electrifying test ride

[the Ferret]

Have wanted to test ride one of these for a couple of years. Today I got the opportunity.

[url=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/theferret111/media/Zero_zpsa8mdedtf.jpg.html]

[Cbgaz_imp]

What did you think ?

[the Ferret]

well, it was strange and cool at the same time. The dealer rolled it out and turned the key and said "OK, it's running". I looked at it like what's running? There was no noise. There was no vibrations. It was just sitting there totally silent. seemingly dead to the world. He explained the two modes..eco and sport. Suggested I ride a loop of their test route in eco to get used to it. Then run a second loop in sport. No clutch, no gears, belt drive. Twist the right grip and it silently moves out. Brakes are in the normal places. First stop sign I come to I squeeze the brakes, it comes to a stop, and I thought "it died". I mean there is no sensation that the thing is alive. There is no tachometer. Just silence. I twisted the grip and it took off again. I go several blocks, and slow to turn right and notice there is no compression braking, so use the brakes, signal my turn (all switches are normal like ours) make the turn, cancel the t/s, then give it some gas. Throttle response is instantaneous. Woosh, and I watch the big digital speedo climb. Pretty soon another stop sign. Now used to the dying feeling, it doesn't freak me out anymore lol. Twist the throttle again and woosh jetting right along. After a few more miles and a few more turns I am back at the shop. He is waiting outside. "Whatcha think?" I tell him. He says "ok take another loop in sport mode and really give the gas when you get up around the corner...and hold on". So I push the button to put it in the sport mode, take off, go up around the corner and hammer it. Wholey moley, this thing accelerates very quickly, very quickly. Pretty soon I am back at the shop again.

We stand there and talk about the bike awhile. I told him it was realy cool, and that I had a great time, although the suspension was jarring. He answered all my questions. Battery life is 400,000 miles. It would take a whole day to change out a battery pack, but he has been a Zero dealer since 2012 and hasn't had to do that yet. He asked if it was something I would buy. I said at $6K we would probably be talking. At $15K no chance.

For me the limited range would be the buggaboo. It has a range of 100 miles at low speeds. It was 160 miles round trip for me to go test ride it.lol

If you ever get an opportunity to test ride one, it is something you should jump at the opportunity to do , if nothing else for the experience. I'm afraid some day, maybe when my son is my age, it's going to be the only thing available I'm afraid, and it won't be so bad after all. Riding is still riding and it beats being inside a Prius.

[emptysea]

Never thought about the inability to downshift to slow the bike. More brake into the turn and trail braking seems like musts if you're trying to get around a curve quick like, right?

[redbirds_imp]

Not enough battery power for any of my normal rides. I'm not interested at any price.

[Cormanus]

The train of electrically powered, self driving vehicles is gathering momentum. I have no real fear of the electric bit as the problem of distance will be sorted before they become too popular. It's the self-driving bit that scares me. I fear I'll live long enough to see it!

[Retsel_imp]

The train of electrically powered, self driving vehicles is gathering momentum. I have no real fear of the electric bit as the problem of distance will be sorted before they become too popular. It's the self-driving bit that scares me. I fear I'll live long enough to see it!

In a lot of cases I would rather have an intelligent car driving instead of some of the brainless I see behind the wheel! Just yesterday I was cut off, at a busy intersection, by a young women staring at her cell phone and not seeing what was going on around her. As far as the electric bike, great write up Ferret! I assume we will reach the point where a hybrid bike will be feasible providing range while eliminating the long charge cycles. I'm still a young 66 and plan to be around to see it! I gots to test drive one of those electrics. There is one in town and it is supper quite! I think I'd put playing cards in the spokes just so people will know I'm coming!

Sent from my SM-T710 using Tapatalk

[Wisedrum]

well, it was strange and cool at the same time. The dealer rolled it out and turned the key and said "OK, it's running". I looked at it like what's running? There was no noise. There was no vibrations. It was just sitting there totally silent. seemingly dead to the world. He explained the two modes..eco and sport. Suggested I ride a loop of their test route in eco to get used to it. Then run a second loop in sport. No clutch, no gears, belt drive. Twist the right grip and it silently moves out. Brakes are in the normal places. First stop sign I come to I squeeze the brakes, it comes to a stop, and I thought "it died". I mean there is no sensation that the thing is alive. There is no tachometer. Just silence. I twisted the grip and it took off again. I go several blocks, and slow to turn right and notice there is no compression braking, so use the brakes, signal my turn (all switches are normal like ours) make the turn, cancel the t/s, then give it some gas. Throttle response is instantaneous. Woosh, and I watch the big digital speedo climb. Pretty soon another stop sign. Now used to the dying feeling, it doesn't freak me out anymore lol. Twist the throttle again and woosh jetting right along. After a few more miles and a few more turns I am back at the shop. He is waiting outside. "Whatcha think?" I tell him. He says "ok take another loop in sport mode and really give the gas when you get up around the corner...and hold on". So I push the button to put it in the sport mode, take off, go up around the corner and hammer it. Wholey moley, this thing accelerates very quickly, very quickly. Pretty soon I am back at the shop again.

We stand there and talk about the bike awhile. I told him it was realy cool, and that I had a great time, although the suspension was jarring. He answered all my questions. Battery life is 400,000 miles. It would take a whole day to change out a battery pack, but he has been a Zero dealer since 2012 and hasn't had to do that yet. He asked if it was something I would buy. I said at $6K we would probably be talking. At $15K no chance.

For me the limited range would be the buggaboo. It has a range of 100 miles at low speeds. It was 160 miles round trip for me to go test ride it.lol

If you ever get an opportunity to test ride one, it is something you should jump at the opportunity to do , if nothing else for the experience. I'm afraid some day, maybe when my son is my age, it's going to be the only thing available I'm afraid, and it won't be so bad after all. Riding is still riding and it beats being inside a Prius.

Nothing can beat a ride inside a Prius, only another ride in a Prius.
I know what I'm writing about, about a car in a class of its own.
I own one. As a hybrid it's not limited in range and can drive unlimited miles,
so it will be miles ahead.

But who ever wants to compare a motorbilke to a car......

Wisedrum

[Cormanus]

I've said on this forum before that, when the so-called intelligent car (or driverless vehicle) becomes seriously operational, it will be be the end of human drivers. These computers'll be so good compared to their human counterparts that we'll be a liability and will no longer be allowed on the road. Particularly in cities. In that scenario, it is hard to see that motorcycles will be allowed either. We'll just have to hope that us tragics who want to drive ourselves will have space set aside for us to do so.

Make the most of it fellas.

[4 Paws_imp]

I'd love to have an electric bike as a grocery getter or to commute to and from work - if I still worked. Don't know why but the idea appeals to me. Price and range anxiety will keep me from ever seriously considering one. Found a small company in WV that manufactures a variety to small electric bikes, hope to visit on a nice sunny day when the CB points in their direction.