For those who don't yet get it, properly engineered electric vehicles, such as the Tesla car and the Zero motorcycle, are wonderful performers. The base model Tesla is exactly equal to a 2014 Corvette at the local dragstrip. (the "D" model leaves the 'vette for dead) And the Tesla can do 154 12 second drag strip runs, all with zero loss of speed, and drive home without issue!
So, my friend shows up on his 2015 Zero SR. It's equipped with a 67HP, 107 foot pound torque, AC motor, belt drive, a 12.5KWH battery (almost as much battery as a Chevy Volt) and Showa suspension. It's light and somewhat compact, at about 400 pounds and the CG is superb, due to the mass being well centralized.
Whoooooo Hooooooo! This thing is fast! The only word that can describe it is "effortless". It's rated at 0-60 in 3.3 seconds, which in the motorcycle world is good, but not great. HOWEVER, the motor is intentionally limited at speeds below 20 or 30MPH, Otherwise it would simply flip right over instantly. It has that much power. So, 0-60 is not an ideal way to talk about this bike.
Better to say that in real world riding, it's instant power is stunningly intoxicating. It accelerates from 25 to 60 in one second, OMG! Same goes for 60-80. And it cruises at speed, with an absolutely effortless feel. Very little throttle input is required at highway speeds and it's clear there is a whole bunch more available instantly.
It's quiet, but much like any motorcycle, you can easily tell when the motor is working hard. Under normal riding, the motor is not working hard at all. Giving it that amazing effortless feel. The Showa suspension is excellent, and the bike simply begs to be ridden hard. Handling is excellent, period. It's as competent in the twisties as any sportbike ever made. In fact, there is nothing underneath to limit cornering, so lean angles are completely unrestricted.
Range is excellent, with exactly the same range between charges as a typical sportbike has in a full tank of gas. And it has a built in charger, so simply plugging in with a computer type cord in the side of the frame, will do it.
While we can argue about the essence of motorcycling, the engine, the vibration, the shifting, the skill required to make a machine perform, and that somehow that is all lost with an electric bike. BALONEY!!! None of that stuff matters. This thing is the closest to an ideal motorcycle I've ever ridden. It's also the most fun bike I've ever ridden, period, end of story.
What really happens is that the engineers can concentrate on getting things right, such as throttle response, power delivery and accuracy, torque curves, and so on. It's so right on so many levels.
Here is a link to a review by Gizmag.
So, my friend shows up on his 2015 Zero SR. It's equipped with a 67HP, 107 foot pound torque, AC motor, belt drive, a 12.5KWH battery (almost as much battery as a Chevy Volt) and Showa suspension. It's light and somewhat compact, at about 400 pounds and the CG is superb, due to the mass being well centralized.
Whoooooo Hooooooo! This thing is fast! The only word that can describe it is "effortless". It's rated at 0-60 in 3.3 seconds, which in the motorcycle world is good, but not great. HOWEVER, the motor is intentionally limited at speeds below 20 or 30MPH, Otherwise it would simply flip right over instantly. It has that much power. So, 0-60 is not an ideal way to talk about this bike.
Better to say that in real world riding, it's instant power is stunningly intoxicating. It accelerates from 25 to 60 in one second, OMG! Same goes for 60-80. And it cruises at speed, with an absolutely effortless feel. Very little throttle input is required at highway speeds and it's clear there is a whole bunch more available instantly.
It's quiet, but much like any motorcycle, you can easily tell when the motor is working hard. Under normal riding, the motor is not working hard at all. Giving it that amazing effortless feel. The Showa suspension is excellent, and the bike simply begs to be ridden hard. Handling is excellent, period. It's as competent in the twisties as any sportbike ever made. In fact, there is nothing underneath to limit cornering, so lean angles are completely unrestricted.
Range is excellent, with exactly the same range between charges as a typical sportbike has in a full tank of gas. And it has a built in charger, so simply plugging in with a computer type cord in the side of the frame, will do it.
While we can argue about the essence of motorcycling, the engine, the vibration, the shifting, the skill required to make a machine perform, and that somehow that is all lost with an electric bike. BALONEY!!! None of that stuff matters. This thing is the closest to an ideal motorcycle I've ever ridden. It's also the most fun bike I've ever ridden, period, end of story.
What really happens is that the engineers can concentrate on getting things right, such as throttle response, power delivery and accuracy, torque curves, and so on. It's so right on so many levels.
Here is a link to a review by Gizmag.
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