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[OrionEridanus]

I have only ridden a gas moto for ~6K miles, and I am ready to take the electric plunge.  DS and S seem to spec the same.  Price point is the same. Seems the DS gives more versatility and resiliency for dealing with rough conditions.  Why would I ever get an S over a DS?  What are the drawbacks to the DS?

My riding profile will be commuting 12 miles each way with a mix of highway and city, and sometimes going about 40 each way, mostly highway, to visit my gf. Thanks

[buutvrij for life]

DS got a slightly more upright position wich gives you a better overview. S gives you a little more range than a DS because you are in a more aerodynamic position. I did not like the knobbie tyres on DS and swapped them out for road oriented type. Beware that DS is not a real off road bike. Make sure your needed range or chargingoptions are not a guess.

[BrianTRice@gmail.com]

The S offers range/efficiency at the expense of some ergonomics and handling trade offs.

I don’t feel as confident on an SR as the DSR, because I expect rough or loose pavement, and the increased suspension travel, steering geometry, and larger front wheel help there. The DSR also feels like a larger bike, which suits my goals for touring.

[Killroy]

The smaller wheels and tires of the S are good for shorter riders like me.

The narrower and lower handlebars of the S are probably better for splitting lanes if you do that. 

[heroto]

Short legs. I sure notice the difference (less than 30” inseam).

[zoeloe14]

I have the same problem, want to buy a new 2019 SR or DSR but i'm not sure which one to choose.

I test drove a 2018 DSR and i liked it very much. Think i need to test drive an SR  to feel the difference.

I want the bike for my daily commute what takes around 50 km. Under normal circumstances i dont ride offroad only onroad.

But with the extra options ( dual-sport windscreen, tank grips, hand guards, and a 12 V accessory socket ) the DSR looks interresting + i find the color black on the SR not perfect for riding in the dark ( less visability ).

Hope a testride will let me decide wich one to choose.

tips which one to choose are off course welcome from the experienced zero drivers

greetings

[dennis-NL]

Yup, a lot of money:
testdrive both

S or DS? see previous statements for the common differences.

[DonTom]

I have the small light DS and the large heavy SR with power tank. What made my decisions is where I plan to use the bikes. Here in the Auburn area, it's all paved long mountain roads, so the bike mainly designed for paved roads and long range would be best.

In the Reno area, I am sometimes on unpaved roads. Also, the small DS 6.5 is light. Also has more storage space. A great bike to take on the cycle ramp during my RV trips. Rides itself up easily and safely, with me slowly walking beside it. The extra storage space is handy when I bring groceries back to my parked RV, etc.

IMO, make your decisions mainly based on how and where you expect to use the bike.

-Don-  Auburn, CA

[Scotchman]

Unintuitively, the S actually has more leg room than the DS.  The dimensions are the same between the seat and the pegs, but the pegs on the DS are larger.  We are talking about an inch or less, but for me at 6'5", I was positive I was going to get the DS and ended up with the S because of range and this tiny different in height.  I also thought it looked better, and knew I wouldn't need/want the knobby tires.  I think the biggest difference is the look; decide if you want to look more like a sport bike or more like a dirt bike, and buy accordingly.

[JaimeC]

The answer for me is simple:  I have absolutely no desire to ride off-road and don't particularly care for the look of dual-purpose bikes either.  The DS, because of its less aerodynamic seating arrangement also has less range than the S and (as someone recently pointed out to me) also weighs more.  Not sure WHY the weight difference unless it is related to the larger front wheel and tire...

[BrianTRice@gmail.com]

Unintuitively, the S actually has more leg room than the DS.  The dimensions are the same between the seat and the pegs, but the pegs on the DS are larger.  We are talking about an inch or less, but for me at 6'5", I was positive I was going to get the DS and ended up with the S because of range and this tiny different in height.  I also thought it looked better, and knew I wouldn't need/want the knobby tires.  I think the biggest difference is the look; decide if you want to look more like a sport bike or more like a dirt bike, and buy accordingly.

The S footpegs fit perfectly on the DS, although Zero reps will point out they don’t test that configuration for NHTSA approval.

The only fix the S footpegs deserve are grip sleeves for wet conditions.

[Evilthor]

The S and the SR are definitely designed for street hooliganism. The handling is superb and the tires are nicely suited for pavement. The seating is comfortable with a very slight lean and the height is good for the average to tall person. The DSR is more upright and unless you are tall plan on tippy toe at lights. The tires, although knobby, are not true off road although it is excellent for regular trails. If you plan on riding road only, I would recommend the S for the extra range and sweeter road handling.  The SR is simply the S on steroids. If you get that, you will never buy a gas bike in your life

[OrionEridanus]

Thanks for the tips. 

One general follow-on question regarding wheel size.  Right now I am on a tiny wheeled (12" front, 10" back) 250 cc scooter.  At highway speeds it gets a little jittery, and the first time I had to go over an asphalt to concrete seam at an oblique angle at speed (maybe a 1/2" lip at most) I was kinda freaked out though it was not really a problem. Will the front wheel  DS 19" vs  S 17" make much difference in stability?  What about knobby vs. street?

One of my concerns is a funny knee, so I like the idea of a larger knee angle for hour long + rides, which will be rare, but will happen, but I will have to try them both and see what fits MY body.  I also have a funky shoulder (welcome, middle age) which makes rolling it forward on the grips not a good idea for wear and tear on the joint (welcome to middle age.  Sigh) so that will be a factor too. 

I expect I will be getting rid of any knobby tires.  No dirt riding planned and I am mostly doing this for the carbon impact. Unless it makes a notic ble difference on asphalt-to-concrete seams on the highway they are going if I get a DSR.

I like the sounds of the rubberized pegs, but pegs seem relatively trivial to change out.

I especially like the idea of extra inches of clearance for lane splitting, and it is more than one or two that will be a factor.  I split in crazy silicon valley rush hour street traffic all the time, turning a 3 cycle wait at the light to 1. I imagine I will do it some on highways during stop and go/10-15 mph during rush hour (I will NOT be one of the nuts lane splitting at full speed, with the cars  stopped or going 10mph.)

I like the idea of height.  I like to see and have a pretty long inseam  so will not be tippy toe at the lights, most likely (in fact my extra long sized riding pants do not quite make it to the top of my mid shin boots. Gonna be a problem in the rain. :/ ) 

These responses give me a good checklist to consider when I try them out.

* Bring a tape measure for width and seat height (specs say 1.4" difference in height, but I am an empirical guy)
* Figure cost of swapping out the knobby tires
* check leg angle
* Think about if look matters to me (95% sure it won't.  I am rather a practical type of person)
* Feel out handling differences in a test ride. Agility is always a plus.

thanks again!

[Richard230]

The larger diameter tires of the DS will make a substantial improvement in stability and ride comfort compared with a small-wheel scooter.

I wouldn't worry too much about riding on knobby tires. While they might be a little slippery on wet pavement and will cut into your range a bit, they will likely wear out quickly and then you can switch to street-only, or 10/90 dual sport, tires if you wish.

[Moto7575]

The models are not so different. If you are shorter then S  will be better for you - but if you try both you'll immediately get this point.
The other difference is the size of the obstacle you want to roll over - the S is a bit lower and even in the city if you park of the pavement SR might be a bit better.