Doctorbass
100 GW
---------- DOCTORBASS review of the new 2013 ZERO FX and S model: ----------
Yesterday I went to our nearest Zero dealer at Chateau Richer ( about 50km from home) to visit my friend Dave, the owner of Univers Traction Sport to try the two recently arrived ZERO 2013 FX and S models. This was another great reason to enjoy my DS 2011 for another great ride =)
I have read a lot of review on the 2013 and a lot of comments but yesterday was for me the time to try these two model wich are my favorite!!
I was really curious to test the FX after I have read the impression of Luke ( Liveforphysics).
The FX I have tried have the 44hp drive train and the S model had the 54hp.
I first tried the FX. Dave, the dealer said that they don’t let anybody to try it since it might be dangerous for someone not too familiar with that kind of beast.
I confirm !.. The FX is really quick and brutal acceleration and sustain it up to about 125km/h!
My main conclusion is that it is like the TESLA Roadster of the zero motorcycle!.. when I tried the Tesla I tasted that great acceleration and was really impressed. That kind of acceleration became for me the reference for comparison. Now I can say the FX is as quick as the TELSA Roadster!... Wheelie very too easy and the control of these wheelie is very smooth and easy!.
I also noticed that compared to the 2011 zero, the new 2013 motor have this little coging you can feel at very low speed when moving the bike manually with your foots.
Once you turn the throttle a little bit, you can hear a kind of High frequency noise coming from the motor just like a PWM with noise and you still hear it 1-2 second after the motor stop runing. It’s like the sevcon controller they use is working like that.. or maybe it’s the encoder but I thing encoder don’t make noise at all.. That sound is really low volume and you only can hear it when moving about 0-10kmh than the rest of all other noise come over that.
The S model I tried was the one with the beautiful yellow body. I was immediately surprised by the lower height the seat is! I did not tried the 2012 yet but I can say that compare to the S 2011, the seat is considerably lower heat. It was just perfect for me and I measure 5’10’’
What surprised me on the S model is the powerband and how comfortable we feel. The acceleration is not as brutal as for the FX since the weight of the Zero S is like more than 100 pounds heavier but it was still impressive to taste that acceleration during wide spead range!.. at 150km/h you feel you still have nearly the same acceleration than at 50. The S is 10 more hp but over 100 more pounds. With proper manouvers we could easy lift the front wheel I think but I did not tried.
The throttle sensivity is way better than on the 2011! wich is an improovement factor that many will appreciate!
I know some guys installed a Sevcon size 6 controller on their 2013!! Oh man!! These 2013 should become a monster with these!!
The stock controller are sevcon gen 4 size 4 ( 420A phase current) and the size 6 are 660A !! The battery are 28s and same cell voltage as lipo.
So the 2011 are 14s, the 2012 raised to 20s and now the 2013 are 28s.
Well if I had to choose between the S and the FX model the choice would be definitively hard! The look the FX have is just like these motorcycles that James Bond had in the 80’ movie during hot pursuit! The FX is very quick but for long ride I don’t feel it would be confortable enough for me. I don’t feel very familiar with very wide handlebar like motocross have for long ride but it’s my personal choice as well.
I was a bit anxious to feel disappointed about my 2011 DS after trying these new 2013 with the new brushless motor and I can say YES the power they have is NOT comparable with the 2011 with the Agni.. oh not !! but we have to agree that the 2011 is two generation behind !!... and yes.. i still like my 2011 :lol:
Now the temptation to finish the upgrade to 84V on my DS raised a bit ! and also maybe to upgrade to the new great impressive 54hp brushless motor too!.. a 2400$ investment for the 54hp brushless and sevcon size 6 !
Even if you have the ocasion to try the 2013 , go ahead!!.. you will a have no doubt that these can compete easy with the gassers !
Doc
Yesterday I went to our nearest Zero dealer at Chateau Richer ( about 50km from home) to visit my friend Dave, the owner of Univers Traction Sport to try the two recently arrived ZERO 2013 FX and S models. This was another great reason to enjoy my DS 2011 for another great ride =)
I have read a lot of review on the 2013 and a lot of comments but yesterday was for me the time to try these two model wich are my favorite!!
I was really curious to test the FX after I have read the impression of Luke ( Liveforphysics).
The FX I have tried have the 44hp drive train and the S model had the 54hp.
I first tried the FX. Dave, the dealer said that they don’t let anybody to try it since it might be dangerous for someone not too familiar with that kind of beast.
I confirm !.. The FX is really quick and brutal acceleration and sustain it up to about 125km/h!
My main conclusion is that it is like the TESLA Roadster of the zero motorcycle!.. when I tried the Tesla I tasted that great acceleration and was really impressed. That kind of acceleration became for me the reference for comparison. Now I can say the FX is as quick as the TELSA Roadster!... Wheelie very too easy and the control of these wheelie is very smooth and easy!.
I also noticed that compared to the 2011 zero, the new 2013 motor have this little coging you can feel at very low speed when moving the bike manually with your foots.
Once you turn the throttle a little bit, you can hear a kind of High frequency noise coming from the motor just like a PWM with noise and you still hear it 1-2 second after the motor stop runing. It’s like the sevcon controller they use is working like that.. or maybe it’s the encoder but I thing encoder don’t make noise at all.. That sound is really low volume and you only can hear it when moving about 0-10kmh than the rest of all other noise come over that.
The S model I tried was the one with the beautiful yellow body. I was immediately surprised by the lower height the seat is! I did not tried the 2012 yet but I can say that compare to the S 2011, the seat is considerably lower heat. It was just perfect for me and I measure 5’10’’
What surprised me on the S model is the powerband and how comfortable we feel. The acceleration is not as brutal as for the FX since the weight of the Zero S is like more than 100 pounds heavier but it was still impressive to taste that acceleration during wide spead range!.. at 150km/h you feel you still have nearly the same acceleration than at 50. The S is 10 more hp but over 100 more pounds. With proper manouvers we could easy lift the front wheel I think but I did not tried.
The throttle sensivity is way better than on the 2011! wich is an improovement factor that many will appreciate!
I know some guys installed a Sevcon size 6 controller on their 2013!! Oh man!! These 2013 should become a monster with these!!
The stock controller are sevcon gen 4 size 4 ( 420A phase current) and the size 6 are 660A !! The battery are 28s and same cell voltage as lipo.
So the 2011 are 14s, the 2012 raised to 20s and now the 2013 are 28s.
Well if I had to choose between the S and the FX model the choice would be definitively hard! The look the FX have is just like these motorcycles that James Bond had in the 80’ movie during hot pursuit! The FX is very quick but for long ride I don’t feel it would be confortable enough for me. I don’t feel very familiar with very wide handlebar like motocross have for long ride but it’s my personal choice as well.
I was a bit anxious to feel disappointed about my 2011 DS after trying these new 2013 with the new brushless motor and I can say YES the power they have is NOT comparable with the 2011 with the Agni.. oh not !! but we have to agree that the 2011 is two generation behind !!... and yes.. i still like my 2011 :lol:
Now the temptation to finish the upgrade to 84V on my DS raised a bit ! and also maybe to upgrade to the new great impressive 54hp brushless motor too!.. a 2400$ investment for the 54hp brushless and sevcon size 6 !
Even if you have the ocasion to try the 2013 , go ahead!!.. you will a have no doubt that these can compete easy with the gassers !
Doc
