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[armicb]

Hi guys,

¿Would it be possible to upgrade a S to a SR by just changing the SEVCON and the related SW in the MBB or are there any other needed changes? I´m very happy with my S 2014 (completely reliable after 6000km) and I was wondering if this could be done. 

Regards from Spain

[mrwilsn]

It can be done but you will need to change the motor too.  SR uses high temp magnets but S doesn't. If you hook up a size 6 controller to the S motor it can overheat and demagnetize the magnets.

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

[Kocho]

On the '15 models the motors are all the same. Only in '16 they introduved the IPM versuon on some models. I am not 100% sure about '14, but I think the S and SR use the same motor too,

Lastly, I wonder if the 4 brick battery is required or if the 3-brick versioncould handle it too.

It can be done but you will need to change the motor too.  SR uses high temp magnets but S doesn't. If you hook up a size 6 controller to the S motor it can overheat and demagnetize the magnets.

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

[MorbidBBQ]

I`ve wondered about this myself about upgrading my 2013 S.

Its a pain to find prices for parts online, everything needs to get quoted through a dealer.  Its not like the big guys where they have publicly available parts lists, and can just google it.

[mrwilsn]

On the '15 models the motors are all the same. Only in '16 they introduved the IPM versuon on some models. I am not 100% sure about '14, but I think the S and SR use the same motor too,

Lastly, I wonder if the 4 brick battery is required or if the 3-brick versioncould handle it too.

It can be done but you will need to change the motor too.  SR uses high temp magnets but S doesn't. If you hook up a size 6 controller to the S motor it can overheat and demagnetize the magnets.

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

All motors in 2014 and 2015 are SPM and not IPM but only the SR uses high temp magnets.  Even the 2016 models...only SR uses high temp magnets.

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

[mrwilsn]

On the '15 models the motors are all the same. Only in '16 they introduved the IPM versuon on some models. I am not 100% sure about '14, but I think the S and SR use the same motor too,

Lastly, I wonder if the 4 brick battery is required or if the 3-brick versioncould handle it too.

It can be done but you will need to change the motor too.  SR uses high temp magnets but S doesn't. If you hook up a size 6 controller to the S motor it can overheat and demagnetize the magnets.

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

All motors in 2014 and 2015 are SPM and not IPM but only the SR uses high temp magnets.  Even the 2016 models...only SR uses high temp magnets.

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

Oops....I should have also noted that DSR also uses high temp magnets in 2016.

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

[armicb]

Ok so basically if I change the controller and the MBB (update or change) I would have a SR with the S motor: if I overheat the magnets i would need to change the motor to the hi-temp magnet motor... but if i keep an eye on the temp indicator in the dash and I don't overheat them everything should work.

[NEW2elec]

Sounds ambitious but not cost effective.  I'm pretty sure you would need to change out the whole package.  I know Zero sells the SR motor by itself but I would say let your S go to someone that is getting in at the ground level and get a discounted 15 or 16 SR.  The 16 will handle longer highway speeds with the IPM motor.  I'm in a similar spot with my 13 DS wanting a bit more zip but still loving my bike.

[armicb]

Well it depends on how much the controller change costs... For me the S 2014 is awesome, reliable and meets all my demands for everyday use. I´m basically searching for a faster acceleration to increase the "ride fun" a couple of times a month, which maybe does not justify buying a new bike. i´ve been changing my Zeros each 2 years and I bought the last one on March this year so I hope to keep the 2014 at least until 2018.

[Richard230]

I seem to recall that Harlan at Hollywood Electrics was installing the Size 6 controller on to 2013 bikes, to make the equivalent of an SR, the year before Zero did the same when they introduced the 2014 SR.  My recollection is that the first SR models did not have high temperature magnets and certainly the ones modified by Harlan didn't.  And they all still worked just fine.  I would think that before the motor became so hot that it might affect the magnets in some way, the bike's computer would cut power to keep that from happening.  So I don't think that switching to a Size 6 is going to result in any motor damage.  However, I don't know what else need to be done to make that modification.  No doubt contacting Harlan at HE would be the best approach to researching your question.  He might also be able to sell you the new controller and any other necessary parts, as well as providing instructions to make your dream come true.   

