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[mrwilsn]

Doesn't look like they changed too much on the FXS

FXS has the least change of all the bikes, for sure.  But the upgrade from the 420 amp controller to 550 amp controller is a big deal.  Especially for the FX/S and their light weight.  Not to mention the change in gear ratio that multiplies the torque to a greater degree than in years past.

[grmarks]

http://www.zeromotorcycles.com/

More Torque and Horsepower!! 116 lb/ft and 70 hp!
5 year unlimited mileage battery warranty!
Stronger belt!
200+ miles city range and 100+ miles highway at 70 mph with powertank!

Steadily getting better and better each year!

I'm very excited for more power and torque in 2017 from the 775 amp controller vs the 660 amp from 2014-2016!!!

The FX and FXS get a 550 amp controller vs the 420 amp controller for more torque and horsepower too!  Wow this will be perhaps too much fun lol.

The specs say that the S 13 has the old belt 28/130

[mrwilsn]

I am wondering if the 2015 version is upgradable to a 2017 version.
Any ideas?

People ask this all the time.  You sell the 2015 and buy a 2017.  The cost difference to do this is often many times less expensive than buying all new components for an older bike.  Doesn't make sense to do that.

How can people ask this all the time? The 2017 news just came a few hours ago

I have asked before if a DS can be converted to a DSR and that requires a exchange of both controller AND engine. But if the upgrade from a 420A controller to a 550A controller is just the exchange of the controller, I think that this is not a big change. If I compare the specs between the 2016 and 2017 models, these seem to have the same engine.

The reason that it is not interesting to sell the 2015 and buy a 2017 is that the write off of the 2015 is high and I have to pay the governmental incentives back when I sell the bike within 5 years.

Of course, it's technically possible.  However, it should be noted that they went to a spline shaft on the motor and the fatter belt to handle the extra torque from the new controllers.  You could probably use the new controllers with the older keyed shaft with the smaller belt but may break belts frequently....especially if you are riding like a hooligan doing jumps etc.

[mrwilsn]

http://www.zeromotorcycles.com/

More Torque and Horsepower!! 116 lb/ft and 70 hp!
5 year unlimited mileage battery warranty!
Stronger belt!
200+ miles city range and 100+ miles highway at 70 mph with powertank!

Steadily getting better and better each year!

I'm very excited for more power and torque in 2017 from the 775 amp controller vs the 660 amp from 2014-2016!!!

The FX and FXS get a 550 amp controller vs the 420 amp controller for more torque and horsepower too!  Wow this will be perhaps too much fun lol.

The specs say that the S 13 has the old belt 28/130

28/130 is the number of teeth on the gears not the belt.  However, it does say the S/DS ZF6.5 as well as S/DSR and FX/S use Poly Chain HTD Carbon belt vs. Poly Chain GT Carbon belt.  It's curious that only the S/DS ZF13 and S/DS ZF13 w/ power tank use the older belt....I wonder if that's a typo.  Looking at the pictures I can only see a S ZF6.5 and it's definitely using the new belt.

[grmarks]

Doesn't look like they changed too much on the FXS

FXS has the least change of all the bikes, for sure.  But the upgrade from the 420 amp controller to 550 amp controller is a big deal.  Especially for the FX/S and their light weight.  Not to mention the change in gear ratio that multiplies the torque to a greater degree than in years past.

They also have a new integrated (not removable) double brick pack.

[grmarks]

I am wondering if the 2015 version is upgradable to a 2017 version.
Any ideas?

People ask this all the time.  You sell the 2015 and buy a 2017.  The cost difference to do this is often many times less expensive than buying all new components for an older bike.  Doesn't make sense to do that.

How can people ask this all the time? The 2017 news just came a few hours ago

I have asked before if a DS can be converted to a DSR and that requires a exchange of both controller AND engine. But if the upgrade from a 420A controller to a 550A controller is just the exchange of the controller, I think that this is not a big change. If I compare the specs between the 2016 and 2017 models, these seem to have the same engine.

The reason that it is not interesting to sell the 2015 and buy a 2017 is that the write off of the 2015 is high and I have to pay the governmental incentives back when I sell the bike within 5 years.

Of course, it's technically possible.  However, it should be noted that they went to a spline shaft on the motor and the fatter belt to handle the extra torque from the new controllers.  You could probably use the new controllers with the older keyed shaft with the smaller belt but may break belts frequently....especially if you are riding like a hooligan doing jumps etc.

