Zero SR ZF-12.5 in the driving report

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Zero SR ZF / 12.5 in the driving report

Only something for e-bike enthusiasts?

One thing has to be left zero: The Californian company is currently the only manufacturer to confidently defy conventional concepts with combustion engines with their electric bikes, and do not withdraw into a niche. How well does the new Zero SR ZF / 12.5 do in the driving report?

It’s not surprising that, despite all the hype about the electric drive, the Zero technicians also – quite profanely – took care of the driving characteristics when revising the model range. A more comfortable seat, more delicate wheels, fully adjustable Showa suspension elements, Pirelli Diablo Rosso II tires and, for the first time, an ABS equip the top model, the Zero SR ZF / 12.5.

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Zero SR ZF / 12.5 in the driving report

Only something for e-bike enthusiasts?

Zero SR ZF / 12.5 is much more light-footed, falls on the narrow (110 front / 140 rear) Pirelli into the corners of its own accord and stays perfectly clean. The new Bosch ABS also regulates well, bringing the 189 kilogram vehicle to a stop-free stop after a respectable 41 meters of braking distance. The upside-down fork is also sensitive. Only the shock absorber is still rough despite the lush 161 millimeters of suspension travel on the bike. Even when the compression damping is fully open and the rebound damping is reduced, the rear end bumps the e-biker through transverse joints. Sponge about it, all in all the new SR does the modifications well – and still remains only a marginal aspect.

Traffic light turns into an e-drag racing experience

After all, with an electric vehicle, two questions ultimately move people: First, how far does it go? Second, how fast? The former: 12.5 kWh – i.e. 1.1 kWh more than the previous model – is stored in the battery cuboid of the Zero SR ZF / 12.5. For comparison: an electric smart with 17.6 kWh only has around 50 percent more storage capacity. Two driving modes help to use the energy efficiently. In eco mode, in which the Stromer is now less skimpy and has a maximum of 52 hp (2014 model: 30 hp), it is easy to swim along in rural road traffic.

However, the Zero SR ZF / 12.5 only managed 123 kilometers on the test lap (2014 model: 156 km). But even in the open version (sport mode), the new, 63 hp drive is above its predecessor in the entire speed range (see performance curve on the next page). The Zero, which manages without a clutch or gearbox, turns every traffic light start into an e-drag racing experience – to top this happening after every curve. Because from 60 km / h it even leaves sports bikes behind. In numbers: even the short-translated Kawasaki Z 1000 accelerates the electric speedster in the pull-through measurement in sixth gear from 60 to 100 km / h, takes 2.3 seconds (Kawa 2.9 s) from it over half a second. 

Zero SR ZF / 12.5 has to be on the charging cable for almost eight hours

However: The parforcer ride costs energy and reduces the range on the country road to just under 100 kilometers, depending on the temperament. In the extreme test with continuous full throttle on the motorway, in which the temperature regulator of the battery regulates the speed from initially 160 km / h after about three kilometers to a constant 130 km / h, the juice lasts 73 kilometers. Then the Zero SR ZF / 12.5 has to be connected to the charging cable for eight hours.

These commemorative hours and the proud price of 17,840 euros will probably only open up the Zero SR ZF / 12.5 to convinced – and solvent – e-bike enthusiasts in the future. The combination of a silent yet extremely sporty appearance already offers an extraordinary experience.

Measured values, range and driving performance

MOTORCYCLE

Performance chart.

Tidy

Country road (eco mode): 123 km
Full throttle motorway (sport mode): 73 km

What’s going on? Despite the largest battery in e-motorcycle construction (12.5 kWh), the range remains manageable. The full throttle ride on the autobahn – which is atypical for an e-bike – documents the smallest possible range.

Performance

km / h 0-100 0-140
Zero SR Mod. 2014 (Eco mode) 9.6 sec  –
Zero SR Mod. 2015 (Eco mode) 7.9 sec  –
Zero SR Mod. 2014 (Sport mode)  5.0 sec 9.1 sec 
Zero SR Mod. 2015 (Sport mode)   4.6 sec  7.9 sec

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