I took the FX and the DS out for a test ride around London and the FX in my opinion wins hands down. Riding it in sport mode brought a massive smile to my face :-D , I'll definitely get the FX when they become available in the UK.
lozz----zero bikes should be paying you . this is better advertising than i've ever seen for them. p.s. IVE BEEN TO ALICES RESTAURANT!! i've driven the skyline drive. MAN IS IT NICE. what a great place for a motorcycle ride! wow. that is precisely the beautiful sort of place where noisy gas motorcycles are annoying. silence is golden. and real ninja style. amazing GREAT REVIEW. the problem with your prediction is you said "at some point , they'll be cheaper" it's going to be at least 15 years before that's the case in the west. and probably 30 or more in the east. if you look at the SLA battery electric bicycle trend in china and compare it with lipo ebikes in the u.s., it is a good business case study for trying to make predictions.
Aha yes, I've been waiting for this video! It fills me with joy when I see electric vehicles get better like this. Like by the time I'd be picking up a new vehicle, how good will they be, aye!? That part about the fairing, though. 30% addition to your range? That's a hell of a boost. I mean I know they started off with much more dirt bike style bikes so they're probably not big fans of the look of bikes with fairings and such but still.
Good job on the review. The FX seems to be the most practical for short commutes and some off road fun. With a full battery after a days work, I would have plenty of battery to explore places I normally couldn't with a petrol bike. The 95Nm torque on the FX is really impressive for a 131Kg bike (better than my VFR800 and 100Kg lighter). The videos of people launching the FX into the air from an almost standstill makes me very envious.
I tested the '14 S and FX. The FX has no problem launching 50-70mph very quickly. He mistated the hp, which is closer to 40hp with the two batt packs. The FX is noticeably quicker around the city due to the much less weight. They really do need to offer a fairing option.
+Ali Can Metan, I already bought a Zero SR and put 4000 miles on it. I love it. I do like the 300 CC bikes, but I'm glade I have a Zero. Designed and made in the USA.
I plan on riding an electric motorcycle in the apocalypse. I was thinking Brammo Empulse because it has a 7-speed transmission. But that's just more maintenance. I think a Zero would be perfect.
Interesting that the S gets the Sport Demon, a sticker bias ply tire, and the SR gets the Rosso II which is radial. Why not have radial on both? The price difference is a few dollars.
I think that they'll be really good in the future, but they really need to make sure that batteries are removable so that you can put in new ones if they stop working properly (which will happen), and so you can buy new batteries if battery tech improves to increase your range.
I want one ! The range would not be a problem for me because I ride about 100 miles a week to and from work and running around on weekends and if I chose to take a weekend excursion I would plan a trip a hundred miles out and then layover a few hours for charging then return . If I wanted to say go out of state I already own a Kawasaki 600 Eliminator and a Suzuki Intruder 750 both of which are touring bikes .
Good to see a decent review like this. It would have been nice to include Zero's plans for battery development. And they are NOT zero emissions!! Gordon Bennett! Zero local emissions, yes, zero emissions, no, not unless you charge it completely from your solar panels and / or wind jenny, etc.
Had to stop the video starting at 5:20 - 5:30 "So ... maybe do that, then?!" Exactly! I don't know why they don't seem to offer any kind of windscreen whatsoever. Aside from aerodynamic efficiency, just for comfort. If they had something like my BMW RT's electrically-adjustable on-the-fly windscreen, it would bring me that much closer to selling my RT and getting a Zero S. And if doing so would increase the range to where I could comfortably ride from my home in SF, down to Skyline to Alice's where you were, out 84 to the coast, then back home via Hwy 1, all on one charge with full bags and riding hard - then I'd be all in, right now.
dwc1964 Talking to Zero, they're aware of the efficiency opportunities offered by aerodynamics. As to why they haven't done anything about it yet, I think it's two things - firstly, the company line is that the naked bike style is 'in' right now and they like the tough looks of the bikes they've designed so far. Secondly, perhaps it's something to do with coming from a dirt bike heritage. But they're aware of it, and since range is the #1 concern of most riders, we may yet see a faired Zero.
