From Zero to Hero

Patricia Stiemke

Despite the grumblings of many in the motorcycle community, I have been interested in electric bikes ever since they made an appearance on various media platforms. I have been chasing test rides for more than a year, first on a Harley Davidson Livewire as they look pretty awesome, and then the Zero as they are becoming more widely available. The rollout of the Livewire has been an absolute joke and I had to give up in the end as the closest dealership that finally had one of these in the showroom is in central London and I am not willing, under any circumstances, to test ride anything in those traffic conditions. It would be about as much fun as getting slapped by a fish. I have to say though, the salesman on the phone was very nice and gave me a lot of information. I think he was just glad to talk to someone more in-depth about this model. I was initially drawn to the Zero at one of the EAMG’s monthly meets when two models were standing there looking suitably heavy and camouflaged. I think this was almost two years ago. Unfortunately, I always had to temper my enthusiasm as the prices for these bikes has not come down significantly under £10,000 and that is more than I’ll ever be able to afford for a bike. Yes, there is a government subsidy of £950 but that is a drop in the ocean really. The model I am really keen on is the Zero SR/S with the 14.4 kW/h battery. It is a fairinged bike, which is essential for my riding style. The suggested retail price is £19,590 for the standard version and another £2000 on top if you want the premium version. The premium model has a faster charger essentially. That being said, I also test rode the S1000RR last year and an H2 the year before that and I made no excuses about being able to afford either of them. So, never to be deterred, I was planning a road trip to Diss, just northeast from Bury St. Edmunds for a test ride at the English Electric Motor Company. They have the unique distinction of having an electric off road track near the premises and also have a micro brewery attached to the premises. It sounded like a good day out in any case. Enter the pandemic.

Skip to September. Zero is doing a Bums on Seats Tour (it may still be ongoing) around the UK and Cannon BMW in Witham was one of the stops. I registered and went on the day which was dry, always a bonus, with a lot of enthusiasm to begin with considering how long I’ve been waiting to get my leg over one of these bikes. I was not disappointed. It was a two bike demo ride with our leader test riding with his wife as pillion. This was not going to be a fast ride. We were limited to 15-20 minutes out on the road which was a bit disappointing but never mind. The first thing I was pleasantly surprised about was that I could both my feet flat on the ground. This was not the case when I first sat on one of these at the EAMG meeting where they only had the adventure models on show. The second surprise was that despite the weight (230 kg curb weight), it didn’t feel as cumbersome as I thought it would. After a short debrief the next surprise was the fact the fact that as soon as you press the ON button, you are essentially in gear. It is logical of course as there are no gears on an electric bike but it was the practical realisation not to turn the throttle unless I was ready to move off that was a bit unnerving. So, getting comfortable I gingerly started twisting the throttle and the bike rolled on smoothly and blissfully silent. I mentally prepared myself to keep my left hand and foot firmly in their place and not try to reach for any kind of lever or pedal. It worked surprisingly well. We ventured onto the A12, not my choice on weekend afternoon. I would have preferred a jaunt onto the A120 and a bit of a rollout but that would have pushed us over the allowed time. We were asked to ride out using the Eco mode and switch to Sports mode at the turn around point. There is also a Rain and a Custom mode but neither of those were on the menu for the day. Switching between modes is quite easy but we were advised to pull up in order to do so. Neither of us did.

The throttle is smooth and not snatchy at all. I can say that the Eco mode gives a good, constant (of course) acceleration up to 75 mph at which point the bike is throttled. Eco mode will not allow a higher speed but this is a good mode for a heavily trafficked road and slow commutes. It gives the longest range on one charge (109 to 160 miles with city riding giving the longer range). The reason it has a longer range in stop and go traffic is that engine breaking also charges the battery. The A12 is a good road to test suspension, especially on the stretch between Witham and Colchester. I can safely say that it was a sporty suspension but not uncomfortably bouncy. The suspension settings are fully adjustable both in the front and rear and I found the seat itself quite comfortable. I was riding without ear plugs, as suggested by the Zero rep, and was mostly bothered by the wind noise. It was the loudest thing I could hear apart from the engine noises of the surrounding cars. The only evidence of the bike running was the small whine of the electric motor which I found quite relaxing / comforting. We turned around at Mark’s Tey and I switched to Sports Mode. Back on the A12 my leader was taking it very gingerly indeed. Well, actually, he was staying within the speed limits so I can’t really complain but..yeah. On a somewhat clear stretch I decided to drop back by quite distance into the passing lane. So, bimbling along at 50 mph I noticed a BMW M3 approaching fast and decided to test out Sports Mode and I was, once again, not disappointed. I was at 100 in a few nanoseconds and still accelerating at the same rate and the M3 was still at a very comfortable distance behind me. All too soon I caught up to my leader but the difference in acceleration to Eco Mode was very palpable and just made me grin maniacally. I expect I would just about make it to work (Hatfield Heath to Ipswich Hospital) in Sports Mode. Thankfully, the hospital has several charging points. Both Premium and Standard models can do a fast, full charge (6kW option) in a little more than an hour and a standard full charge takes 2.5 hours. If you are using your wall socket at home, it’s 8.5 hours. Sadly, I didn’t get to test the full cornering capability but the corners I did take felt quite easy. The position of the motor and battery in a central, low position makes it unobtrusive when negotiating bends. However, a more rigorous test is needed for me to reach a proper judgement. We arrived back at Cannon way too soon. I was still full of enthusiasm and it felt wholly justified. What’s not to like with 190 Nm of torque with no dips in the delivery. In horsepower it’s 110 (82kW) at 5000 rpm. Top speed is 124 mph but that’s OK. www.eamg.org.uk

The only niggle, apart from the price, I have is one of style. I really like the look of the SR/S, especially the phat rear tyre, but the square headlights would not have been a design I would have chosen. It wouldn’t deter me from owning one though. Finally, a thought or two on the future. Electric bikes will probably become more long range and still have shedloads of torque but I see it as a temporary fix because even electric has its environmental costs. However, until they figure out how to squeeze a hydrogen powered engine into a two wheeled chassis, this is the most environmentally friendly option out there. I have mostly stopped reading comments on social media posts about electric bikes because there is such a depressing amount of hate and vitriole. I don’t get it. Statistically, we know loud pipes do not save lives. Being seen is much more important than being heard. As pedestrians and cyclists, we all have to get used to the ever increasing number of electric vehicles on our roads and go back to the old “look right and left before crossing the road” instead of staring down at our phones. Those that love the smell of exhaust and petrol, well, we won’t be seeing much of you in traffic after 2040, will we? While the word may not be changing for the better in many ways, this is one area where I embrace change with open arms.