Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[gasdive]

100/80-16 front and 130/80-16 rear are the sizes for the Kawasaki.

The DS should really have dualsport tyres but the Kawasaki is a road bike.  So they're not much use.   As well they're the wrong size for the DS which has 3.50-17 front and 110/80-16 rear.  The front won't fit at all but the rear could probably squeeze on.  It's an acceptable size for the rim but it's not certain that the tyre would clear the mudguard mounts.  They're not right for the S either which uses 110/70-16 and 140/70-16.

I've found possible road and off road tyres for the DS albeit rather narrow.  (too narrow to be legal on that rim)  Off road at 70/100-17 (intended for junior motorcross).   90/100-16 (again junior motorcross) for the rear, but I doubt that a 100% aspect ratio knobbie would go under the mudguard mount.  They're both too narrow to be legal.  On road there are a few 17's intended for the front of sportbikes that would fit.  There's a michelin Pilot Sporty in 90/80-17 that would be legal for the front and a 120/80-16 that would likely fit on the rear.  However they're basically cut slicks...

Which makes me think, perhaps I could just buy a tyre groover and make dualsport tyres...  It's an expensive experiment at 750 dollars to try it out.

http://www.amanstoyshop.com.au/ProductDetails.aspx?productID=211

=:)

[manlytom]

Hi Iowa
I just posted my latest experience on range with the 2010 Zero S model in range,gearing etc.. One should get in mixed situation that you describe the 30+ miles roundtrip. However, I would not be able to make the stated 50 miles range as per Zero's specs. It is as well a consideration that you do not want to drain the battery close to empty every day on your commute - might shorten the battery life significantly. Better to charge at work or so.

[Iowa]

Thanks, it sounds like I might still be right on the edge for range. 

I tripped over someone's Zero blog last night, but I can't find it.  For some reason it sees like it was an Aussie, and I thought maybe it was yours(?).  Let me know..

Also, are you using the "Cycle Analyst" picasso posted about?  There are four variations, so I'm waiting to get my bike before I order one.

[Iowa]

I figured out the Aussie Zero blog I tripped over was in gasdive's signature line:
http://zerods.blogspot.com/

[polartek]

I just picked up a used DS that had 1400 miles on it and am breaking myself in.  I ran about 18 miles today after a full charge and it is down to three bars when stopped and it was down to no bars and blinking warning while I was on the move.  With 10 bars, the range on my DS with my riding style looks to be a max of 25.5 miles.  I have two other bikes in my stable, a sport bike and a power cruizer, so backing off on my wrist action will be difficult.  The DS is still a kick to ride and being able to listen to everything around me instead of hearing the engine is a really nice experience.  I was looking to get a minimum of 40 miles from a charge but the owners manual says to look toward 30 miles at the higher speeds I see on my commute.  Once I switch to street tires and get it cleaned up, I hope to squeeze another 5-10 miles out of my range.




Enjoy the ride,
Polartek

[Iowa]

Hey, just wanted to give a quick update.  I received a 2011 DS last week.  Wanted to provide some quick notes.
   

• Love the bike!
• Bought it through Hollywood Electrics.  Harlan has been great.  Folks at Zero have been great.   Even the delivery guy was awesome.
• Bike shipped about two weeks after I paid for it.  Shipping was probably delayed a week.  Was delivered in just a few business days half-way across the US.
• Five commutes under my belt so far.  Just over 200 miles. Barely made it home first few days.  Learning to control speed, and become more aerodynamic.  (Bike just wants to go.)  Getting better.  Last two days, I had 2 bars left out of 11 when I arrived at home.
• At 45-55mph, I'm riding like I'm on a cafe racer to increase aerodynamics.  Because of this, I kind of wish I would have purchased the S instead of the DS.
• Strapped backpack to bike in the "tank bag" position instead of wearing it on my back to try and reduce drag.  Then lay on pack at higher speeds.
• High wind around here makes this super-light bike feel like it's going to be blown out from under me sometimes.
• Power bars show six left when I arrive at work, but eight when I turn bike on to leave work.
• Only negative point I've found is the rear brake pedal. I have a habit of tapping the left side of my right foot against the bike, then pushing straight down to find the brake.  On this bike, you will step on a piece of plastic molding instead of the pedal.  I have to consciously keep my foot a little ways out from the bike.  I plan on remedying the situation by continuing the plastic molding up so that it keeps my foot farther out to the right.  (I'll get some picture so this makes more sense.)
• The DS is TALL in the seat.  I have ridiculously long legs, and I'm up on the balls of my feet at stop lights.  I really don't want to spend $450 to get a lower seat, but that would get my feet flat on the ground.
• Wheels look great.  In the pictures on the web sites, they look to me like a raspberry color.  In person, however, they have the look of a red aluminum MagLite flash light.  Very nice.
• Bought a Kill-A-Watt.  Great device.  It shows just under 4kW to charge the bike overnight.  This works out to be either 16 or 32 cents, based on my tiered-pricing power bill.  Assuming 32 cents, and riding 35 miles, that's obviously less than a penny per mile.

Hope this helps a prospective E-bike owner!  I want to get a small web page going to collect some stats on my commutes.  Would like to get a Cycle Analyst.

[manlytom]

Hi  Iowa
great to see you on a Zero. yes, nursing the battery seems to be it. I just got the lower seat and find it comfortable and you can easier go into cafe racer position. Thinking of changing handlebars or twisting them downwards a bit as well.

The lower seat is curved more and you have one main riding position, if you brake and you sit further back you slide into "positoin". It looks great -- will post some pics  soon.

forgot to charge last night, saw it early in the morning and put about an hour on a half full battery. took it easy to work as I cannot charge - without going into the lift up the floors and into the office .... found it added from 4 bars to 7 bars in one hour. got home on the 7 with 3 bars left - taking it easy.

With the Zero S the tires might reduce the drag as well. higher air pressure and simply street tires.

[Zero Courtney]

Hey all,

Just to note- we don't really provide a lot of range info for the off road models, because there is such a huge variance that really seems to depend on terrain and rider style.

Another nice thing to remember is there is no engine braking. Coast as much as you can! They'll coast pretty far when you're on flat terrain, and you'll squeeze a bit more out of your range. If you commute to work on a full charge, I'm pretty confident you can pull the round trip without a charge.

However, bear in mind that the batteries don't charge linearly over time. They take most of their charge in the first hour and a half and then reach a full charge another 2 - 2.5 hours later. If you CAN put an hours worth of charge on the battery, we always recommend you do. The pack will live a lot longer the more you keep it topped off.

Cheers!

[gasdive]

Zero Courtney!

Welcome to the forum.  Great to see someone from Zero here.

Cheers Jason =:)

[manlytom]

Hey, just wanted to give a quick update.  I received a 2011 DS last week.  Wanted to provide some quick notes.
  

f the DS.[/li]

[li]The DS is TALL in the seat.  I have ridiculously long legs, and I'm up on the balls of my feet at stop lights.  I really don't

[/quote]

looks like you got the low extra option corbin seat already on the bike, I just got it and find it great. is just a bit of a fixed position as it goes done in one point very low. I always slide into it when I break harder - but overall makes the ride more fun.

just realised that is what polartek got himself. anyway - we should start to put up some pics of our bikes.