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Topics - mrwilsn

Pages: [1] 2 3
1
Electric Motorcycle News / EV Motorcycle Tax Credit Returns in the US...with a catch
« on: February 11, 2018, 04:59:50 AM »
Leave it to the US congress to make laws that allow them to take credit for doing something green while totally screwing potential customers and the industry at the same time....

The US Congress retroactively extended the credit for electric motorcycles.  If you purchased an electric motorcycle in 2017, it turns out you will get the EV Tax Credit of 10% up to $2500.

The bad news....this is a retroactive change AND it's only good for purchases made between December 31, 2016 through January 1, 2018.  That's right.....the bill that was just passed this week is retroactively only good through January 1, 2018.  I can guarantee a lot of buyers didn't buy in 2017 because they didn't think they would be getting the credit, thus the uncertainty KILLED EV motorcycle sales in 2017.  If you happened to buy a bike in 2017 anyway, good news for you.

Now we are left with the same situation for 2018.  Buyers are left wondering if the US Congress will once again extend the credit to include bikes purchased in 2018.  Which means that sales will once again be slammed by the uncertainty.

Thanks US Congress!!

https://electrek.co/2018/02/09/ev-charging-credit-extended-2018/

https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/1892/text?r=1#toc-H595CF07C98BE40B8B21E578B818CFC86

2
Buy Sell Trade / SOLD: 2014 Zero S ZF11.4 $7500!! Excellent Condition
« on: December 06, 2017, 06:43:37 AM »
To see this bike visit Flying Tiger Motorcycles in Maplewood, MO or call 314-645-7425.

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1949513171732571&id=119015378115702

http://www.flyingtigermotorcycles.com/

2014 Zero S ZF 11.4 $7500
Battery warranty good through 1 Aug 2019
Looks perfect.  All plastic on the bike is nice shiny and scuff free.  You would never know this bike has almost 20k miles.  Rides and looks just as perfect as the day I bought it 1 August 2014.

These are not pictures of the bike when it was brand new.  These are pics of the bike you would be purchasing with almost 20k miles on the ODO.

The 2014 Zero S for sale is my first electric motorcycle and I wish I could keep it but ultimately I was convinced that it deserves to be ridden.  Since I purchased a 2017 SR the 2014 Zero S hasn't been getting ridden so it's going up for sale. 

This bike has served me faithfully as a daily year round commuter bike and has taken me on long distance trips (St. Louis to Kansas City and back).  It has many more miles left for the next owner(s)!

Upgrades:
New BMS (same as 2017 bikes)
New Rev A charger (same as 2017 bikes...doesn't trip GFCI like the original charger did)
Pirelli Rosso II Front and Rear Tires (~1k miles of tread left)
Oxford Heaterz Heated Grips
LED Headlight
LED Running Light
Metal Bar end
Tail Tidy
Commuter Screen
Vinyl wrap on battery (reflective)
Tire pressure warning caps (caps turn red when pressure is too low)




















3
Electric Motorcycle News / KTM Bringing Freeride to USA in 2017
« on: July 26, 2017, 07:34:59 AM »
I'm really glad to see KTM bringing the Freeride to the USA.  Would love to see them introduce some more electric motorcycles  ;D

Only at 11 dealerships though....let's hope interest for the beta program is high and in short order all KTM dealers offer the Freeride.  At least they are taking dealer training seriously when it comes to working on high voltage.

http://www.motorcycle.com/manufacturer/ktm/2017-ktm-freeride-e-xc-electric-motorcycle-coming-to-us.html

4
Zero Motorcycles Forum | 2013+ / Turn Signal Recall for Some 2017 Zero Motorcycles
« on: July 26, 2017, 07:23:57 AM »
Looks like a new recall for 2017 Zero bikes.  Turn signal issues have come up on the forums so it's good to see this is getting taken care of.  I haven't noticed this problem myself.

I added this info to the recall section of the forum but posting here too.

http://electricmotorcycleforum.com/boards/index.php?topic=3795.0

http://blog.motorcycle.com/2017/07/25/motorcycle-news/zero-motorcycles-recall-certain-2017-models/

Quote
No Warning of Turn Signal Lamp Failure/FMVSS 108
If motorcycle is operated without knowing that a turn signal is not working, there would be an increased risk of a crash.

Summary
Zero Motorcycles Inc. (Zero) is recalling certain 2017 S ZF6.5, S ZF13.0, DSP ZF13.0, and SR ZF13.0 motorcycles. In the event that a turn signal stops working, the turn signal flasher may not change its flash rate to alert the operator. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, “Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment.”

Remedy
Zero will notify owners and dealers will test the motorcycle’s flasher, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on, or before July 28, 2017. Owners may contact Zero customer service at 1-888-841-8085. Zero’s number for the recall is SV-ZMC-017-369.

5
General Discussion / 'Back Roads' for Zero Riding Near Jacksonville FL
« on: May 06, 2017, 07:16:09 AM »
I'm gonna be in Jacksonville, FL next weekend and my buddy says there aren't any back roads near him.  That's gotta be wrong....no?  Maybe we have different definitions of back roads.  I'm looking for roads that will be fun to ride my Zero.  ;D

Not that all roads aren't great for Zero riding but some are better than others.

Anyone know the good places to ride a Zero near Jacksonville?

6
Zero Motorcycles Forum | 2013+ / Email From Zero: Updated Firmware and Charging Recommendations
« on: May 05, 2017, 07:16:20 AM »
The charging recommendations are old news for forum readers.  I'm really happy to see Zero finally providing insight into the changes they are making in the firmware updates and alerting owners that new firmware is available.  I think it really helps so people know why they would want to do an update and maybe some who haven't had a firmware update since the day they bought it years ago might actually go have the update done.....you know who you are  ;)

Quote
NEW CHARGING RECOMMENDATIONS

Previously, Zero has recommended that our owners always keep their motorcycles plugged in to charge whenever they’re not in use. We are now changing our charging recommendations for our 2013 and later motorcycles to maximize the performance and longevity of our Z-Force® Power Packs. This change is based on a wealth of real-world power pack performance data and insights from our cell provider.

Zero is now recommending that owners do not keep their motorcycles plugged into an AC power source once charged. This will ensure maximum performance and power pack life. Detailed recommendations:

Regular Use

After each use, you should plug your motorcycle into an AC power source to recharge. Once it is charged, you should disconnect it from the AC power source. Leaving your motorcycle unplugged will maximize long-term power pack health.

While unplugged and keyed off, the motorcycle’s electronics will consume a very small amount of power and the power pack will drain extremely slowly. If you don’t ride for an extended period (30 days or more), you may want to plug the motorcycle in for a few hours to charge it prior to your next ride.

Long-term Storage

For planned long-term storage (more than 30 days), we recommend draining the power pack to a ~60% state of charge (SoC), and leaving the motorcycle unplugged.

The power pack will drain slowly over time. Check the SoC at least monthly, and charge it back up to 60% if it has dropped below 30%. When you’re ready to take your motorcycle out of storage to ride it again, plug it in for at least 24 hours to ensure optimal cell balance is restored.

WARNING: Never store your motorcycle at a state of charge of less than 30%. Leaving the power pack discharged below this level for a prolonged period could damage the power pack and void the warranty.

NEW FIRMWARE

Even though Zero motorcycles’ powertrains require very little maintenance, that doesn’t mean no-maintenance, and we highly recommend having your firmware updated at least once a year to ensure that your motorcycle performs at its best. If you haven’t had your firmware updated in the last year, now should probably be the time, as we’ve made some important updates. We’ve just released new firmware with the Zero Diagnostic Utility version 26.11 and higher. Owners who upgrade to this version will get a series of improvements and new algorithms developed to maximize power pack life. Specifically, you’ll benefit from:

Enhanced Charge Top-Off Monitoring

This algorithm enhances the procedure by which the motorcycle maintains its maximum SoC while connected to a charger.  Once your bike is fully charged, the charger will shut off.  It will then only top-off the battery when its SoC falls into the low 90% range. This will save your Power Pack and charger from unnecessary, frequent charging when left unused for longer periods of time.  To force a full charge before a ride, unplug the charger for 1 minute, then plug it back in to initiate a top-off.

