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[ReverseTrike]

So Doc, how long can the 73HP zero run at it's maximum output before the temperature light starts blinking? Can you shine some more light on this .....

If they want to go higher power they will need to change the controller model.
Some already tweaked their zero with the Size 6  660A Sevcon controller and got about 73hp at the wheel wich is awsome.

Apparently Sevcon have  also a 150V Size 6 desing but their PDF is mentionning "NOT AVAILLABLE YET contact us"

This might be a great opportunity for Zero to get these and double power of the 2013 wich would be like 660A and let say 36s ( 150V)

meaning a 99kW model ( 133hp ) !!! :twisted:

Doc

[grindz145]

About 30 seconds

[vchampain]

For me the urge is not the beat power records, but to increase sales ! Current power is good enough for the core market - i beat 95% of the scooters & motorbikes at green lights. And you dont need a BMW1200 power since you'll never travel 400 km with this bike. Also, since the number of models is already quite high for such small volumes, I would not propose controllers options or like - I would rather let specialist do this. Plus, unless there is a high demand for this which is for me no more the case, increasing specs too much on year over the other kills the second hand markert and gives lots of reason not to buy 2014 but wait 2015.

So if I were Zero's chief strategist I would
    - reduce costs & increase scale
    - improve a bit the power if low cost solutions exists
    - improve brakes & tires
    - invest hugely on marketing, services, sales

That would be existing & future users' best interest : better have good, reliable product with a real service & second hand market than technology records but low sales & possible financial difficulties when big companies invest in e-bike. It is very probable that, for example, BMW will propose electric scooters or even motorbikes in 2014.

[NoiseBoy]

You make some excellent points vchampain.  I know in Continental Europe the best selling bikes are middleweight nakeds like the FZ6 and CBF600, the 2013 Zeros compete very favourably with these in terms of acceleration at least so the market should be happy with the power.

I would like to see faster onboard charging though, as this is what everyone asks.  How far does it go and how long is a charge.  When I tell them 8 hours I have to explain that its OK because you charge overnight.  If I told them 2 hours they would say that is pretty good I'm sure.

Also stock tyres are nasty.  Something with a known brand on the sidewall would increase confidence for only a small increase in cost.

[vchampain]

By the way I had a honde 500 before buying a zero ;-)

Another thing I would do is trying to have a 10 kw/2 passengers model (downgrading a but the XU but ensuring a 2 passenger homologation in Europe), so that you can attract car & 125cc scooters drivers (which licence allow to go up to 10 kw for a motobike) & youth to the brand, so that they can later upgrade to more powerful bike.

V

[DesignerDan]

What I want to see is upgrades for those of us who bought 2013 models! If they improve the charger for 2014 they should sell an upgrade kit for those with 2013 that want the better onboard charger. This would also help buyers feel more confident buying an expensive bike in this rapidly growing EV market.

[Richard230]

What I heard today is that the 2014 Zeros will be mostly new bold graphics (BNG) and some smoothing out of the 2013 model in the areas that you might expect.  Perhaps an upgrade to a Gen 6 controller might be offered as an extra-cost option.  I don't think you are going to see a big (if any) jump in performance or range.  I think it is time for Zero to sit back and polish the bike to fix and bugs and glitches so that their customers won't have all that much to post on the internet.     My guess is that ABS might arrive in 2015, but any noticeable improvement in technology won't happen until at least 2016 - if then.

Future advancements will likely depend upon what the competition is doing and what is going on with battery technology that is available "off the shelf" to smaller manufacturers, such as Zero or Brammo.

[nicktulloh]

Could the Zero SR or Type-R rumor be more about an TTXGP eSS homologated customer race bike for next year, ala Brammo TTX?  If they came with Size 6 controllers and were for "Track use only" (and there were enough made) that would make the Size 6 controller legal for certain and maintain the advantage Zeros have over the Brammos in that class for next year.

Oh, boy....

[protomech]

I don't see why Zero would limit it to a track-only bike. eRR is becoming less relevant, and the eSuperStock has never been truly relevant as an award. Homologation is a non-issue.

The Size 6 controller costs only a little more than the Size 4 - see electricmotorsport, which offers the Size 4 controller for $925 and the Size 6 controller for $1195 (+$270).

The extra cost is all in programming the controller to work reliably, and then perhaps any marginal cost increase associated with a more difficult tuning process, if any.

