All Tests – Zero S and FXS Electric Motorcycles Review: 15 hp … and more with electricity – Zero S 11 kW Flash Test

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Zero S and FXS electric motorcycles test: 15 horsepower … and more with electricity

All Tests - Zero S and FXS Electric Motorcycles Review: 15 hp ... and more with electricity - Zero S 11 kW Flash Test

Leader in the – microscopic – electric motorcycle market, Zero Motorcycles offers its S and FXS motorcycles in 11 kW version (accessible to B licenses), more efficient than their thermal competitors of 125 cc. Explanations and first contact.

Flash test of the Zero S 11 kW

Site begins its short trip at the controls of the S: the driving position is roadster-style, with a touch of Cafe Racer due to the relatively low and curved handlebars. Is it for this reason that the steering of the front axle seems a little heavy at first glance? ?

Key turned in the ignition, side stand – short and back – raised, circuit breaker deactivated: the motorcycle is ready to start, without a sound or "Zero sound"! The dosage of gas watts is extremely precise, the belt transmission is smooth: you can modulate its speed without the slightest jerk !

The road being soaked, the nice organizers of this first contact have selected the "Eco" mode for us. In this wise configuration, the acceleration is already greater than that of a 125 cc and the times between 40 and 80 km / h allow you to quickly fit into the dense traffic of the Paris ring road. The absence of a clutch and gearbox makes it even easier for the driver.

The silence of the motorcycle awakens the rider’s attention to his surroundings. The Californian manufacturer refuses to simulate any mechanical noise, which would amount to eliminating one of the main advantages of electric! The rise of hybrid and electric 4-wheelers is already making other users or pedestrians more alert – in Paris in any case, where Autolibs are already running..

The S’s braking is a little less convincing: its J. Juan 2-piston caliper – a brand of Barcelona origin – correctly bites the 320 mm front disc, but its power is not easy to measure at the lever. By simulating some emergency braking, MNC realizes that the Bosch ABS itself sometimes has difficulty regulating and lengthens the distances a little. But at least we stay on our wheels !

It must also be recognized that the alleys of the Bois de Boulogne, copiously swept by thunderstorms and kept humid by a fine mist, represent a sacred challenge … By engaging the "Sport" mode and screwed handle in the corner, the Motorcycle Journal of Net moreover easily exceeds the limit of the rear grip !

But on Zero Motorcycles, it is also "Zero traction control"! "It is a technology that tends to develop", observes the brand manager in France,"which is not compulsory unlike ABS, but on which we are reflecting".

It would indeed be good for the American manufacturer to look into this question because with their truck couple, these "small" motorcycles accessible to the B license have something to surprise … Pleasantly at first thanks to the lightning accelerations, but a little less when the rear wheel starts to spin !

"In addition to the quieter "Eco" mode, our motorcycles have a "Custom" mode which allows you to manage the character of your motorcycle via a mobile application and thanks to the integrated Bluetooth connection.", outbid our interlocutor. Free to the user to select a responsiveness of the soft accelerator and to restrict the couple to 20%…

The fact remains that in the wet and in Sport mode, the Pirelli Sport Demons find it difficult to contain the onslaught of the engine with its nonetheless finely calibrated electronics: it is only "high in the turns", keeping the right grip turned, that the full potential of the electric motor is delivered and that the slip occurs.

Note in passing that Zero Motorcycles has decided, on its own, to limit the maximum speed of its two 11 kW models to 130 km / h. "It is not a legal requirement, but we consider it to be sufficient speed", say American officials.

During this first lightning test, Site did not have the opportunity to push the two models to the full. However, we had no trouble reaching three-digit speed: even at 15 horsepower, Zero Motorcycles "watt" severe. !

The feeling of efficiency of the electric mill is all the greater when stationary, the motorcycle clearly does not pass for a small 125 … As a reminder, the S roadster weighs 3 kg more than one, this which is felt during maneuvers with the engine off or at low speed, the steering remaining a bit heavy.

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