[mrwilsn]

I seem to recall that Harlan at Hollywood Electrics was installing the Size 6 controller on to 2013 bikes, to make the equivalent of an SR, the year before Zero did the same when they introduced the 2014 SR.  My recollection is that the first SR models did not have high temperature magnets and certainly the ones modified by Harlan didn't.  And they all still worked just fine.  I would think that before the motor became so hot that it might affect the magnets in some way, the bike's computer would cut power to keep that from happening.  So I don't think that switching to a Size 6 is going to result in any motor damage.  However, I don't know what else need to be done to make that modification.  No doubt contacting Harlan at HE would be the best approach to researching your question.  He might also be able to sell you the new controller and any other necessary parts, as well as providing instructions to make your dream come true.   

The 2014 SR used high temp magnets.  The old web pages are still active on the internet they just aren't linked via Zero's main page.  If you really want you can go back and look at the specs for any of the old Zero models.

http://www.zeromotorcycles.com/zero-s/2014/specs.php?model=sr

As far as Harlan's conversions....when he first put on the size 6 he was ventilating the motor....which is OK for a race bike but not so great for a bike that sees commuting conditions...I think @Burton has one of these motors and can attest to that....but then in 2014 they had to go to liquid cooling.

[mrwilsn]

Ok so basically if I change the controller and the MBB (update or change) I would have a SR with the S motor: if I overheat the magnets i would need to change the motor to the hi-temp magnet motor... but if i keep an eye on the temp indicator in the dash and I don't overheat them everything should work.

I definitely would not recommend this approach.  The likelihood that you will ruin a motor is high and why would you want to ruin a perfectly good motor that could be sold and the money could be used to offset the cost of a new motor with high temp magnets.

Also, keep in mind that you will need to make some physical modifications to fit the larger controller.

If you are serious about the upgrade, @Richard230 is right....contact Hollywood Electrics and they can help you out with ordering parts etc.

[mrwilsn]

Hi guys,

¿Would it be possible to upgrade a S to a SR by just changing the SEVCON and the related SW in the MBB or are there any other needed changes? I´m very happy with my S 2014 (completely reliable after 6000km) and I was wondering if this could be done. 

Regards from Spain

Also, you will need to be able to program the SEVCON which will require an IXXAT interface....you will want the older version 1.5 or 1.6 so that you can use free software available on the internet that doesn't require a license.

Like this but I already contacted @Doctorbass a while ago to see if his friend still had it and got no response.  You can find them occasionally on Ebay but I haven't taken the time to search hard for one yet.

http://electricmotorcycleforum.com/boards/index.php?topic=5706.0

[Electric Terry]

Hi guys,

¿Would it be possible to upgrade a S to a SR by just changing the SEVCON and the related SW in the MBB or are there any other needed changes? I´m very happy with my S 2014 (completely reliable after 6000km) and I was wondering if this could be done. 

Regards from Spain

The most cost effective way to do this would be to sell the 2014 S and buy a 2014 SR (Surely this will cost much much less than the components alone) and perhaps even be able to upgrade to a 2015 SR for an equal or lesser cost than components alone, and also be able to enjoy the benefits of higher range batteries, better suspension, stronger wheels and bearings, and better brakes with the addition of ABS.  You will find me recommending to anyone on this forum who has tried a Zero bike and finds out they love it and likes to ride it everyday, to upgrade to a 2015+ and sell the 2014 or earlier to a new adopter to try electric for the first time.  The overall benefit from this is much higher to the user.

[armicb]

Thanks guys for your comments, appreciated.

I think I will keep my S2014 as it is at least until the 2-year period warranty has ended and let´s see what are the options then (this will happen in March 2018).