I did a test ride at my local dealer this morning. About 10 miles total. This was my first time riding an electric motorcycle. It's like nothing else I've ridden. And I mean that in a good way.
The bike comes with 3 different riding modes: Eco, Sport, and Custom. I tried both Eco and Sport. based on my too little experience, I'm not even sure the Custom mode is necessary. I started in Eco. The bike was surprisingly fast. The power is very linear. You also get the most battery recharge from braking in Eco mode. If I'm being honest, Eco is probably enough most of the time. I switched to Sport. Holy smokes! I mean, Wow, wow, wow! What a rocket! You will leave everything and everyone behind. I mean it. I haven't felt such a rush since I rode 1,000 cc sport bikes. There is no torque curve, no flat spot. You just keep on going faster. I saw a brief 80 mph which is 5 mph less than the top speed announced by Zero. Again, the power is very linear. The Sport mode would be great on twisty roads where you can get the most sensations.
The range is still unknown. I didn't do enough miles to know what the actual range would be. The bike was at 85% of its power capacity when I took it. I didn't check when I turned it off. What I checked was the range. When I picked it up, range was 59 miles. And when I pulled in, range was 39 miles. But I did 10 miles. Some of those miles were on the frontage road where I accelerated really hard and went fast. Zero says the bike's range would be 40 miles at 70 mph constant on a full charge. Zero says the max distance on a single charge can be as much as 100 miles. I doubt that but I think 80 miles can be achieved. There isn't a lot of data (test reviews and ride reviews) so experience is limited. One European video I watched said that when the bike is at 0% power, you can still do 10 miles and that's the way Zero built the bike. So it's got some kind of "reserve."
The bike itself looks well finished. The riding position fitted me nicely. It's comfortable even though the seat looks thin. The display screen looks very nice. The controls are intuitive. No clutch and only one gear so it's just a front brake lever on the right hand and a rear brake lever on the right foot. I rode over some rough pavement and the suspension proved to be very good. You sitting position is very upright so it becomes challenging to ride past 60-65 mph on the open road. Last thing I want to point out is how well balanced the bike is. I think it's the most well balanced bike I've ever ridden. I did circles in the parking lot with a full tilt on the bar without putting my feet down. You can do a no feet down stop without any problem. And the bike is so light, it feels you're riding a bicycle.
Like I said, it's like nothing else I've ridden.
Would I buy one? Maybe. I am going to read the owner's manual to look at more information. The engine is air cooled. It's not necessarily a deal breaker but it's something to look at and consider. Battery life is something to look into. I read somewhere that a replacement battery would be $3,600. What is the battery life? I'm not sure. Since there's no maintenance other than tires and brakes, a replacement battery might be on par with servicing for a luxury brand (BMW or Ducati). Range is another point. I do most of my riding in the inner city but it's nice to know I can take my motorcycle out on a 100 mile (or more) ride. It might be possible on a Zero FXE but it would require a lot more planning. Tesla charging stations would probably have to be included in the route.
I had fun. Lots of fun. The power delivery, the instant torque, and the excellent chassis make for an incredible ride experience. I would recommend to anyone to go and test ride an electric bike.
The bike comes with 3 different riding modes: Eco, Sport, and Custom. I tried both Eco and Sport. based on my too little experience, I'm not even sure the Custom mode is necessary. I started in Eco. The bike was surprisingly fast. The power is very linear. You also get the most battery recharge from braking in Eco mode. If I'm being honest, Eco is probably enough most of the time. I switched to Sport. Holy smokes! I mean, Wow, wow, wow! What a rocket! You will leave everything and everyone behind. I mean it. I haven't felt such a rush since I rode 1,000 cc sport bikes. There is no torque curve, no flat spot. You just keep on going faster. I saw a brief 80 mph which is 5 mph less than the top speed announced by Zero. Again, the power is very linear. The Sport mode would be great on twisty roads where you can get the most sensations.
The range is still unknown. I didn't do enough miles to know what the actual range would be. The bike was at 85% of its power capacity when I took it. I didn't check when I turned it off. What I checked was the range. When I picked it up, range was 59 miles. And when I pulled in, range was 39 miles. But I did 10 miles. Some of those miles were on the frontage road where I accelerated really hard and went fast. Zero says the bike's range would be 40 miles at 70 mph constant on a full charge. Zero says the max distance on a single charge can be as much as 100 miles. I doubt that but I think 80 miles can be achieved. There isn't a lot of data (test reviews and ride reviews) so experience is limited. One European video I watched said that when the bike is at 0% power, you can still do 10 miles and that's the way Zero built the bike. So it's got some kind of "reserve."
The bike itself looks well finished. The riding position fitted me nicely. It's comfortable even though the seat looks thin. The display screen looks very nice. The controls are intuitive. No clutch and only one gear so it's just a front brake lever on the right hand and a rear brake lever on the right foot. I rode over some rough pavement and the suspension proved to be very good. You sitting position is very upright so it becomes challenging to ride past 60-65 mph on the open road. Last thing I want to point out is how well balanced the bike is. I think it's the most well balanced bike I've ever ridden. I did circles in the parking lot with a full tilt on the bar without putting my feet down. You can do a no feet down stop without any problem. And the bike is so light, it feels you're riding a bicycle.
Like I said, it's like nothing else I've ridden.
Would I buy one? Maybe. I am going to read the owner's manual to look at more information. The engine is air cooled. It's not necessarily a deal breaker but it's something to look at and consider. Battery life is something to look into. I read somewhere that a replacement battery would be $3,600. What is the battery life? I'm not sure. Since there's no maintenance other than tires and brakes, a replacement battery might be on par with servicing for a luxury brand (BMW or Ducati). Range is another point. I do most of my riding in the inner city but it's nice to know I can take my motorcycle out on a 100 mile (or more) ride. It might be possible on a Zero FXE but it would require a lot more planning. Tesla charging stations would probably have to be included in the route.
I had fun. Lots of fun. The power delivery, the instant torque, and the excellent chassis make for an incredible ride experience. I would recommend to anyone to go and test ride an electric bike.
