2017 Zero SR Review | MC Commute

[@drasp87]

is it just me but I think electric bikes are an awesome option of city commute and general local riding. instant torque, overall smooth ride. I just feel I might enjoy an electric bike as a second bike.

[@gasdive]

Anupam Potdar Yeah... I thought the same as you. "Second bike". So I got one. When I went to use my "First bike" the tyres were flat as was the battery. The only reason I wanted to ride it was to have the annual inspection. The next time I got it out was for the next annual inspection.... Zeros make terrible second bikes because they're so much nicer to ride than petrol bikes, they're always the one you hop on first.

[@drasp87]

gasdive 😂 ok..

[@thorstambaugh1520]

Its the perfect 2nd bike. Except you will ride it more than your first bike lol

[@2Truth2you]

So heavy 350kg.

[@seeker7679]

It's around 200kg

[@bunberrier]

One aspect of this I think you forgot to mention. Maintenence. Ive been riding 30 years and I do all my own work, always. The idea of never having to adjust valve clearances, flush a radiator, change oil, rebuild a water pump, sync carbs... etc... ever again has enough appeal that a Zero is definitely on my short list of next bike to consider for purchase. Ive put 100000 miles on my SuperHawk and its still in top form so no need to upgrade yet. Hopefully these will come down in price by the time Im ready.

[@mitchellsteindler]

I don't think you will ever be ready...

[@thorstambaugh1520]

Be glad you didnt buy a Ducati

[@RiloElton]

The CB77 Superhawk? But that's like Honda's first sport bike, is it still running now?

[@kidnpigtogether]

Plus, add to the fact that when you're stopped you're not using any energy that and regenerative braking puts back energy, and no emissions to emit (we breathe cleaner air). We just need charging infrastructures to grow.

[@kidnpigtogether]

@@thorstambaugh1520 not just yet, it's been confirmed Ducati is building one now at this moment.

[@blainefleetwood1134]

You save a grand though by not having to get a new exhaust 💁🏻

[@WarbirdFan66]

yes but you burn the grand like five times over in a few years when you need a new battery pack

[@thorstambaugh1520]

Batteries are good for about 300000 miles.

[@KaoruSugimura]

Not to mention that after 300k miles a gas bike needs 100 oil changes which is $20 ea. That's $2k off and that's just the oil. That doesn't include any other points of failure, which at 300k miles is more than common. Then their is gas and at 300k miles even a good bike at 70mpg will cost a whole lot more than this electric one. Imho, an electric motorcycle is the ultimate commuter vehicle. If you want to go on a long ride then and only then would I suggest either a scooter with 100~ mpg or a gas powered motorcycle. However, the only reason I can find to get a motorcycle that gas powered today is either for the looks or sound. Otherwise, it's just more sensible to go with a scooter or electric vehicle.

[@Daschickenify]

Says who? Zero gives a five year warranty on their batteries. If they were so sure that it would last 300,000 miles, then they should warranty the battery for 30 years. I figure that is being pretty generous given this is a motorcycle, and not a car which can be driven year round in all sorts of conditions. So far, batteries in cars last around 8-10 years, mileage dependent, but not super dependent. I could see an electric taxi making it to 300,000 miles as it is driven A LOT, and may hit that mark in three years. But for us mortals who do 15,000 or less miles a year, your battery isn't going to last 300,000 miles. It aint happening.@@thorstambaugh1520

[@cntrix2047]

you also dont need fuel, electricity is cheap

[@BrokenMR2]

I have a local dealer who offers demo rides regularly with Zeros. I've ridden them all, and coming from a background of a variety of motorcycles over the years, I think these are the funnest yet. I've taken friends who are skeptical up there to ride around on one and they are thoroughly surprised, mostly with how quiet they are and how instant the torque is at 15mph+. If you haven't ridden a FXS, go take one around some roundabouts and you might just buy one.

[@mBlazer2]

The initial cost - $18000 is high; but you need to consider the total cost of ownership. Electricity is significantly cheaper than petrol (gas). The bike has next to no maintenance - the brakes. Assuming that you own it for 5 years the TCO will be significantly less than a $10000 petrol bike. Also, another plus that wasn't mentioned: the mirrors are really effective as they aren't subject to constant vibration from a petrol engine.

[@Thesaviorsway]

Matthew Benson they have cheaper models it's not 18k that's with the flagship most expensive model at 15k plus the fast charger add another 3k. But they do have 10k electric bikes

[@HyusKays]

Oh yeah? Say good bye to long ass road trip..

[@BoopSnoot]

A modern motorcycle has next to no maintenance, especially considering the average motorcyclist puts on few miles a year. There are oil changes, but these are inexpensive, and often the first maintenance on an inline four engine is done after you've had the vehicle for a decade. This is also not the performance of a $10K petrol bike, and is more akin to 650cc starter bikes. For example, you can pickup a Versys 650LT that has matching keyed luggage for under $9K, and it gets great fuel economy.

[@Jafmanz]

@@HyusKays if they have petroleum they have ellectric.

[@imatlastheyote]

Never considered the mirror thing. Well spotted

[@jbguzman79]

Good review and thanks for being honest and not completely drinking the coolaid. I'll eventually buy one, but only when they start looking better, don't cost so much, and get better range.

