Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Richard230]

Can anyone confirm what Terry has heard and received their letters yet. I hope its true they used the KBB value and $6000 is correct, that's only what I was posting on here for. I got some negative comments for doing so but I have only been lobbying for a fair deal. I only pointed out the KBB value and asking prices before the recall. I fear in the UK there are no used Zeros for sale at the moment as they are rare over here. I have had no contact from Zero yet and need to replace my bike ASAP. If anyone can confirm the offer and inform the refund timescale I would be very grateful.

I asked my daughter to send me a copy of her letter when she receives (and signs for) it.  When that happens I will post what it says.  She is located about 80 miles from the factory - but then that really doesn't mean much to the USPS.   

[RickSteeb]

Got my recall notice...

The "remedies" available are a refund of KBB FMV, i.e. $5080 for a ZF6 or $6040 for a ZF9, plus 50% value of Zero-approved accessories.  If you choose a "financial trade assist" remedy, they'll add $1000 to that sum toward the purchase of a new Zero.

Collection of the recalled bikes is set to commence on 10 May.  The local dealer will confirm your choice of remedy after they receive the bike and documentation.

[Richard230]

I just returned from my Zero dealer, where I spoke with the shop's business manager.  She said that all of the dealers participated in a webinar the other day and were told that the recall letters would be sent out on May 11.  Apparently, she must have been confused with the date of the start of bike retrievals.  She said that the shop would make arrangements to pick it up at your home.  She also said that there were some paperwork procedures that would have to be accomplished during the transfer of the title back to Zero.  She also said that the refund checks would be sent to the dealership and they could be picked up there once the check arrives (whenever that is). I can see how this process might be a little confusing until it is performed a few times.

[aelwero]

I just returned from my Zero dealer, where I spoke with the shop's business manager.  She said that all of the dealers participated in a webinar the other day and were told that the recall letters would be sent out on May 11.  Apparently, she must have been confused with the date of the start of bike retrievals.  She said that the shop would make arrangements to pick it up at your home.  She also said that there were some paperwork procedures that would have to be accomplished during the transfer of the title back to Zero.  She also said that the refund checks would be sent to the dealership and they could be picked up there once the check arrives (whenever that is). I can see how this process might be a little confusing until it is performed a few times.

Screwed some more...  my zero dealer opted out of supporting zeros not long after selling me one.  Couldnt get a firmware check, couldn't get diagnostics, couldn't get ****.  I got 7k miles out of my 2012.  Put a new hall sensor in last year, got a couple hundred more miles, then it was back to being glitchy and unridable.  If they give me 6k for it, I'll have spent over a dollar a mile on it

Having said all that, if the buy assist is enough, I'll throw more money down the money pit on the slim hope of having a reliable electric bike... I friggin loved the 7,000 miles I managed to get in...

If they send the check to my "dealer" though, I'm probably screwed, and I'll just keep the damn thing.

[Richard230]

I just returned from my Zero dealer, where I spoke with the shop's business manager.  She said that all of the dealers participated in a webinar the other day and were told that the recall letters would be sent out on May 11.  Apparently, she must have been confused with the date of the start of bike retrievals.  She said that the shop would make arrangements to pick it up at your home.  She also said that there were some paperwork procedures that would have to be accomplished during the transfer of the title back to Zero.  She also said that the refund checks would be sent to the dealership and they could be picked up there once the check arrives (whenever that is). I can see how this process might be a little confusing until it is performed a few times.

Screwed some more...  my zero dealer opted out of supporting zeros not long after selling me one.  Couldnt get a firmware check, couldn't get diagnostics, couldn't get ****.  I got 7k miles out of my 2012.  Put a new hall sensor in last year, got a couple hundred more miles, then it was back to being glitchy and unridable.  If they give me 6k for it, I'll have spent over a dollar a mile on it

Having said all that, if the buy assist is enough, I'll throw more money down the money pit on the slim hope of having a reliable electric bike... I friggin loved the 7,000 miles I managed to get in...

If they send the check to my "dealer" though, I'm probably screwed, and I'll just keep the damn thing.

Well if you still own the bike and have contacted Zero and made sure that they know your current address, once you get the recall letter you can no doubt contact them and make arrangements to pick up the bike at your home and then just ask that the check be sent to you, instead of the original dealer if they no longer have a Zero franchise.

Keeping the bike might not be an option as the DOT might red-flag the VIN and your state might not let it be registered again. Plus, it if ever did catch on fire and cause damage to your property or someone else's property, you would likely be on the hook for any resulting damages - and heaven help you if someone was hurt or injured (or worse) due to the fire.

