ElectricMotorcycleForum.com
Makes And Models => Zero Motorcycles Forum | 2013+ => Topic started by: NetPro on June 28, 2019, 08:52:04 PM
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Wondering if the few owners that have received delivery of their new SR/F can confirm if Zero has corrected or not the unsightly tank lid gap that the early units suffered from.
I can't wait to have mine fixed as it is the only part that just does not fit right on the whole bike!
There were rumors that there would be a dealer program to eventually fix this but someone claimed Zero did not acknowledge those intentions.
I am willing to pay for the parts to fix it if it comes to that as I removed the whole thing and was unable to modify the hinges or the mount point to make it fit right, because the shape of the lid does not allow for lowering it and still open smoothly.
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Wondering if the few owners that have received delivery of their new SR/F can confirm if Zero has corrected or not the unsightly tank lid gap that the early units suffered from.
I can't wait to have mine fixed as it is the only part that just does not fit right on the whole bike!
There were rumors that there would be a dealer program to eventually fix this but someone claimed Zero did not acknowledge those intentions.
I am willing to pay for the parts to fix it if it comes to that as I removed the whole thing and was unable to modify the hinges or the mount point to make it fit right, because the shape of the lid does not allow for lowering it and still open smoothly.
Horrible fit and finish!
Habe you tried emailing zero? I've had very good luck getting responses thru emails.
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Horrible fit and finish!
Habe you tried emailing zero? I've had very good luck getting responses thru emails.
The finish is actually pretty good on the SR/F: The gloss and the overall look of the "tank" and other "painted" parts is just fine.
The attached picture isn't actually of my bike, I found it on a review written a while back but the gap on my tank lid is exactly like the one in the pic.
Because I bought an early dealer demo, I was hoping that by now Zero has corrected that flaw and I can get the parts to fix it, either through "warranty" or even if I have to pay for them.
I have not contacted Zero yet. Waiting for word that they have corrected the issue before raising hell about it.
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I am the one with the blank SR/F screen, I have asked Zero about whether they are addressing this gap and have gotten mixed answers. If I have to tow the bike 350miles each way to the dealer I want to get the gap fix if possible. This is the pic I sent them:
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That's a much better picture and the gap is identical to mine.
I measured 0.300 of an inch (give or take a few mils) at the widest point.
My concern is that they may have corrected the issue with production bikes coming out of the factory now and might not be contemplating repairing those already sent out, especially, if they are dealer demos.
The gap is pretty consistent and the bike on the review from which I got the pic I posted, yours and mine, have it.
Safe to assume at least all bikes from the original "batch" have it too. Heck, the ones they are building today may still have it.
I know this is cosmetic but after paying the kind of money these bikes cost, I hate to see that poor fit on a spot so visible.
The good news is that replacing the lid (if that is all that takes to remedy the issue) is actually quite simple: remove 6 screws to pull the "tank" off the bike, then remove 14 Phillips small screws from the inside of the tank and there you have access to the hinges and the rod where they pivot on.
So, if they refuse to have the dealers do it, I 'd be happy if they send me the parts and I'ld take care of it myself.
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Horrible fit and finish!
Habe you tried emailing zero? I've had very good luck getting responses thru emails.
The finish is actually pretty good on the SR/F: The gloss and the overall look of the "tank" and other "painted" parts is just fine.
The attached picture isn't actually of my bike, I found it on a review written a while back but the gap on my tank lid is exactly like the one in the pic.
Because I bought an early dealer demo, I was hoping that by now Zero has corrected that flaw and I can get the parts to fix it, either through "warranty" or even if I have to pay for them.
I have not contacted Zero yet. Waiting for word that they have corrected the issue before raising hell about it.
The pictures on their website shows a perfect fit, and all pre-production pics leading up to its release look perfect. What happened I wonder?
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The pictures on their website shows a perfect fit, and all pre-production pics leading up to its release look perfect. What happened I wonder?
I wonder the same thing.
As I see it, they are doing one of two things: Fixing the gap with Photoshop for the pictures they need to publish or manually fixing the issue on those units they need to make look perfect.
I was able to make mine look right but then the lid would not open because the U shape of the front of the lid (hinges side) the "tips" of the U cutout would catch on the mating part and it would not open smoothly.
I could have filed down the tips a bit but then with the lid closed, the gap would be visible there (lid's front) as opposed to where it is now. Decided not to do it and wait and see what is happening at the factory.
Someone (elsewhere in the forum) reported visiting a dealer that had one demo without the gap. So, apparently they have a fix for it when they want to fix it or maybe that unit was built with updated parts no longer having that issue. No word if this lid was operating properly.
Hence me trying to find out if the recently delivered bikes no longer have this problem to proceed with my request to get it fixed.
This link for a review in the UK published on may 17 has the gap, so even the ones built for export have the problem.
https://www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial/reviews/bikes/zero/zero-srf-2020-electric-motorcycle-review (https://www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial/reviews/bikes/zero/zero-srf-2020-electric-motorcycle-review)
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From Aaron Cheatham, director of Zero Customer Experience:
“With respect to the tank trunk, the gap you see from the side is a limitation of the spring design. Unfortunately, I don’t have anything to offer to change it’s function.â€
Not sure this answers the question about whether they plan a fix or not. I have to bring my bike to the dealer to fix 2 separate issues already so I was asking if they could address the gap concurrently, but looks like no.
