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[NoMoreGas]

Hello everyone! I'm new here but just posted in the General section to introduce myself.

I have my hopes set on getting a Zero motorcycle, most likely a 2015 model (need to save $$$$). I'd like to hear from anyone who owns a 2014 DS, S, or SR...particularly the 11.4 versions.

I lean towards the DS because I live in an area with lots of hills and dirt roads mixed with paved roads. I basically live in more of a country side setting but within 30 minutes of a highway. I also like the SR because it has the added power and speed...c'mon, it would be a real treat to say "oh yeah well my motorcycle can beat a Dodge Viper in the 0-60 AND uses ZERO gasoline!"...In all seriousness though, I want to use the motorcycle as my daily commuter except for when the temps are below freezing/snow on the ground. I still have a 4x4 truck to use when it snows. The S appeals to me as well but I figure if I'm going to spend $15k (for the 11.4), what's another $2k for the SR?

Anyways, if you guys could please compare/contrast and give your overall thoughts, I'd appreciate it. Thank you!

[ultrarnr]

NoMoreGas,
I think the question for you is do you need the additional suspension travel that the DS has? If you don't then I would say to go with the SR. You can easily get more aggressive tires for the SR. In the tire department I am running the PR3's with a 150 in back. Don't see any issues with running the 150 at all. It also gives you a much greater tire selection. You will certainly not regret getting the additional performance that the SR offers over the DS.

[NoMoreGas]

NoMoreGas,
I think the question for you is do you need the additional suspension travel that the DS has? If you don't then I would say to go with the SR. You can easily get more aggressive tires for the SR. In the tire department I am running the PR3's with a 150 in back. Don't see any issues with running the 150 at all. It also gives you a much greater tire selection. You will certainly not regret getting the additional performance that the SR offers over the DS.

Thank you for the reply. I would love to see some pictures or video of your SR if you have any available. I'd be interested to see the SR without the stock tires.

The biggest thing holding me back with the SR would be the price. There are brand new cars I could get for less than the 11.4 SR pricetag. However, I know the SR would pay for itself in gas, oil, filter changes that I would no longer need. Every year the mileage gets further and further so what if I bought a 2014 SR and then 3 years later we're seeing 200 miles on average as the standard? Would I get a free upgrade or would I feel like I should have waited? Either way it's going to save me money in the long run and that's the main objective here for me.

[Richard230]

One thing to think about is that if you need to ride off pavement very much a DS with a chain-drive conversion would be the way to go.  Drive belts, dirt and gravel do not make for a happy combination.  Just getting one small rock between the belt and the sprocket can ruin the $80 belt.

[ultrarnr]

NoMoreGas,

I think there are a lot of people out there with the same concerns that you talked about. There is no doubt in  my mind that the 2016 Zero SR and S will have far more range and power than the 2014 models do. So what.

But I also own a 2012 Suzuki DL650. There are a lot of bikes out there with far more power, better brakes etc than what my DL650 has. So what. My DL650 meets my needs and with over 75,000 miles on it I am satisified with it. My SR has greater performance than my DL650 does. I have my SR set up with side cases and top box that I put on when needed. Within the range limits of the SR I can do anything with it that I can on my DL650. The SR is my short range bike and my DL650 is my long range bike.

The argument for electric motorcycles being greeen, eco friendly, low maint are all certainly honorable. But the SR is really at a different level. It is really about performance and power delivery. The SR may not be the fastest thing out there but it is certainly no slouch either. The bike is just incredibly smooth at 20 MPH and it is just as smooth at 90 MPH. And trust me it really doesn't take this bike very long to reach 90 MPH. When you read so many bike reviews you see comments about fueling issues and vibration at certain speeds. The SR has none of those issues. I know a guy who sent his bike to another shop to get another fueling map installed. I can that with my SR using my smart phone app.

I think you need to take a hard look at the performace of the SR and decide if you would be satified. If the answer is yes then get one. If not wait until something comes along that does. This same logic can be applied to gas bikes and I have done that.

[NoMoreGas]

NoMoreGas,

I think there are a lot of people out there with the same concerns that you talked about. There is no doubt in  my mind that the 2016 Zero SR and S will have far more range and power than the 2014 models do. So what.

