Zero DS small improvements

[Erasmo]

Now rolled outside:





There is a small problem with the brake handle but nothing that can't be fixed:

[sendler]

Really makes you wonder why Zero can't be bothered to make a version with a fairing.

[gregsfc]

Reading the article that Sendler refers to makes me hesitant to try any front-end body work myself for fear of unintentionally adding front wheel lift and/or instability through curves and/or cross wind instability. Of course the ability to do some trial and error would make me more bold where the front is concerned, but tail work seems pretty straight forward and a more sure bet for improvement w/o sacrificing safety.

Personally, if I ever get a chance to aero mod, I'll start with a tail, then final drive, then windshield, and then make minor adjustments to the front, e.g. mirrors, grips, foot pegs, so as not to have so many parts sticking out away from the body as my stock bike.

[RedDevil]

Originally Posted by Erasmo

There is a small problem with the brake handle but nothing that can't be fixed:

You may tilt the handlebar backwards a bit, or maybe even get a different one.
I altered the handlebars on my bikes when I put windscreens on as the lack of pressure made me lean on the handles too much.

[Erasmo]

Originally Posted by gregsfc

Reading the article that Sendler refers to makes me hesitant to try any front-end body work myself for fear of unintentionally adding front wheel lift and/or instability through curves and/or cross wind instability. Of course the ability to do some trial and error would make me more bold where the front is concerned, but tail work seems pretty straight forward and a more sure bet for improvement w/o sacrificing safety.

Personally, if I ever get a chance to aero mod, I'll start with a tail, then final drive, then windshield, and then make minor adjustments to the front, e.g. mirrors, grips, foot pegs, so as not to have so many parts sticking out away from the body as my stock bike.

The front end should be ok with this mod, when you're dustbinning or vettering you should pay more attention to that but if you don't go to near the front wheel the lift shouldn't be that bad.

Originally Posted by sendler

Really makes you wonder why Zero can't be bothered to make a version with a fairing.

Piecing together a homebrew from sourced parts is a totally different thing than making a OEM fairing. For that you need to do a lot of extra designing and injection moulds of that size are really expensive.

I can understand why they choose to focus on improving the drivetrain and batteries, apart from Energica they make the best electric motorcycles at the moment and they're selling good, there is still plenty of stretch in the naked market.

[Erasmo]

Originally Posted by RedDevil

You may tilt the handlebar backwards a bit, or maybe even get a different one.
I altered the handlebars on my bikes when I put windscreens on as the lack of pressure made me lean on the handles too much.

The handlebars of a DS are pretty straight so turning them back won't do that much, also I like the current angle. Removing a small strip of about a centimetre in that area also should do the job.

Did a test sit yesterday and applied the aero tool to it.



I'm not sure if it works the same on bikes and if I applied it correctly but it seems that the flow will improve somewhat, hopefully enough to offset the extra frontal area that the fairing introduced.

[Erasmo]

Went to a motor show and found this nice dustbin:







Also somebody was kind enough to mock up the finished paintjob in Photoshop :

[Erasmo]

The mountings are starting to take shape:

[Erasmo]

Paintjob is happening this week:

[Erasmo]

But wait, there's more!

The new front fender:


The headlight is installed and the mounts are ready to receive the fairings:








Primer is on: