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[gstrub]

Hello everyone,

First post here, thanks for providing such an informative forum for answering most of my questions already!

I passed on buying a 2018 DSR and was waiting for the weather to warm up to get a new DSR this year, and now the SR/F is out and I need some help deciding.

First, I test rode the DSR but there were no SRs available. I don't have any experience off road riding but I live in Arkansas where there are lots of trails and thought it would be nice to have the option, but honestly even if I did any off road riding it would be <1% of the total riding I would do.

I plan to use this bike for city and town riding and my work commute (4 miles). In my garage at work there are standard outlets so I was planning on doing most of my charging there. Range wouldn't be an issue for me with either bike.

The features of the SR/F are appealing. Do you think the riding position would be significantly different than the DSR I rode? Will having to carry the adapter to plug in at work be a pain? Also I assume I would have the same options for adding storage but am not sure.

The price is so similar...I just cannot think of reasons to not just go for the new model. If anyone can think of good reasons to get the DSR over the SR/F, please chime in!

Thanks in advance,
Graham

[GrantMeStrength]

I have only spoken to one person who has ridden the SR-F, but he swears its just an improvement in every way over the existing bikes. It’s more comfortable, better equipped, is more fun to ride..

If you are in the position to afford either, I would definitely go for the new one. I mean, why not?

[BamBam]

I think it really comes down to matching the bike to your needs.  I have a 2017 DSR and use it for exactly the same things that you mentioned..........commuting, running errands, short rides around my area, etc.

While I could afford to upgrade to a SR/F, I see no reason to do that.  The DRS suits my needs perfectly.  In fact, I think the DSR is better suited to handle the rough urban and suburban roads that I commute on which are in such terrible condition.

If your going to use the bike for commuting then I assume you're going to want to add some accessories like a windscreen, rear rack, top case, and maybe additional lighting, heated grips, hand guards, etc. which can start to get expensive.  If you buy the lower priced DSR then you'll have a lots of money left over to buy accessories compared to the cost of buying a SR/F.

Now of course, if money is no object then by all means buy the SR/F.

[gstrub]

That’s just it...let’s say they were exactly the same price. Can anyone think of reasons to get the DSR over the SRF besides going off road?

[BrianTRice@gmail.com]

That’s just it...let’s say they were exactly the same price. Can anyone think of reasons to get the DSR over the SRF besides going off road?

Yes. It handles better on rough road conditions. That 19" front wheel and the handlebars and front geometry and suspension travel means more confidence ... than the SR.

I can't compare it to the SR/F because I haven't ridden it. Extremely few of us have, so we can only guess. I'll try to find out.

FWIW my DSR has 38,000 miles on it and I've never felt confident on the SR (2014 or 2018) by comparison.

[gstrub]

Ah man that makes it so tough. I am a relatively new rider so the idea of having more confidence on rougher roads is really appealing. When I test rode the DSR I felt like I was sitting up a little straight but I didn’t have the opportunity to ride on a SR and the local dealer doesn’t have any.

I am really liking the features of the SRF. I saw a YouTube video of a guy after riding first the DSR and then the SRF and said they were very different but he didn’t talk about the specifics of that at all...just said how awesome the SRF is. Maybe some more reviews will show up that will help me decide.

[BrianTRice@gmail.com]

The suspension and brakes (dual front discs) are way better, and it has traction control and cornering ABS, so it will be a better bike overall. The only question is what kind of ride you'll prefer.

Honestly if you're a new rider, I'd go with the less expensive bike, all else being equal, just because you'll worry less about dropping or laying down the bike. But it isn't equal, and neither of these bikes are cheap.

You could reasonably stick with a good used gas-powered bike for a while because you can resell it once you know enough to decide, and feel more confident as a rider that a $15k or $23k bike with an expensive battery and high resale downside don't intimidate as much.

[gstrub]

Honestly the price is close...I was planning on getting the charge tank on the DSR so that was upping the cost, and it appears the SRF comes with the ability to charge at level 2 as a standard feature so that mitigates the difference somewhat.

That brings me to a charging question...I hear they provide an adapter to plug into a standard outlet...I wonder what the charge time for that setup would be compared to a standard level 2 charger? I am considering the premium version due to the faster charging and other items, but most of my charging will be on a standard outlet so I wonder if it will make any difference at all.

[domingo3]

Graham,

  Can you explain your expected use more?  I see a 4 mile commute and city and town riding with possibly a little off-road.  Why the interest in fast-charging?

