What does a good bump to 17.3 mean in your world. I emailed Zero a while back and they referred to the numbers they put out as badge numbers. Nominal voltage times amp hours is generally what is useable. Ktm is fair it is actually possible to use more kwh to recharge their pack than the 3.9 on their pack. The charger is likely less than 100% efficient. You seem to question what fourms others hang at like fourms set the norms. Besides Ktm who else isn't misleading with their "badge" numbers which often means Max voltage times amp hours. Same thing with battery tools 18 volts is fair, nominal, 20 volts is max. Makita is fair most others are misleading.
I am not quite following you, but I'm seeing this right before bed, so maybe that is it. Back in the day when it was just Zero and Brammo, Zero gave the kWhr rating at max voltage and Brammo used Nominal voltage. Then most everyone went the way Zero went, and apparently, when Brammo stepped out KTM stayed the course. Didn't know that. But I never followed the KTM much. When it came out the drivetrain was pretty much almost exactly what a local University had designed. And it was way behind Zero at the time. But the Zero MX went away, except maybe for the military. Its legacy is around in the Zero FX bikes, though. The KTM went away and then came back.
Anyway, I got distracted there. My point had nothing to do with rating the pack at max vs nominal voltage. My point was (and I believe I stated) that Zero has consistently improved the capacity of their packs. And having done a few interviews with Kenyon Kluge the impression I got was that was a lot of that was simply due to the cell manufacture improving the cells they were buying. But 2018 was the year the packs went from 13.5 to 14.4kWhrs. And they stayed there for 4 years. And then there a group of people surprised when they updated the capacity this year, with all the competition beating them incapacity and it having been so long since the last update? Yes, to me it felt like a very odd statement that needed to be called out. So I did.
That's my take. But thank you for taking the time to watch my video. And thank you for the feedback.