Thanks for the info - good to know. I'm predisposed to wanting an electric for many reasons. As soon as Zero offers something like their S-class with a full fairing (preferably adjustable on-the-fly) and enough range to handle my favorite Bay Area day-rides, I'm in. To hell with "style" and what's fashionable and "tough", I want comfort and functionality.
dwc1964 Follow what Craig Vetter is doing, he's not too far from you Carmel. He sells a real aero nose fairing. But you have to be open-minded about the looks. I'm building my own.
+TheBlkpeople You obviously don't ride every day. There are tons of distracted drivers on the road. A loud exhaust does get some of these peoples attention which alerts them that a motorcycle is close. I have an MSX125 / Grom. With the stock exhaust I had a few close calls where people start changing lanes without checking properly, because most drivers check for cars and not motorcycles, and I had to swerve out of my lane to avoid being hit. Now with the load exhaust I had a lot less problems because people hear me which makes them look for the bike. Those people who say loud exhausts don't save lives are people who do not ride every day or they do not ride in lots of traffic. I love my loud exhaust as it gets people to look out for motorcycles.
RidolfC i ride like 3-4 days a week. Trying to belittle someone does not help the validity of your argument. Youre on a motorcycle you shouldnt expect cars or anyone to do shit. Thats just unsafe for you. Should they pay attention? yes. Are you still dead? yes. You do realize that sound from your bike travels backwards and almost none goes forward. I have a loud exhaust too and its more annoying than useful. People still do stupid shit to me but i try to be prepared for their stupidity.
+TheBlkpeople Lol. Sound travels backwards from your bike? Why? Because your exhaust faces backwards? It really does not work that way. You can stand in the street and let someone ride your bike with the loud exhaust towards you. I promise you that you will hear the bike coming towards you and not when it just passes you.
RidolfC I didnt say it all travels only backward. It travels mostly backwards. Get in a car driving at 45+ mph and have a bike pass you and you wont hear him until hes next to you. Unless your bike is seriously loud, but it that case its against the law . Either way, if youre relying on your sound to save you then you are not a safe rider
This likely won't be a problem in the future, with electric vehicles becoming more and more popular. Charging stations will become as common as petrol stations are at the moment. Not sure how fast you can charge a battery though...maybe some sort of battery swap system will need to be used?
I know, but these bikes exist today. If battery swap becomes a thing how likely do you think it will become that these "charging stations" will have in stock the one that is right for a bike, let alone for your model ? this is why i think it won't be a thing. But if a quick charger can fully charge the battery on a bike in 30 minutes or so then i see a future for them.
***** It will be decades before the electric infrastructure is anything remotely like the petrol infrastructure. Some of us don't live in big cities, and enjoy riding in remove places. These bikes don't allow that and never will.
Chris Doms never say never, once batteries will be good enough to have a minimum of 200 miles per charge and recharge in less then 30 minutes you can go anywhere a petrol bike can go, some say battery technology like that already exists, but it's sitting quietly in the pockets of big oil
EpiDemic117 you must have a scooter then, motorcycles consume plenty specially because of the way people ride them, they appear to consume less because most people use them a lot less than their car. Also didn't i just say never say never ? gasoline will go away sooner or later and electric system will stay, even if they won't be powered by conventional batteries.
They need to come out with a cruiser and touring model, love the idea, but not the biggest fan of the rice rocket look (which I'm sure lends itself to the aerodynamics)
That seems odd to me - Zero is always very keen to get people to ride these things, because a single test ride is a light bulb moment for most people! I suggest you call the Zero company directly, tell them your local dealer won't arrange a test ride for you and ask what can be done. I suspect a test ride may materialise quite quickly if you do!
gizmag We have demo events which might be what I have to wait for I happened to be at my local dealership today and the guy that sold me my FZ told me that I should go sign up and ride some bikes. Got to ride a GSX S-750 and a GSX-R600 since I only have 2,000 miles of riding under my belt they were moving me up the line. Would have been able to ride the GSX-R750 and then maybe the 1000 if I didn't have to leave. So I'll keep my eyes open for a Zero event as well as doing what you suggested.