Power Pack SoC Maximization

As the power pack on your motorcycle ages, individual battery cells may perform differently. Any reported imbalance may lead to an unnecessary reduction in available power and reduced motorcycle range. This new algorithm monitors individual battery cell performance to ensure you are maximizing both power and range. In addition, it improves the accuracy of the SoC reported on your dash.

Mr. Aaron Cheatham has just (OK the letter is dated 9 May but I only got it a few weeks ago) sent me these same recommendations via letter.  Very nice heavyweight paper stock (more like a greeting card) and everything!

One particular item of note (highlighted in bold text by Mr. Cheatham himself) which was not in the email that was sent is that "costs of all firmware updates are fully covered by Zero, regardless of your bike's warranty status". Nice! I guess if your dealer tries to charge you for FW update you just show them the letter....I guess that might explain the super heavyweight card stock :)

Nice work Aaron!




7
Zero Motorcycles Forum | 2013+ / Zero's Giving Away Delta-Q's
« on: April 03, 2017, 09:46:07 AM »
With the purchase of any Zero in the month of April.  Clearing stock perhaps?

http://www.zeromotorcycles.com/promo/charge-into-spring/

8
Zero Motorcycles Forum | 2013+ / Market Testing Vinyl Wrap Kit
« on: April 02, 2017, 08:11:54 PM »
Hey guys and gals!

I put a vinyl wrap that I really love on the battery of my 2014 Zero S.  Check it out! As you can see the wrap is reflective and is really great for extra visibility when you get hit by headlights.





The plan was always to do the battery first to see how I like it and then consider wrapping other parts of the bike too.  Well, I did like it....a lot....but since I already had a new bike in my sights I decided to wait.  Now that I have my 2017 Zero SR, I wrapped the battery and the wheels and put a couple stripes up the tail.  More pics!













I am considering offering a kit to those that might want to do the same to their bikes.  The kit would come with the vinyl wrap pre cut to the shape of the battery, the wheels and the stripes for the tail (works great even if you have the stock tail).  All you would have to do is line it up and stick it on after cleaning the surface.  This is a high quality vinyl wrap from 3M.  It's an 'air release' or 'breathing' wrap which means that air can pass through the wrap.  This is really important when you are applying it because it makes it super easy to get out all the bubbles.

Sound off on this post if you would be interested in buying a kit and what color you would want.  Cost would be about $75 and would include a little extra material that can be used to cut into your own custom shapes if you want to personalize your bike further....or your helmet!  I could also include additional material with the kit priced by the square foot.

For a premium, a printed pattern could be applied to the wrap for the battery.  For example, how about making your battery look like it is made up of hundreds of duracell batteries?  Or making it yellow and printing a label on it with the battery info on it like kWh, Ah, pack voltage, C charge/discharge rates etc. to make it look like a pack you would put in an RC car or plane?

Let me know what you guys think!

9
General Discussion / A New EV from Fiskar
« on: November 03, 2016, 06:01:35 AM »
Wow....this thing is sexy.  I doubt it will be cheap though.  It does look a lot like a model 3  ???

http://newatlas.com/fisker-emotion/46243/?li_source=LI&li_medium=default-widget


10
Pics and Vids / Zero S Sunset Ride: Alton, IL to Grafton, IL
« on: October 10, 2016, 01:12:57 PM »
Hey guys, I caught sunset while riding my 2014 Zero S on one of my favorite routes and made a short video of the trip.

Zero Electric Motorcycle - check
Beautiful Scenery - check
Amateur editing with cookie cutter visual effects - check
Cheesy free music soundtrack - check

Whats not to love?

Enjoy!



11
Electric Motorcycle News / DC Fast Charging in the Twisties!
« on: September 24, 2016, 09:50:39 AM »
Looks like Energica is going to install 20kW CCS stations "targeting the best roads motorcyclists love to ride through".  Sounds pretty awesome! Definitely for California and Italy.  I look forward to finding out more details to find out where else stations will be installed.

