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[ElectricZoro]

How often do you have to have your Zero's serviced? My dealer says every 3750 miles or 6 months?

That cant be right surely?

[firepower]

I think you have a service at 1000km or 1 month to check drive belt tension and bolt torque. After that it's just 6 monthly check of brakes, bearings, wheels, tires, etc. General check of mechanical componesnts.There is really nothing that needs servicing like a ICE bike. As long as you follow charging procedures it probably more like maintaining a bicycle.
You can download owners manual here.  http://media.zeromotorcycles.com/resources/owners-manuals/2015/2015-Zero-Owners-Manual-S-SR-DS.pdf

[Justin Andrews]

I usually get it checked over every 6 or so months, and do my own weekly servicing checks at the weekend.

[Lecram]

It's not mentioned in the manual that maintenance must be done by the dealer. So may I assume that when I do the maintenance myself, the warranty remains?

[Doug S]

My service interval so far has been when the bike goes to the shop because one of the tires and/or brake pads needs to be replaced. Kind of a hard-to-forget indicator.

[Richard230]

I have never serviced my Zero.  I look at it once and a while and ride it all the time, but it never seems to need any service - although I did change the brake fluid last winter. So far even the belt tension hasn't changed from the factory setting after 7000 miles.

[firepower]

I think only 1 month or 1000km is only dealer service required to check that no problem with dealer uncrating and setup belt tension and make sure bolt torques OK  after 1000km belt should not need further adjusting. After that I think OK to check yourself and bring any issues to dealer if found. If you have no mechanical skill get dealer to check every service interval.

[MostlyBonkers]

It has been recommended to me that my bike is serviced while it's back with the dealership getting the belt replaced under warranty. Since the only worthwhile check at the first service seems to be the belt tension, I really can't see the point. The belt tension was fine before it snapped - it was the same as when I took delivery of the bike. No broken teeth that would indicate that it was loose and so on.

I'm more inclined to just ask a mechanic to give it the once-over when I next need brake pads or tyres. I can keep an eye on all the usual stuff myself.

I know safety is always paramount, but after the belt snapped like a cheap rubber band after only 1,500 miles, I'm thinking that if something catastrophic is going to happen, it's going to happen regardless. I very much doubt the frame will just break. If the swingarm decides to fall off, it's going to be because it wasn't fitted back on properly when the belt is replaced. The risk of that happening is infinitesimal.

I don't think the front wheel is likely to fall off, given the design. I'd like to think there would be some play or an obvious crack somewhere before that happens. I'm only using the bike to commute and do the occasional trip up a few green lanes.  No jumps, although I'd expect it to handle those unless they're of the x-games style with backflips and all that jazz.

Have I missed anything important? Zero maintenance, apart from cycle parts, is one of the key reasons to buy a Zero. It's even in the name!

[MrDude_1]

Have I missed anything important?

Tires.
Brakes.
Brake fluid.
vibration induced non-critical fastener loosening.
every bearing.
fork alignment.
wheel alignment and runout.

While its nice that there is no motor assembly to maintain... if you owned something like my last honda, then the only maintenance reductions are oil changes and chain vs belt.
I had their flagship CBR1000RR and put 78,000 HARD miles on it. While talking EVs its nice to think about how clean and easy to maintain they are.. lets pull it back to reality a bit.

You have to maintain everything a normal motorcycle has to, except the engine.  Just listing things Ive done on a regular basis with bikes not involving the engine/fuel system/etc.
Fork spring swap (unless you weigh perfectly on spec or a noob that doesnt know how important this is)
Rear shock spring swap.
Fork alignment.
Wheel alignment.
steering head bearings check/replacement
Wheel bearings check/replacement
swingarm bearings check/replacement
check rear drive alignment (that would be belt or change angle, not tension.)
belt or chain tension.
Tire checks.
light checks.
brake pad checks.
brake fluid checks.
brake line checks. (abrasion primarily, with SS lines like zero, the lines may be ok, but they can rub and destroy things like fork coatings, paint, etc )
brake pad replacement
brake fluid replacement.
lever pivot checks
kickstand check (especially on a cast kickstand like the zero has)
non-critical fastener checks. (headstay, gauges, turn signals, taillight, farkles, etc)


It may sound pedantic.  Most of the Zeros are brand new bikes.  Most of you will not do a lot of miles.  When you have a brand new bikes, and you never put more than a few thousand on them, you might not worry about most of that... but if you actually USE the bike on a regular basis, any bike, than all this does apply. In a few years when the bikes are no longer new, they will be the same maintenance as any other bike, if not higher... after all, there are no manuals or aftermarket parts.

