ElectricMotorcycleForum.com
Makes And Models => Zero Motorcycles Forum | 2013+ => Topic started by: domingo3 on April 03, 2015, 11:26:20 AM
-
What say you? I know this is falling back on reliance on anecdotes. The data so far on the demographics thread are not encouraging, but they cover a range of models and years. Here I'm asking for opinions on if this will work. I really want to go electric, but I'm not going to have multiple bikes. A single ICE bike has been good enough for me to get by on. In theory, there's so much less to go wrong on a Zero but the demographics poll shows several responses with bikes off the road for weeks or months. Does this represent other models? Is it because people are buying this as a "fun" bike and are not as aggressive in pursuing a solution? What are your specific experiences with the SR? I'm thinking of purchasing in 2016 either a 2015 or 2016 model. Of course, we don't know what 2016 will bring, but I'd appreciate any input about reliability. It seems Zero market share is not big enough yet for the likes of Consumer Reports to do a study.
-
Well, I have a 2013 FX, so it's not the same model. But it's my main ride, and I put about 20 hard miles/day on it at least. The batteries were recalled shortly after I got it, so I was without the bike for a couple months. Zero compensated us all for our trouble, but it broke my heart not being able to ride my favorite bike. Now, over the past couple months, it's been having a starting issue. Harlan and the folks at Zero are doing everything they can to figure out why it's doing this. It doesn't start, and if I turn it off then on again it's fine. But sometimes it'll just die while I'm riding, which is terrifying.
Since it's still under warranty, they're doing everything they can to fix it. But if I didn't still have my R1 I'd be really bummed. My advice is keep your gas bike as a backup and for touring. Most Americans who ride do so only on weekends, and Zero is a relatively new company trying to build bikes cheap enough to appeal to us using a VERY expensive part (batteries). Batteries are getting cheaper, which is why they're able to offer the 2015's with kick-ass suspension & brakes, and other improvements, while only being around $500 more expensive.
-
Rode my 2012 Zero S for 23,000 miles without issue. The only thing I needed to get fixed was a brake light that burned out. Otherwise, rain, shine or snow I was riding. The 2014 and 2015's seem to have even better reliability.
-
I have put over 40k fun commuter miles on my 2012 but I have had to depend on a backup vehicle. When things go wrong, you are at the mercy of Zero getting out the needed parts. The very best is a week. I actually got a part once in a week and the dealer and I had a good laugh of excitement. My main problem with upgrading to a 2015 is that I don't think that Zero has addressed what I believe causes most of my issues and that is water encroachment into the electronics. The BMS is now totally encased in a water proof material but it still fails if water seeps in elsewhere. Making it work may depend on where you live. I live in Florida where it rains often; so staying out of the rain is not really an option for me.
-
I have a 2014 SR with 13,000 miles on it at the moment. I live in San Diego so I've been able to commute on my bike (I have a ~50-mile mostly freeway round-trip commute, and I don't recharge at work) an average of well over 4 days per week. I kept my 528i so I don't have to drive in the rain and can drive long distances or pick up a large batch of groceries when I need to.
In 14 months now, I've been out of action for between fifteen and twenty days total. Five were for the recall (got my motor replaced in five days including shipping, which seems pretty reasonable to me), a few were for a warranty rear shock replacement, five to replace a defective charger (under warranty), a couple to replace both tires and front brake pads (routine maintenance), and the balance were to replace the headlight bracket when the bike wouldn't run because a connector got wet when I washed the bike, and an idiot tow truck driver dropped the bike sideways getting it home so I could work on it.
It's never a good feeling when stuff doesn't run right, and the failure rate on my bike is higher than it should be, but then Zero ain't GM, at least yet, and you have to expect some teething pains still at the point they're at on the growth curve. But even if I didn't have the car as backup, I could easily have rented a vehicle for the time I've been unable to ride, and still come out way ahead on transportation costs....in addition to owning just about the coolest vehicle available today.
