About a month in with Zero - thoughts

[bettythebear]

I've been using the Zero for my daily transport about 80% of the time since I got it. Here's some quick thoughts:
-i don't think I'll ever buy another new/almost new ICE bike
-there is absolutely zero rider fatigue on longer rides, I think due to lack of vibes
-sitting in traffic on it makes me truly realize how many smells come from regular vehicles. Imagining sitting in fully electric vehicle traffic sounds pretty fascinating.

[stormshearon]

So what kind of real world range are you getting? Do you think we are getting anywhere near a point where ebikes could be used for long range touring - on the order of 2500 to 3000 miles over 7 to 10 days?

[oldbike54]

 

 Dusty

[AJ Huff]

I've been using the Zero for my daily transport about 80% of the time since I got it. Here's some quick thoughts:
-i don't think I'll ever buy another new/almost new ICE bike
-there is absolutely zero rider fatigue on longer rides, I think due to lack of vibes
-sitting in traffic on it makes me truly realize how many smells come from regular vehicles. Imagining sitting in fully electric vehicle traffic sounds pretty fascinating.

I can't wait to go electric!

-AJ

[ozarquebus]

How far before rider fatigue sets in on your ebike vs IC Bike?

[Kiwi_Roy]

How far before rider fatigue sets in on your ebike vs IC Bike?

I think battery fatigue would set in first lol

[bettythebear]

So what kind of real world range are you getting? Do you think we are getting anywhere near a point where ebikes could be used for long range touring - on the order of 2500 to 3000 miles over 7 to 10 days?

I'm getting about 120/5 miles on a charge. My most recent one included about 40mi of 65mph backroads, and I got 120.

I think you could do a tour of that sort right now, depending on where you were, and what bike you chose. The Energica models should get about 120 highway miles per charge right now, and can charge back up in about 30-40min at the right DC-DC charging stations (a capability that Zero does not have yet). So, if you planned a route out in advance to mesh with charging stations, it would be possible. It would be fun to do a trip where you rode through a charge, charged up while having lunch, then plugged into a wall outlet overnight while enjoying a nice campsite.

I have yet to feel fatigued on the Zero the way that I do on my other bike/s. After a couple hours of leisurely riding, I really don't miss the post-ride buzzing in my hands.

[moto-uno]

 Well if you've priced the new 14,4 unit , they are certainly not for the light of wallet .
 And here in B.C , rather mountainous , they are no where near the take it for anything
 but the most modest length trip , great around town , but at that price ? Peter
  They're looking way better too , I'm doing some volunteer work today for an old employer
that is the Vancouver dealer . Getting her dads old '78 Gold wing running after 16 years
of bad storage , wish me luck !

[bettythebear]

Well if you've priced the new 14,4 unit , they are certainly not for the light of wallet .
 And here in B.C , rather mountainous , they are no where near the take it for anything
 but the most modest length trip , great around town , but at that price ? Peter
  They're looking way better too , I'm doing some volunteer work today for an old employer
that is the Vancouver dealer . Getting her dads old '78 Gold wing running after 16 years
of bad storage , wish me luck !

oh yeah, they are definitely not cheap. If it wasn't for the great deal I got on the used one, I wouldn't have one at all.

I know the range suffers going uphill, but if you dialed in maximum regen while coasting, you can definitely earn some miles back on the downhill portions.

[Tusayan]

but at that price ?

The world is filled with options to spend your money.  I just ordered an accessory exhaust for my SV650 so I can hear it a bit better.  Spending $235 to liven it up is worth the investment to me.  I’ll have over $1500 in it soon, about the right level of expense for a bike lacking a tremendous amount of character but it’s practical for trips long and short, and will soon be a little bit more fun than it was.  A lot cheaper than trying to make an electric bike make the same sound 

You could buy a little electric bike and doubtless have fun with it.  I instead spent the same amount to pay off a mortgage this month and reduce my outgoing cash flow by $1500 a month (equivalent to one clean, used SV650 monthly).  Don’t think I’ll buy twelve SV650s a year though, or an electric bike at any time in the future.  More likely a nicer airplane at some point.

