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[DonTom]

Years ago Marin BMW went through the same issue - and closed shortly afterward.  In that case I heard that it had to do with the owner's cash flow. He just bit off more than he could chew (and he also may have had some personal fiance problems). When BMW motorcycle sales took a dip, he then took on the Vectrix electric scooter franchise. After that it was all downhill from there.

That was the feeling I had, that this shop is too large with too many brands, too many bikes. Perhaps the shop has  way too many expenses.  It  could be going broke, but I really do not know the facts, I am only guessing. But that there is some type of trouble there is quite obvious.

Do you remember that large Yamaha shop in the mid 1980's that was on El Camino Real in San Bruno?  I also wonder what happened to it.  Many large shops don't last long, for whatever reason.

I have been in Marin BMW many years ago. I didn't know they were having trouble.

I was in Sierra BMW today (Sparks, NV).  I asked about the BMW C Evolution electric scooter.  I was told NO BMW shops are allowed to touch it in the entire state of Nevada. At least not for the time being.

I was also in the Harley shop here in Reno today.  Here they WILL sell the LiveWire. They will have the charge station, both for Level Three DC for the Livewire as well as have a  J-1772 that anybody can use.  But there are already many J-1772 stations in Reno and Sparks that are free to anybody--mostly Chargepoint. Today, I got recharged at the Tamarack Junction Casino as we was having lunch in their restaurant. Charging both my e-bikes at once. I was with a buddy (George, a retired motorcycle cop) who was riding my SR--trying to get him interested in Zero bikes. He really likes my SR. We have been riding my two Zeros for most of the day. We both could buy the SR/F Premium after they have the power tank and other things available for it, which will be several months away.

I was told the Harley shop in Carson City will have neither  the Livewire nor a charge station.

But it seems Zero is having trouble with dealers just about everywhere outside of CA from what I have been hearing. Here in Reno, that is the norm.

If I do buy the SR/F in a few months (as if I really need ten motorcycles) it will be from Elk Grove Power Sports there in CA.  Have you been there?  I  have ridden my SR there and back from Auburn. There are many  places to recharge close  to the  halfway point.

-Don-  Reno, NV

[Richard230]

Since you mentioned it, Don, I bought my 1986 Honda VFR700FII and my daughter's first bike, a 1987 Yamaha SRX250, from that shop in San Bruno, CA.  The two owners of that business used to own the only motorcycle shop in Pacifica and moved their business to San Bruno.  Eventually they lost interest in selling motorcycles and voluntary closed the business to go into selling home appliances. The building then became a lighting fixture store. BTW, up the street used to be a Harley shop during the late 1970's. But it was closed when its owners were arrested for money laundering for the Hell's Angeles. So shops can close for all kinds of reasons.

I have seen so many motorcycle shops come and go over the past 57 years that I have lost track of many of them, unless I am reminded of a particular one.  Getting back to electric motorcycles: I bought my first two electric motorcycles, Electric Motorsport GPR-S models, from the Electric Green Store in San Carlos, about 100 yards from the Best Buy store.  The shop was owned by two nice fellows, who tried selling small electric cars, bicycles and motorcycles.  But they had problems with slow sales and constant warranty problems.  When Best Buy started selling the Brammo Enertia, they folded.  Too bad.  Photo attached of their shop, next to a sandwich emporium.

[Naked]

Any update on the tank lid gap? I sincerely hope that it is just a pre-production issue that will be resolved on the final product. That extreme of a "panel gap" is unacceptable  on a budget bike, let alone one that cost $20k!

Sorry to bump this, and I know it may seem like a small matter, but are we really ok with this? If we just ignore this defect then Zero will not be compelled to fix it.

[Richard230]

It will be interesting to see what causes that crack and if it can be corrected by the owner, perhaps by modifying the attachment hardware.   

[gstrub]

The gap I think comes from the foam gasket under the lid. Perhaps it will flatten out with use. My SRF has it, but if you push on it it closes.

[GaryArt1]

I just posted in the other thread that I read from a reliable source on the facebook page that Zero is working on a fix for this and rather than holding shipments up, will have dealers install once parts are in.   I’m guessing either a new gasket or revised lock.

[vinceherman]

I’m guessing either a new gasket or revised lock.

The gap is on the hinge side rather than the latch side.  I have not yet tried to peek inside the hinge mechanism, but if there were a mod to reduce the panel gap, I would think it would be the hinge mount.