Life with my Zero isn't perfect...but it's damn good overall!
-
I have a 2014 SR that i use for commuting. I put about 10,000 miles on it and it had been great. In the beginning, i had a contactor error that got fixed very quickly by Hollywood electrics and a throttle problem that was also fixed very quick. Also a software upgrade cured a few minor issues that didn't stop me from riding. This was all early in my ownership. After that, the bike has been very solid. I've come to depend on my zero for commuting and cannot think of any other bike that combines practicality, reliability, comfort, convenience and fun as well as the SR for commuting.
Jose Soriano
-
Don't have the SR, but my 2013 Zero S is my primary mode of transportation and I commute with it 18 miles each way to work and back, mostly highway. I've recently surpassed 15,000 miles on it since Summer of 2013. It's been through sun and rain, and outdoor temperatures ranging from 35°F to 102°F. For routine maintenance, I've had to change the rear tire. Brake pads are lasting an amazingly long time since I put the motor regen to good use. That poor rear wheel was doing the bulk of the work!
The bike wasn't without issue though. I've had to take it to the dealer a couple times due to this rattling at the motor shaft. They tried tightening a nut and replacing the sprocket and parts for the shaft, and eventually had to just warranty the entire motor. This issue was annoying, but the dealer worked with Zero to get it resolved and didn't jerk me around in the process.
I've also had to take it in for a recall on the firmware. That one wasn't as big of a deal as it took less than a day to load the updates onto the bike. It did reset the mileage in the computer which you'd only see if you use the Zero smartphone App. The odometer on the dash appears to run independently and shows the correct mileage.
The bike has held itself together fine otherwise, and I've sold my ICE bike due to it being inactive. The only time I needed the ICE as a backup was when the Zero was in the shop for the motor issues, and it's poetic that the ICE still has seen more days at the shop for maintenance alone. The longest trip I need to make is 80 miles, which the Zero is able to do as long as I obey all posted speed limits. No numb limbs from vibrations! My secondary vehicle is used to cart kids and large objects around.
-
I have been putting about 500 miles a month on my Zero (as well as trying to ride all of my other motorcycles at least once a week) and have never had a problem. I have not had any firmware updates performed since over a year ago. It just runs and runs and has been very reliable. But I don't ride in the rain. The 2012 S that I gave my daughter is still running fine, also. The only problems that she has had is trying to keep the plastic fairing parts attached to the bike. ::)
-
I'll chime in with 13,000 miles in two years on a 2013 DS. I would characterize both times the bike was under repair as warrantee / recall issues for the BMS and the front sprocket key, which seem to have been one-time teething issues with the manufacturing scale-up they encountered with the new platform in 2013. Since then, I've had the bike in for single-day upgrades, like tires, the 2014 rear brake kit (totally worthwhile), and heated grip installations.
I do not own a car; I keep one ICE bike and the Zero both with three cases and occasionally borrow/rent a car or truck for bigger errands.
I'm sure it's not a flawless vehicle, but it's a very low-maintenance machine that keeps my garage clean and reduces a lot of messy and time-consuming maintenance tasks. It's also important that I started getting the benefits two years ago; I would buy a 2015 machine without hesitation if I had not already started using and customizing my Zero. I've test ridden the new bikes and they are very well put together and seem to have a lot of lessons built into them.
Personally, I feel like a DS will be more robust than an S or SR just because the suspension is softer.
Issues I expect to eventually pay for on the 2013: some kind of suspension upgrade and bearings. Everything else will be upgrades so I can make it more useful (big fairing, fast charger).
-
I love my Zero, but wouldn't rely on it as my only mode of transportation. It's a 2012 DS with 13,700 miles. I have a car as a backup / inclement weather. My commute is 45 miles one way.
The motor was replaced once under warranty. The front wheel bearings were replaced once under warranty. Other than that, no problems.
But as others have said, you are at the mercy of Zero to get the parts and it can sometimes take a while.