[@roscocsa]

The part that annoys me is you have goldwing torque on naked weight.... but it's dumbed down all of the time. Give us the option to loop it if we want.

[@hellario2]

I'd be surprised if there wasn't a software mod available or at least in the works. They have chips, flashes and piggy-backs for car and bike tuning already and this should be even easier because you're just changing the formula to allow more torque without even having to stress-test.

[@GregHassler]

roscocsa his information in the video is incorrect, the torque is not dialed down in the controller, full torque is available if you twist your wrist. The reason it's soft off the line given the torque number is because it's basically in the equivalent of 3rd or 4th gear.

[@roscocsa]

Fair enough. I wonder how much weight a simple 2 gear transmission would add.

[@gasdive]

roscocsa more weight than putting in a bigger motor. It would also take up room that is needed for batteries. Then the lack of battery would reduce the power you can send to the motor, and you're back to square one, but with a more expensive bike, that has less range and a lower top speed.

[@roscocsa]

So in my mind it all still comes back to battery tech being behind the curve currently. We need a way to do 3 things. Squash more energy into a smaller space. Be able to retrieve more of that energy faster. And the most important to me, be able to very very very rapidly put energy back into the system. The thought of being able to charge a few Kwh batteries to full in the time it takes to get a tank of gas makes me drool.

[@cpF01]

Thanks for posting. I drive an electric car and also ride motorcycles. Funny to read the same silly comments about electric motorcycles that people say about electric cars. In general people don't like change. There's actually a model that graphs adoption. Some will be excited and pay extra to be first to change and some will go kicking and screaming. Regardless, you're looking at the future of motorcycling.

[@charged]

And people still ride horses, pedal bicycles, paddle canoes, write with pen &ink, etc. Just because there are alternate forms of transportation/technology that people enjoy more, doesn't mean they dislike change.

[@cpF01]

charged you may have misunderstood me. Not saying people should give up anything. As I say, I ride an ICE motorcycle because I like it. I'm talking about the silly arguments people come up with to defend ICE propelled vehicles. But there are no horses on my daily commute. I think that ship has sailed.

[@AjayPawar_akbalboa]

Do you ever use engine braking? It's must for me while riding a motorcycle and be safe. If you are a motorcycle enthusiast, you would know how dangerous are electric bikes. Cars are still fine cos you have 4 wheels to maintain the better traction and balance.

[@APsupportsTerrorism]

Regen braking is same as engine braking... wheels fight the motor and charge the batteries. Same concept. Reason why gen2 Leafs are now 1-pedal... maximize that engine braking.

[@SteelJM1]

ajay you don't know what you're talking about.

[@russellcollins7148]

I'm a commuter and I clock in at 300lbs and 6'3". While electric has OBVIOUS appeal to me, the price to performance ratio here is a huge barrier for me. Battery tech has a long way to go I think.

[@eubikedude]

High torque is what you need to get weight moving and this has, so if you can physically fit on it, it might work pretty well.

[@russellcollins7148]

EU Bike Dude it's not the off the line performance that I'm concerned with. Electric motors have torque for days. It's keeping a tall, heavy load moving for long distances that's the problem. He actually addressed that in the video which was great and also disappointing.

[@russellcollins7148]

And he also addressed leg room in the video too. Great reviews from this guy. 🤓

[@russellcollins7148]

My current ride is a 2006 Suzuki DL1000. It's a bit of overkill for a commuter but I used to get out and ride more on the weekends too.

[@alexanderkasady6839]

Russell Collins- And won't progress any further. The wishful thinkers of this world all expect that the advance of technology will solve all of electric vehicles' problems, but there has NOT been any engineering progress, nor will there be, since the first electric cars of 100 years ago. The problems facing electric vehicles now are exactly the same problems that plagued them 100 years ago and prevented their survival in the marketplace. The dreamers who expect a miraculous bit of engineering just around the corner are just as deluded as the farmers who expect to be able to grow their own fuel, which they could do in the horse-and-buggy days, but not since the mechanization of agriculture began and gasoline made its appearance. Yet they still persist in pursuing that illusion. Electric golf carts are okay, and I wish my city would allow them on the streets. If they did I'd own one for short jaunts around town, but I'm under no illusion that I'd ever be able to live without a gasoline-powered car. I'm afraid that what we see now from electric vehicles is all we're going to get.

[@mrvwbug4423]

If going into a tuck improved energy usage by that much then why on earth didn't Zero put fairings on it? Seems like fairings would be a pretty obvious addition to electric bikes to maximize range. This is the Tesla Roadster of motorcycles, a little crude, very expensive but the start of the future. Interesting to see what the next generation of electric bikes can do, I give Honda 2 years max to have an electric bike of their own.

[@hellario2]

Keeping the costs down as much as they can. Single rotor brakes and no fairings are just some of the ways. Besides, this is meant as a commuter, so going over 75 should be a rarity and at that speed fairings don't do enough to justify their cost.

