Zero Motorcycles has updated their lineup for 2016, and this year they’re doing more than just adding battery range.
Every year, Zero’s electric motorcycles gain a bit more range, due to improvements in battery technology. That’s the case again this year; their batteries supposedly have about four per cent greater capacity now, due to improvements in their chemistry. As a result, maximum in-city range for their battery bikes with the 13 kWh battery pack has improved to almost 320 km (electric motorcycles with regenerative braking get better range in stop-and-go traffic). They’re also claiming over 150 km of highway range at 110 kph.
Extended range isn’t the only upgrade the lineup gets. All of Zero’s machines except the FX lineup get a new motor this year with improved cooling; apparently, the previous motor would sometimes overheat if pushed at high speed for extended periods of time. That issue has been addressed in the new design.
Zero has also added two new models to their lineup. There’s an upgraded dual-sport bike, the DSR. Essentially, this is the same bike as the DS model, but with the added torque and horsepower of the SR’s powertrain. There’s also a supermoto version of their FX dirt bike, the FXS. The FXS is the real deal, with 17-inch wheels and Pirelli Diablo Rosso tires, as well as suspension configured for su-mo action.
You can find more information on Zero’s lineup at their website here.
GALLERY
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I would love to have one of these bikes, but the price! On their website they have a handy graph suggesting the electric bike is cheaper in the long run, except the graph has no time scale. Having done my own calculations in a desperate attempt to justify buying one, I found it only gets close if you pay top dollar shop rate for every little thing that needs maintenance on the gas bike, and assume the zero needs none. So not very realistic.
Good stuff – now just knock the MSRP in about half and let’s talk.