-
Love my Zeros. Commuted for 4+ years. A 2010, then 2011, now 2014S. All good and great for a super fun commute. Since 2011/2012 have the Zero become reliable.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
-
I have a 2014 SR with just over 17K miles on it. I consider it to be reliable but would definitely not rely on it for sole transportation. When problems do come up they seem to take a long time to resolve. Power Tank problem: 6 weeks. Randon turning off and then back on: 5 weeks. Currently been on the shop for over a month now as a result of something that happened during the troubleshooting of the last problem that has killed my range. My SR has spent most of 2015 so far in the shop.
-
2015 SR here. 3 months and 1500 miles in rainless San Jose, California. No major problems thus far. Minor brake (or motor?) sounds at low speeds, and motor temperature sensor reads 20 degrees high. No functional problems, but I don't have high mileage on it yet. I anticipate it will run great for a long time... the latest models have lots of design improvements from lessons learned in past years. And better quality components too (suspension, brakes, etc.). Nothing beats an electric motorcycle for fun, cheap and maintenance free commuting. The Zero SR is at the top of the pack in that category too.
You should have ICE vehicle (car or bike) as a backup/alternative. My wife has a C-Max Energi that I can use when needed. I had a Honda 1000RR that I kept around as a backup, but it had a fuel leak and was stinking up my garage. My electric vehicles complained about that, so I sold it [emoji2]
The Zero works great if you'll use it for commuting and short weekend rides (I haven't ridden more than 100 miles in a day in a long time). You won't regret getting a Zero. Purchase price is high, but the value is long term gas, repair and maintenance savings. My personal prediction is that 2016 won't have any ground-breaking changes. The 2015's are at a level (performance, quality, reliability) that now warrants efforts on price reduction. I suspect year-to-year changes will be a mix of design changes and cost reduction. Zero knows that cost is now the main thing limiting their sales. And dealership network/expertise too.
Overall, highly recommend the product. Main thing you need to look into is how good (and far) is your local dealer. Some people have gotten burned because their dealer sucks, and didn't learn that until their bike needed service. Good luck!
-
Or just go and buy a Honda NC750 DCT, like I did. You'll get most of the benefits of electric but with no range issues, better storage, better handling and Honda's reliability and customer service. Oh, I forgot to mention that they're at least half the price of a new zero s here in the UK too. They don't depreciate like a lead balloon either.
-
...most of the benefits of electric...
Please, please elaborate! I think we may have very different opinions on what the benefits of electric are.
-
By all means.
Smooth acceleration: the DCT box handles this very well.
Low maintenance: the NC has longer service intervals than a lot of ICE bikes, but EV's win here.
Maximum torque available through the rev range: The DCT does a good job of keeping the engine where it produces the most torque. The torque multiplication of using gears makes up for the shortfall in maximum torque compared to an electric motor.
Good for the environment: the NC has very low emissions for an ICE bike. Zero wins here of course.
Those are some of the positives for electric I can think of right now. Please note I'm not mentioning any of the negatives. Don't get me wrong, I'd love an SR but I can't afford one. I also only want to run one bike and it has to be reliable all year round in all weather conditions. Zero aren't there yet IMHO.
-
By all means.
Smooth acceleration: the DCT box handles this very well.
Low maintenance: the NC has longer service intervals than a lot of ICE bikes, but EV's win here.
Maximum torque available through the rev range: The DCT does a good job of keeping the engine where it produces the most torque. The torque multiplication of using gears makes up for the shortfall in maximum torque compared to an electric motor.
Good for the environment: the NC has very low emissions for an ICE bike. Zero wins here of course.
Those are some of the positives for electric I can think of right now. Please note I'm not mentioning any of the negatives. Don't get me wrong, I'd love an SR but I can't afford one. I also only want to run one bike and it has to be reliable all year round in all weather conditions. Zero aren't there yet IMHO.
I was thinking the benefits were:
Always has a full "tank" when I leave the garage.
