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[radams]

Meet the Zero DS:
http://www.zeromotorcycles.com/zero-ds/

[skadamo]

Looks great! Some nice choices on specs. I was really expecting it to be based on the MX and be more dirt than street.

Like:
-   17” front, more choices for tires than 16”
-   I like the round classic baja style headlight
-   I like the aggressive 50/50 front and 90/10 rear combo. I see guys on advrider using this setup.

It’s based on the Zero S and not the Zero MX so no hot swap battery. I hope they are working with tire manufacturers if they are going to stick with 16” rims long term. Wonder where the extra 45 lbs over the S comes from. Headlight, suspension, larger front wheel, what else?

[ultrarnr]

I think it's great that Zero is coming out with so many models of electric motorcycles. But I am also wondering when their focus will shift to getting bikes in the hands of consumers. The delivery dates for the S have been continously pushed back and it is hard to say when they will actually start shipping them. Just too many dates have came and went with nothing.

[picasso]

I agree it's LAME of Zero to announce this with out the model it based on shipping to users.

[guity]

There is some kind of irony here.  At Scotts Valley yesterday I spoke to a guy who identified himself as Dave.  I can't remember his exact title but I think he said he was in charge of "fleet" marketing.  He seemed to have some real clout at Zero and used the word "I" to explain why Zero was taking a couple of significant directions.

1) "I" had them stop all production of the 'S' until these (pointing at a batch of DS's being assembled for military use/testing in the production room) are completed.
2) "I" rode the S and told them it needed to be changed [referring to the acceleration off the line]

Dave explained that because of 2) the S's for customers would be put together with larger sprockets on the back wheel, and would therefore be quicker off the line but would lose a little of their top speed.

[skadamo]

Not sure who Dave is. Interesting info on that the DS will be used for military purposes.

Was talking to Zero dealer Dennis McCarthy of http://cbxmanmotorcycles.com/ and he mentioned Zero shipped him a new rear chain ring. He currently has the only Zero S from what I am told. He said the bike is a lot faster of the line.

[guity]

Skadamo, my impression was that this batch was for testing purposes rather than actual use.  The military will do stuff like shoot bullets into the bikes to make sure they don't explode, and stuff like that...I would assume that if the motorcyles passed whatever tests are administered, then Zero could get a big contract to produce a lot of them...

I wanted to provide a link but couldn't find the article again -- it was tough to find in the first place.  It was a very interesting piece interviewing Saiki where he says the military is interested in the electric bikes, not for the reason of being stealthy with the quiet motors, but because the gas bikes they already carry on some of their vehicles tend to be sniper magnets (the snipers shoot the gas tanks of the bikes and make them explode or spread fire all over).

[skadamo]

You are up there with picasso when it comes to great Zero information

Reminded me of the Hell For Leather interview with Neal Saiki that the military is interested in electric motorcycles for that exact purpose.

http://hellforleathermagazine.com/2009/05/neal-saiki-sustainable-perform.html

This is great for the industry. We should get a lot of good improvements and technology advancements from the military adopting them. Poor diesel KLR's may have lost a job

[wayner]

The DS looks cool! The specs say the front rim is a 17" and the rear a 16". That makes sense since most SM bikes have a 17' rims all the way around I think? I can't see it hurting performance either way. When it comes down to it none of the electric bikes have enough power (like a gas bike) to utilize all the performance or non-performance of rim size so I don't see an issue here. Make them as light as possible is the main thing for extended range.

Glad to see they are taking care of the bottom end off the line speed rather than just selling them to get them out the door. - (I bought a new model car a few years ago and there were so many problems I wish they would have kept it several more months to work out bugs...nothing worse than getting something not complete) I rode one (S) in LA and an X at a demo day. Since the X had so freakin much bottom end, it almost pop me off. If they put a gearing size somewhere right in the middle that's the best of both worlds. I don't care if my "electric" bike I end up getting goes 70+ miles per hour because that's not what I'll be using it for and realistically that's not why they are made (at this time) but I do want a little pop off the line and in the back roads under 50mph. I'll take my big bike for extended highway miles.

I saw a video and noticed Zero is now offering a duel sport light kit for the MX. Looks like you can get that street legalized and have your semi hard core dirt bike with battery swap. Have your cake and eat it too. Lots of new options to think about now. ? Do any other bikes have a changable battery swap? Street?
Military? I guess that's a great thing for development, if they stand their test that will be a great push for more electric development. Zero or other. Would love to see a video of the tests they put them through. Probably a smart move to get these to the military and let them do lots of the testing under "our" governments dime!

[guity]

Skadamo,

Thanks for finding that link, I don't know why I couldn't get to it.  Just to clarify some info I provided above, the "Dave" guy I talked to was Dave Woods, and he is a Factory Coordinator, not sure how "fleet marketing" came up in the conversation as being connected to his job.  (I was pretty weary by that point in the day.)