They can then price-drop the Size 4 bikes by (say) $1000, and offer the Size 6 bikes at 2013 prices. That gets them both a slightly lower entry point - good for bringing new feet in the door - and a higher acceleration / top speed. Suppose they offer 25/98 tooth gearing as stock; 17% reduction in gear advantage, but a ~30% increase in motor torque from the bigger controller means acceleration is markedly improved, and advertised top speeds in the 115-120 mph range .. and possibly a small increase in highway range and sustained top speed.

28/132 tooth gearing options would let the S wheelie like the FX, and perhaps make it the quickest production EV in the world (~3.7s 0-60 = as fast as the Tesla Roadster Sport). Top speed and sustained top speed would both go up a little too.

Now they'd have a Size 6 bike that can out-accelerate the Empulse, outrun the Empulse on the freeway, and offer more range.. at $1000 less than the E1. Unless Brammo drops their prices as well..

[Olav]

First post!

I was at Zero HQ today doing a test drive and saw a 2014 bike.

New beefy shocks, custom gauge cluster and new color and other cosmetic changes. Looked real nice. No tech details. I asked about a sev 6 upgrade but was told all will be revealed middle of November.

I managed to snap a pic of the 2014 DS and S before I was told "no pictures"

Looks nice.

I'll be waiting for the 2014 model most likely.

BTW I love the 2013 DS I rode. I'm hooked!

[DesignerDan]

First post!

I was at Zero HQ today doing a test drive and saw a 2014 bike.

New beefy shocks, custom gauge cluster and new color and other cosmetic changes. Looked real nice. No tech details. I asked about a sev 6 upgrade but was told all will be revealed middle of November.

I managed to snap a pic of the 2014 DS and S before I was told "no pictures"

Looks nice.

I'll be waiting for the 2014 model most likely.

BTW I love the 2013 DS I rode. I'm hooked!

A new instrument gauge sounds nice! The bluetooth app is really nice and useful for testing and diagnosing but honestly, I hardly ever use the riding screen. It chews up my phone battery and a cell phone touch screen can have a nasty glare during the day.

[Doctorbass]

First post!

I was at Zero HQ today doing a test drive and saw a 2014 bike.

New beefy shocks, custom gauge cluster and new color and other cosmetic changes. Looked real nice. No tech details. I asked about a sev 6 upgrade but was told all will be revealed middle of November.

I managed to snap a pic of the 2014 DS and S before I was told "no pictures"

Looks nice.

I'll be waiting for the 2014 model most likely.

BTW I love the 2013 DS I rode. I'm hooked!

Thanks for the new and welcome to the forum. You are the first to announce some details about the 2014 bikes, Thanks!

what about the fairings? are they better for the aerodynamic? is the motor the same 75-7 ( same as the 2013 S-DS ?)

Was it the new TYPE R model ?

Doc

[Tudor]

First post!

I was at Zero HQ today doing a test drive and saw a 2014 bike.

New beefy shocks, custom gauge cluster and new color and other cosmetic changes. Looked real nice. No tech details. I asked about a sev 6 upgrade but was told all will be revealed middle of November.

I managed to snap a pic of the 2014 DS and S before I was told "no pictures"

Looks nice.

I'll be waiting for the 2014 model most likely.

BTW I love the 2013 DS I rode. I'm hooked!

Welcome to the forums, really impressive first post!
Would love to see those two pics of yours!

[Olav]

Thanks for the new and welcome to the forum. You are the first to announce some details about the 2014 bikes, Thanks!

what about the fairings? are they better for the aerodynamic? is the motor the same 75-7 ( same as the 2013 S-DS ?)

Was it the new TYPE R model ?

Doc

I had this thread in mind when I was asking the rep questions and I did ask about fairings. He did not deny the possibility of something like this for 2014.

No to other technical details were revealed.

Would love to see those two pics of yours!

They are blurry and fuzzy though...

The bike looks very similar, the battery cowling looks a lot nicer and not so shiny, the "tank" looks the same. Headlights, same. Mainly looks like a freshening/refinement of the 2013. The color I saw was the "classic" color. Looked great.

There's a switch now on the handle bar to control "econ/sport" mode on the fly. No sure if this is new as I'm not super familiar with the bikes. But it was a feature specifically pointed out to me as "look at  this!".


I'm looking forward to getting my Zero!

Thanks for the welcome BTW! I've found a lot of great info on the is site.

[trikester]

Wow! On the 2014, a switch on the handle bar for SPORT / ECO selection. Hmmm........that sounds familiar. Where have I seen that before.

Oh, yeah, my 2012 DS.   

Trikester