The bike does not stink of gasoline.
More importantly, I don't stink of gasoline after working on or refueling the bike.
No waiting for the engine to warm up.
Quiet as not to irritate my neighbors when warming up or riding down the street.
No exhaust stink.
No hydrocarbon emissions to deteriorate my wetsuits that are hung in the garage.
My current Honda is nowhere near as smooth.
My Honda's fuel efficient rpm range is nowhere near its power range.
No hot exhaust system to burn yourself on.
Electric is still a unique ride.
I get to charge for free and park 2 blocks closer to my building on campus.
I spend less time adjusting and more time riding my electric than my ICE Honda.
I don't get covered in as much gross stuff when working on the electric.
Easier to keep clean as there is less stuff that can leak or ooze and collect grime.
There are probably some environmental benefits too.
Cheaper to fuel, but you pay for it up front. Advantage electric if you ride a lot, gas if you ride little.
Depending on ones circumstances, the Honda NC750 DCT may be a wiser choice, but I don't think it provides the benefits of electric.
-
Addressing the OP: IMO if you need absolute reliability in a single vehicle - ie your vehicle runs or you don't get paid - then you probably should avoid bikes completely, or else stick with something bulletproof. I would weigh the reliability and service of the nearby dealers more highly as anything about the bike itself. Many dealers - and in fairness, many owners - treat motorcycles as toys, so quick turnarounds on service may be lower priority.
If you have a fallback plan - another vehicle for inclement weather, carpooling with a friend, or other transit alternatives - then a bike may be suitable, and electrics are worth consideration if their capabilities and limitations align well with your commuting patterns.a
Here's my anecdotal experience.
I've owned my 2012 Zero for about 3 years. In that time, the bike has been out of service for around 4 months, including about a month after I snapped the kickstand off in a lowside. When the bike has been in service, I have commuted on every day save perhaps 20 to 30 days by pedal bike or car, typically for severe weather, cargo, or other times when a bike was logistically difficult.
I do not live near a dealer now and have never lived near a dealer. Three times the bike has required transport for service: twice for encoder issues, and once to replace the battery monolith (water ingress). Two times the bike was freighted back to Zero and once I hauled it to a dealer approximately 120 miles away. In each case the defect was repaired under warranty, and while I would have preferred swifter resolutions, ultimately I have been pleased by Zero's willingness to stand behind their bikes.
Outside of those servicing trips, the bike has needed very little maintenance at 14000 miles. The rear tire has been replaced once, both the original front and the replacement rear need to be replaced soon, and the brakes have been serviced.
My commuting distance requirements today are much shorter than when I bought the bike, but even when I was commuting 25-50+ miles per day I never ran "out" of range, and only on two instances was I concerned about fully depleting the pack on a commute. Both instances were abnormal response of the energy meter following sub-30F cold soaks on long riding days, and may have been caused by the water ingress in my pack. Since replacement 1.5 years ago, I have yet to see similar behavior during even colder days in Nashville. With the caveat that the current pack only has about 1.5 years on it, I haven't noticed a decrease in total range.
***
So my recommendation? Talk to your dealer nearby. Ask about servicing for electric bikes, and whether they have invested in tools and training from Zero. Ask about past servicing history, and make your concerns about servicing turnaround times clear. Consider your options in case the bike was unavailable for several weeks (true for any bike, not just Zero or electrics).
Personally I have been pleased with my experience using the Zero as a commuter, and if you're willing to tolerate some downtime and you have a solid nearby dealer then I would have no problems recommending the Zeros. Zero has made significant improvements in reliability since the 2012s and sounds like they're putting an increased emphasis on product quality internally, so I hope going forward that they can follow through on the low-maintenance promise of electrics.
By all means.
Smooth acceleration: the DCT box handles this very well.
Low maintenance: the NC has longer service intervals than a lot of ICE bikes, but EV's win here.