[DonTom]

We just called EuroCycle Reno.  They told us there is nothing wrong with their Zero SR/F.

There has been nothing wrong with it for around the last two weeks. The last over- the- air firmware update totally fixed all its problems.

So I took a test ride on it.  I was impressed by its performance, but the bike doesn't fit  me.

Seat  and foot pegs not adjustable, and too much of a sporty riding position.

Seat and foot pegs not adjustable and pegs are up way  too high for my long legs.

-Don-  Reno, NV

[Jarrett]

If they do a DSR/F or something similar with more commutable seating, I'll get really interested.

[DonTom]

If they do a DSR/F or something similar with more commutable seating, I'll get really interested.

I assume Zero will start making other models based off the SR/F. They did most of that bike right, except for the comfort issues.

I expect they will have some interesting models after they catch up with the SR/F orders. Perhaps next will be the DS/F.   Perhaps Zero will become a much larger company.  I assume all the SR/F orders are already giving the company a much needed  boost in sales.

-Don-  Reno,  NV

[gadgetgirl]

I thought the pegs were going to be too high for me too, but I got used to them after a day or so. The seat height is great for me. I do agree that the forward lean can be hard on the shoulders and hands, but using my legs to brace against the tank corrects that pressure on my hands. I saw they sell tank grippy stickers for the other models. I think a nice sharkskin panel on the tank would make it very easy to keep pressure off the shoulders and hands at low speeds. At higher speeds, the wind takes the pressure off.

[GaryArt1]

I thought the pegs were going to be too high for me too, but I got used to them after a day or so. The seat height is great for me. I do agree that the forward lean can be hard on the shoulders and hands, but using my legs to brace against the tank corrects that pressure on my hands. I saw they sell tank grippy stickers for the other models. I think a nice sharkskin panel on the tank would make it very easy to keep pressure off the shoulders and hands at low speeds. At higher speeds, the wind takes the pressure off.

I was the same way.  I thought I would have the most problem with the high pegs being I am 5’-11” but it felt fine once I got used to it.  This is for a guy coming from a cruiser with foot boards.  Kind of like going from a lazy boy to a stool.  What did bother me a little was the numb wrists from the handle bars.  I just watched a youtube video on it that talked about adjusting your riding position to help alleviate it.  I have to try that.  Otherwise I have some risers coming in that should help being i think I only need it to come up a little to be more comfortable.

[Richard230]

If they do a DSR/F or something similar with more commutable seating, I'll get really interested.

I assume Zero will start making other models based off the SR/F. They did most of that bike right, except for the comfort issues.

I expect they will have some interesting models after they catch up with the SR/F orders. Perhaps next will be the DS/F.   Perhaps Zero will become a much larger company.  I assume all the SR/F orders are already giving the company a much needed  boost in sales.

-Don-  Reno,  NV

My thought continues to be that if Zero ever gets around to selling over 10K bikes a year, they will get gobbled up by a larger fish looking for a quick way into the electric motorcycle market.     My money would be on Suzuki (maybe Yamaha?) as they don't seem to be doing much (or anything?) with EV concepts and if the market takes off then the quick way to get into it would be buying in instead of developing a platform from scratch. 

Both Honda and Kawasaki have their own EV programs moving along and the Europeans seem to on the bandwagon, although Triumph might need help.  Needless to say, we won't mention Polaris, after what they did with their Brammo purchase. 

[DonTom]

My thought continues to be that if Zero ever gets around to selling over 10K bikes a year, they will get gobbled up by a larger fish looking for a quick way into the electric motorcycle market.     My money would be on Suzuki (maybe Yamaha?) as they don't seem to be doing much (or anything?) with EV concepts and if the market takes off then the quick way to get into it would be buying in instead of developing a platform from scratch. 

I think that will be okay with me, perhaps will improve service. OTOH, service is not all that great on the BMW electric, none are sold or serviced in the entire state of NV, I was told my the shop in Sparks, NV.

But as long as the oil companies do not buy out Zero, I will be happy.

-Don- New Castle, CA (at the Denny's)

[NetPro]

Like most everything, Zero being acquired by one of the big players would bring good and bad things.
They will gain from the logistics infrastructure of the bigger company (among other things) but would suffer the red tape characteristic of such companies, possibly stifling new ideas and the ability to design and test new products in a timely manner.

Being they are backed by venture capital, I would not be surprised of a sudden change of control if the investors see the right numbers in an offer.