Zero Motorcycles takin' it to the streets with new Zero S
Having had great success with its Zero X off-road electric bike, Zero Motorcycles is "takin' it to the streets" in 2009 with its new Zero S. Expected to launch this Spring, the first rendering has been released and some numbers announced. The answer to the first question everybody will want to know is 70 mph. That is the top speed of this lithium-powered machine. The other important electric vehicle question is "How far can I go on a charge?" and, according to the company, the Zero S will quietly roll for up to 60 miles. Although there are no acceleration figures available yet, we suspect that its 50 lb ft of torque will get you up to highway speeds quickly enough. Its single speed transmission means that there are no gears to shift or clutch to deal with either.
To secure your place in line, Zero Motorcycles is now accepting (refundable) deposits of $1,000. We promise to bring you actual photographs and all the details as soon as they become available.
[Source: Zero Motorcycles]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jason 10:52AM (12/22/2008)
My first question was "where are the spokes?".
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Luke 12:29PM (12/22/2008)
And the brakes! Yikes!
I will be giving the real bike a close look, though -- if the prices is reasonably, it might just meet my needs.
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Spence 1:19PM (12/22/2008)
I've been waiting to hear about this. I want. I want I want I want!
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Toshi 2:08PM (12/22/2008)
Ah, more vaporware a la the Brammo Enertia and the always-on-the-horizon production e-motorcycles from KTM, Honda, Yamaha.
To my knowledge there are three road legal electric motorcycles available for purchase:
1) Vectrix: www.vectrix.com
2) Quantya Strada: www.quantya.us
3) Electric Motorsport GPR-S: http://www.electricmotorsport.com/store/ems_electric_motorcycle_gpr-s.php
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John 4:33PM (12/22/2008)
Here are a few more electric motorcycle models...
Brammo Enertia - http://www.enertiabike.com/
X-treme Scooters - http://www.x-tremescooters.com/
Lots of discussion of other electric motorcycle manufacturers here...
http://electricmotorcycleforum.com/
Spence 4:34PM (12/22/2008)
Dude, Zero has already built and sold hundreds of its off road motorcycles, which btw, are street legal with a light kit. I'd give them a far greater chance of being around in a decade then Vectrix.
jpm 5:56PM (12/22/2008)
Why would someone put $1000 down based on prelim specs and a half finished CAD drawing?
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tankd0g 2:32AM (12/23/2008)
If Tesla has shown us anything, there are people who will put down any amount of money and wait any length of time for a vehicle that runs on batteries.
jpm 2:08PM (12/23/2008)
I believe Tesla had a working prototype, and finished CAD drawings...
LA 10:11PM (12/23/2008)
The half finished cad drawing is depressing. I like the looks of the Quantya Strada much more. Because a vehical is electric some designers go out of their way to make make a statement. Please stop!! The Zero X batteries cost approx. 3K to replace (figure more for S) after 600 or so charges so financially in the long run its not a good deal. Put some Tosiba super charge batteries in it (claimed good for 2000 charges, mabye ten years) Make it look good (Husquevarna styling anyone?) & then I will buy. An all electric motorcycle is at the top of my list, It has to be just right to drop that kind of change, after all, I'm a working guy.
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Joe the Zero X Owner 4:09PM (12/30/2008)
I am one of the many, many owners of the Zero X motorcycle, one of the precursors to the Zero S motorcycle. I after market light kitted my Zero X, so it is fully street legal and I registered it as a motorcycle in my state, although it also qualified as a moped (when in low speed mode), which does not require registration in my state. I'm a regular guy with a regular income. These, new, cost way less than a new off road SUV.
My Zero X costs less up front than the nearest equivalent gas vehicle (though the gasser is slower off the line) and has lower maintenance costs (even including replacing the power pack regularly) and way less operating costs. I have a 2007 Suzuki VStrom DL650 as a direct comparison vehicle and my Zero X stomps it in off the line performance, lower maintenance, lifetime and operating costs and much, much better handling off road. The Zero X in the long run is, in real world fact, an excellent deal, so why would the Zero S be any different?
My Zero X is the 2008 model, which is nowhere near as slick as the Zero X 2009 model, which has nicer controls and beefier components throughout the model. One of the things that I love about Zero Motorcycles is that they are always improving and have superb after purchase support for extra components and accessories.
My 2008 Zero X exceeded every single one of my expectations. It has massive low end performance (you have to go against a gasser to fully realize this - the near linear acceleration is deceptively smooth) and the handling is amazing - it actually responds to subtle skills and a light touch, no brute manhandling needed or desired. I could ride all day (and can, thanks to the ability to swap multiple purchases of the lightweight power pack in seconds (faster than filling a gas tank) and not get tired of this exquisite machine.
Also, my 2008 Zero X uses 100% wind power, thanks to a subscription plan from my regional power utility company.
Zero Motorcycles has about 6 years of real world design and production experience, starting years before their Zero X, another reason to go with them.
I fully expect Zero Motorcycles Zero S to be as huge a winner around town as their Zero X is for off road. My kitted 2008 Zero X is my daily driver for my 26 mile commute as well as my main vehicle for after work and days off off-road fun.
Based on my real world experience owning one of their motorcycles (I confess, I paid a $2,000 deposit in advance(they required less, but I wanted to pay as I went) and the balance in cash) , visiting their factory three times over two years, and interacting with their staff a lot, I would say that Zero Motorcycles is the opposite of vaporware.
One reason to not show spokes/brakes is if they are looking a multiple possible configurations, different options and multiple suppliers. I'm sure, from my personal experience, that they will use appropriate components that can be easily replaced later if need be.
If you are that hesitant about the process, just get one of their Zero X motorcycles, after market light kit it yourself, register it with your state as a motorcycle and be amazed at its performance. You can always sell it at a profit later, when you are ready to buy the Zero S after others have.
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