Show Posts

This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.

Topics - grmarks

Pages: [1]

Zero Motorcycles Forum | 2013+ / SR/F LED headlight, good, bad or ugly?

« on: September 13, 2019, 02:12:31 PM »

SR/F owners, what is the LED headlight like? Is it excellent, good, or so so? I need to replace my 2015 SR headlight and was thinking about using the SR/F headlight instead (if it's really good).

Zero Motorcycles Forum | 2013+ / My DC - DC converter has died again, local dealer has gone bust (now fixed)

« on: May 11, 2017, 05:01:08 AM »

My car has blown a head gasket, I was using my Zero to run a round and get parts, but on the weekend the DC - DC converter failed again (it failed several months ago). That in itself is not the end of the world, but I just found out that my local dealer has gone bust. The nearest dealer is now 1,000 km away.
I am in Melbourne Australia, the next nearest dealer is in Sydney Australia.
To freight my bike to the Sydney dealer for a warranty claim will cost over $600 (AUD) each way ($1200). The DC - DC converter is priced at $650 (AUD)

I contacted the Sydney dealer but their policy (and that of the importer) is the bike has to come into the shop. I contacted Zero USA, they directed me to Zero Netherlands for the Australian region.

I am currently waiting for their office to open. I will keep you posted on any outcome.

Although the Sydney (Hornsby) dealer has been helpful, he also spun some shit, he was saying that in Australia they only offer a 1 year warranty, but the US office confirmed its a 2 year warranty anywhere in the world. I suggested two compromises, 1) I will pay for the part, fit it and send the old part back for testing, if faulty then they will refund me the purchase price. 2) split the cost of the part 50/50.

But both the importer and dealer won't compromise.

If I had purchased the bike from Sydney then I would have known the costs involved to support the bike up front (wouldn't have bought it in that case), but I bought it locally so there was no significant cost involved to support it.

The bike is out of warranty in 2 months.

Zero Motorcycles Forum | 2013+ / Installing Hollywood electrics carbon fibre tank cover

« on: January 30, 2017, 11:24:49 AM »

I was undecided about whether I should get the Hollywood Electric's carbon fibre tank cover or a 2017 new tank with lockable cover.
I decided to go with Hollywood Electric's cover. The black carbon fibre sure does look good with the red SR tank.

Having received it I wanted to make it waterproof, but that turned out a bit harder than I thought it would be.

1) first step to installing it was to space it forwards a bit (I used 5 washers behind both tabs). I first drilled holes for self tappers, but it was hard to get the holes in the exact spot. First attempt and the cover was crooked. So I removed the tank and I had the first holes as a guide to file them out to fit small bolts and align the cover. I used a dremel for the job (nice and easy).

Zero Motorcycles Forum | 2013+ / 2015 SR Replacement Brake Pads

« on: October 08, 2016, 02:11:10 PM »

I just replaced my brake pads for 2015 SR after 22,000 km.

I am in Australia and the dealer got Ferodo Pads for me. (I asked for alternatives to Zero's)

They are sintered

Part numbers:-
Front (Road)
01-2006-ST
FDB2006ST G169/270

Rear (off road)
01-2005-SG
FDB2005SG G166/FA208

The brakes just make a rubbing noise now (a big improvement over the originals) but it is only early days.
Breaking power seems the same.
If the sintered pads wear the disks I will get new harder disks!

Zero Motorcycles Forum | 2013+ / 12 V wireing issue.

« on: September 28, 2016, 02:50:25 PM »

Over the past 2 weeks I have had an intermittent issue with the bike cutting out on right hand turns. In 20 hours of riding it did it 4 or 5 times.
Had the bike in for a service with the dealer and, of course, it worked perfectly when they tested for it.
Last night the fault became permanent. The dealer (mototecnic) made time to look at it today and found a broken wire in the ignition switch, which they soldered up for me and had the bike going again. Fantastic job guys. But when I took it for a ride I noticed no regen in custom mode, switched to eco and regen worked fine, back to custom, no regen. Then I noticed that I had no head light, tail light, break light and blinkers, but the instrument panel works fine, everything on it is normal.