  I think you really ought to test ride an FXS.  I was dead set on getting an SR when I went to a demo day at Zero headquarters in 2016 and thought the FXS would be underpowered and boring for me.  When the SRs were already taken, I tried the FXS and was surprised how much loved it.  Not saying the FXS must be for you, but I think you owe it to yourself to try it and see. 

  I'm hesitant to recommend the DSR or SR/F to a relatively new rider, but it can be managed.  I don't see the use case in what you've posted so far, but if money is no object and you want the top of the line specs, SR/F is your bike within the Zero brand.

[ashnazg]

Noting a four mile commute, I had also thought of an FX / FXS when I read this thread yesterday...

I had a '15 FX throughout 2017, which I got to increase my available mileage from my '11 XU.  I could consistently get over 50 miles on mine, though of course I didn't often have it on the 55mph speed limit highways (but I don't mean I had it offroad... I'm not an offroader at all).

As a brand new rider way back in 2012, I got an '11 XU because it was the cheapest electric I could get, and its range (though small) was good enough for my work commute.  This was an experiment to see if I could enjoy a motorcycle, which I was only moderately convinced I could... and I really really really did.  The XU's range kept me somewhat content for a few years, but only because I didn't have the funds to upgrade.

If I was in your shoes, which sounds sort of like I was in 2012 (minus the ability to buy a $23k bike  ), I'd consider something like the FX or FXS (which wasn't available in '15), as it sounds like it could cover your requirements.  I agree with Brian that >$15k is a chunk of change to risk on a wreck as a new rider, or worse, "got it, tried it, after a month I hate this whole moto thingy business".

Also, after trading up my '15 FX for a used '15 SR, I've found that I don't like its lean-forward sitting style compared to the upright style of the FX and XU... it gets unconfortable on the wrists after 30 minutes.  The SR/F looks like the same/similar sitting as the SR.  I've never had a DS / DSR available to try out in my area, but I'm fairly convinced I would prefer its sitting style over my SR.  But with my Corbin and DigiNows, I'm probably overcommitted to my SR 

[Jarrett]

I'm new to Zero, but have been riding a while.  An FX would be a lot more fun on those Arkansas dirt roads than a DSR, imo.

I went to a Zero dealer thinking I needed the DSR.  I did a couple of demo rides on a DS and FX and ended up getting a FX.  Like others have said, I assumed the FX and DS would be too underpowered for me looking at the stats, but once I rode them, they both have plenty of power.  I'm sure the R models have even more and the SR/F, quite a bit more.

Personally, I wouldn't take a DS off pavement.  Bear in mind, I have 3 adventure bikes in the garage and have spent quite a bit of time on them off pavement, including Arkansas and Oklahoma, and compared to them, I wouldn't be happy riding a DS offroad.  The suspension is just not there compared to other bikes in the Dual Sport/Adventure market, imo.

On the other hand, the suspension for offroad on the FX is pretty decent stock, imo.  It's also a blast to zip around on the pavement as well.  Sucks on the highway, but on smaller roads I had a lot more fun riding the FX than the DS.   The downside to the FX is range though.  Mine can only make about 40 miles on a charge and can only use a 110 plug to charge back up at 9 hours or so.

If I had a 4 mile commute and wanted to play around town and in the dirt on the weekends, the FX is what I'd be looking at.  If you like ripping down the highway, maybe one of the R models would be a better option.

[Jarrett]

One other thing to consider is the torque and lack of traction control on the DSR.

New rider + 116 ft lbs of torque - traction control = potential issues.

[gstrub]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

I was drawn to the DSR for the versatility, but I really have no plans for dirt riding. The addition of the traction control to the SR/F seems more attractive than the ability to go into some dirt which I would only do if I had the DSR and even then extremely rarely, if at all. I was also limited by the fact that I was only able to test ride the DSR, and not feeling super comfortable buying something I couldn't test, that was the model I honed in on. A friend strongly recommended I ride an SR but this was not an option. The look of the SRF along with all the new features make it more appealing to be honest.

I'm going to call our local dealer today to see what the options are for test riding.

[GrantMeStrength]

A friend strongly recommended I ride an SR but this was not an option. The look of the SRF along with all the new features make it more appealing to be honest.

I have the SR, and love it. It might not be the prettiest (like me), but I ride it more than the Beemer it shares my garage with by a ratio of 20:1. The looks and equipment of the SRF makes me think this is a motorcycle first, electric bike second. I didn’t wait to put down a deposit.

[heroto]

For your short commute and just puttin around, also consider a 7.2S. A lot lighter and cheaper, and has nifty built in secure storage.