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Makes And Models => Zero Motorcycles Forum | 2013+ => Topic started by: domingo3 on May 12, 2016, 07:08:45 AM
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I was initially drawn to the SR, but my commute will be within range of the FX models, and I'm interested in dabbling in dirt. I'd be commuting 5 days a week rain or shine. I've developed some interest in dirt - specifically in going around a track that has some tight turns and jumps. I'm 40 years old and pretty cautious. I doubt I'd get into racing, but more likely just tooling around on a track and having fun getting some air a few times a year. What would you pick between the FX and FXS, and why?
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Fx and Chain kit but thats just me, the fxs will handle much better on the street so if your willing to sacrifice the dirt then I would get the fxs.
If you want to hit jumps and power out of them you need the chain kit
Of your willing to land the jumps (off the throttle )as to not break the belt then you can make the belt and jumps work, but I wouldn't recommend it Ive broke a few belts.
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The FX is going to be better in the dirt and the FXS is going to be better on the road. Which is most important to you? Both bikes can do both its just they do one better than the other.
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The comments above are all right on.
It sounds like your riding is going to be 90% pavement, so I would make the decision based on which one you're most comfortable with on the road, knowing that either will be capable to dabble in the dirt. The FXS will sit lower, which you may or may not prefer. Ideally you can test ride both?
The tires and the chain kit will be your next decisions, regardless of which model you select. The dirt/street tire trade-offs are probably obvious (grip and wear). As mentioned above, the chain kit will eliminate the very real risk of broken belts, but be aware that the added noise from the chain may drive you nuts after you've experienced the awesome silence of a belt-driven demo ride.
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As someone who spent most of their life commuting by motorcycle....
Dont buy a bike that sucks to ride 5 days a week to work just because it can do that one thing you do twice a year.
If you like the FXS, get it... but your choices are really any streetbike. You plan to ride rain or shine on paved roads, so any real offroad tires are out. Knobbies suck on dry asphalt. They really suck on wet asphalt. Dual sport tires somehow suck at everything. I have had just as much fun offroad with sportbike tires, and atleast they dont suck on asphalt. clearly they dont do mud though.
If your commute is as short as you say, any modern bike intended to be ridden will cost you the same.... its pennies in fuel, and the premium of going electric at the moment will offset the oil change cost.
However since you're here, I am assuming you want to go electric.
Since you want/need an electric street bike you can actually buy, your choices are limited to the zero models.
So the FXS, the S or the SR.
Be aware that the SR pays literbike-like insurance costs (for no damn reason)..
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Dual sports dont suck, they do have their moments when they shine, very wet paved roads, hard packed gravel fire roads
Yes street tires will handle better in the street and dirt will handle better on the dirt
Tou have to admit on the right bike such as the fx they can be pretty fun, ive done my fair share of street and off road riding in the fx wheels
I liked them for
- higher top speed than s wheels
- predictable sliding on both on and off road
Happy medium compared to completely one or the other
S tires are going to suck in the dirt way more than the dual sports, at least with the dual sports the front tire wont wash out as much
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Thanks for all the advice. It gives me some things to look for when I go do a demo ride (I currently live close to the Zero factory), and as my daughter does her Intro to Dirt class. How much louder is the bike with the chain conversion? I have demo'd the S and SR, and really liked the stealth aspect.
My current commute is 90 miles round trip on an SV650, mostly freeway, but my new commute will be 20-30 miles round trip with less freeway. I've never ridden a dirt bike on the street, so I'm pretty naive in that aspect. In what ways would an FX make the commute "suck" aside from tire wear? I don't anticipate going any faster than cars since I'll be in state with no lane splitting and wouldn't be going out to ride the twisties. I wouldn't have engine vibes from a single cylinder ICE bike.
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do what i did, buy the 2016 FX-S. you get the better motor (IPM) and the street wheels. when you get your $650 fuel for Life card, buy some dirt wheels. best of both worlds, plus the SM wheels on the street are just too much fun to pass up. your gonna love ridding this in the town, especially if you like to twist the throttle. your 60 miles round trip is going to be about max range as well, if you once again, like to twist the throttle. if you can plug in at work, it wont be any issue.
good luck,
laramie ;)
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Thanks for all the advice. It gives me some things to look for when I go do a demo ride (I currently live close to the Zero factory), and as my daughter does her Intro to Dirt class. How much louder is the bike with the chain conversion? I have demo'd the S and SR, and really liked the stealth aspect.
