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The Electric Motorcycle Thread

The Power Tank ruins the weight balance of the Zero platforms, they're otherwise great-handling. The Energicas Ego weighs 630 lbs.
 
dittoalex said:
The Power Tank ruins the weight balance of the Zero platforms, they're otherwise great-handling. The Energicas Ego weighs 630 lbs.
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Before I purchased my Zero SR with Power Tank, I was a bit concerned that it would feel top heavy. But I don't notice it at all and it seems like a light bike as I ride.

But OTOH, I mostly ride like a little old lady.

And I also enjoy the heavier feel of the Energica.

I normally take the Zeros for around town stuff as well as riding around the foothills around Auburn. I often take full day rides on my SR without a recharge.

I prefer the Energica for the freeways in areas that have charge stations. I usually take it between here and Auburn. CCS fast DC charging stations around every 20 miles or so. I normally get one charge on the way, near the mid point. Sometimes I take Hwy 20 now that they also have a CCS station in Grass Valley. But I only use it when going east (uphill) and then charge again in Kingvale. I usually take a few side trips off of Hwy 20 on the way here.

-Don- Reno, NV
 
Is it possible to go from LA to SF with DC Fast Charging right now? When I look at PlugShare and select CCS chargers.. I see some fairly large gaps on 5 and 101.

I know some people have done it but are they utilizing level 2 for some portions or just really nailing efficiency between charges?

Edit: Answered my own question, reading this blog post of an Energica rider. Looks like 99 is your best option https://www.electric.motorcycles/po...nd-got-an-energica-ss9-then-i-went-for-a-ride

Also, I'm very surprised by the lack of DC fast charging on 5 and 101.
 
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You'd be insane to buy a Zero SR unless you're sport riding it. SR/F for commute.
 
mrzuzzo said:
Yeah I'm not sure why anyone would buy an SR over the SR/F today..
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That's true the SR/F outclasses the SR in pretty much every aspect but the SR has been around for a while so there's a good used market for it. If buying new I would get the SR/F over SR simply because it has an onboard charger with a J1772 outlet. I think that's where they missed the boat with their other bikes because there are tons of charging stations out there, I guess you could always upgrade the bike but the SR/F comes with it stock.
 
HadesOmega said:
That's true the SR/F outclasses the SR in pretty much every aspect but the SR has been around for a while so there's a good used market for it. If buying new I would get the SR/F over SR simply because it has an onboard charger with a J1772 outlet. I think that's where they missed the boat with their other bikes because there are tons of charging stations out there, I guess you could always upgrade the bike but the SR/F comes with it stock.
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You probably know, but for those who do know know, a Zero S/SR/DS/DSR may have a factory accessory "Charge Tank" installed that includes 3 Kw or 6 Kw Charger with the standard public J1772 socket.

My bike has a 6 Kw aftermarket Diginow charger with J1772 socket.

DC fast charging is the bees knees because the "charger" is not on the motorcycle its at the station, but its harder to find today as mentioned.
 
295566 said:
Unfortunately then you're looking at a $19k bike, before taxes/title/license. That's a LOT for a commuter bike which will be (technologically) irrelevant in a few years, which leads to massive depreciation.
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I could not care less about deprecation as I never sell motor vehicles. I keep them until they are pure junk that nobody wants.

I purchased my 1971 BMW R75/5 new in May of 1971. I expect it will last longer than I will.


-Don- Reno, NV
 
mrzuzzo said:
Yeah I'm not sure why anyone would buy an SR over the SR/F today..
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There have been people who went to test ride the SR/F and the plain SR and and decided on the plain SR.

I recall one person in the electric motorcycle forum who did exactly that.

I found the SR/F to be very uncomfortable compared to the SR. I test rode it as well as the Energica and my list of bikes below shows which I decided on, despite the hassles for me to buy such, living far from the nearest dealer.

-Don- Reno, NV
 
ENERGICA!

[YOUTUBE]GmXdb0qlV2A[/YOUTUBE]
 
Killroy1999 said:
You probably know, but for those who do know know, a Zero S/SR/DS/DSR may have a factory accessory "Charge Tank" installed that includes 3 Kw or 6 Kw Charger with the standard public J1772 socket.

My bike has a 6 Kw aftermarket Diginow charger with J1772 socket.

DC fast charging is the bees knees because the "charger" is not on the motorcycle its at the station, but its harder to find today as mentioned.
Click to expand...

Can I just say the Zero website does a horrible job explaining Charge Tank vs Power Tank or whatever. They don't explain much when doing the build and the breakdown of them on their motorcycles isn't very informative for those not in the know.
 
Just in case you guys don't know Brammo was developing the Brammo Engage a 6 speed electric dirtbike. I still believe gearboxes have their place on an electric motorcycle particularly dirt bikes.

[YOUTUBE]OvqbO-LTlyE[/YOUTUBE]

[YOUTUBE]DAt8XSmGC1Y[/YOUTUBE]

[YOUTUBE]sAlHpT-KHxk[/YOUTUBE]

[YOUTUBE]U8fy5_5X3vA[/YOUTUBE]
 
MikeL said:
Can I just say the Zero website does a horrible job explaining Charge Tank vs Power Tank or whatever. They don't explain much when doing the build and the breakdown of them on their motorcycles isn't very informative for those not in the know.
Click to expand...

Charging is the most complicated thing about EVs. Its next to horrible - so many plugs, charge rates, AC vs DC, public networks, expensive adapters.
 
MikeL said:
Can I just say the Zero website does a horrible job explaining Charge Tank vs Power Tank or whatever. They don't explain much when doing the build and the breakdown of them on their motorcycles isn't very informative for those not in the know.
Click to expand...
At places that sell Zeros, you can get a free pamphlet that explains it a bit better.

The Charge Tank is for faster on-board Level Two charging on some models.

The Power Tank is an extra battery for increased range on some models.

We must choose one or the other or none. Cannot have both. Both take up the same space on the bike, under the phony gas tank cover.

If none is chosen, you get more storage space. Also true if you get a half sized battery such as my Zero DS ZF 6.5.

No extra space in my SR, as it has the power tank and a full size battery for the longest range electric motorcycle of year 2017. 13.0 KWH main battery and a 3.3 KWH "power tank" for a total of 16.3 KWH. BTW, Zero cheats by using max capacity, unlike Energica which uses usable capacity. Nobody should get tricked by Zero's ratings that make their battery seem larger when it may not be, when compared to other makes. It usually makes about a 1.6KWH difference on the larger batteries. So a 11.7 KWH battery from Energica will equal a 13.3 KWH battery from Zero.

-Don- Reno, NV
 
HadesOmega said:
Just in case you guys don't know Brammo was developing the Brammo Engage a 6 speed electric dirtbike. I still believe gearboxes have their place on an electric motorcycle particularly dirt bikes.

[YOUTUBE]OvqbO-LTlyE[/YOUTUBE

[YOUTUBE]DAt8XSmGC1Y[/YOUTUBE

[YOUTUBE]sAlHpT-KHxk[/YOUTUBE

[YOUTUBE]U8fy5_5X3vA[/YOUTUBE
Click to expand...

I can't access youtube from work but everything I see when I search was from 2011-2012. Nothing past then.
 
Yeah that's because Brammo sold their motorcycle assets to Polaris/Victory then Victory shortly went out of business.
 
Nah it was a once upon a time kinda post.

Anyway check these electric bikes out
https://www.motorcyclenews.com/news...Y5Q32RGODft9l5mE641Yef6hiM32gPxdkHk9PXvHeMAJQ

The Arc Vector looks sick, it's got a double swing arms!
arc_vector.jpg
 
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