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[protomech]

http://www.motorcycle.com/manufacturer/zero/2014-zero-fx-dirt-review-video.html

The video is worth watching, but the written review goes into a little more depth.



It's a decent if limited review .. perhaps better titled "first look".

However, it makes me uncomfortable reading it as a consumer, in the same way that the 2012 Wes Siler Empulse review did. The "review" takes places solely within an environment controlled by the manufacturer, and accordingly repeats the manufacturer's talking points, without a serious critical evaluation of the bike. And while the review does mention that Scot Harden is the Zero VP of marketing, it spends significantly more time dwelling on his admittedly impressive racing history.

This isn't a problem just with Zero, or just with Brammo, or just with the motorcycle industry.. but it still makes me a little disappointed to see.

[Richard230]

I have a feeling that video will be archived on the Zero video website.   

[Marshm]

I found it interesting they turned the power down.  Not too long ago it seems e-bikes were struggling to have comparable power.  They made a comparison to a 250F not a 450 as others have done.  It still looks like the power delivery of electric is giving people trouble on how to compare it to gas.  I guess that power adjustability was a good idea, people seem to use it.  It was a very positive video, but pretty generic and basic.  I have not seen a real tough offroad review yet.  Maybe since it is a dualsport, they have lower expectations on the dirt worthiness.  That is mostly what I have seen so far on electric reviews, sort of a simple review lacking details.  It is like they do not consider it a serious bike.  They treat it like a work in progress so don't feel the need for any detail, and seem like they are being artificially kind to it.  They must not feel it is ready for a comparison to a 250F yet?  Positive reviews are nice but I am getting tired of the generic uselessness of them. 

[WindRider]

Marshalm,

I own an FX and I can answer some of your questions. 

Is it an MX bike or can it run a track on par with MX bikes?    No way.  The frame and suspension are not up to the task.   

Is there value in having tunable power in off road riding?   Yes, absolutely.  The power delivery of the FX is great for off road and dirt road riding and it is easily tunable to conditions or rider skill level.  Linear power is better for loose earth riding than any ICE comparison in terms of predictability and control. 

To me the best thing about the FX on back roads or trails is the silence.  It is truly magical to glide at speed through the forest in near silence.   The FX is just super fun to ride and pegs the smile meter. 

The biggest problem with the FX for me is that the go juice runs out too soon.   I want the FX20 !

[Marshm]

Not mx track capable, that's ok with me.  I would use it for woods trails and sand dunes.  Can you offer a comparison bike if you have spent some time on other gas bikes offroad.  For example, have you ridden a Klx300, CRF230F, or TTR250 in woods?  Is the handling close to those?  Those are trail bikes not mx bikes, so maybe handling is close?   The 2014 has the same size 43mm fork as the klx300 I think, but the zero shock appears to be a step down.  So maybe some place similar to these bikes?  Gliding through the forest in silence does sound very appealing to me.

[WindRider]

Not mx track capable, that's ok with me.  I would use it for woods trails and sand dunes.  Can you offer a comparison bike if you have spent some time on other gas bikes offroad.  For example, have you ridden a Klx300, CRF230F, or TTR250 in woods?  Is the handling close to those?  Those are trail bikes not mx bikes, so maybe handling is close?   The 2014 has the same size 43mm fork as the klx300 I think, but the zero shock appears to be a step down.  So maybe some place similar to these bikes?  Gliding through the forest in silence does sound very appealing to me.

I currently own a Yamaha WR250R and I always take the Zero FX over it unless I need to go farther than the FX will travel.   I have owned KLR650s, TW200, XT250, and some bigger dual sports.  I have also ridden TTR125, KLX250, and a variety of other bikes with friends.   I prefer bikes with lights as I hate trailering a good motorcycle so I would rather ride a little pavement to link up some good trails.

In terms of suspension and frame the WR250R has the FX beat hands down.   The suspension is more progressive, smoother, and the frame and head bearings on the WR are top notch and very solid.   That little bike is built like a tank.  Yamaha has been building motorcycles for a lot of years and they know what they are doing.   

The power train and power delivery on the WR is excellent for a Gas bike (fuel injected, 6 speed) but it seems primitive after riding the FX where there is no shifting, clutching, lurching, climbing up the power curve.   With the FX you just dial up how ever much power and speed you want and it is so smooth, fast and perfect that it is no contest in terms of power delivery.   In a drag race the FX will destroy the WR as it has way more thrust and there is no shifting to cause the acceleration rush to stall.   The challenge with the FX is keeping the front wheel down in terms of rapid acceleration.

