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[odedmaz]

I wonder if Zero are abandoning their off road line. Since they stopped equipping their FX with 2 battery packs (2017 FX is offered with a single, twice capacity pack), the FX can not be used as a real off road bike. Just too heavy.
The previous single pack FX, with some mods, was quite capable. However, with the added weight, much of its capabilities are lost.

Wonder if 2018 will bring some off road surprise, or they decided to leave the off road e-bikes to other manufacturers (Alta..).

[rayivers]

Oded,

I could be wrong, but I don't think Zero will be getting rid of the FX model anytime soon as it covers both the entry-level and off-road portions of the market (which is pretty good for them IMO).

The 2017 FX is offered with 3 battery options: the 3.3 single pack, 6.5 dual pack, and 6.5 'mini-monolith' single battery module.  I was told at the 2014 MC show in Florida that Zero will support the modular packs for at least 7 years after purchase, and as many of these are still in use in the military & police fleet bikes, I think the separate modules will be around for a while yet (they're also the building blocks for the bigger batteries).

Just FWIW, the Alta is 267 lbs (45 lbs heavier than my 'MX', 22 lbs lighter than the '17 6.5 FX) and didn't really feel much heavier than my bike in a straight line.  During cornering it probably will, but I didn't get a chance to do any of that during my 10 min. ride.

Your bike's looking great!

Ray

[Richard230]

I have always thought that there should be a promising future for electric off-road motorcycles, considering how noise is a real issue for most off-road riding areas and race tracks.    Plus, it would seem that electric racing is a great idea for enclosed areas. That could allow racing and even recreational riding in large buildings without the need for earplugs and a gas mask.

[odedmaz]

If I understand correctly, a new FX can no longer be bought with a single or double pack, only with  the monolith single 6.5 pack.
Tried the 6.5 version off road, and it just felt too heavy.
Perhaps the Alta is better equipped to deal with the extra weight (suspension, brakes, chassis...).

KTM FREERIDE E weighs like a 2.8 FX, and the electric motion Escape much less.

Sent from my SGP771 using Tapatalk

[rayivers]

I have always thought that there should be a promising future for electric off-road motorcycles

So did I, but I'm not so sure anymore... I just don't think the U.S. sales numbers are there to make it anything more than a tiny niche market right now.  When I was a kid so many of us had minibikes / small motorcycles / karts, but nowadays it seems like very few do, in my area at least (western CT) - and in the areas where off-roading is still huge, it seems like noise is much less of an issue than price & range.  Zero started out selling only dirt bikes, and I imagine their product line evolution has followed market demand very closely.

Ray

[Ireek]

Where are you getting this information, the website throughout the my17 season has shown 3 pack options for this bike, seems like if the 2017 bikes had been changed, the site would have been changed as well?

[NEW2elec]

Odedmaz the FX and FXS has had the three battery option all year.  One brick, two bricks, or one monolith which was non removable.  Now at this point Zero may not be making any more 2017 bikes at all and just clearing out current stock. So your dealer may not be able to order one from Zero but if you want one bad enough you can have it shipped from an out of state dealer no problem.

[odedmaz]

That's good news, and I hope I'm wrong, but I recall reading/hearing that the 6.5 monolith is a replacement to the faded out 2 brick setup.

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