Shea Parker It's easily possible with electric cars, so applying it to a bike wouldn't be problem. But it would be purely cosmetic, as in having no impact on performance. Maybe even a negative impact due to added system weight and the short gaps in acceleration while you shift.
Shea Parker I own a FX 5.7. I came to the FX from a Ninja 636 and SV650, on which I loved banging through the gears. After becoming accustomed to the FX I now don't really like banging through the gears as much as I used to - the single-gear experience of the FX is really something. I love the 100% linear acceleration! I sold off the Ninja and am in process of selling the SV because the FX feels so much more advanced and is much more fun. :)
So why DON'T they have fairings? More comfort, better range and top speed - duh! At least a little windscreen like the Kawa Versys. And what price is the DS down to these days?
Zero are to e bikes what Indian and BSA were to gas bikes back in the day. Good on the Zero motorcycle manufacturers! I keep thinking Honda will join the movement but they are still stuck in "concept bike" mentality and have been for years.
chrisbest1000 part 1 is here: www.gizmag.com/nsfw-review-realtouch-sex-toy-for-men/26804/ - or, as it turns out, you can Google "loz sex toy review." Why do I get the feeling this will be my legacy?
"Loz has been one of Gizmag's most versatile contributors since 2007. Joining the team as a motorcycle specialist, he has since covered everything from medical and military technology to aeronautics, music gear and historical artefacts. Since 2010 he's branched out into photography, video and audio production, *and he remains the only Gizmag contributor willing to put his name to a sex toy review*. A singer by night, he's often on the road with his a cappella band Suade." *Tipping my fedora*
Highway 17 was more of a transport section for us, we spent more time out in the hills thrashing these things on twisty roads. The Zero bikes are as safe as any other - as you gain experience you'll probably find yourself looking for challenging pieces of road.
+DaBrute Prices are dropping quickly as the demand goes up. A couple yrs ago these bikes were selling at $25k. A few more yrs and I'm sure the SR will sell for under $10k as battery production/quality go up,up,up.
One thing petrol bikes can do that electric bikes can't do is....... if you run out of gas, get someone to go to a station and fill a canister for you. For the time being anyway
Meanwhile, just park it and charge it every night and you won't have an issue. I'll take charging every night for dirt cheap over stopping at a service station each week.
The other thing of course is that with the right plugs, you can charge your mate's bike from yours. Most chargers simply rectify the AC input. If you feed them DC, they'll happily digest that and charge the bike.
dunno yolo Exhaust sound usually travels backwards behind the bike. If you're approaching someone, they won't hear you at all. Don't rely on loud pipes to save your live. Rely on your own awareness.
But what about tinkering and changing parts and having an affinity for the machine? Electric motorbikes are way down in the uncanny valley for me. No thank you very much.
Most of us probably own't have a support team to drop off a new bike when the battery runs out. The range on these is pathetic, making electric bikes completely pointless for anyone except cafe posers and janky commuters. And the price rules them out for commuters.
Chris Doms Ok, you asked me to :)Purchasing price Zero FX 5.7: 12,300 € - Purchasing price KTM 500 EXC (with only half the torque!): 9,600 €So that's a differenc of 2,700 € for the bike.Fuel cost for 100 km: Zero 9 kWh @0.30 € = 2.70 € Fuel cost for 100 km: KTM 7 liter @ 1.30 € = 9.10 €, ergo that's a delta of 6.40 € in fuel costsFor commuting, let's assume 12,000 km per year - 120 x 6.40 € = 768 € yearly savings in fuel aloneAlso, you need no oil, no cooling fluid, no regular maintenance and pay no taxes with the zero, so it's closer to 900 € in overall running costs you save each year. Times 3, and you get to the price difference.So, after three years, you have a bike that's paid off its purchasing price, has better performance, probably more value as a used vehicle, still doesn't need maintenance save for brakes and tires, and is environmentally sound. Even if the cheaper gas prices overseas impact my calculation, just add one or two years before paying off, and the rest I said still remains valid.Seems like a no-brainer to me ;-)As for the range, yes, the FX is not ideal for touring, but for everyday use it is. And for longer distances, just take a DS or SR and use the ever increasing number of high power recharging station popping up.
