It has been almost exactly a year since I first test-rode some Zero Motorcycles electric motos and the improvements in some of the 2011 models are huge. A year ago we were restricted to a parking lot, and that was adequate for the 2010 models. This year we got to go on the streets, and that was essential for showing off what at least some of the 2011 models can do.
Riding first on the S, or street model, we took off and the power was impressive. In a matter of seconds we were hitting 60 mph and could have gone faster except we were already exceeding the speed limit. The Zero boys tell me that in addition to a top speed of 70 mph on the S and DS models, the range has also been extended to about 70 miles on a charge. You're still not going to go touring on one of these things but that's more than adequate for running around town.
Plus, as the price of gas goes up, paying about a penny per mile for your fuel starts looking pretty darn attractive.
The design of the S has changed considerably as well. The Zeros started out looking very boxy and utilitarian but with each new model year they look better and better, and more and more like motorcycles. Presumably in an effort to minimize weight, the seats are all pretty basic, just long, narrow benches, and you might not want to spend a long time on them. The acceleration is great, the brakes are great, the suspension is adequate, and the mirrors suck.
One more significant change for the S and DS is that they now sport drive belts rather than chains. On the old models, the noisiest thing on the bike was the chain. The belts are almost silent so some quiet motorcycles got even quieter.
I also rode an XU, which is sort of dirt influenced (the X) but intended for urban (that's the U) usage. The XU does not have the stepped up power of the S and DS and you can tell that right away if you've just ridden an S. We took off and everyone else was on one of the newer bikes and I was left in the dust. The XU also has a chain and the sound of the chain was equally noticeable under the circumstances.
You could say the XU is an alternative to a scooter, not a motorcycle. It's a competent machine for what it is, and if what it is isn't what you want or need, then it won't do the job. But if it is then it will.
Zero also offers X and MX models, which are comparable more to the XU than the S and DS in terms of power. They also run chains, which are more durable in the dirt applications that they are designed for.
The bottom line on these Zeros, as with electric motorcycles in general, is that they remain works in progress. Especially with the new S and DS, they are fully competent for some uses already. But the more important point is how much they have improved in just one year. The advancements in the next five years are likely to be mind-boggling.
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