EV Recalls - Zero

[Brammofan]

Crap.  News items like this do a disservice to the entire EV 2-wheel world:

Recall: 2009-2010 Zero DS & Zero S

Actually, it's not the "news" that hurts, it's the recall.  Brammo owners know that a recall could happen to us, just like it happens to Honda, Nissan, etc.  But to me, this sounds like an problem with under-engineering.  Compare it with the Triumph Thunderbird recall of a few days ago.  To me, the Zero one sounds much more serious. 

[Richard230]

Ultimate Motorcycling also picked up this story.

The bikes are being recalled due to a defect in the front brake caliper, which can deform under hard braking. (Braking was always a weak point for Zero.) What I find interesting is that 160 motorcycles are being recalled, which gives you some idea of how Zeros have been selling over the past 2 years. I don't think Zero is exactly getting rich selling electric motorcycles. At $10K each, that would be an income of about $1,600,000, according to my fingers, not a lot considering what it must cost to design, develop, manufacture, etc. an new vehicle, where you have to design and make just about every part from scratch.

Read about it here:  http://www.ultimatemotorcycling.com/zero-motorcycles-recalls-s-and-ds-models

[FreepZ]

And that is exactly why we need some fearless folks to drive their prototype Brammos into the ground. I'm sure that Gavin wouldn't mind risking "a possible crash and potential injury or death of the rider."

Heck, Brammo can tell if a design is truly dangerous in a 5 minute test ride. It takes thousands of miles to find the small, weirdly dangerous issues.

Gavin A....who's nickname in high school was weirdly dangerous.

A) I would LOVE to be a tester.

See? He wants to do it. Never mind about faulty breaks or fender screws that could puncture tires, Gavin's ready for anything! (Right Gavin? )

[Gavin]

Ha...heck yeah...

I've had flats before...heck, I've had a blow out before at WOT on my 150cc scooter...going 55 and having a blow out is "exciting"....I would prefer not to be that excited again anytime soon, but eh, what happens happens

As for brake failure, eh, again a scooter guy...I'm not afraid of my rear brake, I use it all the time on my smaller scooter and do a lot of linked braking on my bigger ride....

As for fires....never had any of my rides catch fire (but did have a moving truck I was driving cross country catch fire...but that is a hella long story), but I have jumped and dived away from my bike once when she had an air leak at the carb and I swear she sounded like a grenade about to go off...I had pulled over to a side street as she was revving very high and turned off the engine and she just kept revving higher and higher and I thought she would explode any second...luckily what ever fuel in the carb finally burned out before catastrophic failure)...

But in truth, in 6 years of daily riding and over 20k in scooter miles I have had no accidents and few issues (3 flats, a few fouled plugs as my 2 stoke is a bit of a dirty bird, and one wheelie that got away from me and my poor bike hit the ground....I did not hit the ground as I hopped off the back once I realized the front tire was higher than my head and I was not going to bring her back under control...another long story...basically happened three blocks from store I bought my scooter at...in front of a bus stop at the University entrance so 100 college kids watched me do what to me was an unintentional wheelie, but they likely thought, ha, look at the show-off drop his bike...sigh...

Anyways, stuff happens...you try and be safe as possible and then slip in the shower and break your neck and that cute paramedic at work that you have been trying to impress for the last 6 months gets to see your bloated dead naked body--which is never a good look and of course you did not land presenting your "good side"-- and as she wheels you into OMI that is the only image she will ever remember you by...or something like that...

So ride safe and every morning tell your family you love them just in case...

Gavin

[protomech]

Actually, it's not the "news" that hurts, it's the recall.  Brammo owners know that a recall could happen to us, just like it happens to Honda, Nissan, etc.  But to me, this sounds like an problem with under-engineering.  Compare it with the Triumph Thunderbird recall of a few days ago.  To me, the Zero one sounds much more serious.

It's not an EV component that failed. Hopefully this problem has already been fixed on the MY 2011 bikes, and they're just fitting the 2011 caliper.

Keep in mind too that only the street bikes have been recalled - I guess NHTSA doesn't regulate offroad bikes. We don't know how many Zero X / Zero MX models have been sold - and while the Enertia has generally reviewed much better than (and outsold) the Zero S / DS, the Zero X hasn't really had any competition to this point.

[Gavin]

yeah, while no brakes is hella scary, it is a problem any bike could have....

now having the battery catch fire or a short in a component give a nasty bad shock to somebody, well that will hurt EVs.

Fire and/or Electrocution are not words desired in any Header story about EVs. (which is crazy since ICEs can catch fire or electrocute people too...and do! Yet we still have MILLIONS of ICEs on the road.)

Still Zero (and Brammo and any other motorcycle company) needs to get a good, safe bike out...and no brakes does not = a safe bike

Gavin

[protomech]

ICE definitely is not free of risk, but it's a "known" risk. Which in most people's minds is near-identical to zero risk. 12V isn't likely to electrocute anyone unless you laid your tongue across both terminals somehow. Not recommended.

[Gavin]

True

I just think it is funny that people will ride around in a car with family, kids, dogs, etc etc, stop at gas station and put in 15 gallons of flammable, explosive gasoline in their tank, yet a fully enclosed battery pack is suddenly "life threatening"...

and don't give Brammofan any ideas about putting his tongue across both battery terminals...it will be the follow up youtube sensation after bathroom burnouts...

Gavin