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[Jimnb11]

I've noticed a significant decrease in performance for my SR/F. The first two years were fine, except for the huge delay from a dealer to do the brake switch recall. This April I noticed immediate performance problems. 95% SOC indicated a range of only 42 miles and I'd get the magic charging problem. Also noticed the acceleration wasn't as quick and the top speed was only 105mph.

Emailed Zero and a technician asked me to charge the bike to 100%, ride until depleting the battery, wait 30 minutes, then charge back to 100% and send in the logs. When I rode, the top speed was 106 and the acceleration was good but not what I experienced the first two years of ownership. After waiting 30 minutes, I turned on the bike and the display indicated 27% SOC and a range of 18 miles. That was the largest case of magic charging I had seen. Hopefully Zero can resolve this issue without me traveling a couple hours to a dealer.

Does this sound like a battery problem or something else?

[princec]

New battery time. But look on the bright side, the new one is better.

Cas

[stevenh]

I've noticed a significant decrease in performance for my SR/F. The first two years were fine, except for the huge delay from a dealer to do the brake switch recall. This April I noticed immediate performance problems. 95% SOC indicated a range of only 42 miles and I'd get the magic charging problem. Also noticed the acceleration wasn't as quick and the top speed was only 105mph.

Emailed Zero and a technician asked me to charge the bike to 100%, ride until depleting the battery, wait 30 minutes, then charge back to 100% and send in the logs. When I rode, the top speed was 106 and the acceleration was good but not what I experienced the first two years of ownership. After waiting 30 minutes, I turned on the bike and the display indicated 27% SOC and a range of 18 miles. That was the largest case of magic charging I had seen. Hopefully Zero can resolve this issue without me traveling a couple hours to a dealer.

Does this sound like a battery problem or something else?

My 2020 (purchased in 2019) SR/F is in the shop now.  Same exact symptoms and they had me do the same test.  In my case the SOC went from 5% to 25% in 30 minutes and I was only riding at 70-75 MPH for the ride.  Waiting for the dealer to run "diagnostics" for next steps.  Sounds like Zero may have to consider a recall for these bikes?  I assume they will make you bring it in to a dealer.  In my case the dealer has had the bike since Tuesday with zero communication so far.  They told me it could be 3 weeks to a month depending on what the diagnostics turned up.   I kind of thought they could do the diagnostics and I could get the bike back until they got whatever parts they needed, but they told me the diagnostics can take days?  We'll see.  Good luck with your bike.

Steve

[Jimnb11]

The Zero Tech just responded to my last message with the logs. He is recommending the power pack should be changed and to bring it to the dealer. I replied and asked if this could wait until the fall.

[princec]

Sigh, now mine's doing the same thing pretty much Just 10 miles at 75mph and it chews up 35% of the battery. Leave it for an hour and come back and it's magically regained 20% back again.

Back to the dealers... again...

Cas

[MBldc]

I have Magic Charging too on my 2019 SRF (ODO 11000km). It depends heavily on the Power I have used and the Ambient Temperature the bike sits in afterwards. From only several % after smooth riding up to 20% magic increase after Autobahn. But I wonder if there is a relation with the last FW Updates/SOC Algorithm, because it appearded relatively suddenly for me and my bike still performs reasonably well on low SOC.
I also noticed Charging behaves different after the latest FW-Update when reaching 100% or charge target now. Charge Current does not ramp down continously as it did before but intermittend decreases and increases current (sometimes down to 0A), until it finally completes charging.
I really took care of my Battery from the first day on (except for VMax Autobahn riding sometimes). I Only let the bike sit with ~60% SOC in my dry and good temperated Garage. 100% charges only directly prior to driving, most discharges have been well above 20%. charge with max. 3kw only, never charged a hot pack or in direct sun, never charged a cold pack or in low temperatures...

To check SOH I just ran the bike to "0%" (165km @ 25°C), where it still accellerated to 60km/h. After connecting Charger, it directly started charging at 9% SOC and took 11kwh, so I assume the ~12kwh are somehow still available in my pack. Since then, magic charging seems a little less, only around 5% the last rides.

What would interest me is your experience with newer bikes or replaced battery packs after another several months and mileage? Keeps Magic Charging completly gone? And does Charging Current ramp down smoothly at target SOC?

Thanks and best regards,

Marco

[Jimnb11]

Sorry for the long delay in responding. I went to Canada for a fishing trip then called Zero on June 9. The tech said the power pack definitely needed to be changed and told me it would most likely be shipped the following Monday. A dealer in the Twin Cities called just now and told me Zero gave him a tracking number and the pack should arrive this Friday, June 16. Things are moving much faster than I had expected. Hooray!

[gadgetgirl]

It looks like mine is doing something similar. At 100% SOC it's showing 42 estimated range. Where my commute used to use about 3% SOC, it went from 32% to 24% today (showing a range until empty of 11 miles). Something definitely seems screwed up. I'll have to make an appointment at the dealer.

[stevenh]

It looks like mine is doing something similar. At 100% SOC it's showing 42 estimated range. Where my commute used to use about 3% SOC, it went from 32% to 24% today (showing a range until empty of 11 miles). Something definitely seems screwed up. I'll have to make an appointment at the dealer.

Bad news, you probably need a new battery.  Good news, they are turning them around pretty quick and you'll have a much better battery when you are done.  I hope to get mine back next week (with a new battery).

Good luck.

Steve

[Jimnb11]

Just got the news today the power pack arrived at the dealer. Told me to bring it in on Monday and it should be completed by the end of the week. Wonder if I'll get the 17.3 Kwh battery instead of the original 14.4?

[stevenh]

Just got the news today the power pack arrived at the dealer. Told me to bring it in on Monday and it should be completed by the end of the week. Wonder if I'll get the 17.3 Kwh battery instead of the original 14.4?

Yes and no, you'll get the 17.3 battery, but it will be software capped to either 14.4 or 15.6 (not sure which) and no current upgrade path.  Still a much better battery and from what I've been reading you'll get 10% or so more range anyway.  I kind of like running the 17.3 at the lower high and low voltage caps, now I can charge to 100% and it will be roughly the same as charging the old battery to 80%, but I'll get all the range.  I hope to get my bike back early next week.  I guess the replacement is a pretty long shop process (>5 hours if they are good at it).

Steve

[Zelidar]

<<< Wonder if I'll get the 17.3 Kwh battery instead of the original 14.4? >>>

I am in the same situation, waiting for a second battery change.

Confirming what Steve wrote, my dealer told me that the new battery would be labelled with 14.4, but nonetheless being the larger 15,2 kWh model. The full 17.3 kWh capacity won't be available on my bike, at least at the beginning. I guess that might be that "Extended Range Charging" (those 110%) option?

[Jimnb11]

The service rep at Cities Edge said the power pack came with other components. Wondering if the logs revealed another problem or if the additional parts are needed for this new power pack. The rep also told me they had changed other Zero power packs but not a SR/F.

[princec]

Davant says the new batteries come with a whole load of parts whether broken or not.

Cas

[stevenh]

The service rep at Cities Edge said the power pack came with other components. Wondering if the logs revealed another problem or if the additional parts are needed for this new power pack. The rep also told me they had changed other Zero power packs but not a SR/F.

The new battery has a different configuration than the old one and requires some additional stuff to install.  They changed a few things in 22 to go with the new battery, so that comes along for the ride.

Hope to get mine back next week.

Steve