Maximum torque available through the rev range: The DCT does a good job of keeping the engine where it produces the most torque. The torque multiplication of using gears makes up for the shortfall in maximum torque compared to an electric motor.
Good for the environment: the NC has very low emissions for an ICE bike. Zero wins here of course.
Those are some of the positives for electric I can think of right now. Please note I'm not mentioning any of the negatives. Don't get me wrong, I'd love an SR but I can't afford one. I also only want to run one bike and it has to be reliable all year round in all weather conditions. Zero aren't there yet IMHO.
The NC7XX DCT is a pretty decent comparison to electrics for commuting. The internal "tank" storage is better thought-out, Honda's DCT works reasonably well (at the cost of some mechanical complexity), the servicing requirements are low and the ease of riding is high. It's also very reasonably priced, and of course can be used for longer trips with ease.
Where electrics win is ease of fueling (10s to plug in at home), theoretically lower maintenance, lower weight, responsiveness, and sound (IMO). They're also still quite novel, which can either be a positive (show up at a bike night and everyone is going to want to know WTF you're riding) or a negative (sometimes you may not want that attention).
-
Not needing to warm the bike up along with being able to creep along in bumper-to-bumper traffic without overheating in hot summers might be advantages of an electric motorcycle. But for reliability, it would be hard to beat a new Honda CB300F or Ninja 300. Either would be a lot cheaper. The engines are small and water cooled, so they don't overheat and Kawasaki and Honda dealerships are everywhere. I ride my CB300F as much as my 2013 S now. Hard to say which is more fun to ride.
-
I rode nearly 12,000 miles in the year I owned my Fazer 1000. I enjoyed every one of those miles even though most of them were commuting into London. For me, the NC is a half way house in my long term goal of going electric. As I've said before, I would own a Zero SR in a heartbeat if I could afford one. I'd be happy to take the risk of reduced reliability bearing in mind how things have developed over the last three years.
I'm certainly not here to put anyone off going electric. I do want the world to know that there is a more affordable short to medium term option in the form of the NC though.
It upsets me when I read all the stories of customers having to wait a long time for parts and suffer poor service with dealerships. There's no excuse for it and that puts me off.
I could have bought a 2012S or DS for £6,000 last summer but I'm glad I didn't. Not going for the 2014S at £9,000 was an even tougher choice to make over the winter. I just hope that in 4-5 years time the decision to buy an electric motorcycle will be easy. I also hope there will be more to choose from in the marketplace.
I admire everyone who has already taken the plunge and are helping to build an industry that provides an alternative to the Otto cycle. I hope to contribute in my own small way, even if it is just by spreading the word.
I look forward to news of Zero re-entering the UK market. I was hoping there would be some by now. Justin is always good at keeping us updated so hopefully I've just missed a topic.
-
I've had a good 8k miles out of my 2013 in the past 8 months (bought second hand last july) and aside from a few weeks off the road due to water ingress the bike has been so far rock solid.
As for having a back up bike, personally I consider it highly sensible to have a back up vehicle (bike or car) if you decide to commute daily on a motorbike, after 25 years of riding I have never ever ever come across any motorbike that has not needed 2-3 weeks in the shop for a serious matter. Even my solid as a rock Diversion 900 needed 2 weeks when its entire brake system decided to fall apart (both front rotors warped and the rear caliper died as well) and THAT was an expensive fortnight as well.
However Zeros, while being excellent, fun bikes, are not bomb proof. I'd class them as having mid of the range reliability.
-
I'm juste exactly like Mostlybonkers : a Zero is a bit expensive, but i would like to have one. But not having a dealer in my city is just not possible for me and is the real problem, specially when i see some little problems you have on Zeros. So i am trying to convince a electric bike and scooter shop nearby to contact Zero and see if they could/want to becomer a dealer. If they do, i may change my mind!
-
Good luck with that Z! [emoji4]
-
Based on my spreadsheet calculations with the 8000 mile maintenance cycle for the NC700X you would be better off buying a used zero (2013) after 4 years if you ride 13000 miles a year.