[LowRyter]

I can only imagine the next generation bike.   I have to wonder how far EVs will advance 10 years from now?  Consider that 10 years ago EVs were only a novelty. 

[Lannis]

The world is filled with options to spend your money. 

I just bought the world's most expensive bumblebee.   He was in the fuel tank outlet of my Kubota.   Haul it to the shop, fuel tank out, retrieve bee, put back together, haul it back home, $749.

Never thought bees could cost so much.   That's what my first motorcycle cost .... !

Lannis

[stormshearon]

bettythe bear,

Thanks for the real world data. I think at this point, the ebikes are not ready for my kind of trip - which occurs on rural two lane, far from any sort of charging station. Think Winemucca, Nv to Clearview, OR. One gas station and then nothing for 190 odd miles.

[twowheeladdict]

I've been using the Zero for my daily transport about 80% of the time since I got it. Here's some quick thoughts:
-i don't think I'll ever buy another new/almost new ICE bike
-there is absolutely zero rider fatigue on longer rides, I think due to lack of vibes
-sitting in traffic on it makes me truly realize how many smells come from regular vehicles. Imagining sitting in fully electric vehicle traffic sounds pretty fascinating.

Makes me wonder how well EVs are shielding us from the EM fields.

[elvisboy77]

Glad you like it.  Not my cup of tea but enjoy.

[GeorgiaGuzzi]

I just bought the world's most expensive bumblebee.   He was in the fuel tank outlet of my Kubota.   Haul it to the shop, fuel tank out, retrieve bee, put back together, haul it back home, $749.

Never thought bees could cost so much.   That's what my first motorcycle cost .... !

Lannis

Not to thread drift, but I would mount that sucker for display!

On to the subject of the zero, it’s great to hear your experience. In the future I will probably have an electric bike for commuting. I’m just the polar opposite of an early adopter tho. Thanks for the update.

[Lannis]

Not to thread drift, but I would mount that sucker for display!

On to the subject of the zero, it’s great to hear your experience. In the future I will probably have an electric bike for commuting. I’m just the polar opposite of an early adopter tho. Thanks for the update.

He was sort of damp, but well preserved!

Very little of my riding is anything that an electric bike would do for.   Usually when I go, I'm gone for the day or the weekend, OR I want the flexibility to be able to change plans and go somewhere I hadn't thought of while I'm out.

I'm sure they'll be fine for daily commuters, who don't have plans to take The Long Way home from work!

Lannis

[bettythebear]

If it makes much sense, I'm really pleased that both options exist right now. I'm glad that, due to a major move recently, that I am able to give this electron powered bike a go right now. Now, when it comes to my car, I won't go electric until there's a Miata type roadster that I can road trip with.

However, I think before I die (hopefully another 40ish years), that I'll see a world where the ICE vehicles can only be used for short trips because we'll be living in a Mad Max style guzzoline shortage. It'll be the opposite of where we're at now.

[Tusayan]

However, I think before I die (hopefully another 40ish years), that I'll see a world where the ICE vehicles can only be used for short trips because we'll be living in a Mad Max style guzzoline shortage. It'll be the opposite of where we're at now.

It’s possible, very much dependent on how successful the undeveloped world is in increasing living standards - which correlates strongly to energy consumption.  On the other hand many people were saying exactly the same thing 45 years ago.  I don’t think crisis is a given, by any means.

[Lannis]

It’s possible, very much dependent on how successful the undeveloped world is in increasing living standards - which correlates strongly to energy consumption.  On the other hand many people were saying exactly the same thing 45 years ago.  I don’t think crisis is a given, by any means.

Yep.  We were going to run out of oil in 1980, then 1995, then 2000, then 2010 ... and today, the known reserves are greater than they were in 1980.   Not saying we should just burn it heedlessly (if every American averaged a 40 MPG home fleet average like I do, we'd be doing even better), but we're not running out.  We've got options.

