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I'll add to the praise of Zero.  I've had my 2012 DS ZF-9 for 3000 miles now, and NO issues, concerns, problems.  Range is a little less but it's consistent.  Power is not what the 2015 demonstrator showed me, but it's as fast or faster than my 650 gas machine.  Quiet, responsive, and a blast in traffic or on trail.

I'm looking for problems. Mine was one of the last to have a vented-case motor; and I'm sure that will fill up with crud and water and kill it eventually.  In THEORY a new motor should be a bolt-on; but I guess they changed the voltage standard as well as software along with the new motor.  AND are not supporting this one.

I did make inquiries into the Early Adopter program - my chin hit the bricks when I heard what they'd credit me.  UNTIL...I found out that it was only on 2014s (they have a few in stock at the factory) and they are not cutting deals.  Had they sharpened things down a few thousands, given that the 2014s are already obsolete...I'd have been there now.  But they wouldn't and I won't.

We will see.  I may have a Zero for a few years, cheap - or I may have a "project bike" for the next owner to buy for a few hundred $$$.

Okay...700 miles on my Zero now, so far.  I'm lucky to live in a small town, where it gets warm early...and friendly to bicycles, scooters, motorcycles...and environmentally aware.  That's not that important to ME; but it cuts some slack when I look to plug in.

The question is:  The headlight.  And its current draw.

The bulb that came in it, maybe not the original, is a 55/60 halogen H4.  Right away, I figured that was too much power - you can kill a car battery in an hour with the headlights on.  I know the Zero is somewhat different; but the principle remains:  Every bit of juice that goes to the headlight is power not going to the electric motor..

I got hold of a Chinese scooter H4 xenon bulb...18/20 watts.  Too dim.  It's fine for VISIBILITY in the DAY; but if I'm about after sundown, I can't see to save my life.

Sooo...I had a package of "Show Lites" LED gimmick lights, from the dollar store about six years ago.  Before the breakthroughs in LED lighting.  I didn't expect much; but I put one of them on on a homemade bracket above the headlight.

I have a pigtail wired in (if I keep it I'll put a switch on it).  During the day, low-beam powers the LED bar.  High beam is still wired in.

If I'm out after the sun goes down, I can just plug-n-play with the old low beam, deactivate the LED bar.

So fur, so good...but that LED bar isn't really very visible in bright sunlight.  It does jump out at you in twilight or overcast; but not so much in daylight.

So...is there a better way?  I'd rather not spend money on LED H4 inserts - yet.  Also, the ones that are top-rated draw about 30 watts.  Not enough savings to make it worthwhile.

Does it all matter?  I seem to be getting about ten extra miles in average per charge.  But I'm sure I'm also inviting traffic problems - not being seen as expected.

I'm not so sophisticated.  I don't have a Smartphone - I refuse to keep a phone that's smarter than me.

Can't confirm exactly the time; but I know at six hours the one time I checked, it wasn't fully charged.  That was in 42-degree temperature.

Weather for these figures has been mid-sixties.  Speed varies between 15 mph (trail riding) and 45 (urban arterial).

Tire pressure is to specifications.

Some slight brake noise when wheeling it around.  No real resistance and nothing different from other gasoline motorcycles.  Disc brakes do contact at all times.

Probably it's the cold; and you've helped here one way:  The Zero manual figures are apparently optimistic.  If 66 in cool weather, with a 240-pound rider is acceptable...no point shopping trouble.

I have solved the problem with...of course...crap I already have.

A tailbag which was too small for practical use - until I found it fit perfectly on the DS.

Wal-Mart cheapo saddlebags, which were a no-go - until I had a non-chain, non-oil machine which didn't care if the bags tipped in a little.

Life is good.  I've got 150 miles on the Zero and so far I'm pleased.

I really like my 2012 DS 9. You'll have a ton of fun on this bike and Zero honors their Warranty. Just ride and enjoy.


Ride On Gas Free [emoji41]

I wasn't going to say anything...but now I'm piqued.

I was told there would be no warranty, since the machine was one year out of manufacture.  The REAL reason probably is, that the place selling it is not a Zero dealership.  Not anymore.

I do have the MSO to apply for a title with.  So it's proof-positive that I'm the first purchaser.

Anyone have any suggestion how to get this cleared up?  I don't think that a selling agent, authorized dealer or not, can arbitrarily abrogate warranty rights.

Suggestions, who, how, where?

I guess some of the trim for Zeros of this era were batch-produced - with variations from initial prototypes.

The rear fender on mine is a good example.  It's fiberglass or fiberboard - obviously intended for the bike, with molded seatings for the taillight; but it's just a fiberglass-like material.  Looks to be screwed onto the body under the seat somewhere.

Now.  My riding habits are, there's always gear.  Food, water; coat.  On a fancy bike I'll have a tailbag.  On  a utilitarian ride I'll bolt a milk crate on the back.  Often times it's easy on the fender; on my last bike I had a luggage rack.  Bolted right on; there were even pre-drilled holes.

I don't see a firm place to bolt or strap such a carton or even a soft tailbag.  There is that SHORT extension beyond the saddle; covered with sculpted plastic...I'm not sure what's under it.

A regular luggage rack would work better.  Anyone make one; or is there a generic one that can be modded to work on this Zero?

It's a 2012.

JUST after doing the deal, I found, HERE, how the pre-2013 models have limited/no support.  Like the gag cigar blowing up in someone's face...

Maybe it'll all work out.  I have lowered expectations; and until I DO have a failure, I can use it.  Interestingly...I am on several other riders' boards, and while there's been a lot of comment on the Zero, nobody had anything negative to say.

No members had bought.

I looked up on NADA, and they reported no significant numbers of used ones sold.  That gave me no price; and WHAT I THOUGHT was that owners were happy and not selling.  Guess it's that there's no real market for used ones.

W'uss done is done.  Hey...if Zero throws another buy-back program out there, I can get the money back on a newer, better-built model.