Zero SR – an electric bike that easily overtakes competitors with a gasoline engine

Electric motorcycle – quite recently, when this word was mentioned, few believed in the possibility of the development of this auto-motorcycle industry. I have some friends. when you start talking about the successes of industrialists in this area, they are surprised. That and I myself knew a little about electric bikes, like something out there, somewhere out there, until I created this site. So in electric bikes, for example, I see the future of motorcycles, motorcycling and our entire life in the world of motorcycles. This is progress and sooner or later it changes everything. Something I stretched out the introduction, sorry. So today we will consider an electric motorcycle of an Indian company Zero SR.

It has long been known that red is the color of speed, so it comes as no surprise that the Zero SR is only available in this color scheme.

Now the capabilities of this bike can leave behind more than one gasoline hack. Personally, I like it very much – the design, the possibilities! Successful model.

So, if some four years ago, electric bikes on one battery charge could drive no more than one lap at the Isle of Man TT championship, along the highway on the island, now they cover three or four laps at an average speed of 160-170 km / h . !! Notice e-bikes! As proof of this claim, you will soon be able to see the electric motorcycle races at the next Isle of Man TT Championship, which kicks off in early June. The length of one circle on the Isle of Man TT, let me remind you, is about 60 kilometers. How do you like this indicator? I think it says a lot.

Zero SR behaves well in turns and when changing lanes, but is difficult to handle at low speeds

Of course, we can say that competition is one thing, but widespread riding is another. Yes, you are right, but the manufacturer focuses not only on racing, but also on the consumer. And today there is already an ordinary “civilian” serial electric bike, which, as the designers assure, has a power reserve of 275 kilometers. Already today you can buy it and forget about what a gas station is forever. And save on fuel.!

Now back to the Zero SR itself – a charged modification of the “S” model, the latest version of which was presented to the public last year. It differs from the base model Zero SR first of all by an additional battery with a capacity of 2.8 kilowatt-hours. In fact, any Zero model can be equipped with an additional power unit today and the power reserve of each of them will increase by a good hundred kilometers, but the designers made the SR version hotter than the rest.

For comparison, I will say that the Kawasaki ZX-14R and Suzuki Hayabusa are considered the motorcycles with the highest accelerating dynamics today. Both cover the distance of 402 meters in less than 10 seconds, and which of them will cross the finish line first depends on the speed of reaction and the skill of the biker. Honestly, Kawasaki outperforms Hayabusa in performance, its engine produces 148 N * m of torque, while the Suzuki power unit is capable of developing only 138 newton meters. So the Zero SR electric motor, from which the engineers removed no less than 143.5 N * m of torque, is able to compete with any of these gasoline monsters.

Of course, both the ZX-14R and Hayabusa are almost three times more powerful than the electric bike. The Kawasaki engine produces 188 hp, the Suzuki 171 hp, while the SR horsepower is represented by a very modest herd of 67 heads. However, at short distances, the electric bike has every chance of getting ahead, thanks to the powerful 660-amp motor controller (the 420-amp controller is installed on the Zero S model). Temperature-resistant magnets have become another addition to the electric motor – the power unit heats up strongly during acceleration, and sometimes air cooling is not enough.

The changes in the Zero SR compared to its predecessor have affected more than just the powertrain. Like the entire model line, it received a series of updates, which primarily affected the dashboard and suspension. The new LCD panel on the steering wheel is more modern and provides the driver with all the information they need on a trip. The power reserve indicator until the battery is completely discharged is probably one of the most important, although it was not in previous versions of the Zero electric motorcycle. Surprisingly, sometimes in the process of driving, it shows that the energy in the batteries becomes more. As the bike designers say, this is indeed possible – the battery is recharged by regenerating braking energy – but only in Eco mode and during city driving, where there are many traffic lights. On the highway, you don’t have to slow down much, so the energy consumption is faster.

As for the suspension, the Zero SR, like the rest of the manufacturer’s models, received a 43mm inverted fork with rebound and compression adjustments. It is stiffer than before, and thanks to this, the electric bike keeps its trajectory more clearly. But it is still not worth laying very steep turns – the footpegs are not adjustable in height and, with a strong inclination, they touch the asphalt.

The Zero SR designers did not ignore the brakes either, and this is quite natural, given the more aggressive nature of this motorcycle. On the front wheel, they installed a 313mm disc paired with a Nissin twin-piston caliper, aided at the rear by a single-piston caliper and a 240mm disc. All components of the braking system provide more than adequate braking force, which is sufficient for a motorcycle with a curb weight of 205 kg. By the way, this weight is already taking into account the additional battery, which is installed in front of the driver, where the gas tank is located on a regular bike. This design solution has its drawbacks – the center of mass has shifted slightly higher and because of this, at low speeds, for example, in a parking lot, it is quite difficult to maintain balance on the Zero SR. A small minus, I think it will not greatly affect the characteristics of the bike.

When it comes to driving on city streets, where the Zero SR is most efficient, it easily outperforms its competitors with combustion engines. The electric bike is quite narrow, it can easily navigate through the cracks between four-wheeled vehicles, and it will always be the first at traffic lights due to its enormous torque.

However, outside the city everything can be different – long multi-kilometer highways are not the best habitat for an electric bike, and here the most reasonable solution would be to choose an economical driving mode. At the same time, the dynamics that the Zero SR boasts in Sport mode disappears almost without a trace. Electronics limits the maximum speed to 115 kilometers per hour, which is clearly not enough for fast overtaking. However, there is another mode called Custom, in which the motorcycle owner can set the maximum speed and engine torque, turn on or off the braking energy recovery function. If you want to make the desired changes to the operation of the systems, you can even not through the on-board computer, but from home using the Apple application.

Well, the most unusual thing about the Zero SR is that the ride on it, including dizzying accelerations, lane changes and overtaking, is accompanied by an unusual silence and a whistling wind in your ears – the electric motor works almost silently and this is very unusual for those who sit behind the wheel of the Zero SR for the first time … Those who love the roar of the engine, of course, will not appreciate it as it should.

And there is a small vidyaha in the application

Zero SR Specifications: