If you’re considering buying a used Zero Motorcycle, here are few shopping tips to consider.
There’s no getting around the fact that electric motorcycles are expensive, but the good news for preowned shoppers is when it comes to buying a Zero, like many of their gasoline counterparts, their value tends to drop pretty fast on the used motorcycle market, making a gently used Zero a potentially attractive proposition, especially when the low fuel and maintenance costs are figured in.
For the purpose of this post and video I’m focusing on used bikes from the latest generation of Zeros. This generation platform first debuted in 2019 for the 2020 model year with the SR/F and has since expanded to the SR/S, SR and DSR/X.
Related
- Owner Review: Zero SR/F After 2 Years & 10K Miles
- Zero Motorcycles SR/F Vs. Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Classic LT
Zero also offers a variety of lower priced models based on earlier platforms. But those bikes are topics for another day.
The majority of the SR/F and SR/S bikes that have hit the used motorcycle market have 14.4 kWh batteries, although the newest bikes now come with a larger 17.3 kWh battery.
When considering a used Zero perhaps the most important thing to try to figure out is its battery health. Unfortunately, it’s also the toughest thing to evaluate without special equipment. But there are a few questions you can ask and things you can look for that will provide some clues.
When you’re heading out on a test ride set the bike’s trip odometer to zero. If you don’t know how, ask the owner to reset it for you. Take notice of how quickly the battery drains as compared to the miles ridden.
If you’re riding the bike in mild or warm temperatures at speeds of 55 miles per hour or below, expect to see a range loss of roughly one percent per mile if it has the 14.4 kWh battery. If the percentage loss is much higher than that it might be a sign of a battery that’s had a hard life or is degrading faster than usual.
If you’re leaning hard into the throttle during the test ride, then this idea won’t work since you’ll naturally be chewing through the charge at a much faster rate. Batteries are also sensitive to temperature so if you’re riding on a cold day expect lower range.
Ask the owner of the motorcycle about his, her or their charging habits.
If the owner always charges to 100% and leaves the bike sitting for days or weeks at a time plugged-in, then the battery may have had a harder life. Zero says, “unplugging the charger when not needed ensures the best long-term health of your power pack.”
Conversely, if you get on the bike and notice it’s at less than 30% of charge, that might also a bad sign. Zero specifically advises owners to never leave a power pack sit below 30% for extended periods of time.
Another thing to check is whether the owner has been taking advantage of Zero’s built-in battery management program that allows riders to set their bikes to charge to a pre-determined level, such as 70 or 80 percent.
If an owner has been using that feature, chances are the bike’s battery health is good.
Ask the owner how much the bike is averaging per charge. If it’s anything below 70 miles, that might be a reason for concern.
Riding style and temperature play a huge role in range so it’s not necessarily a deal breaker but if the owner is getting less than 70 miles of range, especially if it’s in city stop-and-go traffic, that’s a bad sign.
I’d also recommend staying away from any Zero that hasn’t been garage kept since all bikes decay faster when kept outdoors. Exposure to constant rain, sub-freezing temperatures and baking hot sunny days can’t be good for the electronics or long-term battery health.
Because Zero’s have so much torque, another item to carefully check is the belt. Look for cracks or any missing teeth.
If you see any, just realize you’ll need to replace the belt soon to avoid risking having it snap during a ride.
My 2020 SR/F is still on its original belt with more than 15,000 miles but I don’t lay into the full amount of torque it offers very often.
Other general motorcycle inspection tips include the usual stuff such as checking for leaky brake lines, fork leaks, lights or electronics that aren’t working or abnormal tire wear.
As with gas bikes, if the bike’s brakes grab abnormally that could be a sign of warped brake rotors or discs but also remember that Zero’s have anti-lock brakes so a bit of pulsing is normal.
With the bike turned on, take note of any error messages. If the bike has any errors a tiny triangle logo will illuminate. If you see the triangle, you’ll want to use the bike’s mode function to navigate to data, then errors and jot down the error code or codes showing.
If the owner can’t explain the error code, you can look up the code to see if it’s something to be concerned about by using these resources:
- Official Zero owners’ manuals
- Zeromanual.com error codes (wiki maintained by Zero owners)
Zero SR/F’s and SR/S’s come standard with a 3.5 kW Level 2 charger that also works with Level 1 household outlets. Make sure the charger still has its Level 2 NEMA 6-20 outlet adapter.
You’ll want to verify the bike spools up properly when plugged into charge. If for any reason it doesn’t power up within a few seconds, that may be a reason to walk away on the spot, unless it’s a case of the owner having set up an off-peak charging profile.
Related: Off-peak charging could get you thousands of miles worth of free fuel each year
If the owner has set up a profile, ask the owner to disengage it so a charging check can be done.
When it comes to used SR/F and SR/S models be sure to confirm what you’re getting. They’re offered in two trims, standard and premium.
Premium models come with double the charging speed, which came from the factory with maxing out at 5.8 kW once charging losses are figured in. They can also reach 6.6 kW if an optional Cypher Store unlock is purchased from Zero.
Correction: An earlier version this story incorrectly stated cruise control was not originally included on standard SR/F models. Zero has confirmed to EV Rider that it has in fact been included on all SR/F models since they were originally released.
2022 and newer SR/F’s and SR/S’s are all basically premium models when it comes to hardware. Now Zero sells software unlocks for things like a parking mode and heated grips while the SR has basically taken the place of the previous version of the SR/F standard model.
You’ll want to confirm what Cypher store upgrades the bike has and check the prices on anything you want to add before agreeing to a purchase price. Zero has confirmed to EV Rider that Cypher store upgrades are good for the life of the bike and will transfer to the new owner.
Another thing to know before buying a Zero is whether there is a dealer in your area.
While any competent service technician should be able to handle things like a tire swap, when it comes Zero-specific parts and electronics, that’s likely going to require a dealer. Although, Zero did tell me it does partner occasionally with independent repair shops to support individual repairs.
Related: Zero Motorcycles dealer locator
You’ll get most of your firmware updates over-the-air but some owners, including me, have seen updates fail to install occasionally, requiring a visit to the dealer to keep your bike up to date.
The good news is that you should be visiting the dealer much less often with a Zero as compared to gas bikes since there is no coolant, oil, or filter changes; or a need to mess with stuff like clutch, chain and valve adjustments.
If you’ve got any questions about Zero Motorcycles, go ahead and post them in the comments and I’ll do my best to answer them or at least point you in the right direction.
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