I will be selling my ninja 250 here soon, I don't ride it any more. I ride my zero year round in temperatures well below freezing stacking on at least 250 miles a week at mostly highway speeds.
If you ride a lot it just makes sense to pay for all your maintenance cost savings up front for the first couple of years. And I still think we are at least 3 or 4 years off from seeing a solid state lithium battery come to the market in a size big enough for our bikes so the range shouldn't be something which stops you if you can get from point A to B in a charge.
But don't trust me. Make a spreadsheet to calculate your own savings from one bike versus another ;) Don't forget to account for all the time you will spend doing that maintenance and add a dollar amount per hour for both bikes.
I don't miss my gas bike at all ... and I loved that thing. I put a good 47k miles on her in a couple of years (@ 16k+ miles a year) and modified the crap out of it to make it more comfortable to ride year round.
-
Very interesting indeed Burton. In fact, I did go through the process of analysing all the costs in a spreadsheet back in 2013. I did it again last year and no doubt I'll do it again in the future unless the costs/savings are so obviously beneficial that I don't feel the need to.
Are you in the UK or US? If in the US, which state? Location is also a big factor I feel.
As it happens, I came to the conclusion that if I bought the second hand (ex demo) Zero S that was available here in the UK before Christmas, I would break even after four years versus running my Fazer or buying a season ticket for the train. I was very tempted but with the benefit of hindsight I'm glad I didn't.
-
Are you comparing new bikes only?
My comparison was a 5k used NC700X vs a 2013 11.4 S for 10k (common price now in the states)
I am near DC, USA but gas price isn't the savings we see in the states, most of our savings is maintenance cost and the time spent doing it as I do all my own work. I refuse to pay someone $90/hr to work on my bike and have them do it wrong :) If I put in 90 / hr for maintenance cost over my prorated self maintenance time you would break even at 3 years not 4.
It is interesting to see your numbers were close for the demo bike but you are glad you didn't get the zero. Are there other reasons you prefer the NC700X over a zero?
Really depends how much you ride though. I put on 50 miles a day 5 days a week year round in temperatures from 0 - 110 :D
I bought my bike knowing it would take 5 to 6 years to reap savings over buying another ninja 250 (basically till the motor needed replaced around 90k)
-
You and I should compare notes Burton! My commute is also almost 50 miles a day. I put almost 12,000 on my Fazer in a tad under a year. Very similar circumstances!
Apologies, I don't have time to write more just now but hope to soon. How do you feel about committing yourself to one bike for four years or so? I'll write with more detail within the next few days all being well. Very interesting! [emoji4]
-
I look forward to news of Zero re-entering the UK market. I was hoping there would be some by now. Justin is always good at keeping us updated so hopefully I've just missed a topic.
Rumors are that this might happen sometime around the summer. For now keep an eye on what the Office of Low Emission Vehicles are saying, as it looks very likely that motorcycles are being added to the grant scheme, and I'd imagine that Zero will want to get their name on that list before re-entering the UK.
-
You and I should compare notes Burton!
Message me with a gmail account and I will create a copy of my spreadsheet for you to edit so you can put in your own units and compare. :)
It would likely be easier than asking you for all the cost variables.
Here is what I am accounting for right now but you will notice I don't account for some things like brakes / fluid since both bikes have the same cycle.
If you have more updated cost I can modify this for your cost and even in km I think. I entered $8 / gallon since you said you are in UK if I recall and my friend who was over there recently said it cost that much there.
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8716/17177174261_42c906f8c1.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/saTvsV)
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8800/17176128662_ce9283a0ed.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/saN9Dm)
-
Riding lots of miles seems to be the key factor since the per mile cost to run is much lower than anything else with electric bikes. Not many of us ride 13,000 miles a year. I do, even more than that, but I own 5 motorcycles and ride them all, so I only have 10,000 miles on my 2013 S which I have had almost 2 years now. Being able to work on your motorcycle yourself and keeping it a long time decrease the cost of ownership a lot as well. I'm not sure you would put a per hour cost on working on your own motorcycle though unless you are taking off work to do it.
