I finally got around to reading the October issue of Cycle World. The editor, Mark Hoyer, has a column titled "Up Front" on page 14. In his comments he describes distinctive motorcycles that didn't make their Ten Best Motorcycles list. His first paragraph after his introduction is as follows:
Best Bike You Have To Make Your Own Engine Noises On: Zero S and DS
No, electrics like these are not replacements for gasoline bikes. Yes, they're expensive ($13,995 with the big, we-think-mandatory ZF9 battery pack). No, the real range doesn't come close to the claimed 114 miles - it's more like 45 in normal use. And yet, these bikes were some of the most compelling machines of 2012. So silent, so easy to ride, after a week or two in the saddle, you begin to wonder what all the noise is about on conventional machines. Zeros represent the first real step toward a truly useful electric motorcycle. Plug-ins won't rule the roads, but they will find their niche.[/i]