Thread: Zero S review
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Old 04-23-2009, 12:09 PM   #1
shikataganai
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Member#: 92634
Join Date: Aug 2005
Chapter/Region: RMIC
Default Zero S review

first review that i've seen of the Zero S. video at the link. the author is an OTter, too! (he posts in the motorcycle thread.)

http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/23/e...le-with-video/





$10,000 USD. available for purchase. curb weight of 225 lbs, 80 lbs of which is lithium. 31 hp but 62.5 ft.-lbs. of torque at 0 rpm. top speed limited to 60 mph. 60 mile max range.

Quote:
Originally Posted by the review
By far the biggest drawback of this bike is its cost. At just shy of $10,000 it's nearly $4,000 more than a comparable 250cc supermoto, and while $.40 fill-ups from any 110 or 220 volt outlet sounds fantastic, given the 70+ mpg figures from the gas-powered competition in this class you'd have to drive hundreds of thousands of miles to make up the difference. Factor in reduced maintenance costs (no oil to change, coolant to flush, carbs to clean, valves to adjust, etc.) and that horizon gets a little closer, but the decision to buy one of these right now is not going to be based on economics.

You'll have to be the sort who wants to change the planet, be on the cutting edge of the future of transportation, or simply ride something that's different. Most of all you'll have to not want to go anywhere further than 60 miles round-trip, because that's as far you're going to get on a charge. Given the skinny, moto-style seat here you probably wouldn't want to sit on it for much longer than that anyhow.

It's a great bike, a real bike, and while it has more than a few shortcomings and a price that places it well into the "want" category and far from the "need," it's hugely fun to ride and, given that it makes no noise, legal to take to places where noise regulations would otherwise prohibit. Oh, and did we mention it's good for the environment? Yeah, that too.
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