ElectricMotorcycleForum.com
Makes And Models => Zero Motorcycles Forum | 2013+ => Topic started by: xerxesz on September 23, 2020, 05:00:03 PM
-
Hi Guys,
I just bought a Zero S from 2013. I am living in Germany. I know, that the bike should have like 16kW. After couple of weeks of use I got the feeling, that the bike is simply not as powerful, as it should be (my first electric bike). So I made a test with my friends Niu scooter. Well, the start was painful. Up to ~30kmh the Niu was definitely faster.
Now, I was asking one of the dealers here, but they just said: No clue, we have never seen such an old Zero.
I checked the app, and there everything is set to max. However, on the dashboard it never goes up to 16kW. Even at ~100kmh it is like 14kW. I find this must be an error.
Is there a way, I can check myself, which firmware the bike has? Are there some "hidden" settings? Or is it really that slow?
many thanks for any hints,
br,
aron
-
From what I could find the 2013 should have 40kW (I did see another site say 30kW but it was one that I've seen errors on in the past). There are two things you should know, first off the bike will only use as much power as it needs (the reading on the dash) to reach the desired torque value, as speed increases or you go uphill that amount increase until the power limit is reached and torque starts to decrease. Thus it won't require the full power output to reach max torque at lower speeds. Secondly if it's anything like the newer models then torque will be limited at lower speeds for safety, up to something like 24km/h. So, if you're only doing a drag race to 30km/h then it wouldn't be all that surprising if the Nui could keep up even if it has less wheel torque (haven't looked it up) if it has no torque limiting and can put it all down from a dead stop.
You could try a rolling pull alongside the scooter, from say 30-100 or whatever the top speed of that is, or you could time your Zero on its own where it should be able to do 0-100 in under 6 seconds.
-
If you wanted to see slow you should have seen the 2012 S models. They were really slow off the line. Since Zero models didn't have traction control until recently, the company seems to have set the controller so that it will not put out full power below about 30 mph. Even then you can sometimes get unexpected wheel spin on slippery pavement. And without a flywheel to slow the start of the spin down a bit, the entire bike can wiggle and shake until you throttle down and let the tire's traction catch up. Also the 2013 models do not have ABS so watch out for sliding while braking hard, too. While Zero's from 2013-on may look the same, there have been significant advances with each model year. :)
-
Did you flip the switch to Sport mode?
I have left a Dodge Viper way back from a stop light before on a 13 DS. He may not have been racing but he was revving that thing like he wanted to. :)
You should be able to hit 100 KPH in about 5 secs.
A dealer visit may be in order.
-
I don't know how fast a Niu is, but a '14 S is plenty quick to smoke anything 'cept stuff really aimed at being fast.
-Crissa
-
Check the throttle: I once had limited power on my DS '14. Finally found out that it was caused by a faulty throttle (Magura 5k Poti, which seems to fail quite often). https://zeromanual.com/wiki/Unofficial_Service_Manual#Throttle
-
Thanks for your replies :)
1. Well, it is definitely not 5secs. I will do a quick video to show. but it is far more.
2. Yesterday I visited a dealer and I have a service-appointment for next Wednesday. I hope they will find something :)
3. I will still check the throttle. Might be worth....
-
And here's the video:
https://youtu.be/N-OE4rs9-GE?t=229
0-100 kmh acceleration ~20seconds. Seems to be much more, than what you told :)
Let's hope the dealer will be able to fix this.
-
From the video it also looks like your acceleration might be intermittent and not constant. Does feel like that as well?
-
From the video it also looks like your acceleration might be intermittent and not constant. Does feel like that as well?
No, it feels pretty smooth. It is getting slightly stronger as it gets faster, but it is just slow. Or rather weak.
-
Hey Guys, thanks for the hints, especially for @MbLDC. I checked the Throttle and it was dead. I do not even know how it worked until now. For now, I found another 5K potentiometer at home, 3D printed some parts, and have a working temporary solution, until the new Magura throttle arrives.
-
Glad it worked out for you. It's a bit more fun now, huh?
-
Glad it worked out for you. It's a bit more fun now, huh?
It is a different bike :P
-
Hey Guys, thanks for the hints, especially for @MbLDC. I checked the Throttle and it was dead. I do not even know how it worked until now. For now, I found another 5K potentiometer at home, 3D printed some parts, and have a working temporary solution, until the new Magura throttle arrives.
:-) Great to hear (super, dass es geklappt hat, bin auch aus Good old Germany).
