My brother just bought a 2020 Zero S

[GoldOxide_imp]

actually if you read the" What to expect" summary in the link I provided, it reads very similar to my review. They just said it in bullet point form.

The lack of tactile and acoustical cues is quite disconcerting at first. Nothing you won't get used to, but very strange after riding petrol bikes for more than a half century.

Anything else must be better than the disengagement of a typical scooter CVT when decelerating - hoping anyway.

[Gone in 60]

Reading this, and was out doing chores on Saturday. There is a bespoke Zero showroom here in Orange CA, and from what I've read, it was the first one that Zero has set up. It's across the street from Home Depot, so I stopped in to check them out. The S was "on sale" for $11k. It looks perfect for my M-F commute of 25 miles round trip. I asked if it could make it to West L.A. for my weekend gig, where I ride about 55 miles one way, and may only stay for about four hours. For that distance and charge time, he said I'd need the upgraded S, which had a bigger battery and motor, and ability to charge from a quick charging station like a car. It had a standard electric car charging port. That model was $18k.

If I wasn't concerned about the price, I wouldn't have a problem buying one. It looks well made, is built in California, and it would seemingly eliminate most maintenance. Just tires and brake fluid, really. But for $18k, man, just not ready for that.

While I was noodling, another guy came in and asked for a test ride. I stood around and watched the salesman give him the rundown, and send him off in the parking lot. A slight whir as it rode away, but nothing else. I joked with the salesman that it would be perfect for a burglar... slinking around a neighborhood at night without a sound. He said "That's why the police love them. Come take a look" - he showed me a demo bike set up as a police bike, with lights and storage boxes. He said that the Santa Monica PD had purchased a fleet of them, and they have more departments interested.

I'll probably go back and test ride one, but until the price comes down...

[GoldOxide_imp]

Zero always had the right intention. But price and range anxiety continue to be impediments for the masses.