-
Should you "value" your time or not is a very old motorcycle question.
There is a prorated hour field for all "types" of riders.
The basic question to ask outside of taking off work is would you rather be doing something else. And how much would someone have to pay you to not do that thing you want to do. That is how much your time is worth.
Personally I have a ton of projects and use to not care about doing my own maintenance claiming "I was saving money" by doing it, and I admit I like doing it. But now having not worked on my bike for about half a year I can say my time is better spent and I won't go back to the time it takes to keep an ICE bike on the road.
-
I agree with Burton. Not only is it a valid question of what my time is worth, often it's even more a matter of whether it gets done like it should -- or at all. Too many projects, too little time, too much laziness even when there is time.
Since I hit 40 or so I don't work on my own stuff any more. It's not that I can't do it, or even that I don't enjoy it, I just like the peace of mind knowing that it gets done when it should, and done the right way. Drop it off, pick it up, write a check, done. Worth every penny for me these days.
-
I have invested so much mental energy in the field of electric motorcycles over the last couple of years or so that I've surprised even myself! I can't argue with your logic Burton (and lots of others) when it comes to all the arguments for electric. Even without looking at your spreadsheet analysis (which I hope to do), I know that in the medium to long term purchasing a Zero would pay off and is worth taking the risk on reliability - at least with more recent models.
For me, it really does boil down to the monthly payments being less overall for the next three years and not being able to afford an extra ICE bike on top for the longer trips. Sometimes I'll add a ride after work onto my daily commute and a Zero wouldn't allow me to do this.
As is often the case, there isn't always a right answer, it's about what works for the individual and their circumstances. I'm sure that for some on this forum the great feeling of not wasting fossil fuels (as much depending on source), is enough to justify as purchase. I do feel a little disappointed that I haven't managed to join you in ownership just yet. I'm sure many of you will have read some of my other posts where I've agonized over buying a Zero, even to the point of causing friction with my wife and one of my closest friends!
I thank Honda for creating something that goes a long way towards scratching the itch. I know I won't be able to resist reading your posts and sharing your experiences. What a great forum and what a great community that I feel privileged to be a small part of.
My best to you all. [emoji4]
-
I'm on my third electric bike and I have no regrets. I've never been stranded and I've saved lots of money in fuel/maintenance costs.
My first electric bike (2007 Vectrix VX-1) has 17K miles on it and still runs perfectly.
My second electric bike (2012 Zero ZF9) ran perfectly for three years and 11K miles, but I traded it in on
My third electric bike (2015 Zero SR).
When I did have problems it was software/firmware related - none of my bikes have ever broken down while riding. However, my new SR has a front wheel vibration problem that has stumped the dealership. I'm bringing the bike back to the dealership tomorrow for a front wheel/front brake disc replacement to see if that fixes it. (Again - didn't break down or prevent me from riding).
Go for it!
-
I think I fall under the category of "serious commuter" as I commute from Aptos to Hayward three or four times a week, (134.4 mile rd trip).
I was doing that in our ford explorer (24.9mpg) and it was running me like 15 bucks a day to go to work, which was not sustainable obviously. In Feb I picked up a 2015 Zero DS 9.4 that has racked up 3800mi since then. It saves more on gas than its monthly payment and insurance cost, and when the tires go in another few thousand miles, I will still be well in the positive. It did have one problem, and that was the onboard charger, It worked, but only intermittently, but it was an easy fix.
Also, you can flog the crap out of an electric motorcycle, and nobody even turns and looks, they are the ultimate hoon machine, and the DS is IMHO the best of them. (Slightly taller suspension makes for more lean without bottoming on corners, and they LOVE stairs)
BTW, Pilot road 4s rock, and they come in the DS's stock wheel size.