I wish Zero supported CCS so that we could use them too  :(

http://blog.motorcycle.com/2016/09/22/electric/energica-implement-fast-charge-stations-along-popular-motorcycle-routes/

12
Electric Motorcycle News / Good News For Electric Motorcycle Touring
« on: July 24, 2016, 12:50:41 AM »
I just found out that soon we may have even more places to charge up! Batteries that enable longer distances without needing to charge are great but if the charging infrastructure was solid enough then we could go anywhere in the country even on a bike with a short range.

The Verge: Electric cars need more charging stations, and the White House wants to help. http://google.com/newsstand/s/CBIwo7uewiw

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk


13
Electric Motorcycle News / Zero 10th Anniversary Reunion
« on: July 21, 2016, 06:58:18 AM »
I assume all owners got an invitation to the Zero 10th Anniversary Reunion on September 10th like I did.

So who's going? I'm gonna try to go but haven't RSVP yet. If I do go I would like to bring my bike which would mean putting it in a van since I won't be able to take enough time off work to make the trip on my bike.

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk


14
Zero Motorcycles Forum | 2013+ / Am I Crazy to Keep Riding?
« on: July 13, 2016, 10:02:42 AM »
On my way home today I was at a stop sign and as I pulled away I gave a full twist, as I have a habit of doing, and I heard a banging noise coming from my rear tire.  I stopped and looked quickly and everything seemed fine and I was half way home so I kept going.  A couple stops later I heard it again after giving full twist.  I was almost home so I took it easy until I got to my block.  I tried to reproduce the problem by listening while giving full twist from a stop.  The first time nothing.  Second time and I hear it again and this time I can kind of feel a little jerk to the movement of the bike.  I get back in my garage and I give it a close inspection.

Something is wrong with this picture...




So now tomorrow morning I need to call my dealer and order a new belt.  Ten teeth are missing all right in a row.  Obviously I popped a few extra off while trouble shooting the noise I was hearing  :(  I'm sure it will take at least a day or two unless I get lucky and they have one in stock and could take longer I'm sure.  The question is....if I put the bike in Eco and I take it easy on the throttle....am I crazy to keep riding while I wait for a new belt?  The top speed limit on my commute is 45mph so obviously no highway or interstate and it's 21 miles round trip.  Worst case I give it throttle and it just spins or the belt actually snaps...right?

15
Zero Motorcycles Forum | 2013+ / Flying Tiger Motorcycles in St. Louis Starts Selling Zero Motorcycles!
« on: April 03, 2016, 08:27:18 PM »
Hey guys, there is finally a Zero dealer in St. Louis, MO!!!  Flying Tiger Motorcycles on Manchester has just started selling Zero's!!

Late last summer I went in to Flying Tiger Motorcycles for a new set of tires and front brake pads for my 2014 Zero S.  I met the owner, Eric, and we talked about my bike for quite a while.  I told him how far Zero has come with their bikes and he was impressed.  He sells scooters and Royal Enfield's so I told him I thought Zero's would fit in nicely and I told him he should think about becoming a dealer.  He had been approached by Zero to become a dealer a couple years ago but never pulled the trigger.  After telling me some of Zero's requirements for having demo bikes and a few other things he told me he might give the Zero rep a call.

A few months later after Zero announced the 2016 lineup I went back in and talked to Eric again.  I told him about the changes for 2016 and asked if he had gotten in touch with the Zero rep.  He told me he hadn't but that he was still considering it.

I have been periodically checking Zero's website for dealer's in my area and yesterday Flying Tiger Motorcycle's popped up in the results!  Of course I had to go down and talk to Eric right away.  As luck would have it he just got the bikes on Friday night and he had them out for demo rides for the first time yesterday.

I am super excited to have a dealer here in St. Louis less than 5 miles from my house!  Especially since the next closest dealer is 90 miles away and Flying Tiger Motorcycles is a great dealership with a friendly staff.  Eric was excited about the fact that he already had someone with a 2012 Zero S in for service on the brakes (due to exposure through Zero's website) and he is sending 2 of his mechanics to training in Colorado on 11 April to learn how to properly service a Zero.

I know Eric and his staff at Flying Tiger Motorcycles will be a great addition to the Zero community and I would encourage anyone in the St. Louis area to go in and take one of the new 2016 Zero's for a test ride!

http://www.flyingtigermoto.com/

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