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[protomech]

So if the speed limit is 85mph, that means you should be able to go 90 without any problem and 90 is an indicated 95 on a motorcycle. Think the Brammo Empulse R could make it the 41 miles at an indicated 95 mph?

Actual 90 mph on the Empulse R is probably around 240 Wh/mile, so about 39 miles range.

[manlytom]

Thought i give some more observational evidence (as the doctors would put it). I seem to be getting the motor growl only when i start the bike and ride off under heavier load. Ie if parked against a slopping down kerb the motor needs to work harder than on the flat.
No growl though when ridning, going uphills or even stop/start on an uphill- like a traffic light!

So any guesses or what else we can go after to identify that.

[Richard230]

My 2012 S always growls when taking off from an uphill stop and then quiets down around 10 mph.  It really struggles, even when in "sport" mode under a static load.  I think that is just normal.  When coming to a stop sign on a hill, I tend to look around quickly and perform a "California stop", if I think I can get away with it, to make it easier on the motor.

[manlytom]

hi Richard - thx.
my growl is though that she wont run anymore - at all. just growling as if angry about something  Only after some convincing and key on/offs she goes again.

sounds like the motor not catching properly - or so - hence suspicion of loose shaft or misaligned something in the motor which in these particular circumstances causes the problem.

[ZeroSinMA]

My 2012 S always growls when taking off from an uphill stop and then quiets down around 10 mph.  It really struggles, even when in "sport" mode under a static load.  I think that is just normal.  When coming to a stop sign on a hill, I tend to look around quickly and perform a "California stop", if I think I can get away with it, to make it easier on the motor.

If I sit on my 2012 Zero S in my enclosed sunroom (try that with an ICE bike!) where it's quiet, if I so much as push the bike an inch forward or backward when it's turned on it makes a kind of growling sound. I have always thought this is the coasting regen kicking in.

I recorded the sound and uploaded it to this site.

http://www.filedropper.com/zerocoastingregenengagesound

Is this the growling sound everyone is talking about?

I bet the "glitch" is related to the regen.

[manlytom]

Hi ZeroSINMA

- I am on a 2011 with the brushed Agni motor. Have never heard a 2012  so far as none exists over here (yet)

[Harlan]

It's the contactor

[Lipo423]

AC motors have a limitation to supply a high starting torque when subjected to heavy loads -in stationary position- vs regular brushed DC motors.
Restricting the current does not help a lot...
Brushed motors should not face this problem "conceptually"

[manlytom]

I guess any motor has high initial current and when under more load more currrent. Hence the contactor arcing and playing up. Have conceded to go after the contactor once Zero confirms and sends a replacement.
As for Agni in the 2011. It is a brushed DC motor.

[dkw12002]

Glitch-free at last, glitch-free at last, thank God Almighty, I am glitch-free at last. Anyway, I just traded my 2011 Zero S, for a 2012 Vespa 300 Super, so no more range and glitch anxieties. One other thing AF1 noticed right away was a problem with the front steering bearings on the Zero, so that might be something to watch for too.

I'll continue to follow electric bikes and may even buy another if the price is right in a few months and the glitches get worked out, but since I am now officially without a Zero, I'll bid y'all adios, good luck and safe riding.   

[protomech]

Ride safely.

[ed5000]

Good luck with the Vespa.  I never drove one but they look like fun.

[Richard230]

My first motor vehicle was a 1952 Vespa 125.  While I did appreciate no longer having to pedal a bicycle, that Vespa was a real scary machine.  Its handling was so quick that I would get pushed into the adjacent lane when being hit with a wind gust while riding over the Golden Gate Bridge.  The suspension had no damping and most Japanese 50cc motorcycles had better performance. Every 50 miles the scooter would cease running and I would have to grab a business card and use it to wipe oil off of the ignition points.  I bought the scooter new and paid $325 for it.  After riding it 8000 miles in a year, I bought a much better 1963 Lambretta 150 Li.  However, the new Vespas are much better vehicles. I test rode a Vespa 150 at my BMW dealer (who also sells these scooters) and it was smooth, handled reasonably well, seemed very refined and had a top speed of 60 mph.

[Daveruns]

Help-Need to replace the motor in my 2011-S and need to do it myself. Any recommendations on a bike stand or other way to stabilize the bike during dis-assembly and re-assembly?

[dahlheim]

i've used the type below for dirt bikes for quite a number of years and it still works fine.  use tie-down straps with it, though, for safety.

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=motorcycle+lift&hl=en&safe=off&rlz=1C1LENP_enUS499US499&prmd=imvns&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.r_qf.&biw=888&bih=618&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=13506131015511535957&sa=X&ei=rHRXUMXnLYfnqgGu1YD4Dw&ved=0CIwBEPMCMAY