I checked the fuses under the seat and none are blown, checked the fuse that goes in with a 1/2 turn, just under the "tank" at the back (assume its the dc-dc converter) and its fine as well. Took the tank off and checked that the ignition cable plug was still plugged in correctly (and it was, only uses 2 of the 4 ignition wires which means the ignition is extremely simple). The ignition turns the bike on and off so the 2 wires are being connected with the ignition on.

The problem must be something else.

Has anyone had this happen to them or know what it might be?

Could the act of soldering the broken wire have sent some current back down the wire damaging something else on the bike? (like welding with an electric arc welder on a car without disconnecting the battery - fries the diodes in the alternator).

Zero Motorcycles Forum | 2013+ / Electric + Zero SR = The new drug

« on: April 03, 2016, 01:48:44 PM »

I had an Aprilia Scarabeo 500 scooter. It was a commuter machine with loads of storage (with the 45 Litre top box). Based on my usage habits of it I calculated that a 2015 Zero SR 12.5 (no power tank) would do everything I did on my scooter. And it does, but one thing I didn't put into the equation was the addiction of electric power as presented in the package of the Zero SR. The longest freeway round trip I did on the scooter was 126 km. And I have done that same trip on the SR now (at a little slower speed to make the distance). Anything longer and I would take the car.
The other day I found myself needing to do a 220km round trip, but instead of taking the car, I found myself doing the math on how I could take the SR, such is the addiction to it! And I did take it, the trip took twice as long as in the car (< 60km/h the whole way). Then I needed to do the trip again a few weeks latter. So I found a caravan park where I could recharge while I did some errands and eat lunch. This meant I could ride at 100km/h each way (much better).
I loved both trips but the last one was much more enjoyable.

This started me dreaming about the day when batteries will have twice the range as they do now. But why stop there if I am dreaming, why not 10 x the range of today. That would be 1000 km at 130 km/h.
But when that day comes I think I would prefer to have about 700km range at 130km/h and a smaller battery giving a lighter bike and more storage under the "tank".

I am interested to hear what others would think is the perfect solution if 10 x better batteries were available?
What is the perfect drug?

Zero Motorcycles Forum | 2013+ / Has anyone fitted a HID light to their Zero?

« on: January 30, 2016, 11:32:17 AM »

Has anyone fitted a HID light to their Zero? How about RF affects?

I just tried an LED and although the light is a whiter colour it is not as bright in the distance as the stock halogen globe.

Zero Motorcycles Forum | 2013+ / 268 km/h for an SR?

« on: October 18, 2015, 08:21:26 AM »

So I was just playing with some numbers today on my 2015 SR. By measuring the circumference of the rear wheel I calculated the RPM of the motor at 160 km/h, which is about 6,000 rpm.
The lightning motor does 10,000 rpm, if the Zero motor was spun at that speed the bike would be doing 268 km/h. Don't know that the motor could handle the heat if the voltage was raised enough to get that rpm (working from the adage - voltage = rpm, amps = torque) or if the sevcon could handle extra voltage.
The new IPM motor is more efficient at higher revs in general terms, so will we see a voltage increase in the battery pack in future to give a higher top speed? A side affect would be better compatibility for fast charging infrastructure.
Even an extra 2,000 rpm would give you 213 km/h.

Zero Motorcycles Forum | 2013+ / 2015 Zero SR storage in tank area

« on: July 11, 2015, 02:00:14 PM »

Zero, on my 2015 SR, why did you put such a small storage option in the tank area when it clearly could be the size of a power tank module.
I would love a lockable, non-removable, larger storage area in the tank. If I build one myself (from carbon fibre or fibreglass, or even a 3D printer) would it void my warranty? I was thinking of cutting out the original small plastic recess and attaching a new inner to it that was a larger size. Then make a hard top cover that can be locked using the current lock in place now.

I should add that I already have a top box, and my wife (pillion passenger) and I use the bike as much as we can instead of the car. I need as much storage as I can get.