Energica Experia vs Zero DSR/X Chat

[@SwitzeroRider]

Thanks for this chat. Noise is probably the main reason I didn't get an Experia

[@jtchivers]

It's weird. I've heard mixed reports about the noise level. Some owners say their Experia is quieter than previous Energica bikes they owned. As EEMC stated, when they brought the bike we rode here in for servicing, it was quite low on oil. That may be a common issue on the early demonstrators.

[@GaryPainter-ct5cn]

I think this is the first time I've agreed with everything said in a road test and especially an electric road test. (Except the way you promounce Energica!🙂) I've ridden the Energica Eva Ribbelle, Zero SR/S and DXR/S and I've done over 10,000 miles on my own SR/F. As you say the Energica is better on paper, but The Zero is just nicer. I have a charge tank, so I get fully charged from 20% in 50 minutes. I've had 203 miles from a 100% charge and it then registered a range of 238 miles on 110% charge. I seldom get less than 100 miles from a charge. I've never experienced this Range anxiety thing they all bang on about. Admired the Zero rider's roadcraft in your film and the scenery was fabulous. I recognised The EEMC shop in Redgrave of course, where I bought my Zero, I nip in whenever I can think of an excuse to see Alec and Nathan. Top marks for a sober entertaining report.

[@jtchivers]

Thanks for the kind words, Gary! My advice to potential buyers is to first ask them what they intend to do with the bike. It all depends on what they want to do and where they are in the world. Whether I chose a Zero or an Energica would depend on that, and of course, budget. For me, my Energica Eva Ribelle allows me to tour with the minimum stopping times. I previously had a Zero DSR with a Charge It's Chris who liked the Zero DSR/X better, but that was based on sound. In all fairness, the pre-production Experia wasn't quite the finished version. The noise was the issue for him and it transpired that was particular to that bike and (it transpired) a low oil level. I share your view on range anxiety. It's just not a thing. I've ridden electric motorcycles since 2016 - the first six years on a Zero DSR and the last two on an Energica Eva Ribelle. In that time and almost 40,000 miles I've never once suffered range anxiety. Conversely, I ran out of petrol twice prior to that on a petrol bike and nearly a third time, touring the Alps, having just descended the Stelvio, and with a storm chasing us! We swapped the bikes halfway through, so I'm not sure whose Roadcraft skills you were admiring, but we've both earned our IAM Masters with Distinction and qualified as IAM National Observers, so I'd expect a reasonable standard, human failings aside! 😀 Re the pronunciation of Energica, don't get me started on that. As a Modern Languages graduate (sounds odd to say when it was 30 years ago!), I'm have a habit of pronouncing foreign brands with their authentic pronunciation. It's got me into trouble with Kärcher (I pronounce it the authentic German way, which gets odd looks in UK stores), but then even their UK advertising team don't bother pronouncing the name the right way. GIVI is 'JIVI' to me - stands to reason when the founder was Giuseppe Visenzi. And With Energica, the stress is on the second, not third syllable. I'll defer to someone who should know… The Italian CEO, Livia Cevolini! 😀 kzbin.info/www/bejne/omG3kqBqeMlnnrssi=kdRSs7RGUc5B15f2&t=74

[@GaryPainter-ct5cn]

@@jtchivers Thanks for taking the time to read my comments and again I'm with you, re; your reply. Sorry I'm still muddling you two up as this is the first of your films I've seen. I too preferred the Zero over the Energica, among other things, for the noise. I much prefer the silent running and I love the smoothness, whereas I felt the chain snatch a little when I rode it out with Nathan. Not very much much mind, but not as sublimely smooth as the Zero's belt, especially at that throttle off, to throttle on point. I'd seen the Experia in the shop and I'm quite taken by the colour scheme as I do admire the police riders. I'm now thinking perhaps I should have a ride on it now I've done a few miles on my SR/F. I've ridden a couple of hundred miles with Police riders and I'm mates with Norfolk's soon to retire Road Safety Officer (Motorcycles) Andy Micklethwaite. While I aspire to their standards and skills, it was how I spotted your roadcraft. I couldn't spot where you swapped bikes in the road film, but the riding of each bike seemed to be consistent throughout, which makes me wonder if the camera position makes the Zero look better, or if the Experia was tending to "thrupenny bit" the corners. There seemed to me to be a little notch around the apex, at about the point where I would be rolling the throttle back on, just where that chain might give a tiny flick? I did find the Ribelle to be a tiny bit harder to ride than The SR/F on the test rides. The SR/F just felt like an old pair of slippers after about a mile. If I had a change I would probably go for an SR/S, which is a little bit more comfy than the SR/F and has better weather protection while still feeling like a naked bike experience. I've had my SR/F seat contoured and re-covered and now the crown jewels are much more comfortable not being squashed against the "Tank"! I get it now with pronouncing Energica. I'm a luddite with foreign words anyway! (and a lot of English ones too!) I don't even like Ducarti compared to DuCATi even if the Italians say it that way. I even managed to type my foot into my mouth by putting an "M" in pronounce instead of an "N". Besides it was only a gentle tease.. 🙂 Keep up the good work, I will have to catch up with some more of your films.

