‘My electric head’s on’
It turns out a battery-powered bike has plenty of positives
The first few rides on an electric bike are all about what it hasn’t got. There’s no clutch, no gear lever, no heat and no noise. Initial contact is about trying to remember you can’t just open the throttle after turning the key. If you do, you’re likely to end up in a hedge.
But it’s surprising how quickly you stop reaching for the left-hand lever or prodding your left boot down to a nonexistent gear-change. Thirty-odd years of conditioning can be unlearnt pretty quickly. And once able to trust your reprogrammed instincts, there’s a lot to enjoy. The wide bars and tall seat (835mm) offer a commanding view and comfortable seating position, the Zero handles well, and the thrust from standstill is impressive, too.
The three riding modes deliver very different experiences for very different needs. Sport mode sees performance similar to an MT-07, although I went from full charge to 0% in just 57 miles. ECO mode and 50-60mph smooth riding sees the range rise to 100 miles. The dash shows your battery percentage level and you soon get accustomed to eke-ing out power if you need to. Custom mode can be set-up through the Zero app that links phone and bike via Bluetooth and lets you set your own power, torque and regeneration levels. The app also shows the state of your battery. Another useful weapon is the ZapMaps app which shows all the charging points in the UK, their prices and even if they’re out of use. I don’t have the fast charger (an extra £2.3k), which takes full charging time down from eight hours to three. So any journey over 100 miles requires some planning and a lengthy stop. The Government’s £1500 grant comes straight off the bike’s price-tag so many buyers use this to help pay for the fast charger. After that you’re looking at a PCP payment of about £260 a month over four years after the £1k deposit. With a full charge costing about £1.20 the savings soon start to add up.
It’s the range and charging time that need a little work, planning and consideration. But I’ve got my electric head on now and am starting to find ways of making the Zero more than just a practical commuter.