no distinguish power loss when the battery weakens.

Sitting position is much higher in the Alta. Great for tall & off road riders. Not so great for shorter and dual sport guys.

The power of the Alta is incredible, more than I can handle. Although I never felt like the Zero lacks power.
I use map 4 in the Alta for its motor deceleration during steep descends only. No brakes are needed..

For off road use, the Alta is superb. for dual sport riding, the FX is more comfortable and can handle the job great.

Attaching some side by side photos for comparison.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk
Is there any option to carry a spare battery for extended range?

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odedmaz

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Re: Alta MX / Zero FX comparison (sort of)
« Reply #9 on: March 10, 2018, 05:42:47 AM »

The Alta's battery can be replaced, but it is not as modular & straightforward as in the Zero FX.

As for the bolts (metric vs inch). Not sure about it.

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eou_edu

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Re: Alta MX / Zero FX comparison (sort of)
« Reply #10 on: March 11, 2018, 09:37:11 PM »

I'm not an owner or an expert of either one of these. So more than anything this is a question rather than an opinion. Looking at the specs it appears the motor and battery on the alta are liquid cooled where the zero are air cooled.  Overheating seems to be a common complaint of zero fx owners.  It's a commonly reported issue that weather effects range on the zero.  It's also a big reason why the overall battery life on the tesla last much longer than the nissan leaf.  Hot/cold kills batteries and tesla has a pretty extensive battery temp management system where the leaf does not.  The teslas are proving their batteries are lasting much longer than the leafs.  It seems this would be a big advantage the alta has over the zero as well.
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Ireek

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Re: Alta MX / Zero FX comparison (sort of)
« Reply #11 on: March 11, 2018, 10:41:24 PM »

Thanks for this mini comparison, I was actually going to ask you about this, I was originally set to buy the FX and still considered the bike even after owning the Alta SM, I have only ridden the FXS so I know how to compare it to my SM Alta but I had questions about the EX vs the FX, this helps, both good options for folks, each bike I'm sure has advantages.
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odedmaz

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Re: Alta MX / Zero FX comparison (sort of)
« Reply #12 on: March 11, 2018, 11:03:56 PM »

Good points.
The Zero motor does tend to get warm under fast riding or hard off road riding. Under technical off road, I never had a problem.

Don't really see a reason to prefer the FX over the EX for mostly off road riding, unless the height bothers you. Shorter riders will like the lower height of the FX. I think the price difference between a new FX and Redshift EX is not significant now.

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odedmaz

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Re: Alta MX / Zero FX comparison (sort of)
« Reply #13 on: April 14, 2018, 04:15:50 PM »

Noticed today how different are the forks on both bikes. Much beefier with longer travel on the Alta of course.



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