How does your temporary solution look like?
I changed to Domino Throttle back then, which is sealed, is more of a quick throttle, and seemed to be of higher quality.
-
Hey Guys, thanks for the hints, especially for @MbLDC. I checked the Throttle and it was dead. I do not even know how it worked until now. For now, I found another 5K potentiometer at home, 3D printed some parts, and have a working temporary solution, until the new Magura throttle arrives.
:-) Great to hear (super, dass es geklappt hat, bin auch aus Good old Germany).
How does your temporary solution look like?
I changed to Domino Throttle back then, which is sealed, is more of a quick throttle, and seemed to be of higher quality.
I am originally from Hungary, now living in Germany (also speaking German).
I just purchased some 5k Ohm potentiometer, and 3D printed the back side of the throttle and the gear, so it is working as the stock now, with 2 small differenies:
1. I could not put the spring back. Lack of manual skills, I guess, so I am running without now, which is not very good for the long run, but for a few days it is OK.
2. The original potentiometer has a smaller degrees of rotation. This means, however it is much better, as it was before, I can only utilize the 0-3k Ohm range of the "new" one. I could find some workaround, but since I ordered a new Magura throttle, I do not plan to change it now.
-
So you've manually limited your torque, just like as if you did it in the app ^-^
Glad you figured out the problem!
-Crissa
-
So you've manually limited your torque, just like as if you did it in the app ^-^
Glad you figured out the problem!
-Crissa
Right. Not so easy to change :D
-
That throttle spring is indeed very tricky!
https://www.facebook.com/harlanflagg/videos/1364143910276196/
It helped me a lot when installing heated grips to read the information at:
Throttle (Zeromanual) (https://zeromanual.com/wiki/Throttle)
-
If your part of Face Book you can log in and look at the comments from this post.
Harlan Flag did a video showing how to best set the throttle spring.
I'm not a member so i can't link it directly.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/zmcowners/permalink/1099106633491877/?hc_location=ufi
-
That throttle spring is indeed very tricky!
https://www.facebook.com/harlanflagg/videos/1364143910276196/
It helped me a lot when installing heated grips to read the information at:
Throttle (Zeromanual) (https://zeromanual.com/wiki/Throttle)
Mine is different. I guess, this is the newer one (after 2014). Mine is from 2013, a Magura one with potentiometer.
-
If your part of Face Book you can log in and look at the comments from this post.
Harlan Flag did a video showing how to best set the throttle spring.
I'm not a member so i can't link it directly.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/zmcowners/permalink/1099106633491877/?hc_location=ufi
Thanks! I joined the group there as well :)
-
Today the new Magura throttle arrived, and I mounted it on the bike. Well, the difference is amazing :D
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBcAqbWpOJs
-
That seems more like it!
-Crissa
-
Today the new Magura throttle arrived, and I mounted it on the bike. Well, the difference is amazing :D
::video::
Good ol'e rubberband strap. So many times I tried as well to capture video and the rubberband strap leaps into frame ;D
In serious discussion however I have a request: Can you make a similar video (and good quality camera pictures) about the assembly of your Magura throttle, that we may add it to Zeromanual? Over a long time the effort you make now will help someone else to fix their bike more quickly and with better information.
-
Today the new Magura throttle arrived, and I mounted it on the bike. Well, the difference is amazing :D
::video::
Good ol'e rubberband strap. So many times I tried as well to capture video and the rubberband strap leaps into frame ;D
In serious discussion however I have a request: Can you make a similar video (and good quality camera pictures) about the assembly of your Magura throttle, that we may add it to Zeromanual? Over a long time the effort you make now will help someone else to fix their bike more quickly and with better information.
At the moment it is anyhow a temporary solution. I will make it permanent - during the weekend - and create some doc describing what I did.
-
Today the new Magura throttle arrived, and I mounted it on the bike. Well, the difference is amazing :D
::video::
Good ol'e rubberband strap. So many times I tried as well to capture video and the rubberband strap leaps into frame ;D
In serious discussion however I have a request: Can you make a similar video (and good quality camera pictures) about the assembly of your Magura throttle, that we may add it to Zeromanual? Over a long time the effort you make now will help someone else to fix their bike more quickly and with better information.
Hi,
I just reread your request. Actually I did not manage to really reassemble my throttle - because of the spring - but I started to collect my experiences here: https://sites.google.com/view/zeros2013/home
Not sure if it is any value for anybody, but if it is great.
br,
aron