But I also own a 2012 Suzuki DL650. There are a lot of bikes out there with far more power, better brakes etc than what my DL650 has. So what. My DL650 meets my needs and with over 75,000 miles on it I am satisified with it. My SR has greater performance than my DL650 does. I have my SR set up with side cases and top box that I put on when needed. Within the range limits of the SR I can do anything with it that I can on my DL650. The SR is my short range bike and my DL650 is my long range bike.

The argument for electric motorcycles being greeen, eco friendly, low maint are all certainly honorable. But the SR is really at a different level. It is really about performance and power delivery. The SR may not be the fastest thing out there but it is certainly no slouch either. The bike is just incredibly smooth at 20 MPH and it is just as smooth at 90 MPH. And trust me it really doesn't take this bike very long to reach 90 MPH. When you read so many bike reviews you see comments about fueling issues and vibration at certain speeds. The SR has none of those issues. I know a guy who sent his bike to another shop to get another fueling map installed. I can that with my SR using my smart phone app.

I think you need to take a hard look at the performace of the SR and decide if you would be satified. If the answer is yes then get one. If not wait until something comes along that does. This same logic can be applied to gas bikes and I have done that.

I think you're right ultrarnr. They say you should always go with your gut instincts and my first thought was the SR. I didn't even learn about the DS until after I knew of the S and SR.

90% of the commuting I do is probably 40 - 60 miles round trip but I like knowing that I can go further which is why I'm set on the 11.4 version. I also have to take into account some steep hills and mountains in my area so that's just another reason for wanting more power.

Do you think we will see a minor price drop anytime soon?

[ultrarnr]

NoMoreGas,

I doubt we will see the price drop anytime soon but that is just an opinion and everyone has one.

With a 40-60 mile commute you will clearly not have an issue with range with an SR especially if you got the Power Tank. But that also means that you don't have to ride like you are concerned about range. In other words if you are on a road with a 55 MPH speed limit but traffic is moving at 75 MPH you can just ride at the speed of traffic without having to worry about range.

If you are concerned about range or trying to see how far you can go then obviously you have to be careful about your speed and acceleration. But if you are doing a short ride and range is no concern then just enjoy the performance the SR has. I have drained a battery down in 50 miles and had a great time doing so.

[NoMoreGas]

NoMoreGas,

I doubt we will see the price drop anytime soon but that is just an opinion and everyone has one.

With a 40-60 mile commute you will clearly not have an issue with range with an SR especially if you got the Power Tank. But that also means that you don't have to ride like you are concerned about range. In other words if you are on a road with a 55 MPH speed limit but traffic is moving at 75 MPH you can just ride at the speed of traffic without having to worry about range.

If you are concerned about range or trying to see how far you can go then obviously you have to be careful about your speed and acceleration. But if you are doing a short ride and range is no concern then just enjoy the performance the SR has. I have drained a battery down in 50 miles and had a great time doing so.

Well there are certainly places where I could "open it up" and go max speed but the majority of my commuting will be around 30 - 60mph. The Power Tank is a great optional add on but I would prefer to have the front storage compartment personally. Plus it saves about 50 lbs which you might make up for with cargo/backpack anyways.

How are your brakes holding up? I've read some people feel as if they're like a piece of wood but I hear ABS is coming soon.

[ultrarnr]

The front brake is actually pretty good. It is the back brake that leaves a bit to be desired.

[NoMoreGas]

Can someone who has been on both the 2014 S and SR compare the two?

I'm looking at the specs of the 11.4 and besides the 1.9 second 0-60 acceleration difference, 5 mph sustained speed difference, 7 mph top speed difference, and 8 lbs weight difference, they're identical. The range is listed as exactly the same for both. It seems like such minor differences for a $2,000 price difference. I suppose the feel of the added 38 ft-lb torque on the SR is what really makes the whole experience different from the S? I'm not putting Zero down but these are the facts according to their own website. I'm just looking for clarification and explanation.

[benswing]

Yes, the torque difference is big, very big! 

Riding a Zero S is great.  Riding a Zero SR is totally amazing!

[protomech]

The SR has about 60% more torque at low speeds. That's the difference in the 0-60 time: 3.3s is MUCH faster than 5.2s 0-60, much more so than the time difference without context indicates.

In the car world, that's the difference between a six-cylinder Mustang - a quick car - and a Ferrari.