Print

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

[domingo3]

Zero will face some tough competition with the Strike.  Right now, their only real advantage is that they already have a dealer network.

https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/lightning-strike-electric-motorcycle-motor-teased/

And customers are riding Zeros already.

And Zero sells bikes with known specs above and below the base model Strike price point.  Nobody knows the the base Strike's specs, nobody knows the Carbon's price, and nobody knows price or specs for the SR/F.  Too little info to know if it will be competitive on price versus performance or not.

I'm going to guess $23,790. I think it will be a significant upgrade and worth it for some people but not a volume seller.

"not a volume seller"  This has been Zero's problem all along.  Whether you believe the stories they sell 750 or 2000 bikes a year, they have not had any volume sellers.  Yes they are big for electric bikes but that wouldn't even rate them  as a small ICE motorcycle company.   If they don't get a volume seller soon, Zero will go the way of Alta Motors.  I hope the SR/F is as one dealer described as  "game changer".  They can really use that.

I don't see any bike selling at a higher price than the current top of the line Zero being a volume seller.  A flagship product can boost their credibility, but I just don't think there are enough people that want to spend more than the price of a loaded SR to get it.  I'm still hoping that the tech trickles down over the next few years to the other models without raising their prices.

[Fran K]

Right now, their only real advantage is that they already have a dealer network.

https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/lightning-strike-electric-motorcycle-motor-teased/

Are you serious?  From this site I have obtained a link where I can see the (Zero) parts sheets with part number and get an idea of the pricing on parts?  It is not quite like being on Bike Bandit or Rocky mountain site that has the major Japanese brands and maybe others but this is part of what it will take to go main stream.

Not sure what the current customer is like for this kind of product.  There was a thread on here about an EVA that was damaged in shipping and the parts prices put in the thread was pretty high in my estimation.

[Doug S]

Nobody knows the the base Strike's specs, nobody knows the Carbon's price, and nobody knows price or specs for the SR/F.  Too little info to know if it will be competitive on price versus performance or not.

My point exactly. There are a lot of people making a ton of assumptions based on a bare teaser of a sales sheet. Obviously, it's done its job.

I don't see any bike selling at a higher price than the current top of the line Zero being a volume seller.  A flagship product can boost their credibility, but I just don't think there are enough people that want to spend more than the price of a loaded SR to get it.  I'm still hoping that the tech trickles down over the next few years to the other models without raising their prices.

I agree with this analysis as well. But the point of the SR/F may not be to sell a lot of bikes, the point might be just to show that Zero offers a complete line of vehicles, make a splash, and bring people into the dealerships to look at it. If Zero doesn't offer a high-end product, they cede the high ground to HD, Lightning or someone else, and risk turning into the Kia of electric motorcycles. Better to become like Toyota, with a wide range of vehicles.

[Richard230]

In my view, Zero has designed a new chassis and motor to replace their original chassis and to offer another motor choice for future models. The SR/F is just the first platform to use it.  They are likely doing the BMW-thing and starting out with a fancy new low-production model that will have a high price to attract the usual group of "gotta have the first one" beta-testers, something that BMW is very good at - even though their customers know never to buy the first year's new model, they do it anyway.  Once any problems are resolved with the new platform on the relatively few models sold, the chassis and new components will migrate to the rest of their mainstream bikes and the prices will be lowered as production volume of the new chassis and motor increases.  That is what I think is going on. 

[grmarks]

I think a new wider motor needs a new frame, pure and simple, and with more power, a stronger frame while they are at it. It will also need a much stronger belt or chain. More power draw means they need better battery cooling, so that's redesigned.
I see the changes as a chain reaction rippling through the bike as a consequence of a more powerful motor, but while still trying to use some common components (battery modules).
There are some tech upgrades (LED headlight for one), I hope they also develop a better dash and app to go with it.
Not long to wait now though.

[Curt]

I'd really appreciate a keyless proximity fob. But maybe that's too premium a feature. Who knows if they considered such things.

