Rode an Electric Motorcycle today. Zero S.

[Doppelgaenger]

After watching a few videos about both the Lightning LS218 and then discovering the Zero S and SR models, I decided to see what is up with these newfangled electric motorcycles.

I went to Triumph of Seattle and test rode the Zero S. What a different experience. What a great experience.

Getting on the Zero is like getting on a large bicycle. Even though it weighs 400 lbs, it feels super light. You also don't see anything but the road in front of you.

Twist the throttle and off you go. It has a slow pickup off the line, which I'm sure is software limited so the bike doesn't loop on you, but once you get above 20 the full power becomes available and this thing just PULLS.  There are no gears, it's direct drive and that means that you have access to full power at ALL times. With a gas bike you'd have to drop two gears and then gas it, with this you just slap the throttle open and you go. The silence is also really nice.

Cons? Full power sucks battery power like crazy and destroys the claimed range. The seat is hard and hurts right behind the testicles, the rear brake is a complete joke. The build quality is meh and there are some strange squeaking sounds when you coast to a stop. The motor can overheat and go into limp mode, but it doesn't actually damage anything.

Most important was the aftermath. I got back on the big Breva and I immediately lamented the loss of that huge torque. "You mean I have to build up the revs before I get full power??" Yeah talk about a poster child for instant gratification.

Go test ride one of these babies, Zero is SUPER responsive as a company. I asked for a demo ride plus to talk to someone from the company about future plans and battery development. they called me almost immediately and sent me an email.

They're still too expensive for what you get, but if their development in the past 3 years is anything to go off of, in 3 more years we'll be buying these like hotcakes and all new riders will be getting one. I'm even tempted to buy one myself.

If you don't believe me, watch this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3DiAecsh_0

[Sasquatch Jim]

  Absolutely shocking!

[lucydad]

DG,

Revolting?   

Pretty cool I think, however it does not burn enough hydrocarbons for my taste...but as a nearly retired geoscientist, what the hell do I care any more? 

[lucian]

Maybe they could use a little of that dc juice to have a selection  of exhaust notes blared out of a load speaker with volume control. 

[sarg]

thank christ im 47 and will never be forced to ride an electric motorcycle. ive ridden an electric trials bike. great idea cuz you can ride it almost anywhere for the lack of noise. but just think of life without the vibes between your legs. id rather be dead. rant over

[Cam3512]

I have ZERO interest. 

[O]

Thanks for the report!  Too bad the Livewire isn't getting more push from HD.  That was a great looking electric.  The Zero and Brammo/Polaris not so much.

[jas67]

I want THIS one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbM5YgAys80

[Dilliw]

Jas

Sign me up!!!  A 125 dirt bike that you can ride on the mountain bike trails.  That solves a big problem- places to ride.

[charlie b]

I'd love to have an electric motorcycle.  Once battery prices get down to reasonable levels I may have to get one.  Getting close.

I got to love electric motors wen working in factories.  Huge torque at 0 rpm. 

When the motor is designed right you can even get away with NO drive train.  Just put the motors in the wheel hubs.  Now days the motors aren't much heavier than the bevel drive on a Goose so unsprung weight stays the same.

[Johncolleary]

I rode the live wire at the Long Beach motorcycle show last year and was very impressed but the range was way too low to be useable.

[AJ Huff]

I'd love to have an electric motorcycle.  Once battery prices get down to reasonable levels I may have to get one.  Getting close.

I got to love electric motors wen working in factories.  Huge torque at 0 rpm. 

When the motor is designed right you can even get away with NO drive train.  Just put the motors in the wheel hubs.  Now days the motors aren't much heavier than the bevel drive on a Goose so unsprung weight stays the same.

+1. I feel the same way. Just need to hold out a few more years.

-AJ

[rocker59]

 The seat is hard and hurts right behind the testicles, 

taint nobody got time for that!

[Penderic]

Thinking cap on.... Thinking of .... Hybrids.......


Couldn't a regular starter motor be adapted to greatly assist the acceleration of a regular motorcycle when needed?

Whynot? A dual purpose starter motor mechanism that could drive an over-running clutch that is connected to the transmission.

The starter motor weighs alot and is normally not in use other than starting and otherwise has to be carried around all of the time. This is that all it is good for?
 

[Testarossa]

Off-the-shelf starter motor won't work. At 12v it surges to 60 amps when you start cranking, which is barely 1hp; it can run continuously at about 20 amps.

Electric bikes run much higher voltage (Zero uses 102v) and can surge to 40 kW (about 50 hp). That would melt a starter motor in half a second.  Electric drag bikes run more than 350v.

Electric bicycles run 36v to 48v to get up to about 20mph.  My homebuilt electric motorcycle (300 amps max, 20 hp) is geared to top out at 60 mph but at 48v gets only 10 miles range at 30 mph.  Of course I have tiny lead-acid batteries. Within a couple of years Tesla should have the cost of lithium batteries down to an affordable level and I can equip it for a 30 mile range. http://www.evalbum.com/2076

[Lannis]

I rode the live wire at the Long Beach motorcycle show last year and was very impressed but the range was way too low to be useable.

That's always the problem for me and an electric motorcycle.   I don't ride motorcycles in such a way that the present battery technology will support.

Even when I was commuting 60 miles a day, it was marginal.   And now all my rides are longer than that .....

Lannis

[segesta]

I like the idea of riding through a forest trail in near-silence. I'd rather hear birds than my exhaust.

[drums4money]

I rode one of the Empulse bikes a few weeks back and it was a hoot!
That little thing would giddy'up & go.

Key word "little"

[Sasquatch Jim]

Maybe they could use a little of that dc juice to have a selection  of exhaust notes blared out of a load speaker with volume control.

Or a recorded deep voice saying ,potato potto potato.

[oldbike54]

taint nobody got time for that!

 

 OH MY ! For those of you  :laugh:ho think Rocker has no sense of humor ...

  Dusty

[jas67]

Jas

Sign me up!!!  A 125 dirt bike that you can ride on the mountain bike trails.  That solves a big problem- places to ride.

That's exactly was I was thinking when I saw it!

[jas67]

....Just put the motors in the wheel hubs. ....

Which makes making a bike 2WD much easier:
https://www.electricbike.com/ebike-evolution-2wd/

Ever lose traction climbing a muddy trail?   A 2WD electric bike would likely do better!

[Yeahoo Whoyah]

According to the Livewire website, there is a demo opportunity tomorrow, August 28, at H-D Asheville North Carolina. I rode one at Sonoma H-D last fall and it was impressive.  I agree with others, the limited range available is a problem.

[atavar]

But without the sound how do you know how fast yur going?   

[canuguzzi]

But without the sound how do you know how fast yur going?   

The siren and red lights of the ambulance coming to pick you up.

[Robert]

Maybe they could use a little of that dc juice to have a selection  of exhaust notes blared out of a load speaker with volume control. 

It will come stock with the speaker blaring popping noises on decell.  You have to get it 'remapped' to 'cure' the 'lean' settings.

[Penderic]

Electric dirt bikes would be cool!


More quiet is always good. Electric lawnmowers, weedwackers, leaf blowers and vacuums still make a heck of a racket.