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[redge]

Hi,

Having put the idea on hold over a year ago, I am revisiting the possibility of buying a Zero motorcycle.

Being in New York, I had planned to talk with Carbon Negative in Brooklyn, but deduced tonight from the Zero site and this forum that they went out of business last month.

At the moment, it looks like Zero does not have a New York City dealer.

I'd appreciate comments from those of you who own Zero bikes on buying one given thin, and in the case of NYC, apparently suddenly non-existent, dealer support.

Thanks

[krash7172]

If all goes well (as in my case), having a local dealer doesn't matter much. Serious service issues could be a problem though. My dealer has shipped me any parts/accessories I wanted.

My local dealer also closed and the nearest is now 70 miles away which is where I purchased my 2014 SR. After 3000 miles, I haven't had a reason to even go back.

[bigd]

redge - you may want to send benswing a message. I believe he is in that area and is very knowledgeable about the Zero

[redge]

Thanks very much for the replies and for the personal message that I received on this question.

[benswing]

Let me know if you want to talk sometime.  Been riding my Zero S since Feb 2012 and still love it!

[mikeisted]

OK, so I hate to be a party pooper, but I bought my 2012 ZF9 with only 1500 miles on the clock here in the UK in May 2014.  I was delighted.  Just 2000 miles later, the BMS has failed and I have been told I need to find £3950 as a contribution for a new battery, which is apparently also dead.

Streetbike in Birmingham, UK, have been great.  But I cannot tell you how gutted I feel by Zero right now.  How can they be happy to sell bikes that fail after so few miles?  I get that the new models have longer warranties, but I'm afraid I have very little confidence in their attitude thus far.  I am being efficiently turned from an e-bike advocate into a critic of the whole idea, which is a huge shame. 

I dearly wish it were otherwise, but I cannot advise jumping in at this stage from my own experience - best wait for one of the 'big boys' to get more involved.

[redge]

OK, so I hate to be a party pooper...

Not at all.

This is very helpful.

[Richard230]

Speaking of dealers: Today I visited my Zero/Honda/Suzuki/Kawasaki dealer today and took the attached photo of their entire inventory of Zeros.  One 2014 S had a big discount sign on the price tag.  I think it said $5,300 off from looking at the photo, but I can't be sure as I wasn't paying attention when I took the photo.  The 2012 ZF9 bike was used with 3,500 miles and they wanted $8,500.  The 2011 S was on sale for $6000.

It looks like they have room for the 2015 models, which are expected to be delivered sometime next month.

[Richard230]

Looking at my photo and the sale tag on the 2014 S, it is really hard to make out the writing on the tag.  I now think the sale price is more likely $1,500 off.     That would make more sense, as the shop doesn't cut prices all that much - although they should, considering that Brammo is still deeply discounting their current models.   

[redge]

A question...

Has Zero told people who purchased its motorcycles from Carbon Negative (its now closed dealer for the whole New York City area) which dealer will be dealing with warranty issues and non-warranty service? Or are the people who bought Zero bikes from Carbon Negative currently high and dry?

[redge]

And a second question...

Does Zero have a program that certifies mechanics for its bikes and, if so, who specifically has this certification? If not, are Zero dealers in fact relying on Zero employees in California for diagnostic advice and repair instructions?

[peter]

redge - to address your second question.

My experience with my "local" dealer is that they work with the Zero guy on the east coast when dealing with warranty problems, and when he can't help they turn to the factory engineers. So they are in fact relying on Zero employees in California some of the time.

afaik, there's no "Zero certified mechanic" ticket the way there is for Ducati / BMW etc.

fwiw
Peter

[rayivers]

+1 on peter's info - I was told the same thing by Zach at Carbon Negative and again yesterday, when I brought my FX to Great Bay MC in New Hampshire (@ 250 miles from Manhattan).  With C.N. gone and Phibbs Motorsports no longer carrying Zero, Great Bay and Eckenhoff are now the only Zero dealers in the Northeast.

I spoke for quite a while with Mike, the Zero go-to guy at Great Bay.  He's got extensive Zero experience and has really taken the time to dig into the hardware / firmware / design methodology and know it inside out.  I left feeling my bike was in very good hands.

Ray

[peter]

Ray - Great Bay's my dealer too and I've got only good things to say about them.

Peter

[rayivers]

Peter,

That's great to know!  I got a very good vibe from them, and the dealership itself was cool too, lots of nice bikes.

Ray