[ColoPaul]

Everyone should be able to get something 2016 or newer as it looks like Zero is going above and beyond to really take care of their early adopters with a generous offer

I poked through cycle trader, and nationwide craigslist.  Checked with Colorado's dealerships.   Unless I want a broken down 2011 model I think I'm SOL.
Maybe I'm missing something.  How are you thinking that my $5k cash/$6k dealer credit will enable me to get "something 2016 or newer"?

[Richard230]

Here is a fun "fact" that I heard from my dealer yesterday.  I was told that Zero originally proposed that dealers would "decommission" the 2012 models at their shop by cutting the frame head-stock off of the bike with a power saw.  Needless to say that idea went over like the proverbial "lead balloon" with the dealers, for a number of reasons.  Not the least of which was the danger of cutting the bike in half and then being stuck with the parts that might go up in smoke in the middle of their building at any time.  I think that the plan likely is for Zero to pick up the recalled models from their dealers ASAP and make them disappear either at the factory or via a third-party contractor.   

[MrDude_1]

Here is a fun "fact" that I heard from my dealer yesterday.  I was told that Zero originally proposed that dealers would "decommission" the 2012 models at their shop by cutting the frame head-stock off of the bike with a power saw.  Needless to say that idea went over like the proverbial "lead balloon" with the dealers, for a number of reasons.  Not the least of which was the danger of cutting the bike in half and then being stuck with the parts that might go up in smoke in the middle of their building at any time.  I think that the plan likely is for Zero to pick up the recalled models from their dealers ASAP and make them disappear either at the factory or via a third-party contractor.

I kind of wish that was true... I could use the motor and controller for my kids Kart.

[Richard230]

I received the 2012 Zero letter today, apparently as the original owner of the vehicle.  It came certified mail and I had to sign for it at the U.S. Postal Service office.  Oddly, my daughter, who currently owns the bike, has not yet received her letter in spite of notifying Zero via email twice that she is the current owner of the bike.  Attached is a copy of the recall letter for your information.  It looks like Zero is throwing EIG under the bus.  I thought all EIG did was supply the individual cells, while Zero assembled (and likely designed) the battery packs at their factory? 

[Richard230]

Here are the three pages of instructions regarding how to have your bike collected (apparently by an independent shipping company contracted by Zero) and what hoops you have to jump through to receive your payout. Apparently they expect everyone to own a digital camera and know how to use it - like me.  I kind of wonder how things are being handled for motorcycles that are in the possession of owners located outside the U.S. 

[ColoPaul]

If "substantially damaged" you only get 1/2 KBB.   Do you think our friend Keith's bike will qualify as "substantially damaged"?

[Richard230]

If "substantially damaged" you only get 1/2 KBB.   Do you think our friend Keith's bike will qualify as "substantially damaged"?

Only the Shadow knows (referring to the old radio program and not our Shadow  ).

Perhaps one solution to the question would be to remove all of the substantially damaged parts first. 

[Electric Terry]

Did everyone see on Facebook?  Lloyd Reeves got a demo 2017 SR with 400 miles for $3760 out of pocket after trading in his 2012 Zero S!  He is so freakin happy right now!

Edit: he says in a later comment "plus taxes, tags, delivery etc"  In a later comment he says the total was $5800.  Still a damn good deal for a 2017 SR!!

[ColoPaul]

Did everyone see on Facebook?  Lloyd Reeves got a demo 2017 SR with 400 miles for $3040 out of pocket after trading in his 2012 Zero S!  He is so freakin happy right now!

Umm, Lloyd said he paid $5800 out of pocket (see screenshot below), not sure where you got $3040.  And although I do understand the concept that he's got a much better bike for that $5800 than his 2012 was, I personally would not be "freakin happy" to have to unexpectedly shell out $5800 to be able to continue riding an electric motorcycle.

[Burton]

I agree with ColoPaul here ...

Pay $12k for a bike ... ride it a couple years ... bike is recalled with dealer trade-in option ... pay another ~$5-6k to continue riding electric bike ...

I know several people who have done this exact thing and I don't think any of them were "happy" to have to pay the extra unexpected $6k to continue riding an electric bike they fell in love with that was for all other purposes meeting their needs.

Now that isn't to say they didn't enjoy the upgrade ... but for many it was an unexpected, necessary, expense ... it was almost a non-choice ... go back to a crap ICE bike you have to maintenance all the time for the same cost (since I don't think people were offered checks for their bad bikes which they could put toward an ICE bike for example) or get electric.

Either way the expense was real.