[centra12]

It'll all stay "the same".
14.4 kWh 116Volt max a larger motor that has more torque, a battery with ventilation duct and maybe an integrated fast charger with 8-9kWh.
For water-cooled batteries and motors the effort is too big makes the bike heavy and vulnerable. Zero is not ready for such a technology yet and you already have problems with the simple technology and the support.
Zero has always been simple and easy to build and why should you change it? It only costs a lot of money and range.
I just hope the bike frame gets bigger so the seating position gets better and it's not always called a light bike.

[domingo3]

I'd really appreciate a keyless proximity fob. But maybe that's too premium a feature. Who knows if they considered such things.

I've actually grown to hate those to the point where I'd pay for a metal key if it were an option, but it certainly seems like it is the future for vehicles and I am in the minority with my opinion.

[JaimeC]

I'd really appreciate a keyless proximity fob. But maybe that's too premium a feature. Who knows if they considered such things.

I've actually grown to hate those to the point where I'd pay for a metal key if it were an option, but it certainly seems like it is the future for vehicles and I am in the minority with my opinion.

"Hate" is a rather strong word BUT it does make vehicles who use them almost ridiculously easy to steal unless you take precautions.

https://www.autoblog.com/2015/09/18/keyless-ignitions-car%20theft/
https://www.admiral.com/magazine/news-and-current-affairs/relay-theft-how-to-protect-your-car

[Richard230]

I'd really appreciate a keyless proximity fob. But maybe that's too premium a feature. Who knows if they considered such things.

I've actually grown to hate those to the point where I'd pay for a metal key if it were an option, but it certainly seems like it is the future for vehicles and I am in the minority with my opinion.

I felt the same way you do domingo, but my BMW R12RS was only available with the keyless fob system that turns the ignition on and off, locks and unlocks both the bike and the gas cap remotely.  I have grown to like the system as I can hid the fob somewhere on my body where I can't get at it and therefore can't loose it, or accidentally leave it in the bike's lock when I walk off. While I did have to replace its $4 battery once after 3 years of use, I received plenty of warning on the dash that the battery was getting weak.  As long as the keyless systems work as they are supposed to and don't malfunction, I think they are great - as long as.....   

[JaimeC]

One of the few things BMW did right with the C650GT was their key system.  It was still a physical key, but there was an RFID chip in it.  You could unlock the steering head, but unless the RFID chip in the key was recognized, it would not start.  I think I prefer that system over a completely keyless system (especially one that requires a battery that will eventually run down).

My new car has the latter system and I make sure the fob nearest our front door is stored in a metal box (Faraday cage) to prevent the kind of theft described in the second article I linked above.

[DonTom]

I think I prefer that system over a completely keyless system (especially one that requires a battery that will eventually run down).

Not much of an issue. My Harley has a keyless system FOB and if the battery goes dead, I just enter my six digit PIN number to start the bike until I get around to replacing the battery, which I have a couple of spares in the bike anyway.

I really like the key FOB system with the passive entry in my Harley. I wish all my vehicles had such.

My Tesla Model Three Key Fob does not have passive entry, I have to press a button. Then I have a few minutes to move the car. If this FOB  fails, I have a card as well as an application on a SmartPhone to unlock the car.

AFAIK, there is always a backup of some type if a FOB battery craps out. Besides that those FOB batteries usually last around ten years.

-Don- Auburn, CA

[Richard230]

I just read a first-ride review of the 2019 125cc Honda Super Cub, which has a MSRP of $3,600. It comes with a keyless key fob system, so I guess they can't be too expensive of an option. 

[Fred]

I have grown to like the system as I can hid the fob somewhere on my body where I can't get at it and therefore can't loose it, or accidentally leave it in the bike's lock when I walk off.

I make sure I'll never lose my fob by implanting it in my left hand. Very useful for doors and unlocking my PC. I've not got round to rigging it up so that it works with my Zero yet though.

[caza]

Keyless is the way to go. Ever since I got a car with keyless I've never looked back. It's simply far more convenient, and with modern keys costing far more than the metal they're made of due to having security chips, I don't even see cost as an advantage of keyed systems.

The 2019 Monkey also has a keyless system and a built in alarm -in the UK, but the US version has neither of these features. (And uglier indicators) I wonder if the new Cub is the same.