ElectricMotorcycleForum.com
Makes And Models => Zero Motorcycles Forum | 2013+ => Topic started by: Bass Cadet on October 29, 2019, 09:27:23 AM
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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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?
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How does that 'feel' compared to ECO mode, with only 40% torque?
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I am using the same "only 40% :) " torque on my Custom mode, and it's definitely a higher % than ECO mode.
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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
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...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.
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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. (https://zeromanual.com/wiki/Drive_Modes)
-Don- Reno, NV
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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
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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I pretty much agree with Don Tom for custom.
I use my custom more as an ECO mode.
20% trailing throttle regen
100% Braking regen
I set torque to ZERO which seems to be similar, maybe a bit less than ECO
Then set speed to whatever I feel I will be doing on the Freeway, usually around 85 mph.
My 2016 SR seems to switch modes much more quickly than my 2014
2016 will do 60 mph.
2014 may be a little lower, will have to check
If you KNOW that you will be switching modes and are above 60 mph,
just hit the mode you wish then roll off until you hit 60 mph or you see
the mode stop flashing. If below, just hit the mode you wish and roll off.
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Today, I decided to change the way I ride these electric bikes. In the Energica section here, I used to complain about the SS9 having too much deceleration regen at the lowest regen setting for hilly freeways, so I kept it off. Then a couple of people mentioned that they always keep the regen on the very max for all riding and then get zero regen as wanted by using the throttle. I tried it today and I liked it, just had to get used to it, which only takes minutes.
So then, I decided to try something similar on my Zero SR. It also works well, I just simply reduce the throttle little instead of all the way back going down hill. That way, I decide exactly how much deceleration regen I want for every hill. The exact spot with no regen can be seen on the Zero screen. No positive and no negative bars gives the min regen of 0%.
So I changed my Zero SR settings today, and I can use custom mode for all my riding and now it won't be such a big jump between how I ride my SS9 and Zero SR.
Here is how I set my Zero SR and I think I will leave it this way from now on:
Deceleration regen=66%
Braaking regen=100%
Torque= 90%
Top speed-85 MPH
I simply will not release the throttle all the way back when going down hill from now on and coast as well as ever.
-Don- (recharging Zero SR for free in Rocklin, CA at 6.4 KW)
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I was wondering if floating the throttle position worked as coast, but I'm unsure. I'm using slightly more energy that way. But in tight corners, it gives much more control.
With 100% braking regen, I was still getting a stutter when I used the brakes down my hill, so I've kept it set lower.
I've now driven my Zero over a thousand miles!
-Crissa
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Yeah, Zero’s throttle has a neutral position just above the rest stop.
It’s just a little tiring to use if you coast a lot, hence the neutral Regen setting often being low or zero.
Use what works for you. Hopefully we’ll get better options at some point.
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I was wondering if floating the throttle position worked as coast, but I'm unsure.
I cannot see any technical reason for any disadvantage, just a different way to gain more control over regen. Like Brian said, it could be more tiring to hold it exactly at zero, but I don't think I will have a problem with that. Besides, it doesn't have to be at zero, just release the throttle a bit to go down hill until you're at the wanted speed. Just don't fully release unless you need to slow very quickly.
BTW, I hear my next Tesla OTA FW update (perhaps ready now, I have not checked as I rarely drive it when the weather is good) will have what they call "single pedal driving" as a selectable option. There will be so much low speed regen that the car will come to a complete stop at a stop sign without touching the brake. So I perhaps will set all my electric vehicles for the high regen and get used to rarely letting go of the pedal or throttle unless I need to stop or slow down very fast. I just hope I can remember to use the brake when I drive one of my ICE vehicles! :) With 100% braking regen, I was still getting a stutter when I used the brakes down my hill, so I've kept it set lower.
I wonder what is causing that. I've now driven my Zero over a thousand miles!
Have you ridden to Scott's Valley to see where your bike was made? I have never been to the factory, but I have been in Scott's Valley (as well as Santa Cruz) many times but not for several years.
-Don- Auburn, CA
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I've disliked single-pedal driving as it seems to encourage me to always be accellerating or stopping, with little space for float.
So single-control on the bike I don't like so much, either.
I've never really looked for the Zero factory. It's just a big blue box on the highway, to be honest. I'm not even sure which one is theirs, it's behind the hardware store somewhere. ^-^; There are multiple manufacturers of various electronics there.
-Crissa
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I've disliked single-pedal driving as it seems to encourage me to always be accellerating or stopping, with little space for float.
That's why it's an option. Not everybody will like or dislike it. I look forward to trying it out in my Tesla, but I cannot say in advance if I will like it or not. It has a lot of low speed regen as it is. I have no idea if I would want more. I don't find it to be a big hassle to use the brake pedal as it is.
So single-control on the bike I don't like so much, either.
So far, I like it on the bikes. But I have not tried it out on my first long trip. I will decide if I want to leave the bikes that way after I ride my electrics back to Reno next week. If I decide to take an electric. I have a few ice bikes here also, that I need to give some exercise to once in a while.
I've never really looked for the Zero factory. It's just a big blue box on the highway, to be honest. I'm not even sure which one is theirs, it's behind the hardware store somewhere. ^-^; There are multiple manufacturers of various electronics there.
I think there was an "open house" there a few years ago that many people in this forum went to from the SF Bay Area and other areas. But that was before I got hopelessly hooked on the electrics.
-Don- Auburn, CA
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I've been trying out the custom with 20% regen, 100% brake regen. I like the coasting at times but prefer more throttle control. I do like single pedal driving on my Kia Soul EV, so I will give Don's new custom settings a try. I still find ECO useful, for example yesterday I got caught in some rain.
BC
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I've been trying out the custom with 20% regen, 100% brake regen. I like the coasting at times but prefer more throttle control. I do like single pedal driving on my Kia Soul EV, so I will give Don's new custom settings a try. I still find ECO useful, for example yesterday I got caught in some rain.BC
Yeah, you have the right idea. I would do the same in the rain. But I will now always keep my Zeros in custom for all my normal riding. I have the same regen in custom as in eco mode, but with a lot more power and higher top speed. I have no reason to change modes for anywhere other than for rain where I would want a lot less torque.
This way, I am probably getting a few more feet of range from the better regen as needed, yet I can also coast when that is a better advantage than regen.
-Don- Auburn, CA
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Maybe when I get better. Right now if I do that my regen is stuttery. ^-^
-Crissa
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> ... if I do that my regen is stuttery. ^-^
I'm right there with you.