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[Bass Cadet]

Does anyone have suggestions for custom settings for a beginning rider? I've mostly been riding with the ECO setting and have become reasonably comfortable with it. Still, I wonder if there are some other settings that may be more suitable for someone who's been licensed about a month. I think the Zero is a great beginner's bike since the power is easily controlled, there is no clutch or shifting to worry about, and it is quiet enough to think.

[DonTom]

Does anyone have suggestions for custom settings for a beginning rider? I've mostly been riding with the ECO setting and have become reasonably comfortable with it. Still, I wonder if there are some other settings that may be more suitable for someone who's been licensed about a month. I think the Zero is a great beginner's bike since the power is easily controlled, there is no clutch or shifting to worry about, and it is quiet enough to think.

You will probably get as many ideas as there are members in this forum.

I use my custom mode mainly as a freeway mode or for faster speeds with very little or no stopping.

So I use 20% deceleration regen (many say use 0%, but I don't agree).
100% braking regen (I think most will agree here).
80% torque (many others  probably want 95 or 100% here).
85 MPH top speed (take your pick--but don't set it too low).

And remember that you must switch BEFORE the freeway. You have to be below 60 MPH for it to change modes and that almost got me killed once, as I needed to accelerate fast, which was not possible as I was still in eco mode at 65 MPH.

-Don-  Reno, NV

[Crissa]

Well, I've only been riding since the first of September!  So I think I qualify as a beginner.  I used Eco to start with, too.

I've been using 40% torque and 0% regen and 50% brake regen, and I don't recall the top speed.  I've only ever gone 68mph once o-o;

I was finding the 100% braking regen made my bike shudder on hills as it engages and disengages... Which I live in a pretty hilly area.

Also you can't switch modes if you're accelerating.

-Crissa

[DonTom]

Also you can't switch modes if you're accelerating.

Or even when riding at a  steady speed. You always have to reduce the throttle all the way back and be below 60 MPH.

I discovered (the hard way) that this can be very dangerous to force one to slow down to speed up. Select sport or custom mode just before getting to the freeways.

Why Zero thinks to be forced to go below 60 is safer, I have no idea. Sometimes this so-called safety  BS can get people killed.

-Don-  Reno, NV

[dalamario]

Why Zero thinks to be forced to go below 60 is safer, I have no idea. Sometimes this so-called safety  BS can get people killed.

-Don-  Reno, NV

Think what could happen if you are in sport at full speed and by accident (or consciously) you switch mode to eco or a low speed / torque custom mode. This can be dangerous.

[valnar]

I've been using 40% torque and 0% regen and 50% brake regen, and I don't recall the top speed.  I've only ever gone 68mph once o-o;

I was finding the 100% braking regen made my bike shudder on hills as it engages and disengages... Which I live in a pretty hilly area.

How does that 'feel' compared to ECO mode, with only 40% torque?

[TEV]

[/quote]
How does that 'feel' compared to ECO mode, with only 40% torque?
[/quote]

I am using the same "only 40% " torque on my Custom  mode, and it's definitely a higher % than ECO mode.

[DonTom]

Think what could happen if you are in sport at full speed and by accident (or consciously) you switch mode to eco or a low speed / torque custom mode. This can be dangerous.

Either way can be dangerous. I prefer to make my own decision, not have the bike make it for me. Especially after it almost getting me killed.

But I somewhat agree with having to reduce the throttle to nothing to change modes, as that can be done very quickly. It's that we must first go below 60 MPH to speed up that I strongly disagree  with and find it MUCH more dangerous than not having such a requirement.

-Don-  Reno, NV

[Doug S]

...we must first go below 60 MPH to speed...

I believe that's 40 mph. I've tried it on the freeway and it just doesn't change modes. I might be willing to go under 60 on the freeway, but not 40.

[DonTom]

Does anyone have suggestions for custom settings for a beginning rider?lutch or shifting to worry about, and it is quiet enough to think.

See here.


-Don-  Reno, NV

[Crissa]

40% is a little more than Eco, but not alot.  You can still beat most cars off the line and just begin to slip on crosswalk markings.  I think 20% is less than Eco, though.

-Crissa

[BamBam]

Don Tom is right about the many opinions on custom mode.  To put in my 2 cents, my custom setting is max speed, max torque, 0% motor regen, and 100% braking regen.  I ride in custom mode exclusively.  I think Eco mode on my 2017 DSR is so under powered that it's dangerous.  I could never accelerate fast enough if I had to make an evasive maneuver in Eco mode.

[DonTom]

Don Tom is right about the many opinions on custom mode.  To put in my 2 cents, my custom setting is max speed, max torque, 0% motor regen, and 100% braking regen.  I ride in custom mode exclusively.  I think Eco mode on my 2017 DSR is so under powered that it's dangerous.  I could never accelerate fast enough if I had to make an evasive maneuver in Eco mode.

What I find interesting is in the eco mode, my plain 6.5 KWH "DS" (no R) has MUCH more power in eco mode than my SR. VERY noticeable difference. I have no idea why. But both in Sport Mode, they also don't compare, the SR is MUCH faster.

On my Zero electrics, when I have a choice, I stay off the freeways and the eco mode usually works fine for me. On faster roads with no or very few stops, I switch to custom.

-Don-  Reno, NV

[Bass Cadet]

Thanks for all the information and suggestions! I've been playing around with the custom settings and am beginning to understand them better. I still mostly use ECO mode and will probably continue to do so for my normal commute. They recommend beginners start with 250cc and this seems to be somewhat equivalent. I like that I can adjust the Zero to grow with me as I get more experience.

BC

[Crissa]

Yeah, me too!

I don't know if I'd like motorcycling so much if it weren't for my Zero.  I did a hundred miles through the mountains the other day

-Crissa