Zero in Australia
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From: ross_w on 20 Jul 2010 18:39 On Jul 20, 2:09 pm, VTR250 <goo...(a)m-streeter.demon.co.uk> wrote: > Last time I checked (a few months ago) Zero were not shipping outside > the US. Now it looks like they're AU$13,590 on the road in > Australia... and you can book a test ride. > > http://www.zeromotorcycles.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&.... > > I have put in for a test ride. My commute is 35km each way with a 90 km/hr zone in the middle. Methinks I wouldn't make it home again, so close but no banana as far as my needs are concerned. I'll stick to the Breva.
From: VTR250 on 20 Jul 2010 18:45 On Jul 20, 6:00 pm, theo <theodo...(a)bigpond.com.au> wrote: > On Jul 20, 12:33 pm, Zebee Johnstone <zeb...(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > > > > In aus.motorcycles on Mon, 19 Jul 2010 21:09:13 -0700 (PDT) > > > VTR250 <goo...(a)m-streeter.demon.co.uk> wrote: > > > Last time I checked (a few months ago) Zero were not shipping outside > > > the US. Now it looks like they're AU$13,590 on the road in > > > Australia... and you can book a test ride. > > > >http://www.zeromotorcycles.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&... > > > > I have put in for a test ride. > > > 13 grand for a 100kmh bike with 80km range and 4 hour charge. > > > It's probably the best that can be done with current tech, and it does > > sound very appealing for a commuter except... luggage! > > > Would it kill them to maybe add some small panniers? Something to put > > your lunch and a jumper in? Never mind the milk... > > There was a stand at last year's Perth Motorcycle show with electric > bikes and scooters. They were called Sustainable Transport Company, I > had a quick look but they were quite expensive and not enough range > for me to get to town and back. Other than that I remember little > about them. Found this on the nethttp://www.nope.com.au/where-to-buy/ > 0429 880 004 Email t...(a)freeriderstc.com.au, and no, it's not me. > Ah, here it ishttp://www.nope.com.au/products/electric-scooters/nope-j50-neo/ > . Looks like a city scooter, 50km/h 50km range AU$3250 ride away > price. > > Theo I rejected Zero last time I looked at them (in 2009) but the 2010 range has moved on a bit and I'm starting to wonder now. The main drawback of owning one is having to hire a Duke for the weekend to make it to Unagural or PI. I do about 70km per day and 17,000 km per year, all weather. Out of each 34 km commute, nearly 30 km is at 100kph which is basically the top speed and most of the rest is at 80kph. On paper, it can deliver exactly what I need. The question I have is: how long will this thing last? Part of me says 'go for it' and part of me is thinking 'don't buy one of the first 50,000 units'.
From: Fraser Johnston on 21 Jul 2010 22:02 "VTR250" <google(a)m-streeter.demon.co.uk> wrote in message news:5f31f2e1-889e-48ea-8a8c-939de933560a(a)n19g2000prf.googlegroups.com... I rejected Zero last time I looked at them (in 2009) but the 2010 range has moved on a bit and I'm starting to wonder now. The main drawback of owning one is having to hire a Duke for the weekend to make it to Unagural or PI. I do about 70km per day and 17,000 km per year, all weather. Out of each 34 km commute, nearly 30 km is at 100kph which is basically the top speed and most of the rest is at 80kph. On paper, it can deliver exactly what I need. The question I have is: how long will this thing last? Part of me says 'go for it' and part of me is thinking 'don't buy one of the first 50,000 units'. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Personally I would go for a safety margin of at least 20% more than the top speed zone I was going to ride in. My VTR 250 was about the minimum I would ride now. Sometimes being able to keep the dickheads behind you is the safest way to ride. Fraser