[@rorisfairytalesk8ter]

Ill get one if honda does it. But also getting the zero fx for enduro fun. I got a custom 500 honda cx bobber. No off roading for her lol

[@AWildBard]

I think Lightning is working on a faster "superbike" style that will have fairings. lightningmotorcycle.com/#superbike kzbin.info/www/bejne/pWSnmnSbmNiblZI

[@Jovi_97]

It’s been 2 years ;)

[@VishnuVardhanS]

It's been 4 years

[@mrclean2002]

Great review, thanks! on a side note that truck was probably just going through a regeneration. It burns out the carbon whatsits in the filter using DEF fluid. Its a clean energy thingie all diesels use now. Oil burning is a bit darker while regen smoke is light and sometimes bluish.

[@RightToSelfDefense]

"No sexy startup noise"? I think you mean what a sexy silence you hear. Silence is Golden. Because I have to tell you I am very jealous.

[@dman117zx6]

The quality and quantity of information in these videos is awesome. Other channels should take notes... C2W

[@professorcbx577]

I test rode a Zero. Holy fuck. Fastest bike I'd ever been on for the first 4 seconds. No shifts. No sound. Just me screaming going 60 in no time at all. If this is the future we'll be ok.

[@Siper2]

That was great. Sure is weird, not hearing an engine! I'm sure it's pretty bizarre when you're actually riding it. :-) I really hope these stick around, though.

[@TheRamsberg]

"What's old, is new again." back in the 1890's electric cars were very popular, such as Baker and others, yes 1890's. Superb review as always Zack.

[@Arya03]

Hey guys. I just want to say I'm so happy you guys are regularly releasing videos like mc commute, mc garage, on two wheels and so on. You guys really make the best videos and I thoroughly enjoy them. If you would start a patreon with the purpose of releasing even more videos, it would be the first time I without hesitation would support any content provider on KZbin. Keep up the good work and thank you!

[@mly1725]

No rotating mass, when you stop the bike, maybe that's why it feels top heavy

[@deathrow9]

Thats actually pretty cheap to run. I mean in California even if you were in the high usage tier averaging 31c a kwh it would only be about $5 to charge up the 16kwh battery. So as long as you were able to go over 100 miles each charge you would save money on gas(assuming youre paying about 3$ a gallon). I mean how many bikes actually get over 50mpg on average. Granted its never been a smart idea to swap vehicles solely based on mpg because it takes years to recoup the costs but considering the cost of electricity in certain places its always been something thats on my mind when it comes to EVs.

[@mollygrubber]

I live in Vancouver - gas prices just broke the all-time North American record here... but electricity is cheap as fuck. Tempting to be sure. That sticker shock tho.

[@thorstambaugh1520]

I can take my SR 80 miles into the forest and 80 miles back rudely spewing dust on your facemask. And ride into town to grab a coffee

[@thorstambaugh1520]

You are silly, I just did it in April

[@Daschickenify]

All three of my bikes get over 50 mpg, one is sitting at 75, and will go up as I get some tanks into it without dicking around. Shooting for 100 on that one! SV650SF :)

[@jesush.cristophe4065]

@Ticky Tocky and you would have been the same person to say the same thing about your horse and carriage when Ford released its model T.

[@Tiqerboy]

I test rode a Zero FXS at this years AMA Vintage Days of Mid Ohio. I loved the bike. 15 miles in sport mode and I drained the battery down 24% meaning the way I was riding, probably not more than 60 mile range. That is the main thing keeping me from buying that bike. The accelaration - wow - and really handled well in the curves around Mid Ohio. Felt so light, and well, Supermoto is the way for me to go. Next you should do a review of this bike on the Mulholland Snake (a twisty road) instead of the flat area you were in. So.... I don't know if you remember my Tiger shirt, but I met you at the AMA Vintage Days of Mid Ohio, maybe 8 or 9 years ago, back when AHRMA did the vintage racing and you were on a Ducati 350.

[@natesonskate6426]

You didn't back it in !?!?

[@elchaconaso]

ABS

[@Enderplays12]

@@elchaconaso It can be toggled off in the app

[@MFizzle777]

I love super naked bikes but have a place in heart for electric also, I live in London and can see the appeal!

[@Zalonka]

MFizzle777 And then it gets stolen because you live in london, lol sorry.

[@gasdive]

sasholsuma They don't smell or drip oil. You can bring them inside like a bicycle. No need for a garage. Perfect in London

[@Clearanceman2]

I could see eventually most vehicles being electric but it's not worth it to me yet. Battery technology isn't there yet

[@icefang2550]

London.... *London is mah city*

[@ANo-qc1qx]

I actually had an electric scooter/moped for almost a year while my cb500 was off the road, it was great, reliable range 30 miles (nobody gets near this distance on a moped ride/commute) ridden flat out all the time limited to 45mph, 4 hour or less charge, only problem is pedestrians don't hear you and step out all the time. Overall, great little Chinese wonder, way superior to any Chinese petrol engine moped/scooter for sure! 2010 plate bought in 2011 for £400 used and cost 20p to fill up. Stolen in 2012! And then stolen again by the police in 2013 when they found in some scums back yard, asked me to collect it from them, when I arrived they had paid a recovery agent (without informing me) to take the thing 10 miles away and tried to make me pay for it (it was found 0.7 miles from police station) got threatened with arrest and bailiffs etc. Fiasco. Never paid, it was trashed anyway. Bunch of useless fuckwits looking for easy revenue from decent working people. Of course they would never have dreamed of prosecuting the thief. Fuck England. I have lived on the coast and in the middle of rural nowhere, towns, Citys etc its all the same. Moving to France soon, can't wait. Anyway rant over! Late model electric bikes are a great used purchase! I had a working 500cc bike and still used the electric moped for sub 10 mile commute (unless I was late!) thats how agreeable it was.

