Reader Review: Zero SR/S
‘The dealer does mobile servicing to make life easy’
There are many good reasons for making the switch to electric, but top of the list for many are cost and environmental benefits. Take John Cole, for example, who jump-started a return to motorcycling with the purchase of a Zero S back in 2018. “I couldn’t justify the expense of going to work every day by car,” says John. “Plus, I didn’t feel I could look my kids in the eye and say ‘I’ve done nothing for the environment.’” John wasn’t aware of two-wheeled EVs at the time and was looking at more frugal fossilburning options for his commute, such as the Honda NC750 DCT. “As well as the economy, I liked the idea of an automatic gearbox for negotiating town traffic,” he says. “But it was only as I was surfing through reviews online I happened to discover electric bikes.” John looked for a local dealer and found Diss-based English Electric Motor Co, practically on his doorstep. “I booked a test ride at one of EEMC’s open days,” he remembers. “Their no-pressure approach was so refreshing as the bikes practically sell themselves. I was hooked and ended up buying a used Zero S.” The effect on his commute was instant and profound. “It changed my life! EVs are cheaper to run, better for the planet and as I charge it at home I’m no longer reliant on petrol stations.” After 18 months John traded-up to the SR/S, here’s how he’s been getting on.
List price was £18,000 including the Government Plug-In Vehicle Grant (PIVG), but Zero were also running an ‘Upgrade to Electric’ offer with a £900 rebate. I’ve had it just over a year and although Zero have acknowledged it, I’m still waiting for the £900 back.
I love the power delivery, it’s so smooth. It’s easy to switch modes and you can fine tune them or create a bespoke setting through the Zero app. I usually ride in ‘Eco’ which limits 0-60mph acceleration to four seconds and top speed to 75mph. It also gives maximum regeneration to the battery when you’re off throttle, allowing me to get 130 miles to a charge. Topping up from just under 10% costs £2 and takes three-and-a-half hours via a standard three-pin plug.
The suspension is adjustable, but my knowledge isn’t enough to dive in and play with it. To be fair, it’s not something that’s on my mind, so it must be OK. It is more than comfortable enough though, I’ve been on it all day with a 100-mile ride each way and not felt fatigued at all. The only gripe I have is that the seat is very slippery and you do tend to slide around on it, especially under hard braking.
One of the drawbacks of the belt drive is that it’s susceptible to foreign object damage. I’d done my homework on how vulnerable they can be from road chippings and the like, so it wasn’t totally unexpected when I got a tiny piece of granite from some resurfacing stuck in mine. It was lodged between the
belt and the front pulley and made a hell of a racket, so I pulled straight over to investigate. I could see it had left an indentation in the belt, but after taking some advice I was happy to carry on using it. About the same time, I had a warning pop up that the charging unit was likely to fail due to water ingress. It still worked, but was replaced under warranty and the dealership lent me another Zero for the duration.
The front brakes are adequate, with all the bite and feedback that I need. Stopping power at the rear is poor, but as I’m usually running with maximum regen I can pretty much ride it on the engine braking in traffic. The ABS is effective when it kicks in and has no trouble hauling you safely to a stop when needed. I do find that I spend much more time cleaning the brakes than I would on a petrol bike, simply because you can hear all the dirt and grit that gets in between the pad surface and the disc.
Although your wrist is fine for controlling the power delivery in most situations, with the instant torque from an electric motor a greasy patch of diesel can be all it takes to spin up the wheel and spit you off. The traction control system is a godsend and gives me great peace of mind. 1000 miles after getting a stone stuck in it, the drive belt snapped. The only damage was to my ego as I sat there with the motor spinning. The replacement was £120.
The switchgear is exactly where I want it – except for the cruise control button which is on the right and awkward to reach. The position of the mirrors is magic. They’re below the bars and perfect for riding in traffic, plus being an EV they don’t vibrate. EEMC do mobile servicing, which makes life really easy. I’ve just had the annual service done and it came to just £120.