Was Thinking about a Zero. Anybody seen one?

I still have my 2009 Kawi Concours14 but my commute is not so far anymore.

I was thinking about trading my Concours for a Drz400 or something similar.

Then I did some reading about the Zero Electric dirt bikes. I like the concept of almost no maintenance. Just brake pads, chain lube and charge. (I could charge it at work)

I sold all my race bikes as my job change caused me to be broke... My concours doesn't get used much and it is not so easy to get in and out of the shed.

What are you all's thoughts?

 

My buddy used to work for ZERO and got me in for a test ride / demo day type thing. I rode the FX model and my riding experience is 95% dirt bikes with a little street riding, currently on an 08 CRF450R. It honestly surprised me with how quick it is and enough torque to pull the front wheel up with minimal effort. Rode smooth but it was weird to get used to no clutch, no gears, and being totally silent. Definitely a fun bike and it felt light and narrow while riding which I really liked. Felt safe and stable on the freeway and was easy to throw around into the corners. I tested it up in the Santa Cruz mountains in CA.

As mentioned maitenance is almost non existant but make sure from work you have the resources to charge the thing. If I remember it takes a while to charge and the range was maybe 50 miles. Its easy to get on it hard and put it in the "fast" mode or whatever they call it which burns through your battery.

My buddy has a drz400SM with a few mods to it. With the FCR carb mod it would be way more fun, but a stock drz isn't as fun of a bike with how sluggish it is. You can really feel the weight of the DRZ as well.

 

Crazy I was just telling my brother in law about them yesterday. I've got too far a commute but if it was local I would buy one. All torque and no power band. I think they are cool as hell.

 

By the way what size is the shed I'm about to build a mini barn to potentially store some bikes

 

Yeah the power just goes, it's not a curve it's linear so it just keeps pulling

 

I currently have a 2003 drz 400 street legal. Having a dirtbike on the street is a blast and so much fun to ride. Mine is mainly stock did the air box mod and had a pipe on it till it broke. These bikes have potential even being stock it's a fun bike and not nearly as sluggish as said previously it's just not as snappy as the new 450s. I can get up to about 90 on the freeway and doesn't take long to get it there. But the zero sounds way nicer with the whole zero maintenance because I hate maintenance work on a bike. Depends on your needs. I don't see the zero being a very good or fun freeway bike as its probably too light to enjoy because you'll get thrown around by the wind.

 

@sladesdaddy1022 you hatin' on my review bro!

Even a stock DRZ is fast, I meant it's a bit more sluggish as in the low end, if you try and put the hammer down it bogs out. Or maybe my buddies bike was just having some issues haha. Good point on the wind issue, hadn't thought of that as I was in the mountains and there wasn't a side wind.

 

Haha naw bro just saying as stated above. Mine is stock except for a 4 gallon tank and new handle bars. That's it. You throw a pipe and reset it it makes it alot more torquey. Also if I hammer down 5th gear pinned if I hit the fastest it will go on the freeway then it bogs on me but that's it. I just don't want him thinking the drz is slow cuz depending on order it's got plenty of speed but not a shit ton of top end and yes low end is pretty boring but I don't stay there very long lmfao I out of 3rd gear within 5 seconss

 

Its a 14x20 but its got alot in it. My concours is huge. I love it but its a pain to squeeze in

 

The little bike would be for short trips around town. I dont tour much any more and my touring bike is kinda useless to zip 4 miles down the street and park.

 

I've been looking online. Here in Louisiana i can't even find one.

New, they start at just over 10k$ found some brand new 2012's for around 8k$

But for half that i could get a decent used equivalent gas bike with parts already on it...

I really like the idea of quietly making my 5 or so mile one way trip to work. Then plugging it in at work!
And i am obsessed with the idea of a darn near maintenance free little bike. They seem reliable, easy to own, easy store/transport, good tax breaks and all.

But electric cars/bikes have not caught on in the south.

 

I have a buddy who has one for commuting to and from work and he LOVES it. He's put 50K miles on it in the last few years with ZERO problems.