[@CycleCruza]

They should put a little gas generator on the bike to charge the battery when it gets low or for emergency so you won't be left stranded.

[@samualwhittemore228]

Or bring an extension cord Or a couple of foldable 100 watt solar panels.

[@Cino777]

One addition would be putting a Very realistic and loud sound system that would make drivers alert of when an EV is around. Even for aftermarkets for bluetooth it would be pretty cool. Simply put: adding a high pitched supercharger whine sound that is straight off of an asteroid, a Tie fighter and X-Wing into one. I hope one manufactuer could do this idea.

[@chopperking007]

Or a fold out solar panel

[@johnnyViDeO]

I just took a test ride on an SR, and found it liberating and exhilarating. No more explosive gas on board, no gas station fillups, no vibrations, no smelly, droning exhaust, no exhaust pipe, no need to shift, no oil changes, no radiator fluid changes, no chain adjustments, no filters, no spark plugs, and overall, very little maintenance and the cost that it incurs. A twist of the wrist is all it takes to put a smile on your face. The cost to charge versus gas is about 1/3 to 1/4. Initial cost, charging time, and range are the downsides. But if most of your riding is around town, you're in. The charging infrastructure is being build as I type, and improvements in technology will bring longer range, lower weight and cost, and more connection to cyberspace. The future, is indeed, elec-trick.

[@mikes2270]

Thanks for doing this review. I've been curious about the Zero. It looks really smooth and fun to ride as a novelty. And it sort of sounds like one of those forest moon speeders on Return of the Jedi. But it's about $10-12 grand too expensive. I'd rather ride an S1000RR or Panigale for that kind of money.

[@BOT-dv9lz]

A Veyron uses about 750 horses to go from about 200-250km/t to top speed and just 250 horses up to 200-250km/t just because of the air/wind.

[@zuno555]

Need option to turn nanny torque mode completely off. I want all the torques instantly. Let my throttle hand decide my fate. Electric bikes like this would be a great city/commuter bike, and when battery tech improves would be a good day trip bike.

[@renynzea]

I doubt the belt could handle the torque. Maybe if you had a chain (the FX and FXS can be swapped out to use a chain).

[@yukeshvs9856]

zuno555 sadly battery won't improve any more this oldest technology in phone and bike

[@AndieBlack13]

The engineers who first developed the bike may have found an application of 100% torque at essentially ONE rpm of the motor...made for instant wheelies, unexpected & "un-saveable"...Imagine each and every time an individual, who is unfamiliar, whacks the throttle...and the ONLY thing it does is cartwheels out from underneath you ??

[@renynzea]

Yukesh vs they find tuned the battery every year since the bike has been released. In 2016 they also vastly improved performance and range extensively by changing the motor. It is believed the bikes could see from 30% to 50% more range if they added fairings. So the range will continue to increase, year after year, even if no major breakthroughs are discovered.

[@Balksa]

renynzea so you're saying is that this bike just needs a fairing for a 50% range increase and this is something that slowly needs to be implemented? A fairing? What's the hold up?

[@AndrewLenhardt]

C'mon Tesla don't let us down, build an E-Bike!!

[@AWildBard]

I believe Elon Musk almost died in a motorcycle accident and decided not to make motorcycles.

[@RevolutionCPT]

I was looking for a bit more practical information. Total time of the trip, distance of the trip, temperature of the day (that affects battery performance) starting power level, how much time it took to get to that power level, which option to charge the bike was used, what mode was the bike driven in for the majority of the trip, average speeds, ending power level. You know, things that would make a price tag seem more or less important.

[@thedoctorlee]

You pay a premium ... but how much are your maintenance costs on a traditional (ICE) premium motorcycle? By the time you've owned a BMW, Ducati, KTM, etc for 20,000+ miles... I'd be curious to know how much you've spent on maintenance. The Zero basically has brake pads and tires that need to be changed.

[@AjayPawar_akbalboa]

you can't even compare it to a traditional motorcycle. Engine braking makes it way safer than an electric motorcycle. Electric motorcyles are unpredictable and dangerous, so are the two wheelers with automatic transmission. There are so many possibilities on ICE bike, wish you could experience it yourself. You really can If you want to.

[@anirudhhhh]

Ajay Pawar electric bike has regenerative breaking it feels same as engine breaking on ICE also regenerative breaking can be adjusted to the amount you like Electric bike has one gear it is not an automatic gearbox since it doesnt need to change gears

[@mollygrubber]

Ajay... I feel like you have no idea what you're talking about. I could be wrong, but I doubt it.

[@Bob_Lob_Law]

Peter Jowett You're not wrong.

[@WarbirdFan66]

dont forget the battery pack...and believe it or not but electric motor do wear out too, they are just not sure how fast

[@MalfosRanger]

It's great that the technology is making strides. I probably won't be in the market for a few years, but Zero Motorcycles has me encouraged. Out in the country where going to town and back means 60+ miles range matters more than raw speed. Some of the options for Zero look promising for those needs.