Why do people keep pretending that electric vehicles are maintenance free? They still have wheels, suspension, chains/belts and other moving and turning parts. It's also naive to think electric motors in these things are faultless - they just haven't been in production for long enough to know what they'll cost. Moreover, batteries fail over time and are exceedingly expensive to replace, generally costing a substantial proportion of the vehicle's value to replace.
Chris Doms You may notice how I left maintenance mostly out of the equation, so even assuming that electric vehicles are not cheaper in this regard, you would save. This being said, they are. Chains, suspension, brakes, tires, yes. But even my mountainbike has that, so what. Electric vehicles have: no transmission, no clutch, no ignition system (spark plugs, ignition cables), no fuel pump, no exhaust system, no catalytic converter, no timing belts, no cylinder head gaskets that could fail, the list goes on. None of these need replacement with an electric vehicle. By all industry standards, electric motors are virtually maintenance free, and they've been around long enough to be sure by now. The batteries are expensive and the main limiting factor, true, but the progress here is amazing (just compare the range and vmax of a 2012 Zero S with the current model). Also, they are covered by extensive warranties and for four-wheeled EV most manufacturers offer a leasing model wiht permanent guarantee and replacement free of charge should the unit fail. All this being said and being facts, I know my types by now and am pretty sure that you will find a counter argument for everything I just wrote. I'm convinced that time and progress will prove your point wrong, but for now there's probably no way of changing your opinion.
+Fleece “B00ty Warrior” Johnson You're nuts. 170miles will get you around town all day. It's only the trip from LA to SF when you'll need to pull out the gas bike. Price is dropping like a stone every single year. 5yrs or less from now they'll be selling the SR for under $10k as battery prices will get competitive and drop.
I took the FX and the DS out for a test ride around London and the FX in my opinion wins hands down. Riding it in sport mode brought a massive smile to my face :-D , I'll definitely get the FX when they become available in the UK.
These will be ideal urban commuter vehicles. Love the reviews by the way!!
lozz----zero bikes should be paying you . this is better advertising than i've ever seen for them.
p.s. IVE BEEN TO ALICES RESTAURANT!!
i've driven the skyline drive. MAN IS IT NICE. what a great place for a motorcycle ride!
wow.
that is precisely the beautiful sort of place where noisy gas motorcycles are annoying. silence is golden. and real ninja style. amazing
GREAT REVIEW. the problem with your prediction is you said "at some point , they'll be cheaper" it's going to be at least 15 years before that's the case in the west. and probably 30 or more in the east.
if you look at the SLA battery electric bicycle trend in china and compare it with lipo ebikes in the u.s., it is a good business case study for trying to make predictions.
Aha yes, I've been waiting for this video! It fills me with joy when I see electric vehicles get better like this. Like by the time I'd be picking up a new vehicle, how good will they be, aye!?
That part about the fairing, though. 30% addition to your range? That's a hell of a boost. I mean I know they started off with much more dirt bike style bikes so they're probably not big fans of the look of bikes with fairings and such but still.
Yup, I took one one for a test ride in Tulsa and had a blast. Saving up to get one.
Good job on the review. The FX seems to be the most practical for short commutes and some off road fun. With a full battery after a days work, I would have plenty of battery to explore places I normally couldn't with a petrol bike. The 95Nm torque on the FX is really impressive for a 131Kg bike (better than my VFR800 and 100Kg lighter). The videos of people launching the FX into the air from an almost standstill makes me very envious.
wow that rider in front of u sure cross the line during those twisty turns.
Perfect video. Zero should have this on their site. Zero site doesn’t explain the difference will.
Excellent, quality review - as always.