My current commute is 90 miles round trip on an SV650, mostly freeway, but my new commute will be 20-30 miles round trip with less freeway. I've never ridden a dirt bike on the street, so I'm pretty naive in that aspect. In what ways would an FX make the commute "suck" aside from tire wear? I don't anticipate going any faster than cars since I'll be in state with no lane splitting and wouldn't be going out to ride the twisties. I wouldn't have engine vibes from a single cylinder ICE bike.
Where do you live now? Im in santa cruz and have give you an instant comparison fx belt vs chain if you would like... Pm me
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do what i did, buy the 2016 FX-S. you get the better motor (IPM) and the street wheels. when you get your $650 fuel for Life card, buy some dirt wheels. best of both worlds, plus the SM wheels on the street are just too much fun to pass up. your gonna love ridding this in the town, especially if you like to twist the throttle. your 60 miles round trip is going to be about max range as well, if you once again, like to twist the throttle. if you can plug in at work, it wont be any issue.
good luck,
laramie ;)
I hadn't thought of getting a second set of wheels. How hard is it to swap the rear and get the belt tension right? I've only ever taken off a front wheel. I have a PhD in Engineering, but as the stereotype goes, I'm pretty below average in actual practical skills. ::)
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Hi there,
I am having the same thoughts to buy a FXS and a second set of wheels for riding off-road. Can these wheels also been bought from Zero? Does anybody have an idea how much the cost?
And most important, can they easily been changed, is it allowed to swap them, does the front brake and the cord fit,....?
Thanks in advance,
Alex
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Hi there,
I am having the same thoughts to buy a FXS and a second set of wheels for riding off-road. Can these wheels also been bought from Zero? Does anybody have an idea how much the cost?
And most important, can they easily been changed, is it allowed to swap them, does the front brake and the cord fit,....?
Thanks in advance,
Alex
I found some discussion of that here : http://electricmotorcycleforum.com/boards/index.php?topic=5132.15 (http://electricmotorcycleforum.com/boards/index.php?topic=5132.15)
What I got from that is you couldn't put an FX front wheel on the FXS with a simple swap because the brakes are different. I'm also curious to know the price for a second set of wheels.
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Be aware that the SR pays literbike-like insurance costs (for no damn reason)..
Alice at Hap's Cycle Sales is my agent. She got my SR insured thru Progressive as though it was a 250. She has saved me an amazing amount of money. If you're in Florida, give her a call. If not, get another agent.
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I'm also curious to know the price for a second set of wheels.
The '15-'16 FX front & rear wheels I ordered in April came in last week ($300 each). They were just thrown together in a box and chewed each other up pretty good, so back they went. Maybe I'll actually have them this summer, sometime.
Ray
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Thanks, looks like a good option is to buy a set of Avalon distanzia tires fitting on the SM rims, probably on a second set of rims for easy swapping.
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do what i did, buy the 2016 FX-S. you get the better motor (IPM) and the street wheels. when you get your $650 fuel for Life card, buy some dirt wheels. best of both worlds, plus the SM wheels on the street are just too much fun to pass up. your gonna love ridding this in the town, especially if you like to twist the throttle. your 60 miles round trip is going to be about max range as well, if you once again, like to twist the throttle. if you can plug in at work, it wont be any issue.
good luck,
laramie ;)
I thought the 2016 FX and FXS motors were the same Z-Force® 75-5
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nope. gotta read carefully. one is the old motor (FX), and the other is the new IPM motor (FXS). both are the same size, just the IPM has better cooling rates.
laters,
laramie ;)
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nope. gotta read carefully. one is the old motor (FX), and the other is the new IPM motor (FXS). both are the same size, just the IPM has better cooling rates.
laters,
laramie ;)
Thanks a bit sneaky in the wording in the specs page, but the devil is in the details page :o
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In the early days of supermoto racing, before there were "supermoto" specific tires made. We ran race slicks with hand cut grooves. Lots at first because everyone thought it was needed in the dirt. As things progressed the fastest guys were running fewer and fewer grooves with most running only perpendicular across the centerline. I even saw guys on full slicks flyin! Though I have not ridden my FXS in the dirt (yet), and depending on where your riding, you may be surprised at how it handles dirt. Just my 2 cents.
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In the early days of supermoto racing, before there were "supermoto" specific tires made. We ran race slicks with hand cut grooves. Lots at first because everyone thought it was needed in the dirt. As things progressed the fastest guys were running fewer and fewer grooves with most running only perpendicular across the centerline. I even saw guys on full slicks flyin! Though I have not ridden my FXS in the dirt (yet), and depending on where your riding, you may be surprised at how it handles dirt. Just my 2 cents.
Thanks for the insight