Test ride on a Zero DS

 

An Electric Test Ride.

 

After a whizz around the car park at the Wey Valley meeting I had in mind of testing an electric bike with Gita on the back. I needed an MOT for the Kawasaki and as Jack Lilley’s had moved to Byfleet and renamed West London Triumph I booked one in For Tuesday lunch time. Byfleet is only a couple of miles from Addlestone and I booked a test ride for after lunch. We had a good ride out, cool to start but warmed up as the day went on. You could see the Triumph sign from the road but it proved a challenge to get to in the trading estate. Some of the old faces populated the new premises even the man who did the MOT commented that the Kawasaki suspension bush had play in it. It had been like that for the last four MOTs but it was no worse than at the last MOT was his comment. Perhaps I should replace it before it gets a fail. MOT gained we went off to Clifton Nurseries, Woburn Hill, Addlestone to see Sparkmotos for the test ride. I had booked the Zero DS. It is the 44kw unrestricted model. The performance would be equivalent to the Kawasaki at about 70bhp. We arrived a little after one and I met up with Conor again. He looked up my blog and was pleased to see what I had written. Paperwork was completed and the DS was wheeled outside. 

There was a few minutes of familiarisation before we were on our way. Our departure was filmed as we exited the car park. With Gita on the back it felt we were on holiday ready to begin a long journey. Straight away I felt at home on the bike well balanced two up and heavy enough to be stable. At the junction with the main road I was a little reluctant to pull out into traffic. I had no idea of the acceleration so didn’t risk anything. It was in Eco mode and did not pull away quickly. I was told that I would be out of Eco mode by the end of the road. In seconds I toggled the switch to find Sport and found the performance I wanted. Negotiating the roundabouts to get beyond St Peter’s Hospital then taking the first left to Chobham on nice country roads I could explore the bike’s characteristics a bit more. As I had experienced before it does not freewheel so you keep the power on until you want to stop. This is because the slowing down phase is used for energy regeneration. The amount regenerated can be customised from nothing, freewheel, to maximum which mega engine braking. It is odd because petrol engines have their own characters so you learn to ride with what you’ve got but being able to modify it to suit yourself is a whole different world. I still keep searching for a clutch as you pull to a standstill. The transmission just disengages before you stop and something that is strange to me. Pulling away is effortless and progressive the first part of the throttle opening takes up the drive gently and once moving the power is progressively delivered. There is no switch to surprise you but the acceleration is like that delivered by the ER6F from 7 to 10,000rpm. It is quick but not abrupt. I was not able to explore the performance beyond what I could do on a single lane road. The handling inspired confidence and I liked the ride and riding position. Two up the forks did bottom out a couple of times over rough sections so perhaps the travel needs to be a bit longer not firmer as the ride was quite comfortable so did not need firmer springs. I prefer bikes with suspension that works rather than the very hard found on sports bikes that rattle your fillings and send shock waves through your spine. Riding around via Chobham and back to Addlestone in traffic was very manageable as I got used to the lack of clutch. I gave Gita a smooth ride on the back and she liked our trip out allot. All in all it was a very manageable motorcycle well balanced with a weight of 185kg the same as the Kawasaki so it was nice to be able to have something to compare it by. It is undoubtedly something for the future and the drive is in that direction but I feel it is not quite yet for me. Range anxiety is my concern with around 120 miles before a recharge that takes about one and a half hours that is if you can somewhere to charge it is not so bad but I think a range of 300 miles would make me happier and I am told that increased range is on the way as battery technology improves.

As this week progressed I get around to more jobs at home. The first thing was to get some replacement gas cylinders to complete the welding of plant pot frames that are mounted below window baskets at the back of the house. Due to shortage of drivers and hence deliveries there were none at my local supplier but I found some in Twickenham. I was about to head off in the El Cid, but it would not start so I had to use the Toyota instead. When I got home I started work on the El Cid. The starting problem was that the carburettor was receiving no fuel. Fuel coming through but not getting into the float chamber. It turned that the float was not operating as it should and its pivot had become lose in the aluminium clasps that hold it in position. Once crimped up and firm the float worked properly and fuel supply restored. After that job I worked on the Buell fitting a sprung jockey wheel assembly to the belt drive. I had been getting chatter on the belt and this is caused by worn out jockey wheel bearings. In the morning I got a replacement set from Snobbs at Hanger Lane and fitted them in the afternoon. A bright yellow spring is the evidence and the belt tension looks to be OK but not as tight as it had been in the past. I’ll keep you posted on how it goes as this mechanism is supposed to improve belt and wheel bearing life.

Thursday and Friday I work on the plant pot shelves.I wanted them to be robust so I used the same thickness steel that is in the window basket. By Saturday they had been completed, painted and fitted. Gita’s garden is rearranged yet again making another incredibly colourful display.

First Wey Valley Observed Sunday

 

First Wey Valley Observed Sunday.

 

It is called the First because it is the first official gathering of the club since March 2020. It was great to see people in the flesh and we  have all suffered from the enforced incarceration by restrictions imposed up till now. We have all become a little older, greyer, heavier but no less enthusiastic to be out on our bikes again after so long. It was a day to remember not only to refresh acquaintances and meet new faces but it turned out to be an electric day.

I had planned to be at our new venue, the Cobham Village Hall by nine in the morning to help out with the shop but a very late night with friends had slowed my morning progress and I was about forty minutes late. When I arrive at an observe Sunday I usually take a few photos to commemorate the day and this was an exceptional day. The car park/bike park was full to overflowing and so was the overflow parking area. It was double parking everywhere. There were a few electric bikes in one corner and there were offers of test rides during the day. I was a bit behind and not quite ready for a new experience and carried on to the shop.

Rob who manages the shop was there with some books and tee shirts laid out on one corner of the stage. It was the first time of doing it at Cobham and things need to be worked out on where the shop area needs to be located and what to display. I felt refreshed after a mug of tea and a sausage sandwich and talking to people. There was more food to come with a hog roast at lunch time. The pairings had mostly been organised on line so there was none of traditional pairings announcements only a few things from our new Chairman. New recruits were sent off for briefing and the hall quickly cleared as observer and associates when to their bikes for their sessions. Gita was to arrive about twelve so there was about an hour and a half to wait for those on observed runs to return. I went to move the Buell to the main parking area. It was the only bike remaining there. To get there I went by the electric bikes and was drawn into the conversation of how they work. I explained some of my reservations of the lack of clutch, the riding style or the correct gear for the speed and manoeuvre and range anxiety. The challenge was to try one and then make an assessment. Take one for a ride. They were all made by Zero. Four types of sports bikes and one dual purpose. 

The sports bikes weighed in around 210kg and the dual purpose in at 185kg. I did a quick spin around the car park and found it strange as there was quite a long movement on the twist grip before anything happened. The uptake was gentle and progressive. It was not like the switch I had half been expecting but then I was not giving a handful. It was a pussy cat. The take up was smooth and manageable with feet up as soon as I was moving. I needed to turn it around. It did not freewheel but slowly ground to a halt mid turn. I wanted a clutch to do that. Try that again, keep a little throttle on to keep the momentum and I managed an ungainly turn. 

I would have to learn some new techniques for this type of bike. To make a turn or any slow speed manoeuvre throttle in slight excess and control the speed on the back brake so it does not get away from you. Talking to Conor of Spark Motos www.Sparkmotos.com I declined a ride out then as I wanted Gita to come with me on a proper ride another day. Conor was kind enough to take a video of me going around the car park. I did this after collecting the Buell from the other parking area. I’ll book a proper test ride soon and will let you know how it goes.