I tested the '14 S and FX. The FX has no problem launching 50-70mph very quickly. He mistated the hp, which is closer to 40hp with the two batt packs. The FX is noticeably quicker around the city due to the much less weight. They really do need to offer a fairing option.
Indeed - I'll put a correction note up. It's about 44hp I think.
Thanks for the video. I'm working on buying a Zero SR.
The 2016 Launch is coming up, so it should be interesting what Zero has in store for us.
+Ali Can Metan, I already bought a Zero SR and put 4000 miles on it. I love it.
I do like the 300 CC bikes, but I'm glade I have a Zero. Designed and made in the USA.
I plan on riding an electric motorcycle in the apocalypse.
I was thinking Brammo Empulse because it has a 7-speed transmission. But that's just more maintenance. I think a Zero would be perfect.
yes to traction control on all electric motorcycles!
The humour is brilliant!
can we get another one of these with the updated models? 2019 fxs , sr, and dsr?
Very nice, but my day rides can be 350 miles with no more than a 30 minute lunch break. I could see these being great commuters.
In a few years with graphene sheet batteries, electric motorcycles could have ranges in excess of 1000 miles per charge, easily.
CockatooDude hope god listen to you
About the range of the Street vs Dual Sport: Rolling resistance and the aerodynamics of a knobby tire takes more energy per mile.
Interesting that the S gets the Sport Demon, a sticker bias ply tire, and the SR gets the Rosso II which is radial. Why not have radial on both? The price difference is a few dollars.
I think that they'll be really good in the future, but they really need to make sure that batteries are removable so that you can put in new ones if they stop working properly (which will happen), and so you can buy new batteries if battery tech improves to increase your range.
I want one ! The range would not be a problem for me because I ride about 100 miles a week to and from work and running around on weekends and if I chose to take a weekend excursion I would plan a trip a hundred miles out and then layover a few hours for charging then return . If I wanted to say go out of state I already own a Kawasaki 600 Eliminator and a Suzuki Intruder 750 both of which are touring bikes .
Good to see a decent review like this. It would have been nice to include Zero's plans for battery development.
And they are NOT zero emissions!! Gordon Bennett! Zero local emissions, yes, zero emissions, no, not unless you charge it completely from your solar panels and / or wind jenny, etc.
3:20 - battery pack of maximum 15,3 kWh. About the equivialent of 2 liters of gasoline.
Had to stop the video starting at 5:20 - 5:30 "So ... maybe do that, then?!" Exactly! I don't know why they don't seem to offer any kind of windscreen whatsoever. Aside from aerodynamic efficiency, just for comfort.
If they had something like my BMW RT's electrically-adjustable on-the-fly windscreen, it would bring me that much closer to selling my RT and getting a Zero S. And if doing so would increase the range to where I could comfortably ride from my home in SF, down to Skyline to Alice's where you were, out 84 to the coast, then back home via Hwy 1, all on one charge with full bags and riding hard - then I'd be all in, right now.
dwc1964 Talking to Zero, they're aware of the efficiency opportunities offered by aerodynamics. As to why they haven't done anything about it yet, I think it's two things - firstly, the company line is that the naked bike style is 'in' right now and they like the tough looks of the bikes they've designed so far. Secondly, perhaps it's something to do with coming from a dirt bike heritage. But they're aware of it, and since range is the #1 concern of most riders, we may yet see a faired Zero.
Thanks for the info - good to know. I'm predisposed to wanting an electric for many reasons. As soon as Zero offers something like their S-class with a full fairing (preferably adjustable on-the-fly) and enough range to handle my favorite Bay Area day-rides, I'm in. To hell with "style" and what's fashionable and "tough", I want comfort and functionality.
dwc1964 Follow what Craig Vetter is doing, he's not too far from you Carmel. He sells a real aero nose fairing. But you have to be open-minded about the looks. I'm building my own.
Vetter's making after-market fairings for the Zero? Cool! When it comes to after-market aerodynamics accessories, he's the man.
These bikes are like silent ninjas..silent ninjas lurking in other people's blindspots, YIKES!