[@ottomondo1368]

White smoke from a diesel means the engine is either cold and does not have adequate compression or the fuel injectors are dribbling fuel into the cylinder late in the combustion cycle, in either case it is not igniting the fuel correctly. Sort of like pouring charcoal lighter on a failed bbq start, you get white smoke until ignited.

[@doughlaz]

I really like the videos and how detailed the information is, but in my opinion this video is incomplete. I was expecting to hear more specs and numbers, like for example: - Charging time. - Tire size. - Traction control and ABS. - Down shifting or low gear. - Range with lights on and off. - Best and worse range according to riding style. - 0-60 and top speed. - Clutch? (I know it doesn't have one). - Suspension? I guess what I'm trying to say is, just because it doesn't have an engine it doesn't mean you guys should leave out the rest of the bike. I have more questions after watching the video then before. You guys do such great work and I've learned a lot from your videos, but this one could've been so much better.

[@SWTrailsAndWheels]

It's not just the torque calibration that makes it manageable but the fact it has only one gear means it has to be geared pretty tall. Torque at the wheel is therefore reduced.

[@mansouralnajjar3755]

dear Mc commute , in regards to the torque , its better to use the (custom) option and modify it from the mobile , from what i have drove , using the (normal) or (sport) modes ,seem to still have a torque limiter , only way to unlock it is from the (custom) option. also , in regards to temp , the higher than outside temp (from 30-35c) you cannot use the sport mode more than 3-5 seconds due to heat from the motor , as it will always jump the temp to 100c (motor wise - 1st warning ) knowledge from owning a zero SR 2016. side note : maximum range i was able to ride it was 125km - highway on a my weight of 140kg (not including full gear)

[@CohenXtreme]

Just traded my fz09 for an SR. Excited to pick it up this weekend.

[@davidrivas305]

How did it go? How does the SR compare to the FZ09?

[@chickysausages]

4 years later. How's that SR? Considering gas is almost $6 by me.

[@BOT-dv9lz]

When i changed from the Pirelli it came with to Metzler my Zero DSR changed to a nimble and way more sporty bike. After talking with a a lot of riders the rule when buying a new bike is change the tires as fast as possible. A lot of bikrs have tires produced to make tye bike cheap or give the brand more money, and they are often bad.

[@DominicanOps]

I went to a Zero Test ride event a few months ago and rode their "sport" electric bike and it was an absolute blast to ride. Had a lot of fun in those twenty minutes. So much fun I said to myself, "man, I got to get one of these!". When I came back, I had the biggest smile on my face and I asked the Zero rep how much it was. The smile quickly went away when he said 15k. No thanks. Can get a used FZ07 for 5k in great condition.

[@anxiousappliance]

They offer a range of machines starting at around $8k for a modular battery FXS - a supermoto which looks very cool. Some people pay that much for bicycle - crazy people, but people none the less. I've been researching these and started using google maps to see how far stuff really is - it's interesting how close stuff really is. So for day to day you might be surprised by how much range you really need. The other thing is if you eliminate parts in common with these and the ICE (wheels etc.) you have one moving part. One. No maintenance, no oil change, no valves, pistons, clutch - nothin. 1 moving part. and i'm ignoring the starter motor and alternator which are 2 motors and if my logic was ruthless there would be no moving parts - or negative one - but that's pushing a point. That FXS is so very tempting for city and mid range rides...

[@bikebudha01]

picked up a 2017 (used) this year (2019). Saved about half the sticker price. Fantastic city bike.

[@formeitwastuesday.1515]

Looking at 2017 Dsr with less than 3000 miles for 14k. I really want it but unsure of getting a used electric bike

[@danielpork8416]

The burnout happened so instantaneously that it's as if the throttle is a smoke button, interesting to hear the noise tires make alone without an engine spinning loose.

[@StockySnail]

I'm surprised he didn't mention electricity is around 1/4 the cost of gas (give or take depending on where you live or buy a solar panel and juice it up for free). You never need to go to a gas station again. No maintenance on it except for the brakes. That's worth a lot for me. The used market is nearly non-existent because of the low sales volume and people tend to keep the bikes as they love them. Being able to hear nature and everything around is nice as well. There are obviously disadvantages and some are opinions, but they are worth noting regardless, which many other commentators mention. Test ride one yourself to make your own judgement.

[@jfv65]

my commute is only about 3 miles so i'm using an electric moped scooter. It has a 1500W motor running on 48V-DC and does about 30mph. i can recharge it at my workplace. No trafic jams, free recharging and free parking. Electric works for me. For weekend fun i have an old skool 1100cc carbed bike on the side.

[@honeyforce996]

what a cool bike, the lack of engine noise is such a trip compared to the other MC commutes.

[@650ib]

People texting you.. Hahahaha! I ❤ the Zero SR!

[@amaeyparadkar9632]

650ib You rode that too right? Does it power wheelie like other 600s?

[@amaeyparadkar9632]

I mean is there any way to get all those earth twisting torque numbers on our will? Like After market exhaust, free flow intake, ECU remaps or sprocketing maybe?

