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New FXS

1 (14.3%)

Pre-loved DSR

6 (85.7%)

Just don't

0 (0%)

Total Members Voted: 7

Voting closed: May 26, 2020, 05:43:04 PM

[princec]

Help! There are a couple of leccy bikes for sale that I can actually afford. One's a brand new 2019 FXS at about £8500, the other is a DSR 13.0 with just 1500 miles on the clock going for £7850. Which should I buy, for just general dickery and a 50-mile round trip commute? Only got about a day to decide :S

I should probably add that reliability and cost of running are actually the most important factors to me, far more so than range or power.

Cas

[Crissa]

One is quick, the other does more surfaces.  Both are pretty tall and skinny.

Do you want that extra range and ability of the DS, or do you want the agility and shiny newness?  I'd say the DS is a little more comfy to ride, too.

We went with an S when faced with the choice between an FX and an S... it had slightly more range and someone put a windscreen on it

-Crissa

[princec]

I'm worried about the reliability of the older DSRs and the warranty period is long since over for expensive things like the BMS and AC charging unit :| Being on forums like this one, one only tends to hear about the horror stories.

Cas

[valnar]

It's hard to predict reliability of any bike, but reading these forums you'd think that the FX series was slightly more reliable than the (D)S series, followed by the SR/F last.

Since you are comparing two bikes with very dissimilar weight (instead of the DSR with the smaller kWh battery), I'll ask these questions:

* Have you sat on either before?  Preference?
* How tall are you?  Inseam?  (Although that may not matter since the ergos are similar for taller people)
* What's your ICE experience with a 300 pound vs 400 pound bike?
* Is luggage important to you?  The DSR will excel with more options than the FXS.  Believe me.  It's a hassle on my FXS.
* The FXS should be able to do the 50 mile round trip unless you go all hooligan.
* How much do you weigh?  How fast do you ride to work?

[NEW2elec]

I have a 17 DSR, 18k miles and it's just needed a tire change.  But there are no promises, sorry, just saying what mine has done.

So other points: That FXS price sounds a lot like the 3.6 battery price which is not a "deal", I know it's pounds to dollars but make certain it's a 7.2 FXS or it has no chance of doing 50 miles.  If you keep your speed to 65 and under the DSR can handle it just fine.

The DSR battery (and BMS if your shop is good) is covered till 2022.  Here's the thing, the FXS's 2 year full warranty started when your shop got the bike not when you buy it.  It's the one kind of dick move Zero does, but it encourages dealers to move bikes and not sit on them for years.  So maybe a full warranty for 1 year or less.

One last thing because I'm one of the few guys on here who is "rude" enough to talk money, you know your bank situation best, don't go in over your head for any purchase.  If it's a ball and chain around your leg you won't enjoy it.  They are very cheap to put miles on that's for sure.  That said it's sounds like a very good price for a fully functioning 17 DSR.

Good luck mate and do what's best for you.

[TheRan]

I imagine it's a 7.2 FXS, same price I paid for my ex demo 7.2 2019 DS with just over 100 miles.

I'd go with the DS, more comfortable, lower seat, faster charging, tank storage and more luggage options, better tyre choices if you wanted to stick more road oriented tyres on it, and it will do 50 miles more comfortably.

[princec]

* Have you sat on either before?  Preference?
I've sat on all of the current Zero range at one point or another, but they were all much of a muchness in terms of my preference. The only bikes I don't get on with any more are full on sports bikes coz I'm just too old and creaky now.

* How tall are you?  Inseam?  (Although that may not matter since the ergos are similar for taller people)
5'11" (183cm) and 33" inseam

* What's your ICE experience with a 300 pound vs 400 pound bike?
Spent 15 years riding fully loaded R1xx0GSes

* Is luggage important to you?  The DSR will excel with more options than the FXS.  Believe me.  It's a hassle on my FXS.
Don't give even the tiniest monkey about luggage, I've got a scooter for touring.

* The FXS should be able to do the 50 mile round trip unless you go all hooligan.
That's what I was hoping.

* How much do you weigh?  How fast do you ride to work?
14st. My 690 is geared for 110mph, so I go ... slightly slower than that I'm fairly heavy throttle-wise but half of my route is mostly limited to 30mph as it's through villages and little country back roads; the other half is a 60mph road (10 mile stretch or so). These days I stick fairly close to the speed limit.

It's a 7.2, this is a 2019 bike that's obviously been sat their gathering dust and cobwebs as all the dealers slowly haemorrhage money during the pandemic and I bet they want to be rid of it. Here in the UK (and I believe the EU in general) the warranty must begin from the point of sale so Zero won't get away with any shenanigans on that front.

The main issue concerning my bank balance is actually Mrs Prince I have the cash and also I've got a bike I can part ex if necessary (another point in favour of the FXS as it's from a dealer who'll take a part ex). But I'm also thinking a DSR that's lost £5k in 1400 miles is a bargain at someone else's expense and at the asking price it seems like there won't be huge depreciation from then on. (I lost more than that on a single GS I owned for 4 years!)

This is quite a conundrum :|

Cas

[Curt]

The FX/FXS is a dream machine. Sticking a small top box (34 liter) on it makes it super utilitarian.

However, your commute would be borderline. You'd find yourself having to ride much more conservatively than you're used to with the 690. You'd always be managing to SOC. Would you be comfortable with that?

It's all about the high-speed portion. Consumption is excellent up to 45 mph, but after that it rises on a dramatic curve. 60 mph continuous would be absolute max, and the motor temp would assert that. 

Being at the upper limit of capability might affect reliability. The bigger bike may be the way to go. Yeah, despite my FX love affair, I'd pick the older, bigger bike for that usage.

[princec]

Hmm... I would be able to charge it at work using the ordinary 240V wall socket stuff. I'd be there for at least 4 hours. What's the charging rate for the 7.2 @ 240V?

Cas

[TheRan]

It's something like 10 hours for a full charge, so about 40% in 4 hours. I know you've already got two options picked out, but if you could find a 7.2 S/DS that'll charge twice as fast, not much heavier than the FXS, and you get an extra storage compartment where the rest of the battery would be on the DSR. I know you say luggage doesn't matter for you as you've got a scooter but it comes in surprisingly handy, somewhere to keep the cable, some winter gloves and waterproofs, disc lock, anything you might want to take or bring home from work, light shopping, etc.

Btw, I got the FX and FXS mixed up earlier so forget what I said about tyres, the FXS would actually be better than the DSR in that regard as it has a standard 17" rim up front.

[Crissa]

I put a water bottle or insulated drink in my tank pocket.  Also contains tools, spare gloves, a helmet cable, and J-plug adapter.