Zero SR/F

[Mick_J]

Got the chance to ride a battery powered bike this week so it would have been rude to refuse.

The Zero SR/F is a naked bike which looks well made with some nice touches, such as a clean belt drive with the front sprocket concentric with the swing arm so belt tension is constant. It comes with fully adjustable suspension, twin front disks and single rear.  The "fuel" tank has a large stash in it for the charge cable if you need it when out and about if you don't take it there is enough room to take a packed lunch including a drink, there's even a couple of USB charging points there for your phone/sat nav.  Battery pack comes with a 5 year unlimited mile warranty.
Once I had been shown the controls and been given the keys I was on my own, it's a weird sensation sitting on a bike with the key on and there being no sound at all as the bike is ready and "running".  With no clutch or gear lever all I had to do was twist the throttle and off I went. I must admit I did try to change gear once or twice but soon got into the swing of things and found it very easy to get on with. I left the dealer with the battery showing 96% charge available and 116 miles range. I was out for over an hour and a half, clocked up around 36 miles (had to fight my way out of Bristol) and returned the bike with 68% charge left and over 80 miles range. The manufacturer claims 161 city miles, 82 Highway miles and 109 combined, based on my ride I think this is about right.

So what's it like to ride, in a word, brilliant. The bike is very quiet and although it weighs in at 226k it feels very light in traffic, filtering is exceptionally easy especially with no clutch to feather and as for the traffic light GP you are the king of the road.  Once out of town I got the chance to open it up and it has plenty of go, I went out on "street" mode (3rd of 5 modes) and returned in Sport.  Overtakes were very easy and quick with just a twist of the wrist with only a whine from the motor.  "Engine breaking" on street is about the same as an inline 4.  Sport mode which gives a noticeable increase in throttle response with less re-gen so "engine breaking" is reduced but the grunt on offer is impressive.  The braking is very good with plenty of feel when using the front brake but a little disappointing using the rear, like a lot of bikes it could do with a bit more power. The handling is very good and feels much like any other bike, it's stable in the corners and flicks over left to right quite nicely.

There are however a couple of downsides, although the display is large, clear and very easy to read, the only thing that changes is the speedo (no rev counter) and the power left gauge.  I found it too sensitive to light, in the sun it has a white background and in the dark it turns black but I found it turned black even if there was a cloud.  The suspension is quite stiff and sporty, which aids the handling but not too comfortable on North Somerset's crap roads.  The cruise control is basically a throttle lock, to change speed it has to be disengaged and re-engaged at the new speed.  The biggest downside (for me anyway) is that it's physically too small, at 6' 3" I soon felt cramped on the bike so although I really enjoyed my ride on the Zero it's not for me.  However if they make a bigger one with a longer range I would definitely consider buying one.

[Notty]

my mate bought one £18k ffs and the dealer was in Birmingham 100 miles away - the range  on the bike was 100 so nightmare - broke down so many times AA bloke came to his daughters wedding - in the end he had a new one and I have to say was amazing - stop you coming over the border Mick 
@mjgt

[Big Phil]

What's gonna happen to all the original and after market exhaust companies when all new bikes are electric? Bikes with no sound other than maybe a humming, buzzing or other inane noise just don't quite fit right with me but Hey Ho times change.

[KiwiCol]

Thanks for posting a good write up Mick, much appreciated about the electric bike.  100 Miles is a bit thin though, I'd personally be looking for waaaay more than that.

[grog]

If it doesnt use petrol or make nice noises, sorry, not interested unless its a golf buggy. 

[Mick_J]

It sounds like a fast golf buggy 

[froudy]

What's gonna happen to all the original and after market exhaust companies when all new bikes are electric? Bikes with no sound other than maybe a humming, buzzing or other inane noise just don't quite fit right with me but Hey Ho times change.

We'll all be back to putting a playing card in the spokes to make it sound better like we did as kids on our bicycles

[grog]

mjgt, we hate slow play.

[VladTepes]

Seems odd when highway mileage is LOWER than city mileage eh.

[Mick_J]

When not moving in the city the battery does not loose any power unlike a petrol bike where the engine is always running.

[Hooli]

When not moving in the city the battery does not loose any power unlike a petrol bike where the engine is always running.

Except for the heating/aircon/radio/etc/etc all still running.


Ignore me, I was thinking of cars. Bikes will still have lights on though.

[DP1400]

Nice write-up mjgt. Thanks for sharing, its good to hear feedback from someone who has had an opportunity to ride one of these things.

Whilst I have no real issue with `leccy this that and the other`, I do have a problem with the cost of such things, their range, and the charging of the vehicles. Until such time they sort those things out, none will be `real world` friendly

[GSXKING]

As with most electric vehicles and the claims of zero emissions. 

It still requires electricity and the parts it's made from all require energy to produce them, ETC. ETC.

I enjoyed your writeup @mjgt. I think what would freak me out is the lack of noise. 

[Hooli]

I'm pretty sure if get past the lies & religion of man made climate change it's been proved leccy cars etc are worse for the environment over the average life of a car due to the rare metals etc in the batteries.

[Eric GSX1400K3]

Not a fan of e vehicles, for the same reasons as Hooli mentioned.  It seems Ford have thought this one through though.

Zxe352yOYyk 

Heaps of innovation, towing grunt, decent range and real world practicality.

Issue is the infrastructure here is just not up too the task, simply no foresight by the incumbents in government.