Ride/review of ZERO S electric motorcycle - anything you want to know?

[California98Civic]

Originally Posted by NeilBlanchard

I've heard they plan on a (semi) faired model with the same mechanicals, called the Zero SS.

That "S" model has apparently come to pass: Carbon Negative Web Store : Zero S ZF9 Electric Motorcycle Black MY2012 - 00-0378401 A friend back in NJ is considering buying one and test rode it the other day. He seemed to like it. Says it has a 70 mile range.

[bennelson]

I got to test out the Street model last summer at the Green Drive Expo in Madison, Wisconsin.

Unfortunately, it was only out in a very large (expo center!) parking lot, which had some traffic and a little more gravel sprinkled about than I would have liked....

Overall, I rather liked it.
The belt drive is REALLY quiet. It's the only belt-drive electric motorcycle I've had a chance to try yet. (The original Brammo Enertia chain drive screams by comparason, yet is nothing compared to a gas bike.)

The Zero did have a bit of a feeling that it was a really high-end conversion. The built-in charger was a stock one that I recognized that folks can just mail-order. I swear that the "click" of the main contactor was IDENTICAL to the one on my homebuilt EV Kawasaki KZ440....

The frame was nice and light-weight. The seat felt just a tad stiff, and a little high. I'm sure that if I had bought the bike, I could have adjusted the suspension to compensate.

Overall, it was zippy and fun.

Of course, they now have a 2012 model, and they did change a few things on it, so I'll have to see about test-riding that version sometime!