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I also got a response from Zero.
Hey Allen
I know our quality team is looking at the tank lid fitment issue.
Not sure if they have a solution for it but they are looking into it.
Jeff Jolin
Zero Hero Manager
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That tank/door gap is absolutely unacceptable by modern vehicle standards.... I can't even believe Zero would let something like that leave the assembly line.... For $20K total BS, AND I'm trying to like this thing....
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From Aaron Cheatham, director of Zero Customer Experience:
“With respect to the tank trunk, the gap you see from the side is a limitation of the spring design. Unfortunately, I don’t have anything to offer to change it’s function.â€
Not sure this answers the question about whether they plan a fix or not. I have to bring my bike to the dealer to fix 2 separate issues already so I was asking if they could address the gap concurrently, but looks like no.
He lies or have no idea what is going on with this defective part!
I can assure anyone reading this post that the springs are not the reason for the bad fit: They only provide tension in the opposite direction. They push the lid up when you open it, kind of like a trunk lid in a car and have absolutely no effect on the closing of it. They are not in any form, shape or fashion in the way for the lid not to close flat.
I spent many hours trying to fix the gap myself and studied the simple mechanism carefully and even tried some modifications that didn't work. I explained why in an earlier post.
One of the first things I tried when I took it apart was removing the springs, thinking maybe they provided too much pressure and were causing the issue but I saw no difference in the gap without them.
Removing the gasket helps but then when washing the bike or in the rain, water is going to get in the cubby.
Very disconcerting that Zero's Director of Customer Experience either does not know what is happening here or lies.
Somebody goofed, no doubt about it. They are a small company and $hit happens but they should take responsibility and work on a fix: it is too visible to pretend it doesn't exist.
I will try to find a softer gasket, not as high as the one installed and see if that help reduce (probably not eliminate) the doggone gap WITHOUT allowing water leaks.
My only hope is that as they deliver more bikes and more people pressures them to fix it, they will eventually do that. I am contacting them on Monday to log my request.
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I also sent another email to Jeff and Aaron and attached both the above picture from their website and the photo of mine. I will let you know if they respond. I don't mind getting it fixed, but with a 700 mile round trip I would really like to consolidate repairs since I need the screen fixed anyway.
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Netpro as I posted before I think the gap comes from a water ingress problem that was addressed after the media bike was shown.
My guess is at speed while raining it was getting water in at lip of the tank lid from the front. There are too many of the bikes with the exact same gap for it to be just a poor build job.
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Netpro as I posted before I think the gap comes from a water ingress problem that was addressed after the media bike was shown.
My guess is at speed while raining it was getting water in at lip of the tank lid from the front. There are too many of the bikes with the exact same gap for it to be just a poor build job.
This is a design flaw, not sloppy assembly.
There is no adjustment that can be made to the components involved. The hinges are part of the lid itself and the 2 rods where they pivot go into 1/4 in holes on the shroud that's the foundation of the "tank".
Trust me, there is nothing that can be adjusted as it is currently designed. That is why the gap is remarkably consistent among bikes that I have seen pictures of.
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When you get a power tank, it should look great.
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When you get a power tank, it should look great.
That's what I was thinking until I read somewhere that either the extra charger or battery pack go inside the current tank. If this is true, no chance of fixing this when the power tank comes out, whenever that is.
Perhaps Zero can confirm if is true that a power tank comes with a right-fitting lid.
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I had sent an email to both Jeff Jolin and Aaron Cheatham at Zero with a photo of my tank and the photo of the gapless bike from their webpage. Here is the response:
“Hi Graham,
You are not pestering us. Always happy to get your emails.
I believe the image provided is an artist rendering. In the end, the response I can provide is the same as before. The tank trunk reflects the current limitation of the spring design that enables proper opening of it. I believe this design reflects the same look in all the production motorcycles. Unfortunately, I don’t have anything to offer that is different.â€
So I don’t know where the info is coming from that they are working to fix this, but for now I think we just need to accept it:)
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I had my tank apart, and there really isn't a great way to perform a DIY fix on this either. There isn't an easy way to shim the pivot points down or anything.
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I had my tank apart, and there really isn't a great way to perform a DIY fix on this either. There isn't an easy way to shim the pivot points down or anything.
Would you mind doing a walk through on how to remove the tank?
I intend to remove it, and have it painted shortly after mine arrives.
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I had my tank apart, and there really isn't a great way to perform a DIY fix on this either. There isn't an easy way to shim the pivot points down or anything.
Would you mind doing a walk through on how to remove the tank?
I intend to remove it, and have it painted shortly after mine arrives.
It is quite easy to remove it.
Remove 2 screws near the ignition key switch (these are facing up)
Remove 2 similar screws from the other end of the tank (inside the compartment where the charging connector is) also facing up.
Then on each side of those "spikes" pointing down and towards the bike's back, you'll see 2 smaller screws on each side. You only need to remove one, you can feel which one is the one holding the part to the frame by running your finger around it.
That is all it takes to remove it from the bike. Now, to take it apart further, you'll need to remove a bunch of small screws from the inside but they will be obvious when you take a look there.
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Great, thank you!