I know the zero might not eat headbearings like my ducati, or maybe the SS brakelines dont rub.. but you still have to check.  I have literally worn out lever pivots and everything else on that list above.
In 230,000+ miles I have not had to do anything unusual to an engine, and have only had two fail. One had 240,000 miles on it. The other had a manafacturing defect and was replaced at 50,000+ miles with a brand new motor. Its usually one of the most reliable parts of the bike for me... Its almost always some strange, unexpected thing that has issues.

[ChainGun]

How often do you have to have your Zero's serviced? My dealer says every 3750 miles or 6 months?

That cant be right surely?

Same situation here. Dealer informed all Zero owners that if they don't service the bike every 3750, the warranty is void. Is this legal?

[Richard230]

How often do you have to have your Zero's serviced? My dealer says every 3750 miles or 6 months?

That cant be right surely?

Same situation here. Dealer informed all Zero owners that if they don't service the bike every 3750, the warranty is void. Is this legal?

Not if you, or some other qualified person or shop, performs the work and can document what was accomplished and that specific work did not damage the bike to an extent that the warranty claim was triggered.

I might also add that you should closely read your Zero's warranty and if it differs from what you were told by your dealer, let them know. 

I don't think any motorcycle shop (such as the $$$ BMW shop where I have my $$$ BMWs serviced) perform a fraction of what MostlyBonkers lists.  The technicians are always so rushed that they just perform the minimum physical work (such as changing oil and filter and maybe checking the valve adjustment and the next service warning date on the bike's computer) required by the regular service, then ride the bike around to make sure nothing is falling off.  I keep seeing motorcycle technicians getting the service accomplished in about half the time that the manufacturer estimates it should take and about twice as quick as the labor-time charge that I pay for. 

When it came to my Zero I performed all of my own servicing and never had a problem. 

[MostlyBonkers]

Thanks Mr Dude. I did mention cycle parts in my post by the way.  You do make a good point about ICE engines often being the most reliable component.

I don't think it is legal about the warranty. I believe there was a big case about it in the car industry which has set a precedent. I'd have to look into it though.

I'll probably take Richard's approach but ask a mechanic to do a few checks every now and then. I hate paying dealership prices for servicing.

[MrDude_1]

I don't think any motorcycle shop (such as the $$$ BMW shop where I have my $$$ BMWs serviced) perform a fraction of what MostlyBonkers lists.  The technicians are always so rushed that they just perform the minimum physical work (such as changing oil and filter and maybe checking the valve adjustment and the next service warning date on the bike's computer) required by the regular service, then ride the bike around to make sure nothing is falling off.  I keep seeing motorcycle technicians getting the service accomplished in about half the time that the manufacturer estimates it should take and about twice as quick as the labor-time charge that I pay for. 

When it came to my Zero I performed all of my own servicing and never had a problem. 

When it comes to maintaining or fixing anything, no one can put in the same amount of time as you can.  So your attention to detail can be higher, and so can the quality of the service.
This applies not just to your bike, but your car, your PC, your house, anything. Thats why its so important to learn how to do things for yourself.

In anycase service techs drive me nuts on my bike. They always have something I feel compelled to fix or redo.

[MostlyBonkers]

When it comes to maintaining or fixing anything, no one can put in the same amount of time as you can.  So your attention to detail can be higher, and so can the quality of the service.
This applies not just to your bike, but your car, your PC, your house, anything. Thats why its so important to learn how to do things for yourself.

In anycase service techs drive me nuts on my bike. They always have something I feel compelled to fix or redo.

I really like that, Mr Dude. It sums up human nature, in a way. Others just don't have the same motivation to attend to our possessions.

For those of us who don't feel we have the time, due to young families, demanding jobs and so on, I guess we are at the mercy of the mechanics. I'm looking forward to the day when I feel I can spend a morning tinkering. Otherwise, when I do get the odd couple of hours off the leash, I go for a ride. I agree with you but my time poverty means that my behaviour is different from the ideal.

[Yon]

I'm in every 6 months if only for software updates. I can't do this myself. Dealer here is charging between $75-100, which is not to bad. Actually nothing compared to my colleagues Versys or gas bikes in general. I definitely saw the range improve last year and also performance as the battery drained. I've read the forum for a couple years and my thinking is its better to catch a problem before out of warranty and once out of warranty to try and resolve if possible. I think its a learning curve for everyone including Zero so there's no pretending that we can fully service our bikes. I was at the garage last month and it amazed me that another owner was in who hadn't come for service in over 30,000km and one year. Seems it would be pretty easy for a manufacturer, especially Zero, to say this or that problem with the battery or motor or controller could have been fixed if brought in for regular service. Anyone know the law in your country or state? I know in MA, you have to be able to show that a garage, or individual, had an ability if challenged. I know several can decode the logs but can anyone actually read and interpret them outside of Zero?