From: VTR250 on 21 Jul 2010 23:25 On Jul 22, 12:02 pm, "Fraser Johnston" <ftr...(a)iinet.net.au> wrote: > "VTR250" <goo...(a)m-streeter.demon.co.uk> wrote in message > > news:5f31f2e1-889e-48ea-8a8c-939de933560a(a)n19g2000prf.googlegroups.com... > > I rejected Zero last time I looked at them (in 2009) but the 2010 > range has moved on a bit and I'm starting to wonder now. The main > drawback of owning one is having to hire a Duke for the weekend to > make it to Unagural or PI. > > I do about 70km per day and 17,000 km per year, all weather. Out of > each 34 km commute, nearly 30 km is at 100kph which is basically the > top speed and most of the rest is at 80kph. On paper, it can deliver > exactly what I need. The question I have is: how long will this thing > last? Part of me says 'go for it' and part of me is thinking 'don't > buy one of the first 50,000 units'. > > ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ > > Personally I would go for a safety margin of at least 20% more than the top > speed zone I was going to ride in. My VTR 250 was about the minimum I would > ride now. Sometimes being able to keep the dickheads behind you is the safest > way to ride. > > Fraser Good point - I am concerned that the top speed is too close to the limit. One question I will be asking is if this is the advertised top speed, what will its top speed be after a year? My idea of a nightmare is grinding along at 90 kph when all the other traffic wants to do 100+. I will need to have a look at one; it's not a petrol engine so I'm led to believe performance at the top end is totally unlike what you would expect from a petrol engine i.e. the time to accelerate from 90 to 100 is quite short (?) I think it can get the front wheel off the ground at 70?? The torque does not reduce significantly with speed - something to do with the internal workings - this may be completely wrong. If that's the case the 105kph limit might be due to the OBC. I will put something in the forum if it's anything to write home about.
From: ross_w on 22 Jul 2010 01:28
On Jul 22, 1:25 pm, VTR250 <goo...(a)m-streeter.demon.co.uk> wrote: > On Jul 22, 12:02 pm, "Fraser Johnston" <ftr...(a)iinet.net.au> wrote: > > > > > "VTR250" <goo...(a)m-streeter.demon.co.uk> wrote in message > > >news:5f31f2e1-889e-48ea-8a8c-939de933560a(a)n19g2000prf.googlegroups.com.... > > > I rejected Zero last time I looked at them (in 2009) but the 2010 > > range has moved on a bit and I'm starting to wonder now. The main > > drawback of owning one is having to hire a Duke for the weekend to > > make it to Unagural or PI. > > > I do about 70km per day and 17,000 km per year, all weather. Out of > > each 34 km commute, nearly 30 km is at 100kph which is basically the > > top speed and most of the rest is at 80kph. On paper, it can deliver > > exactly what I need. The question I have is: how long will this thing > > last? Part of me says 'go for it' and part of me is thinking 'don't > > buy one of the first 50,000 units'. > > > ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ > > > Personally I would go for a safety margin of at least 20% more than the top > > speed zone I was going to ride in. My VTR 250 was about the minimum I would > > ride now. Sometimes being able to keep the dickheads behind you is the safest > > way to ride. > > > Fraser > > Good point - I am concerned that the top speed is too close to the > limit. One question I will be asking is if this is the advertised top > speed, what will its top speed be after a year? My idea of a > nightmare is grinding along at 90 kph when all the other traffic wants > to do 100+. I will need to have a look at one; it's not a petrol > engine so I'm led to believe performance at the top end is totally > unlike what you would expect from a petrol engine i.e. the time to > accelerate from 90 to 100 is quite short (?) I think it can get the > front wheel off the ground at 70?? The torque does not reduce > significantly with speed - something to do with the internal workings > - this may be completely wrong. If that's the case the 105kph limit > might be due to the OBC. > > I will put something in the forum if it's anything to write home > about. Actually the maximum torque of an electric motor is at zero rpm. That's why they don't need a gearbox, and the peak kW output is not directly comparable with a petrol engine. An electric motor that seems modest on paper will still give good acceleration from standstill. The torque curve after that depends on the type of motor and I'm not really sure. There is another reason why the margin between top speed and your required speed is important. You don't think they worked out that 80km maximum range at top speed in a headwind with the lights on do you? If your commute is 70km a day, running at maximum part of the way means you might not get home unless you've got somewhere to plug it in at work. Then of course after a couple of years when the battery is no longer fresh... I think these are still toys for now, but they'll suit someone with modest needs who might otherwise consider a 125, but then such people will have a budget of around $10,000 less. |