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When you ride an electric bike, questions are always about the numbers. How long does the battery last? What’s the range? How many hours does it take to recharge? All understandable considering electric bikes like the Zero SR are still relatively new. And there’s a lot of misinformation floating around. So I recently downloaded the smartphone app for the Zero SR. It not only allows me to alter the bike’s speed, torque and regeneration settings through the Custom mode, it also uses the phone to display dynamic information beyond the simple ‘battery percentage remaining’ icon on the dash. My daily commute to the office is 75km each way comprising 20km of freeway, 20km of multilane highway and 35km of city traffic. The 20km of freeway is the big battery killer. Sitting on 110km/h for just 11 minutes requires 22 per cent of the battery power. That’s in Sport mode; running the bike in Eco mode does use slightly less, however, the trade-off is a lack of roll-on power. The 20km of highway, at an average of 70km/h, uses around 13 per cent in Sport mode. Thirty-five kays of city traffic, with plenty of lane filtering and blasting away from lights in Custom mode with full power and zero regen, uses a further 17 per cent. The bike recharges from a standard socket at around 10 per cent per hour so it’s back to full charge well before I leave work to head home. I could easily make the return trip on one charge, a distance of 150km. Take the freeway out of the equation and those numbers become more attractive. Petrol station? Never heard of him. http://amcn.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Screen-Shot-2016-12-11-at-6.29.33-PM.png The post Zero SR appeared first on Australian Motorcycle News.

I get excited about all new additions to our Long Term fleet, however, the arrival of the Zero SR had that feeling of Christmas about it. We first rode the Zero SR in 2014 when I found it interesting, but devoid of any feel due to the choice of tyres and suspension. When I discovered the 2015 model had been updated with Showa fully adjustable suspension and fitted with Pirelli Diablo Rosso II tyres, I was keen to get my hands on it. Sam MacLachlan tested the bike for AMCN back in May (AMCN Vol 65 No 23) and when he returned raving about it as a short-term test ride, I was keen to discover what it would be like to live day-in day-out with a bike that doesn’t need a service station, but does require a power point. Vince Tesoriero from Procycles in St Peters, Sydney kindly offered me an extended loan, so over the next few months I will be reporting on life as a member of the zero emissions set. I’ve only had the bike a few days, but I’ve already learnt plenty about riding a bike without a petrol cap. Blasting down a freeway at 110km/h in Sport mode really sucks the life out of the battery, yet around town it’s brilliant. In Eco mode, rolling to a stop from further back rather than braking at the last minute makes good use of the bike’s regeneration system, which puts power back into the battery. Problem is, the arm-pulling acceleration of Sport mode is so addictive I’m happy to arrive at my destination with a huge grin on my face and just a few percent in reserve. There’s still plenty to learn about the bike, including how to program it with my iPhone and how not to scare the bejesus out of people when you suddenly appear next to them at the lights. I’ll have more details in my next long-term update, but one thing I can report now is that the Pirelli hoops and Showa boingers have made a massive difference. http://amcn.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/160419_AMCN_Zero_0073.jpg http://amcn.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/160419_AMCN_Zero_0062.jpg Photography Josh Evans & AMCN The post Zero SR – The electric bike appeared first on Australian Motorcycle News.

We were so blown away by Yamaha’s WR250R when it showed up for our recent LAMS adventure in the Victorian High Country that we just couldn’t bear to part with it! When the going got tough the little Yamahammer’s lightweight chassis and torquey motor came to the fore, making it the weapon of choice for our crusty demons on tour. So, after far too many frothy beverages at Kevington, a diabolical plan was hatched to add the little blue and white dirt devil to our normally road-biased long-term fleet. Why buck the status quo by bringing a two-wheeled tractor into the fold you ask? Well, despite appearances, the WR250R is no run of the mill off-roader – its sleek enduro-inspired design and liquid cooled, fuel-injected 250cc DOHC four-stroke engine allow it to walk the fine line between weekend warrior and rock solid reliability. It’s also downright affordable, having dropped in price by more than $2000 since its release in 2008, and in my opinion, it’s also the coolest looking dual-sport on the market! In stock trim the WR can commute or kick up dust with equal aplomb, but Yamaha has kindly sweetened the deal for AMCN by prepping the long termer with a set of knobby Dunlop Enduro hoops (D907F 90/90-21 up front, D606 120/90-18 at the rear) and a few choice additions from the Y-shop (yshop.yamaha-motor.com.au). These include a 13.8L safari tank, bark busters, a GYTR alloy sump guard, an off-road number plate holder and luggage carrier. Our LAMS test revealed the long-legged LAMS-approved off-roader expertly flies the flag of so-called ‘Supertrail’ bikes, but let’s hope it can withstand some serious punishment in the hands of a ham-fisted rookie. Over the next six months I aim to test every ounce of its capabilities while embarking on a series of adventures across some of the toughest terrain around! http://amcn.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/IMG_3667-copy-1024x664.jpg By Paul McCann The post Yamaha WR250R appeared first on Australian Motorcycle News.