[@WattKrank]

Thanks guys for sharing your thoughts. I had the SS9+ (passed away in a fire accident not caused by the bike) and the Ribelle - but since I had a BMW R1200GS (an am 56) I was looking for that comfy riding position - and found it in both bikes. I ordered the Experia, and yes, the noise does bother me - I would have paid an option to go with a helical gearbox but Energica simply doesn’t offer that. Most of that nois is coming from it’s straight toothed gearbox. I was also taking the DSR/X dealers demo bike out for a ride and found it to be a bit sluggish in corners, the ExPee I rode felt a tiny bit more flickable. If you ever get to ride an ExPee again, ensure the correct air pressure as I think it really rides perfectly neutral in corners - if the pressure is correct. I feel it to be VERY sensitive to even slightly lower pressure, and worn tires as I see now after 4.800km.

[@jtchivers]

Thanks for the comment. That's a really good point on the tyre pressure. We should have checked that ourselves. One just assumes a dealer bike is ok, but I've had demo bikes in the past with dangerously underinflated tyres, and had to inflate them. Given that the oil level was low, the tyres might not have been at the optimum pressures either.

[@gmy33]

Great conversation and thoughts . Yes buying a moto is emotion and not all statts .. 1st you can silence an energica with mecacyl gear oil additive .. 2nd after owning a zero 2014fx for 8 years ( with lots of fun ) i will never buy zero again just will not go foe that company anymore .. thats qhy sales are up for experia and you can buy a dsrx with discount now .. So buy your dsrx if it speaks too you .. And have a lot of fun !!

[@jtchivers]

Despite my issues with my first Zero DSR in 2016/17, I have to say its replacement was much better and I think I was fortunate in having a supportive dealership at the time. I agree, it's important to consider precisely what kind of riding one intends to do in order to pick the best suited electric motorcycle.

[@gmy33]

@@jtchivers wish you happy ridings !! ..

[@kradblatt]

I ride a EsseEsse9+ RS and yes, the sound sucks. I got used to it on more than 30 tkm, but I wish it was silent. On longer rides (on ICE, too) I wear ear protection. It filters the whine, too. But CCS ist the killer I still stuck to Energica. The Experia rides more silent and overall very nice. Still have to testride the DSR/X but I'm sure I will miss CCS.

[@mvetter]

At 36:20 you claim the DSR/X would get 22kW with the Charge Tank when in reality it will do closer to half that.

[@jtchivers]

Thanks for the comment, Morgan. No, I referenced "22 kW at home", which is accurate on a 3 phase supply. I referenced taking the Zero from the stock 6 to 12 kW with the Charge Tank (or "Rapid charger" - to use Zero parlance - I refuse to call it that!) at 30:50. I appreciate and he appreciates that you can't put more into the bike than it can take. So he could install a 3 phase charge point at home and, if he had the DSR/X with the Charge Tank, he could put 12 kW into it. He could even, if he bought the Experia, install a 22 kW DC CCS point at home, but that's extravagant and needless for him.

[@mvetter]

@@jtchivers to be fair it used to be called the Charge Tank on the gen 2 bikes and actually still may be. I am still envious of your 3phase 240vac grid support over there. Cheers from California!

[@jtchivers]

@mvetter If it makes you feel a little less jealous, 3 phase isn't typical to domestic properties in the UK, though it's common in commercial properties. Most homes have been single phase since World War 2, although some homes were built for electric heating with 3 phase being common in that case. It's going to be more common again though as new homes are built considering EVs, heat pumps, and smart grid applications.

[@WattKrank]

@@jtchivers And there‘s no need for more than one phase at home as with decent fusing and wiring it provides more than the 3kW than any Energica will take. Even with a potential 6.6kW that Zero offers there are probably very few cases that would justify having an 11 or 22kW wallbox over a 3kW single phase wallbox as at home you usually charge over night.

[@mvetter]

@@jtchivers even your single phase is 240 which is twice as good as our anemic 120. So no, it doesn't really help but thanks anyway.