[@eubikedude]

It has no exhaust or intake! You just need to change the amount it lets you have in the software. Or rather Zero do or let you set your own torque curve.

[@amaeyparadkar9632]

EU Bike Dude Sorry man, I forgot to add "😉" or "😋" at end of my second paragraph. But you did answer my question. Why no reviewer or company mentioning such an awesome feature? Setting up my own torque curve!? That sounds great!!

[@650ib]

Amaey Paradkar It's a bit heavy to wheelie but I didn't try very hard. Lol

[@Motopsycho21]

I kept seeing him reach for the clutch when he would put his left hand back on the bike hahahahah.

[@tahoehiker]

Hey Zack thanks for another great video. The semi was burning coolant not oil though. Oil would have been indicated by much darker smoke.

[@slamboy66]

Whats battery life? How much to replace ?

[@jhooton75]

"That truck is smoking quite a bit...maybe it's a 2 stroke". You had me laughing out loud.

[@smokingstone1141]

What a great freaking review. I just (yesterday) bought a brand new FZ6R, and now I am having second thoughts. The SR is twice the price of the Yamaha, but ... Damn!

[@marcezs08]

Fun fact. Where I live, a 17000$ bike is cheap. A Honda Africa twin with the DCT pack, 32,000. A Suzuki v Strom 650, 15,000. A Yamaha MT or FZ09 22,000 ish I believe the BMW 1600K is somewhere in the high 40's, gotta love the 100+% tax we have on motorcycles -.-

[@future62]

Wow, that's fast! But yea, two of my favorite things about motorcycles are engine noises and shifting. Even on my 650R with its dump truck transmission and flatulent exhaust note. Motorcycles are not a rational thing for most riders, at least in the states.... and where they are practical (i.e. European cities) they are pretty much impossible to charge. E bikes face a real uphill challenge on multiple fronts.

[@Syringe666]

I moto-commute daily here in the Pacific NW. Probably around half of commuting days this time of year, there is some precipitation, and at least spray coming from other vehicles. That, and I have to leave my motorbike in an uncovered spot during the workday. Any reported problems of moisture affecting these units? It looks like a pretty solid commuter overall, price aside. Haven't seen a used one yet....

[@FINDYOURXFIT]

The thing about price is there’s no fueling, oil changes, clutch replacements, or any of the time and money wasting maintenance on a gas bike. Kinda epic that this bike will actually safe you money in the life of the bike. Only bike on the market that does that.

[@Ali-yh8dl]

Great video Zack, i wanted you to talk about the driving modes (the Eco and the Sport mode) also the ability to adjust your torque settings and power from the app. these bikes will be great once the price goes lower and the range goes higher.

[@The_Maine_Card_Guy]

If Yamaha or Honda make electric bikes I think they will be become extremely viable. These certainly shift the entire paradigm of what motorcycles could be.

[@80sruler]

Philip J you definitely will see more coming from different manufacturers

[@BareERaws]

That would be cool if there was a crotch rocket model. It would save on power due to the aero dynamics being better. If leaning over made a 30% difference like Zack said then you would end up with better range on the highway which is pretty handy. Plus your not riding for that long anyways so who really cares about comfort. I like the idea of electric bikes. there just isn't too many outstanding options available yet :(

[@RagingBad]

18k plus taxes and fees for a big battery with wheels? Not thank you! If they really want to grow this market prices need to go down

[@natecole3222]

In regards to your point on the brakes, the bike should have regenrative breaking which should reduce the need for having a second caliper and disk.

[@maydaverave]

I like naked bikes but a full fairing bike just makes sense for an electric bike. the right fairing and body position should have a huge impact on range.

[@exothermal.sprocket]

The thing about torque.... On a gas powered bike, it multiplies from the crank to the transmission, it multiplies from one side of the transmission to the other, it multiplies from the countershaft sprocket to the rear wheel. That's a lot more torque multiplication than an e-bike which only multiplies it one time from the "crank" to the rear wheel. When comparing a gas bike to an e-bike, it would be more proper to compare the gas bike wheel torque in 1st gear to an e-bike power from a start. Bet it wouldn't be that much different. For the same reason an electric winch makes a ton of pulling torque at a spool, a gas-bike makes a lot of torque at the wheel through a transmission.

[@sanxi34]

I think what kills it for me is not having regen-braking. I don't really know if it's that simple, but from where I'm standing it's a programming thing so that when the motor is not receiving power, it's creating it. That way when you ride efficiently you get "rewarded" with more miles, it is the best thing electric motors have! You can literally get back the "fuel" by driving/riding efficiently. Without regen-braking, you are better off with a gasoline engine. Neither of them are going to allow you to get fuel back, then get the one that allows you to get back on the road in a few minutes.

[@trey1531]

It definitely has regen braking. The normal brakes are just for backup or for hard stops.

[@kingofallworlds]

There is regen braking

[@WatchmakerErik]

The great thing about the zero app is it lets you deplete the battery in the bike AND the phone at the same time! Or charge the phone from the bike and decrease your range.

