Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[JaimeC]

Howdy folks!  Just ordered a 2016 Zero S 13kWh last week and expecting it any day now.  Used the NYS tax rebate from our new home solar panel installation to make the down payment.  Thought I'd seek out other enthusiasts to read about their experiences.

My plan is to use it for a daily commute (34 miles round trip on the infamous Long Island Expressway) and short around town errands on weekends. This will save the wear and tear on my ICE motorcycles for longer trips and multi-day getaways.  Only accessories I ordered with it are the rack and top case, and the power socket for the little outlet on the dash.

As you might tell from my previous paragraph regarding my commute, I live in New York on the fair Isle of Long.  Started riding motorcycles in 1982 and recently joined the BMW Motorcycle Owner's "400,000 Mile Club."  I've also owned Yamahas and Buells in my past life.

[protomech]

Hi JaimeC. I usually fly out to visit friends on the far east side of Long Island once a year.. very pretty country. Though I don't envy your traffic.

Sounds like you and Richard230 can swap some war stories about BMW bikes.

Did you have a chance to test ride the bike beforehand? How do you feel it compares to other bikes you've ridden?

[ElectricZen]

Welcome!  You're going to love your new bike.  Might want a windscreen but that's for you to decide.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

[ticobrahe]

Hi JaimeC et al. My first day/post too.

I'm planning to order an SR tomorrow. That extra $1000 promo Zero just started clinched it for me. Figured I'd introduce myself here instead of continuing to lurk.

Thanks to all for your info and contributions. Helped immensely in my buying analysis over the past couple months while looking at the Zero SR and the DSR.

[JaimeC]

I test rode an SR last year.  Unfortunately, I discovered the price to insure an SR over an S was almost twice the price.  That, plus the premium over the price of the standard S made me decide to stick with the S.

Currently I commute with a BMW C650GT (a Maxi Scooter) but since we just had solar panels installed last year and our electric rate is locked in for the next two decades, I decided to go electric.  The S 13kWh has a highway range (at a steady 70 mph) of 81 miles.  That's more than enough for my 34 mile round trip commute plus a lunch time ride.  I figure it'll save the wear and tear on the two ICE bikes (the aforementioned scooter and my K1200LT with nearly 200,000 miles on the odometer).

The range at 70mph is important;  I don't care WHAT the posted speed limit is, if you're not doing at least 70mph you're going to get run off the road.  Even at 70 I routinely get passed on my morning commute (and the speed limit on the LIE is 55 mph).

The scooter (like a lot of the newer BMWs) hasn't been the most reliable bike I've ever owned but the K1200LT is.  I can use the S for short hops (where the ICE bikes won't get properly warmed up), the scooter for longer runs in traffic and the K1200LT for everything else.  That's the plan, anyway.

[ctrlburn]

I test rode an SR last year.  Unfortunately, I discovered the price to insure an SR over an S was almost three times the price.  That, plus the premium over the price of the standard S made me decide to stick with the S.

I've got a 2013S (50+ year old licensed 30+ years) full coverage $298 and my son has a 2015SR (25 year year 2nd year rider) full coverage $320 and both with Allstate.
liability 250k/500k
unisured 250k/500k
property 100k
$500 deductible.

Not to dispute your insurance options or choices but to share with other readers to some results may vary by carriers and locations (possibly even agents).

My S is very nice on the mixed 50 mile (round trip) commute even for the posted 70mph sections (but not the whole route as an 11.4) - when called upon to that quick pass the roll up is ever so much fun.

[JaimeC]

Riding since 1982, former Motorcycle Safety Foundation Rider Coach who continues to take safety updates for the insurance discounts.  Also, multiple bikes.  Married homeowner living on Long Island, NY.

S model, full coverage $250.  SR model, $628.  That plus the price difference between the SR and the S was all it took.

[ctrlburn]

S model, full coverage $250.  SR model, $628.  That plus the price difference between the SR and the S was all it took.

Our purchase price of the 2015SR (dealer demo with 1500 miles) was less than my original 2013S so we didn't have a dilemma there. That insurance gap, is certainly a valid reason to pause.

Perhaps the carriers are figuring out not to list electrics as "under 99cc", so now I'm pensive about next renewal.

Welcome to the "S" crowd.

I'd welcome leads on finding safety courses, I'm getting to that experience level that is statistically dangerous again due to complacency.

[MrDude_1]

Riding since 1982, former Motorcycle Safety Foundation Rider Coach who continues to take safety updates for the insurance discounts.  Also, multiple bikes.  Married homeowner living on Long Island, NY.

S model, full coverage $250.  SR model, $628.  That plus the price difference between the SR and the S was all it took.

I know insurance changes on location, but if you shop around a bit, you could get that lower. I pay $50 a year for a street legal CR500, and paid $400 a year for a literbike, so that 628 for a SR seems a bit absurd.

[Richard230]

I am paying more for my 2014 S liability-only insurance premium than I pay for my 2016 BMW R1200RS with the same coverage from the same company.  There is something odd going on here.  The only thing I can think of is that insurance companies somehow believe that EV batteries will cause an explosion or set things on fire if there is an accident.    It wouldn't be the first time that they get their facts from the TV press....   

[Burton]

There is something odd going on here. 

Maybe it is the fact these are "rare" bikes ... my primary insurance company wouldn't even cover me citing this as being the reason "they are too rare." Zero makes < 2k of these bikes a year correct? How many of your specific bike?

In 2014 Q1 the best selling bike at nearly 750 units was the ninja 300 ... Zero is a small niche company whether we want to believe it or not.

[JaimeC]

Progressive lists the SR as a "High Performance Model."  I pointed out how ludicrous it was for them to classify a 60hp motorcycle as "High Performance" as that is the power output of my SCOOTER.  Maybe after these things have been on the road for a few more years they'll adjust their classifications.

[ticobrahe]

Got a quote for adding a '16 Zero SR to my Geico policy that already has a Triumph Speedmaster ($224 per year). She had to place me on hold, go to the supervisor and back-end database as Zero wasn't on her cheat sheet. Came back and said the Zero with full coverage, $50 deductibles for all, was an annual total of $288. I have a clean record, no claims, 24 years licensed. Taken CMSP and MSF courses.

[JaimeC]

FYI: I compared 0-60 times for the S model against my C650GT, and it would appear the S does accelerate more quickly.  Since the C650GT accelerates quickly enough to comfortably merge onto our highways with their notoriously short acceleration lanes I don't foresee any issues with the performance of the S model. The SR would've been nice, but I can live with the S.

[Richard230]

I that how vehicle insurance rates are set now?  By how fast the vehicle accelerates?  I guess that makes it easy on the underwriting department.