How do you know the motors are the same inside? They may not be.

check out this article, still room to improve.
https://chargedevs.com/features/lord-corporation-builds-on-its-work-potting-electric-motors-reducing-hot-spots-by-up-to-40/

[grmarks]

http://www.zeromotorcycles.com/

More Torque and Horsepower!! 116 lb/ft and 70 hp!
5 year unlimited mileage battery warranty!
Stronger belt!
200+ miles city range and 100+ miles highway at 70 mph with powertank!

Steadily getting better and better each year!

I'm very excited for more power and torque in 2017 from the 775 amp controller vs the 660 amp from 2014-2016!!!

The FX and FXS get a 550 amp controller vs the 420 amp controller for more torque and horsepower too!  Wow this will be perhaps too much fun lol.

The specs say that the S 13 has the old belt 28/130

28/130 is the number of teeth on the gears not the belt.  However, it does say the S/DS ZF6.5 as well as S/DSR and FX/S use Poly Chain HTD Carbon belt vs. Poly Chain GT Carbon belt.  It's curious that only the S/DS ZF13 and S/DS ZF13 w/ power tank use the older belt....I wonder if that's a typo.  Looking at the pictures I can only see a S ZF6.5 and it's definitely using the new belt.

Yes I know, it implies same old (small tooth) belt (the belt has to match the sprocket/gears). The new belt has bigger teeth.

[grmarks]

I got an email with this link and the specs seem a little different also there is an 11kw motor?
http://www.zeromotorcycles.com/eu/motorcycles?zmcid=2179&utm_source=zero-db&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=2017%2BLaunch%2BUK

[mrwilsn]

I got an email with this link and the specs seem a little different also there is an 11kw motor?
http://www.zeromotorcycles.com/eu/motorcycles?zmcid=2179&utm_source=zero-db&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=2017%2BLaunch%2BUK

It's the same bike but European market requires different testing methods for range.

Where did you see 11kW motor...I couldn't find it but looked kinda fast

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

[Erasmo]

It's in the model selection between S and SR. Over here we have a special category for light motorcycles, but IIRC the downgrade is made by throttling the controller.

[grmarks]

I got an email with this link and the specs seem a little different also there is an 11kw motor?
http://www.zeromotorcycles.com/eu/motorcycles?zmcid=2179&utm_source=zero-db&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=2017%2BLaunch%2BUK

It's the same bike but European market requires different testing methods for range.

Where did you see 11kW motor...I couldn't find it but looked kinda fast

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

In the specs tab

[mrwilsn]

It's in the model selection between S and SR. Over here we have a special category for light motorcycles, but IIRC the downgrade is made by throttling the controller.

Oh yeah...I found it.  Same motor, same controller. Same bike different programming.

What would be cool is if you could pay to upgrade via firmware update using the Zero app once you are ready for full power [emoji6]

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

[Richard230]

Speaking of government incentives, I wonder what Congress is going to do this year about extending the 10% Federal electric motorcycle credit.  The way the political situation is going this year in the U.S., the little electric motorcycle industry, based mostly in CA (very much a "blue" state), might get caught in the middle like it did in 2014, when Brammo was attacked in the House and the rebate killed off because a Congressman didn't like a Senator from Oregon.    

If I thought that the 10% rebate is going away I might very well want to replace my 2014 with a 2017 before the end of the year.  But if it sticks around for 2017, then I would likely wait for the 2018 models to be introduced before buying a new Zero, since my 2014 is still working really well.    Decisions, decisions - complicated by me helping to fund my granddaughters college education.

[pacificcricket]

I'm actually not impressed. I am not a torque chaser, and was hoping for a fundamentally different (bigger) dual-sport bike.

[BrianTRice@gmail.com]

I don't seek increased speed or torque, but the systems upgrades are nice to see.

One irritation: the Power Tank 3.3 is listed as compatible only with 2017 models. I was holding out for just that upgrade to my 2016 DSR. I'd mostly prefer some kind of assurance that the Power Tank interactions with the Main Pack BMS or MBB were sorted out. I guess I'll inquire separately about this, but I don't expect my dealer to even try to get such an exception from Zero.

I'll wait on finding out what the "long brick" possibilities are, since it's only described in limited form on the website. Sharing the long brick between FX/FXS and low-priced S/DS models is a good strategy, but they should allow upgrades for those S/DS owners instead of just storage space allowance.

Ref: http://www.zeromotorcycles.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=15_5&products_id=239