I just tripped over this forum while searching he net for info on the Zero DS and I see there is a lot more to read about here than just that one bike!! I have been riding since I was a kid on all sorts of ICE powered bikes and currently I ride a Honda NT-400, a JDM bike that is a lower displacement version of the HawkGT. It is the same bike they just sleeved down the engine.
I also last year was freed from the burden of the pumps when I bought a Chevy Volt. My commute is too long to run a full EV so I went with the Volt and I am extremely pleased with the car. It is by far the nicest car I've ever bought and worth every penny. The price, though not cheep, is worth it. My last tank of gas lasted me 5 months and 7669kms (4765miles)! That's somewhere around 785mpg! Of course that is in the summer when the battery has it's best range, but even in the winter I was getting better than 150mpg! I don't think I will ever a non electric car again.
I've been itching for a Dual Sport bike for a few years now and recently saw the Zero DS.
Ever since I was 4, when my Dad bought me a electric plug in Jeep I've wanted an electric vehicle with a useable range. I used to get so mad with that jeep. You could drive it for 10-15 minutes, the best fun ever, and then it needed a day to recharge. That required much more patience than a 4 year old can muster. I'm 42 now and not much more patient and finally the 2012 Zero DS looks to just have that range and recharge ability that I have been waiting for since I was 4. The2012 meets the minimum range I would want on a bike, and from here on in I really think the EV tech will only get better and better. I can hardly wait to see what the improvements for the 2013 model will hold in store for us!!
I will probably lurk for a while. I see I have a lot of reading to do. I will try to contribute where I think I have something worth sharing and try not to ask too many dumb questions without searching the forum for the answers first. It looks like you folks have a strong little community here!
