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[Mr T]

Like the title says: Thinking of buying a 2014 S model. The scoot has a 13KWH battery that replaced the original, 21k miles. Was maintained by Hollywood Electrics, currently in Jacksonville, FL. I live near Charlotte, NC so it will be a haul to pick it up. A little about me: 64 years old, last of four kids in college, so a bit broke, (Clemson -proud dad), owned over 40 motorcycles in my life and do my own wrenching. This would be my first electric scoot, but don't know if this one would be the right one to buy. I am ok with the range and charging as I really don't do any long trips any more.  I test road a 2014 S model that a local was kind enough to let me try out, so the weight, seat height and power were just fine. The price is under 5k, so it is a stretch, but probably doable. I've done a lot of research in the last few weeks, but would love to hear from the collective here. Thanks for all responses.

[NEW2elec]

Hi, this one is a bit tricky.
Sub $5k is well below market value.  Maybe they just want it gone or a little more likely there is some issue with it.

These bikes are great and soak up miles very very cheaply.  They ride smooth and super easy.
The problem comes in if one of the major components goes out.
A new battery I'm guessing is still around $9k.  A motor is about $3k a controller is about $1200 and about the same for an onboard charger.  You won't be able to wrench your way out of those costs I'm afraid.  These things don't go out too often in the whole market but you will find posts of people having issues here on the forum.  Like all forums this is where the problems get aired while people enjoying their bikes are mostly quiet.

If your money situation is tight right now I would advise just waiting.  I would hate for you to get the bike, have an issue that you didn't have the money to fix and be out a bike.

Good luck

[Crissa]

Do you have a dealer nearby that you trust?

There's no particular reason why that bike should be a bad investment.  Just... Buying any bike ride unridden is a bit iffy, just as buying a guitar unplayed is.

I've been well happy with mine, and I think NEW2elec is overestimating the costs by half, but if you had to ship the bike... Wrenching is something that this bike doesn't really do.  Brakes and belt and tires, sure; but the mainboard, controller, battery... These all need programming to be made right.

It's a very fun bike which gets me anywhere in the county I want to go (and usually back, without charging).  That bike has another 25% range, so.  And I bought mine a year ago for $6k.

-Crissa

[Mr T]

Thanks for the responses. The seller said there is nothing wrong with it at all, but since moving across the country from Cali to Fl, he does not want to ride in the Florida weather. Having lived in South Florida for the first 50 years of my life, I know what he is talking about ( big thunderstorms, heat, hurricanes, high humidity, and flying bugs - lots of bugs.) I tried reaching out to Hollywood Electrics to get some back story on it as they maintained it, but it seems they are very busy and have not had the time to call me back yet. The original price was about 1k higher but the guy lost his job after the move and needs to raise some coin. There are many in this situation right now and I have been there myself, so I know the score. Zeros are not terribly popular around here, but there is a local dealer that sells Zeros as well as Ducatis, BMWs, Urals, Morgans. MVs and Triumphs. He currently has a 2019 DSr and a 2018 DS and does not plan on buying any more until they sell. However, he told me that he will continue to do any warranty work. This is a whole new world for me, and I am willing to learn, but I don't need a money pit. I currently have a 2009 Versys 650 that suits my needs, but it is a bit of overkill as I don't really ride more than an hour or so because of back problems. That said, I would really like to go electric.

[NEW2elec]

Mr T the truth is it may go 50k more miles and only need tires and brakes we just don't know.

I've seen videos from people who use the NC dealer and they seem like a very good dealership so that's good.

It sounds like you have a great use case for the bike and my only concern is the possibility of having a repair bill you don't want to live with.

My bike in my screen name picture is a 13 DS.  It has almost 38k miles on it.  It had the battery replaced (for free) but with another 11.4 unit not a bigger one like the S your looking at.  I had to replace the DC-DC converter ( this handles all the 12 volt functions) at a cost of about $400.
I'm on my 4th set of cheap tires (good enough for me) and will need to replace all my brake pads soon.
About a month ago one of my charging units failed (unique to 2013 the 2014 is different).  The bike will still charge but at half speed.
They only sell the replacements as four new units at a cost of $790 not installed.

Other owners have different tales to tale but that's my bike's story.
I also got a 17 DSR that I have only put tires on but it's at about 18k miles.

Edit:
Here are links to the unofficial Zero manual and also AF1 racing who sells Zero parts directly to customers.  If that helps any.

https://www.af1racing.com/Zero-Motorcycles-All-Models

https://zeromanual.com/wiki/Main_Page

[Starpower]

Good price and I would buy it.  If you feel the seller is not being honest (or even if he is) have a video sent of it being ridden and a shot of the charging LED blinking at a low state of charge and another of it displaying full charge and steady LED. If this pans out it would be nearly as good as a test ride and personal inspection. You're saving almost enough to purchase a new controller or charger as it is.

[Fifty3]

It might be really great, but if something goes wrong you might end up needing to spend THOUSANDS more to keep riding it.  A 2014 will have NO WARRANTY.  From my point of view, it seems like Zero's solution to problems is to totally replace BIG and EXPENSIVE components.  Before you buy, check out prices on motors($3000), controllers(~$1,500), batteries($2,500-$3,000) and be aware that YOU CAN'T FIX IT!!!
 They want me to buy a new motor for mine.  I will just write it off as a bad experience because it simply isn't a good enough bike to invest that much money to fix it's problems.  I would not buy another Zero.  I am NOT a fanboy. 

[NEW2elec]

Fifty3 what happened to your bike?
I mean sell it or trade it in?

[Crissa]

Yeah, like I said, we took the bet because we could ride the bike and make sure nothing was acting funny.

It sounds like you've done your homework!

-Crissa

[Fifty3]

It is parked in the corner of my garage.  730 miles from the nearest part of Georgia.
 Actually, I have ridden it about a dozen times since it came back from the dealer.  I have discovered that if I apply throttle very slowly the first time I take off, it seems to operate without issue until the switch is turned off.  It is an interesting motorcycle, but it needs a new home.

[dvdt]

My 2014S is a bit over 44k miles (purchased new). The maintenance to date is tires, brakes --- and the on-board charger that failed at about 24k miles. That on-board charger has been reported failing (or degrading) by others as well. The QuiQ external charger was key to being able to limp along until a replacement of the on-board charger, so you may wish to consider purchasing the external charger. As other responses have noted, there is risk so YMMV. Despite the on-board charger failure, my experience overall with my 2014S has been positive.

[Richard230]

I gave my daughter my old 2014 S when I bought a 2018 S. Both bikes had the Power Tank installed. Neither vehicle has had any problems other than both bikes needing the on-board charger replaced. On comment that I will add is that when I visited the Zero factory they had dozens of Delta Q chargers that were being used to charge up their new battery packs before they were installed in their bikes. And not a Calex (on-board) charger in sight.   

[Mr T]

I received some pics of the battery at 100%, for whatever it may be worth. Still trying to decide.  I guess I am uncomfortable with it being so dealer dependent.

[Mr T]

Also, the seller does not have much in the way of paperwork for any work that has been done in the past. Is there any way to look this up? I tried to reach out to Hollywood Electrics, who supposedly maintained the bike, but have not heard back.

[Crissa]

Well, the dealer software could find out what firmware has been done.  The maintenance list is pretty short, though.

When I got my 2014 S last year, I took it in to get everything they could think of and it was still cheaper than the biannual service my Mazda wants.

-Crissa