As far as weight balance goes I prefer the FX slightly over the WR.   I have not ridden the FX with one battery pack but that would make it really light.   Riding the FX on tight trails is really fun and it feels like a big mountain bike.   When things are really tight the no transmission, linear power thing is like an easy button to overcome steep climbs and sudden changes in speed.   Taking all of those things away I find that I can just focus on riding and body english.   In those terms, I prefer the handling of the FX overall, even though my WR has far superior suspension.

The Fast Ace Suspension components get better every year but they are not on par with most higher quality Japanese bikes like the WR which has fully adjustable suspension and progressive springs and linkage arms.    I am sure that Zero goes with Fast Ace to hit a price point and I can see that.   If the FX were much more I would not be riding it.   They have some real challenges to overcome in battery and motor cost and I think that they have hit a nice balance and build a quality motorcycle now at a price that gives some mass market reach.

I love my WR250R, it is an excellent motorcycle for all kinds of dual sport adventure riding but I still prefer the FX if it can reach my target destination.

[NoiseBoy]

Excellent review Windrider.  Perhaps as a shorter term solution you could find a way to carry an extra battery module with you and leave it at the start of the trail or something?

[trikester]

Like marshm and windrider I find the instant torque and no shifting to be a big advantage on slower, tight trails or frequently changing areas of deep sand and hard pack. As my desert trail riding FX video shows this is a trail where trying to ride fast would lead to a very painful experience. I used to ride it on a TW200 and I would stay in low the whole way because of the frequent short changes in speed. Winding out on short stretches in 1st was very annoying but more annoying would be to constantly shift up and down for very brief periods while never getting very fast.

If you haven't looked at it before, check out the video. I posted it previously.

Much easier riding than on the TW200.

Trikester

[Marshm]

Thanks Windrider.  I have spent some time on a WR250F, carburetor version, and not street legal.  So I can make a comparison, and that helps.  I think I might be disappointed in the suspension and handling of the Zero, but not because I want to ride it fast like in a race.  I would set it up plush and able to handle the roots and rocks without beating me to death.  Actually I set up some of my bikes too plush so they actually don’t handle all that well at speed.  But in the trails they absorb stuff better and help my back so I can actually ride at all.  So with a bad back, I am overly sensitive to handling and suspension, that’s why I got started tuning shock internals.  I hate to spend that much for a bike and then spend another $1000 on a different shock. 
The power and delivery sound good on the FX, I can certainly understand that.  Like Trikester mentioned about either winding a gas bike out in a lower gear or shifting back and forth all the time.  I have certainly faced that many times and sounds good to get rid of that situation.  I think I would also prefer electric for offroad. 

[LiveandLetDrive]

Good to hear from those who have ridden both gas and electric off-road seriously.  I'm very inexperienced on the dirt (I've tried out friends' bikes and have ridden my 500lb Tiger adventure bike off-road but no real time on a proper dirt bike), but I agree with all that has been said.  I've gotten my first real air on the ('13) FX and it can do trail jumps and gentle MX use but even I can tell it's on the ragged edge of its performance envelope.  I was told as much when I was lining up to buy it.  You end up in the interesting situation of being able to handle certain situations much easier than an ICE bike due to the powertrain (hillclimbs, tight fast/slow stuff) but slower in other places due mostly to the suspension.  Depending on the terrain it may be net positive or negative, though I'd say mostly very positive and easier and more enjoyable.  I expect electrics will improve at such a pace that I'll never buy a gas dirtbike.  If my Sprint ST lasts 5 years I'll probably never buy a gas street bike again either except classics.


This was my Facebook comment on Hollywood Electrics' post about this video:

Loving mine everywhere from local OHV areas' technical single track in the Bay to the big stuff in Mendocino Ntnl Forest. With Bridgestone 403/404s and a second set of packs it's a full day of torquey fun! I've only ridden on dirt as many times as the least experienced rider in the article (less than two hands of fingers) but I never found full power hard to handle, though ~60-70% tends to be plenty even for big climbs. The lower your peak power the more precise you can be, so it's not a bad idea.

Don't be fooled by the baby backyard track in the video, I followed extremely experienced riders up thousands of vertical feet of tough trail climbing and if I had their skill I probably could have outrun them! I must say I am jealous of the improved gauge cluster and suspension of the '14.

Thanks to Harlan's supermoto kit it is a killer commuter too after a 30 minute wheel swap. Electric cars are still very foreign to most; you can actually see their minds explode when you roll up on a silent bike, and then rip off from the light!

Warning: your combustion friends may resent you for never stalling, always being in the right gear, and being able to drop it on its side without flooding or losing oil! Also using the throttle to hill-hold when you can't put a foot on the rear brake, you can hear other bikes coming since you're silent... and grip heaters!