2019 Zero Motorcycle SR/F
And now for something completely different: After returning the Royal Enfield 650 Continental GT, the very nice people at Mopnroll (mopnroll.de) let me testdrive their brand new Zero Motorcycle SR/F roadster - a state of the art electric motorcycle.
It took me about 100 m and I forgot I ever needed a clutch and gear lever: Seamless acceleration similar to that of a scooter, but without the noise level - and that was in city traffic and running in „eco mode“. The electric motor whine also nearly completely disappeared from perception, when wearing the same ear plugs that I wear when riding internal combustion engine (ICE) motorcycles. I truely enjoyed riding in sneaky silent mode...
On the backroads of the Berg region and in „street mode“, the e-motorcycle would just accelerate without any fuss in a manner of the most powerful internal combustion engine motorcycles I have ever ridden, when using the „throttle“ in anger. The suspension was a surprise: The solid frame, the quality Showa fork and Showa rear shock with the excellent Pirelli Rosso III tires made cornering at high speeds a completely enjoyable afair. (The rear shock is rather taut, but with my frame and weight in the saddle not „restart cardiac arrest patients on street bumps“ hard.)
About 60 km in the saddle, however, used about 110 km range in street mode, as the range computer stated. On the other hand, this system might not yet be properly calibrated as the vehicle was brand new. The styling of the motorcycle was another critical point, with many points that I would change: the number plate monstrosity needs to go; the rims need to be blacked out, the front light might look better with a round LED headlight.
The first ride was very enjoyable, but rather too short to make a final verdikt w.r.t. available ranges. I am looking forward to rent one of these to see, if their range allows my usual afternoon rides. Add one of the upcomig solid state batteries with twice the range asap and we are talking business.