+Joseph K if you need the sound of your bike to avoid accidents then youre not riding correctly.
+TheBlkpeople You obviously don't ride every day. There are tons of distracted drivers on the road. A loud exhaust does get some of these peoples attention which alerts them that a motorcycle is close. I have an MSX125 / Grom. With the stock exhaust I had a few close calls where people start changing lanes without checking properly, because most drivers check for cars and not motorcycles, and I had to swerve out of my lane to avoid being hit. Now with the load exhaust I had a lot less problems because people hear me which makes them look for the bike. Those people who say loud exhausts don't save lives are people who do not ride every day or they do not ride in lots of traffic.
I love my loud exhaust as it gets people to look out for motorcycles.
RidolfC
i ride like 3-4 days a week. Trying to belittle someone does not help the validity of your argument. Youre on a motorcycle you shouldnt expect cars or anyone to do shit. Thats just unsafe for you. Should they pay attention? yes. Are you still dead? yes. You do realize that sound from your bike travels backwards and almost none goes forward. I have a loud exhaust too and its more annoying than useful. People still do stupid shit to me but i try to be prepared for their stupidity.
+TheBlkpeople Lol. Sound travels backwards from your bike? Why? Because your exhaust faces backwards? It really does not work that way. You can stand in the street and let someone ride your bike with the loud exhaust towards you. I promise you that you will hear the bike coming towards you and not when it just passes you.
RidolfC
I didnt say it all travels only backward. It travels mostly backwards. Get in a car driving at 45+ mph and have a bike pass you and you wont hear him until hes next to you. Unless your bike is seriously loud, but it that case its against the law
.
Either way, if youre relying on your sound to save you then you are not a safe rider
i love electric vehicles but worrying about the range and getting home or not kinda takes the fun out of it
This likely won't be a problem in the future, with electric vehicles becoming more and more popular. Charging stations will become as common as petrol stations are at the moment. Not sure how fast you can charge a battery though...maybe some sort of battery swap system will need to be used?
I know, but these bikes exist today.
If battery swap becomes a thing how likely do you think it will become that these "charging stations" will have in stock the one that is right for a bike, let alone for your model ? this is why i think it won't be a thing.
But if a quick charger can fully charge the battery on a bike in 30 minutes or so then i see a future for them.
***** It will be decades before the electric infrastructure is anything remotely like the petrol infrastructure. Some of us don't live in big cities, and enjoy riding in remove places. These bikes don't allow that and never will.
Chris Doms
never say never, once batteries will be good enough to have a minimum of 200 miles per charge and recharge in less then 30 minutes you can go anywhere a petrol bike can go, some say battery technology like that already exists, but it's sitting quietly in the pockets of big oil
EpiDemic117
you must have a scooter then, motorcycles consume plenty specially because of the way people ride them, they appear to consume less because most people use them a lot less than their car.
Also didn't i just say never say never ? gasoline will go away sooner or later and electric system will stay, even if they won't be powered by conventional batteries.
A long range cruiser style should be there next one. maybe they should add a second gear for highway speed.
My understanding is that the small amount of efficiency you gain with a gearbox isn't worth the weight of complexity of putting one in.
Fix The Darn Sound Editing! Level means you don't have to mute it when the music comes on. Thank you
ahhh, I want one so bad. :)
They need to come out with a cruiser and touring model, love the idea, but not the biggest fan of the rice rocket look (which I'm sure lends itself to the aerodynamics)
I want one
I wish I had a zero
To bad test rides are rare in the USA do to insurance costs that dealers incur if they allow it.
at least where I live I haven't found a place that allows test rides.
That seems odd to me - Zero is always very keen to get people to ride these things, because a single test ride is a light bulb moment for most people! I suggest you call the Zero company directly, tell them your local dealer won't arrange a test ride for you and ask what can be done. I suspect a test ride may materialise quite quickly if you do!
gizmag We have demo events which might be what I have to wait for I happened to be at my local dealership today and the guy that sold me my FZ told me that I should go sign up and ride some bikes. Got to ride a GSX S-750 and a GSX-R600 since I only have 2,000 miles of riding under my belt they were moving me up the line. Would have been able to ride the GSX-R750 and then maybe the 1000 if I didn't have to leave. So I'll keep my eyes open for a Zero event as well as doing what you suggested.