Lannis

[Solorider73]

I’m not opposed to electric motorcycles, but the range limitation doesn’t work for the type of riding that I do.  I did read the big four  Japanese brands were working on a common battery pack that was swappable.  If I could pull into a fueling station and swap out a battery pack similar to a propane tank, that could work for long trips.
The Japanese brands have enough volume to force a common technology.

[bettythebear]

Yep.  We were going to run out of oil in 1980, then 1995, then 2000, then 2010 ... and today, the known reserves are greater than they were in 1980.   Not saying we should just burn it heedlessly (if every American averaged a 40 MPG home fleet average like I do, we'd be doing even better), but we're not running out.  We've got options.

Lannis

I suppose it's more complicated than we all act like it is, too. Maybe the Earth won't run out per se, but we hit a point where it gets harder and harder to extract it in a relatively safe way.

[Triple Jim]

If I could pull into a fueling station and swap out a battery pack similar to a propane tank, that could work for long trips.

I love the idea of manufacturers standardizing, but I can't imagine trusting a battery swap.  As expensive as they are, how do I know the one I'm getting is as good as the one I leave behind?  You know swapping will have the most appeal to riders who have started to notice their battery's capacity is dropping.

[Solorider73]

I love the idea of manufacturers standardizing, but I can't imagine trusting a battery swap.  As expensive as they are, how do I know the one I'm getting is as good as the one I leave behind?  You know swapping will have the most appeal to riders who have started to notice their battery's capacity is dropping.

Agreed, for a swap to work the price of batteries would need to drop drastically. That won’t happen until electric motorcycles are the norm.

[huub]

thank for the real life experiance ,
i am contemplating a electric bike for my daily 50 mile round trip to work,
i have been doing this round trip on guzzi V65 and 750,  am getting fed up repairs, oil changes , valve settings etc.
the only thing that has kept me from diving in is price , we need some mass Japanese manufacturer to start making electric motorcycles.
right now i think going for a used mitsubishi i-MiEV would be a wiser choice, exept i dont like cars....

[twowheeladdict]

I love the idea of manufacturers standardizing, but I can't imagine trusting a battery swap.  As expensive as they are, how do I know the one I'm getting is as good as the one I leave behind?  You know swapping will have the most appeal to riders who have started to notice their battery's capacity is dropping.

It would have to work like a propane tank swap, where the batteries are gone over at a central location to ensure their capacity or reconditioned before being placed in a shop for exchange. 

Doesn't sound cost effective for travel.  More for when your battery starts to lose capacity. 

[s1120]

I do love my ICE but you know..  most of my rides are under 100 miles anyway..  I do think there is a lot of good use for the tech, and it is nice to see the option out there. 

[Roebling3]

My thoughts returned to a former 2 stroke race bike. Suzuki (Gamma). It was big fun on the road, but pre spotting places to store/source fuel got old b4 starting.
At the same period of time (+ many more years), Bunn Burner Gold's were a favored touring/ferrying mode. For me the right bike set up doesn't cause fatigue between fuel stops; for fuel only. I feel the same way about cars. 425 mi. non stop was favored. I piggy backed a fuel bladder on bikes.  I've aged out to ~300 mile days on a motorcycle in the last 2 years.   R3~

[Rough Edge racing]

 Electric atv's and dirt bikes for less than maniac speed trail riding make sense to me..Less noise for sure and instant power....

[s1120]

Electric atv's and dirt bikes for less than maniac speed trail riding make sense to me..Less noise for sure and instant power....

Ya, 90% of the old dirtbikes have carb/fuel issues, or engine damange from carb/fuel issues...  Frankly I would like a smaller..kinda CB350/GS400 size bike thats electric..  A smaller but still full size standard, to beat around town, and local roads. Even better... smaller like that, with a side car, and about a 100-120 mile range...  That would be pretty darn handy to have.