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[Admdbrks]

I've been considering switching to an electric, but the one thing that keeps popping out at me is the size difference. The average EM is higher and shorter, and I am not sure I like that. Why is that? Most EMs that I've looked at (Zero, Empulse, Brutus, etc...) all seem 10-20" shorter with a seat height 5-6" higher. I'm a big guy and I ride an Indian now and I like the cruiser look, but on an electric it just looks like a sport bike. Even the Harley Livewire looks more like a sport bike. I can't imagine that just being an electric makes it impossible to have a cruiser build. What is up with the size difference and the seemingly mandatory sport-like build?

[MrDude_1]

I've been considering switching to an electric, but the one thing that keeps popping out at me is the size difference. The average EM is higher and shorter, and I am not sure I like that. Why is that? Most EMs that I've looked at (Zero, Empulse, Brutus, etc...) all seem 10-20" shorter with a seat height 5-6" higher. I'm a big guy and I ride an Indian now and I like the cruiser look, but on an electric it just looks like a sport bike. Even the Harley Livewire looks more like a sport bike. I can't imagine that just being an electric makes it impossible to have a cruiser build. What is up with the size difference and the seemingly mandatory sport-like build?

Its not like a sportbike.  Sportbikes have the rearsets further back and the seats are taller.

The Zero SR is tiny bike. The FX is more like a 125 dirtbike.  I think they keep them tiny because they dont have to be any bigger. There is a larger market for a bike that people can flat foot and such..
That said, it isnt cramped, but I wish the seat was taller.  Im 6ft with a 31" inseam. I can stand over both zeros with my knees bent... but once moving its ok. Im not folded up as much as it looks like I should be.  I do wish the S had rearsets further back, and clipons, but the stock bars are more aggressive than they look, so they do make you reach over some. that gives you a bit more room.

[ultrarnr]

The Brutus V9 is not a small bike! It's 886 lbs with a 33.7 kWH battery!

http://www.brutusmotorcycle.com/brutusV9.html#specs

[jheth]

Zero designed the S/SR as a street (not sport) bike, as the majority of riders will use it for commuting. It's not intended for long distance cruising, so it doesn't look like a cruiser.
I'm 5'6", and the SR fits me very well. I know I'm below average height [emoji19]
It would be good for Zero to expand their product line for more models/sizes, but that costs lots of $$$... For now, maybe the FX/FXS would be a better fit/look for taller folks like yourself? If not, just wait 10-15 years until someone makes an electric cruiser [emoji2]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ultrarnr]

The Brutus V9 is an electric cruiser and available now.

[jheth]

The Brutus V9 is an electric cruiser and available now.

I stand corrected.

[BrianTRice@gmail.com]

From an economics standpoint, what isn't clear from afar that the most expensive and size-limiting factor is the size of the battery. I found it very helpful that in 2013 I received an invoice when buying my Zero that showed $8k for the battery and $8k for the motorcycle, with different warrantees. (The ratio may well be different now and Zero legitimately wouldn't want people fussing over how that changes.)

A larger bike requires a larger battery to deal with the drag and mass to move around, and that adds significantly to the cost without raising quality or improving the experience as much. This is in the "diminishing returns" sense.

I think the short version is: check out the Brutus if you can (they're in Boulder City, NV), but it'll be at least a year before more options than Brutus are available. Keep an eye for Victory making an electric cruiser, I suppose.

[Killroy]

I'm glad that the bike has a low seat height, higher bars and bars that are not to wide.

Its perfect for me at 5'6" and perfect for commuting and splitting lanes.