Do these have gears?
Shea Parker Nope, not necessary.
Aww that's probably the only reason I wouldn't buy a Zero FX. Do they have the capability to make electric bikes have semi-auto?
Shea Parker It's easily possible with electric cars, so applying it to a bike wouldn't be problem. But it would be purely cosmetic, as in having no impact on performance. Maybe even a negative impact due to added system weight and the short gaps in acceleration while you shift.
Shea Parker I own a FX 5.7. I came to the FX from a Ninja 636 and SV650, on which I loved banging through the gears. After becoming accustomed to the FX I now don't really like banging through the gears as much as I used to - the single-gear experience of the FX is really something. I love the 100% linear acceleration! I sold off the Ninja and am in process of selling the SV because the FX feels so much more advanced and is much more fun. :)
cool
So why DON'T they have fairings? More comfort, better range and top speed - duh!
At least a little windscreen like the Kawa Versys.
And what price is the DS down to these days?
Tony Cook Well they offer a small 'commuter' windscreen. I agree they need to build a real aero fairing that can be added to their street models.
Zero are to e bikes what Indian and BSA were to gas bikes back in the day. Good on the Zero motorcycle manufacturers! I keep thinking Honda will join the movement but they are still stuck in "concept bike" mentality and have been for years.
chrisbest1000 part 1 is here: www.gizmag.com/nsfw-review-realtouch-sex-toy-for-men/26804/ - or, as it turns out, you can Google "loz sex toy review." Why do I get the feeling this will be my legacy?
Because your colleagues made it your legacy when they talk about you. It always is mentioned when they mention you as a writer.
Read it, just curious..Is your man-tube mutilated now?
"Loz has been one of Gizmag's most versatile contributors since 2007. Joining the team as a motorcycle specialist, he has since covered everything from medical and military technology to aeronautics, music gear and historical artefacts. Since 2010 he's branched out into photography, video and audio production, *and he remains the only Gizmag contributor willing to put his name to a sex toy review*. A singer by night, he's often on the road with his a cappella band Suade." *Tipping my fedora*
Man-tube is beaut, thanks. And look, a man can't complain if that's how he makes a living really.
Highway 17 was more of a transport section for us, we spent more time out in the hills thrashing these things on twisty roads. The Zero bikes are as safe as any other - as you gain experience you'll probably find yourself looking for challenging pieces of road.
Sweet jesus... Come on, I want drivability and 0-60's ya schmell me
Man i love the SR but its just too damn expensive
+DaBrute Prices are dropping quickly as the demand goes up. A couple yrs ago these bikes were selling at $25k. A few more yrs and I'm sure the SR will sell for under $10k as battery production/quality go up,up,up.
mmm.I think my KTM 620 Duke would scare those things into submission..pretty sure on that...actually no contest
One thing petrol bikes can do that electric bikes can't do is.......
if you run out of gas, get someone to go to a station and fill a canister for you.
For the time being anyway
Meanwhile, just park it and charge it every night and you won't have an issue. I'll take charging every night for dirt cheap over stopping at a service station each week.
The other thing of course is that with the right plugs, you can charge your mate's bike from yours. Most chargers simply rectify the AC input. If you feed them DC, they'll happily digest that and charge the bike.
Electric motors, man. So good.
Electric bikes are soooo good. However, until we gain the infrastructure to support them, they are still gonna be inferior to petrol powered bikes.
I see you're not as gentle with the ladies as with the bikes.
You took around the lady but did not open the door for her...
TPYXIDIS I need good strong woman, she must demonstrate she can open own doors.
+gizmag Welcome, I have Thai lady for you so you don't need to do a shit other than ride her
Hahaha you're crazy! I'll drop you a line if I'm heading to Thailand.
