An electric motorcycle with a range of 171 miles in the city or 88 on the highway? A new R designation to the existing DZ model that offers up 56 percent more torque and 24 percent more power? That’s what Zero brought to the table at the EICMA Show in Milan, Italy this week.
The higher mileage comes via a Z-Force Power Tank that can be added to any 2014 Zero S or DS model. The R designation comes via the Zero SR, a high-performance upgrade to the Zero S that offers up 106 foot pounds of torque and does 0 to 60 mph in 3.3 seconds.
All that and the entire Zero lineup also gets improved suspension, new design elements and a new dash.
“For 2014 we focused on evolving the features that customers appreciate most while also providing more value,” said Richard Walker, CEO of Zero. “The results include impressive options for increased range and improved performance at more competitive price points than ever before. Additionally we are excited to announce five year standard power pack warranties for every new model that cover up to 100,000 miles. As always, we invite consumers to discover the thrill of riding a Zero by contacting an authorized dealer to sign up for a test ride or to place an order. The new lineup arrives in January.”
The new features of the 2014 model line largely revolve around refining general motorcycle componentry and design, according to Zero. The suspension of every model has been upgraded with 43mm front forks and a completely reworked rear shock. And the also get wider triple clamps.
The new dash, meanwhile, features a high contrast and blue backlit LCD screen that provides the information you need. The display also indicates to the rider whether they are in the “eco,” “sport,” or the new “custom” riding mode. Using new right hand switchgear, riders can now toggle between the different performance profiles. They can also set the custom performance profile using the Zero Motorcycles app, which now supports English, German, French, Spanish and Dutch.
The lineup of Zeros has been cut down to the three core models: the Zero S, Zero DS and Zero FX. As a result of the refined model offerings, the price of the Zero S and Zero DS models have actually come down by around $1000 as compared to the 2013 lineup, Zero says.
“The 2014 model line is engineered around our guiding principle of sophisticated simplicity,” said Abe Askenazi, CTO of Zero Motorcycles. “Driven by the powersports industry’s most advanced electric powertrain, each model delivers a thrilling experience that distills riding into its most enjoyable elements, while virtually eliminating all routine powertrain maintenance and peripheral distractions. Customers will be thrilled with the performance, quality and refinement that each model has to offer.”
The Zero S and Zero DS now feature an aerodynamic chin fairing that funnels air into the powertrain to provide additional air-cooling. The Zero FX also features a new seat that provides a passenger area and owners can purchase passenger pegs as an aftermarket accessory.
Pricing on the new models ranges from $9485 on the baseline Zero FX to $16,995 on the new Zero SR. The Z-Force Power Tank has an MSRP of $2495.
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