[@georgecostanza2695]

Not everyone chooses a bike based on it’s performance/$ ratio. If so, no one would pay $40k for a 100hp Harley... and I see a ton of CVO Street Glides rolling around. On the topic of Harleys, some Sportsters with 2 gallon peanut tanks might even have less range than the Zero; it may not take 2hours to fill up, but you get the point. There will always be people who sacrifice practicality just to have a certain badge on their vehicle. Just as there will always be those willing to pay hundreds, thousands, even tens of thousands for intangibles like style, or to project a certain image. Considering that, $18,000 for a unique power plant, revolutionary technology, and to save the Earth one gallon at a time seems like a pretty good deal.

[@Tuppoo94]

It's only a matter of time before batteries get down to prices which people can afford.

[@chrisjacobsen1659]

The reason it may not feel like 115ft/lb of tourqe isn't a lot is because it's direct drive. Not sure what the ratio is but my Ninja 1000 which produces about 80ft/lbs at peak, first gear ratio is 2.6 so it's more like 200 ft/lbs at the output shaft.

[@-runningwithscissors-9766]

Most interesting bike you've done the MC Commute on so far!

[@woodburymoto5267]

i'm surely still missing the huge fairing or air guide just to cool down the radiator and pipes. oh yeah and I'd simply use dead-silent ear plug if I really do buy one.

[@mutilatedjello]

The handling is so different partly due to the fact of less reciprocating components. The only thing that spins is the motor. There is no piston going up or down or crankshaft and camshaft spinning, clutch, transmission, etc. Also the battery is quite dense and large unlike anything on a engine motorcycle.

[@garywest3763]

I absolutely Love QUIET!!! I wonder what EMF reading you would get with a Gauss Meter at a stand still and at various speeds

[@krysistheabyss]

The range and availability of charging stations are the worst things about this bike.

[@alexanderkasady6839]

Chris- You forgot price. Anyone shelling out $18 thou for this bike has a lot more dollars than sense.

[@icefang2550]

Chris Garcia Just wait a couple years for battery technology to advance. As fuel prices start to go up, the appeal of electric vehicles will grow. Technology for batteries will grow. Hang in there.

[@icefang2550]

alexander kasady Also, dude. This is basically a low line luxury bike. Not everyone is as broke and as mindless as you.

[@alexanderkasady6839]

Ice Fang- Why should gasoline prices go up? More to the point, what reason do you have to assume that they would? Why don't you assume that electricity prices won't also go up? That bill that you get in the mail each month is proof that electricity isn't free, and the greater the demand for that commodity, the higher will go the price. Do you live in a house? if so, then fine, you have a convenient place into which you can plug in and recharge. Just be prepared for a higher utility bill. If you live in an apartment, where DO you plug into? Do you think the building owner will suffer a very major expense of installing charging stations just for your convenience? AND let you use them for free? Or were you planning on simply running a long extension cord or two from your 3rd-floor bedroom window to the parking lot below? And what about th eparking lot at work? Who's going to install charging posts there? And withOUT installing meters, as well? Yes, electricity is being metered, just as you have parking meters. Your cost of electricity will at least equal, if not exceed, what you're paying for gasoline right now.

[@alexanderkasady6839]

Ice Fang- (lauighing) "Low line luxury..." Huh? Isn't that an oxymoron? How can it be 'low line' and 'luxury' at the same time. And don't worry about the state of my bank account, kid. I've got enough wherewithal to buy whatever I want. It's just the stupidity that I don't have enough of. And pardon me if I try to see far enough down the road to compute my future operating costs. NOT to do so would be mindless. Kinda like you, ya know?

[@wickedleeloopy2115]

Don't forget the first produced electric car was 1996. GM ev1 ....now we finally have a Tesla model 3 coming in 2019. That's 20 odd years to make it concidered affordable.

[@jeanfresco5667]

Electric vehicles have been around since the late 1800's. Practical, highway capable cars - like the GM EV1 - came to prominence in the mid 1990's.

[@joevidya]

These things are just too damn expensive, I really wanted to buy 1 because the quiet riding and automatic makes for some awesome and pleasant rides. But I sure as hell won't pay the price of a supersport for something that tops out at 95mph and only gives me 2 hours of riding before it needs 7 hours of charging.

[@11green11]

Def a fan of eBIKES . The only physical aspect i can see that hasn't been addressed in many reviews is their low speed maneuverability. These clutchless, transmissionless bikes have 0 centrifugal rotation at a standstill and minimal rotation while creeping forwards in tight/slow traffic. That (to me) is quite an important aspect of safely riding 2 wheels on a day to day machine. How substantial is your confidence during a low-speed u-turn or circle ?

[@BrianHeplerSasquatch]

It's a very light bike, so there's not much of an issue in my experience. Creeping forward is very easy and low speed turns aren't difficult. The lack of weight means you aren't likely to get it tipping over onto you, and the battery pack puts the center of gravity pretty far down. It's a lot easier to maneuver in parking lots than my Vulcan was.

[@TheBriansle]

I rode on a honda cbr 300r as my first bike. Love it but obviously grew out of it and was deciding to get like a mt 09 or cbr 600rr as my main rider. Decided to go with the Zero SR. I feel like this probably will be the last bike I will ever need to purchase until Zero or Tesla comes out with a dry-electrode battery bike. I just feel like if you look at things long-term a ICE motorcycle like a ICE car will make no financial sense. In addition, if you ride the streets, you need something that gets off the line quick with ease. This was the main reason why I decided to get the torquiest bike available. I felt the the cbr300r was unsafe around cars since it lacked low-end torque. Anybody who has owned an EV knows the performance is superior to an ICE car. The only thing holding ev's back currently is initial cost to buy and charging infrastructure.

[@82phalanX]

Heres a major plus for the electric bike, mechanical simplicity compared to many many moving parts on an IC bike. I look forward to a viable adventure touring alternative for me to jump on the electric bandwagon...

[@rocketrollsvlogs7625]

People always start talking about the 18k price tag, but you can buy a zero for 9k and one very similar to the one ridden in this video for 11k. Some states are offering tax incentives as well. A DS or a S matches up very well to an ICE 12k bike. Torque, HP, brakes, suspension, phone app. Y'all are just stuck on engine noise. It's the best commuter bike out there. I hear people complain when it won't accelerate past 70 in eco mode. Most cities don't have speed limits above 45 off the hwy. Their hwy max is usually around 50.

[@jtorkilson]

Hey Zack, is it strange not having any motor vibration through the bars? What other things do you feel when riding the bike that are masked by engine vibration/noise?

[@yuunjac]

Does the bike charge the battery when you hit the brakes like how some hybrid car works? Getting the bike charge would be a huge hindrance and limits the distance and where it can go.

[@rivercarson5763]

Looking at price to performance makes it sound kinda wimpy, but when you add in gas savings and you commute on it, it will pay for the difference in a couple years or less

[@Connan432]

You didnt put it in sport mode. When in sport mode, all torque is available instantly

[@lknanml]

I don't know if I could give up shifting.. I have 3 bikes to cover on , off road and to work and I was all about an electric bike before one of those other sporty electric bikes failed to make it to production. Do they have any plans for a sporty faired version? That Misson R bile looked amazing. These make a ton of sense to me around town.

[@BMWsr-is2xb]

So if you go for a weekend ride that's longer than 80 miles you have stop and charge it? Can you charge it anywhere there is power? Or do you need a special charger? How long would that take? How long is the battery meant to last?

[@thomasstandring2233]

Have been looking at these recently and was thinking. The price might be high in the short term, but in the long-term it should be cheaper as there is not cost of gas, instead you can charge it at home for a fraction of the price, and then also there's no maintenance to be done on the bike as it has no moving parts in the 'engine'. So looking at the economics, I'd be thinking that after about 3 years you'd come to be start saving money on it compared with an equivalent powered gas bike? What do you think?

[@cristiansilva1464]

So with motors in the cold, there is like oil changing and stuff so it dosent kill itself while it sitting in storage, but how does this handle the cold?

[@goldfever4570]

Another good video but I would have liked to get Zack's view on how much you'd save through gas, oil, chain maintenance and servicing etc. Also, insurance?

[@motorcycleislife8296]

Nick Headley dam you pay money to change oil, lube and tighten your chain?

[@pancakefactory]

The price wouldn't bother me if the range was better. I'm sure if they used LED lights overall, the range might be a bit longer. And maybe an adapter for the Tesla charging stations which are becoming VERY convenient.

[@nicodemvs3015]

how longs that commute? total distance and city and highway? would love to know bcuz you only dropped 20% thanks

[@chrishowellimages]

I demoed one of these and the torque is indeed insane.

[@chef9524]

If I were too buy a vehicle for city commute this would be it, but I don’t live in a city, and also prefer other bikes. R6, Zx6R, are my personal favorites.

[@mattmcmaniac]

Totally agree. I have the FX and the brakes are crap. So under braked for the acceleration and weight. Fun bike though.

[@blakerh]

Do you think this would be a good first bike for a new motorcycle rider? Thanks

[@upsidedowndog1256]

Nice test. I learned that the best thing about a motorcycle is the ENGINE. I will stick to my enginecycles, thankyou.

[@kbowen2251]

I wanna hear about the rebel as a commuter or have him even try some dual sports as a commuter. i live out in the country and sometimes have to drive dirt and sand roads to get back home from the city. this would be a good way to get some nice insight about my options

[@TrNdke]

Kenny Bowen You should take a look at the new Royal Enfield Himalayan.

[@Kyre5049]

Enjoy when you approach your commutes with a scientific approach such as checking how the electric motor temp fluctuates. =). I believe the noise of the electric motor of the Zero is electromagnetic noise?

[@gbudhelix]

Just always follow a Corvette to get that sweet sound!

[@jpvSoccer]

Best ev moto review yet! Thanks u da man

[@1990-t1j]

I'd love a Stich. I hate an electric bike but not as much as before this review. Very interesting review.

[@Kingsoupturbo]

Seems pretty awesome, fast, so quiet! also flipping open the charge port while casually splitting some traffic at the light, haa! this guy rides a lot!

[@Enonymouse_]

The DSR is more interesting IMO, the next gen zero's (not released yet) claim up to 230 miles. They are attempting to match tesla, the problem with that is Zero doesn't get those numbers from riding on highway or freeway.

[@a.kirkpatrick961]

What kind of backpack do you use while riding and how many liters?