+gizmag facebook.com/frodeface
to much 50 shades for you.
but being quiet means bigger chance of people not hearing you coming and add more danger.
dunno yolo Exhaust sound usually travels backwards behind the bike. If you're approaching someone, they won't hear you at all. Don't rely on loud pipes to save your live. Rely on your own awareness.
But what about tinkering and changing parts and having an affinity for the machine? Electric motorbikes are way down in the uncanny valley for me. No thank you very much.
+Theodore Woodford no worries, there's people who still like steam engines and horses. Our children will view combustion engines the same way.
Most of us probably own't have a support team to drop off a new bike when the battery runs out. The range on these is pathetic, making electric bikes completely pointless for anyone except cafe posers and janky commuters. And the price rules them out for commuters.
Chris Doms They save a lot on gas, so after a year or two the higher price will be offset.
Do the maths - it takes A LOT of saved fuel to make up the difference. And that still doesn't help the #1 issue, range.
Chris Doms Ok, you asked me to :)Purchasing price Zero FX 5.7: 12,300 € - Purchasing price KTM 500 EXC (with only half the torque!): 9,600 €So that's a differenc of 2,700 € for the bike.Fuel cost for 100 km: Zero 9 kWh @0.30 € = 2.70 € Fuel cost for 100 km: KTM 7 liter @ 1.30 € = 9.10 €, ergo that's a delta of 6.40 € in fuel costsFor commuting, let's assume 12,000 km per year - 120 x 6.40 € = 768 € yearly savings in fuel aloneAlso, you need no oil, no cooling fluid, no regular maintenance and pay no taxes with the zero, so it's closer to 900 € in overall running costs you save each year. Times 3, and you get to the price difference.So, after three years, you have a bike that's paid off its purchasing price, has better performance, probably more value as a used vehicle, still doesn't need maintenance save for brakes and tires, and is environmentally sound. Even if the cheaper gas prices overseas impact my calculation, just add
one or two years before paying off, and the rest I said still remains
valid.Seems like a no-brainer to me ;-)As for the range, yes, the FX is not ideal for touring, but for everyday use it is. And for longer distances, just take a DS or SR and use the ever increasing number of high power recharging station popping up.
Why do people keep pretending that electric vehicles are maintenance free? They still have wheels, suspension, chains/belts and other moving and turning parts. It's also naive to think electric motors in these things are faultless - they just haven't been in production for long enough to know what they'll cost.
Moreover, batteries fail over time and are exceedingly expensive to replace, generally costing a substantial proportion of the vehicle's value to replace.
Chris Doms
You may notice how I left maintenance mostly out of the equation, so even assuming that electric vehicles are not cheaper in this regard, you would save. This being said, they are. Chains, suspension, brakes, tires, yes. But even my mountainbike has that, so what. Electric vehicles have: no transmission, no clutch, no ignition system (spark plugs, ignition cables), no fuel pump, no exhaust system, no catalytic converter, no timing belts, no cylinder head gaskets that could fail, the list goes on. None of these need replacement with an electric vehicle. By all industry standards, electric motors are virtually maintenance free, and they've been around long enough to be sure by now. The batteries are expensive and the main limiting factor, true, but the progress here is amazing (just compare the range and vmax of a 2012 Zero S with the current model). Also, they are covered by extensive warranties and for four-wheeled EV most manufacturers offer a leasing model wiht permanent guarantee and replacement free of charge should the unit fail.
All this being said and being facts, I know my types by now and am pretty sure that you will find a counter argument for everything I just wrote. I'm convinced that time and progress will prove your point wrong, but for now there's probably no way of changing your opinion.
Still overpriced and under-ranged.
+Fleece “B00ty Warrior” Johnson What should they cost then?
+Fleece “B00ty Warrior” Johnson You're nuts. 170miles will get you around town all day. It's only the trip from LA to SF when you'll need to pull out the gas bike. Price is dropping like a stone every single year. 5yrs or less from now they'll be selling the SR for under $10k as battery prices will get competitive and drop.
Martin Sage man I hope your right because I want one.