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[JaimeC]

You're not the only one.  I use 100% throttle regen too.  I've pointed out time after time that regen only kicks in when you roll the throttle all the way off to the stop.  If you keep it off of the stop, you don't get regen; you coast.  It's easy enough to see for yourself.  My custom mode is 100% torque, 100% throttle regen and 100% braking regen.  When riding the twisties I seldom touch the brakes at all, just use the throttle (which is similar to how I ride my ICE bike).

I use "Eco" mode on the highway as a "Poor Man's Cruise Control."  Holding the throttle WFO means I cruise along at 70 mph.  Our posted speed limits here are only 55mph, but if you do that, you will be passed like you're standing still and get a LOT of dirty looks from your fellow drivers.  At 70 I'm pretty much keeping pace with traffic; passing a few, getting passed by a few.

Once off the highway, I click back into my "Custom" mode so I can more easily dice through traffic.  I find the "Sport" mode completely useless.

[Crissa]

My bike reports regen while 'coasting' no matter what I set the engine regen to.  I think the lowest I can get it to is like ~20%.  I've also lowered the braking regen to 50% because I was having stuttering at 100%, and I live in a very hilly area, so that was just being annoying.

-Crissa

[DonTom]

My bike reports regen while 'coasting' no matter what I set the engine regen to.  I think the lowest I can get it to is like ~20%.  I've also lowered the braking regen to 50% because I was having stuttering at 100%, and I live in a very hilly area, so that was just being annoying.

-Crissa

Does the 2014 get OTA updates?  Mine used to be flaky in the settings until I upgraded the FW. I was MANY versions behind. My first update had to be done at the dealer, just last August. After that one delaer FW update, I can do them myself.  To my surprise there have been a couple of more updates that I did myself since then.

-Don-  Reno, NV

[Crissa]

No, 2014 requires a dealer to do it.  Newer ones do it over bluetooth.  I think only the SR/F does over the air.

But yes, my firmware is up to date.

But even Custom set to 0% I get regen bars down the hill.  I haven't found a hill I actually increase speed on.

-Crissa

[DonTom]

No, 2014 requires a dealer to do it.  Newer ones do it over bluetooth.  I think only the SR/F does over the air.

But yes, my firmware is up to date.

But even Custom set to 0% I get regen bars down the hill.  I haven't found a hill I actually increase speed on.

-Crissa

My Zeros use Bluetooth to the SmartPhone and the internet on the smartphone to get the updates. All except the very first FW update that MUST be done at the dealer. After that, I can do them myself.

The Energica must always be done at the dealer. It's a very large program. But if it needs an update, I will probably will not even know. And what I don't know shouldn't be a problem, as long as it runs and charges etc., as well as it does now. 

My Tesla M3, does true OTA updates, the only vehicle I own that does it directly.

I wonder if your bike is only showing the bar but really has no regen when set to zero %. On my bikes, I cannot tell any difference between one bar  of regen (20%) and zero %, but I get no bars at Zero %.

-Don-  Reno, NV

[Crissa]

I get definite braking action at anything under a 10% grade, so I'm pretty sure it's still giving me regen.

I can actually pick up speed on a steeper hill.  A much steeper hill.  Like the one I live on   But only the steepest parts.

-Crissa

[DonTom]

I get definite braking action at anything under a 10% grade, so I'm pretty sure it's still giving me regen.

I can actually pick up speed on a steeper hill.  A much steeper hill.  Like the one I live on   But only the steepest parts.

-Crissa

Zeros do not coast very well even at 0% regen. I have no idea why.

-Don-  Reno, NV

[Doug S]

Zeros do not coast very well even at 0% regen. I have no idea why.

I've noticed the same thing. At first I was just thinking it's got higher-drag wheel bearings or something, or maybe poorer aerodynamics than most bikes, but I'm wondering now if there's some drag created by the motor when you're at 0 throttle, even with regen turned off. Some sort of eddy currents or something consuming a small amount of power.

[Crissa]

Have you guysts tried pushing one?

The motor and magnets are always engaged.  Turn up regen settings, and it's even harder to push!

-Crissa

[DonTom]

Zeros do not coast very well even at 0% regen. I have no idea why.

I've noticed the same thing. At first I was just thinking it's got higher-drag wheel bearings or something, or maybe poorer aerodynamics than most bikes, but I'm wondering now if there's some drag created by the motor when you're at 0 throttle, even with regen turned off. Some sort of eddy currents or something consuming a small amount of power.

My Energica  coasts MUCH better than the Zeros when the regen is off. The Energica is more like I would expect. So I normally keep regen  off in the hills so I can get my best range from coasting.

I have also wondered if the Zeros have a little regen even when set for 0%. I cannot notice any difference at all when set for 20% deceleration regen, other than the one bar I see.

Perhaps (unlike the Energica) the Zero has no true "off" for deceleration regen and when set for 0% percent it is simply at it's very minimum which is really more than 0%.

-Don-  Reno, NV

[Doug S]

Have you guysts tried pushing one?

I push mine every day (that I ride anyhow)....out of the garage, into/out of parking spaces, etc.

But it is a relatively big and heavy machine, and pushing it is never going to be easy. The rumor is that the little groaning noises you hear while pushing is the bike actually helping you a bit, even if the switch is off, to avoid the "cogging" forces which would otherwise make it really difficult to push. I don't think "cogging" is the right word, but it may be the right idea. Maybe the compensation is just a little bit too low...if I was designing it, I'd purposely make it a bit low, to avoid actually accelerating if it worked out a bit high.

I'd also design the compensation feature to switch off at any detectable road speed...you only want it at pushing speed. So yeah, I think any dissipative forces would be at full effect once you get up to speed.

[Crissa]

I have two bikes to push that are about the same weight.

The Zero is nearly impossible to push when set to 100% regen.  The Ducati could coast down a 5% grade.  The Zero at 0% regen cannot.

The Ducati I have to be careful that it doesn't roll away when in Neutral.

Although the Zero will roll off its stand at very little incline, it has a very low natural speed due to the motor drag.

-Crissa

[MrBlc]

The Zero is nearly impossible to push when set to 100% regen.

If that is the case, I must have superhuman strength.. (hint: I don't..)
Just as Doug, I push mine in and out of a garage almost every day.. It's always set to 100% regen.
I placed it in custom mode the day i bought it, never changed it back to any other modes.

I will agree it is heavier to push than another bike at equal weight. Noticeably so, but I would rather compare it to a bike of about twice the size. (Around 300 kg.. So like an Energica weightwise.. Maybe more)

I wouldn't mind that reverse creeping gear though.. That's a really nice feature.
Too bad Energica dropped out of my local market. Not being able to service it is a huge dealbreaker.

[DonTom]

Too bad Energica dropped out of my local market. Not being able to service it is a huge dealbreaker.

I plan on doing all the service on my SS9 myself (unless not possible). There is a service manual available for it in PDF that explains just about everything (stuff that is not in the owner's manual).

-Don-  Reno, NV

[MrBlc]

I plan on doing all the service on my SS9 myself (unless not possible). There is a service manual available for it in PDF that explains just about everything (stuff that is not in the owner's manual).

That's always a possibility for those that have the space.. However.. Not having a local service center(not in the country at all) also means sourcing parts is an issue.. not to mention if you do get somewhere to order, you also need to wait much longer for shipping, handle your own customs declaration and so on..
The hassle does not outweigh the difference in product enough to warrant it. :/