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"  On Sale Date: Now Price: $10,495; $9455 (after 10 percent federal tax credit) Competitors: Brammo Enertia, Quantya Strada Powertrain: 25-hp electric motor, 4.4-kwh lithium-ion battery pack; direct drive Approximate Range: 43 miles What&amp;#039;s New: In addition to technical improvements like 12.5 percent more battery capacity, a new belt final drive, larger brakes and retuned suspension with wider wheels, the Zero DS&amp;#039;s fit and finish have also been enhanced for a higher-quality feel. In fact, roughly 400 of the 500 shared parts that go into Zero&amp;#039;s bikes have been re-engineered with the aim of making their lineup more robust and motorcycle-like. Credit VP of Engineering Abe Askenazi for the re-do&amp;#039;s; after all, he&amp;#039;s a 15-year veteran of the late, great (and rather internal combustion\u2013oriented) Buell motorcycle company.  Tech Tidbit: The Zero DS boasts bits of tech innovation here and there, but one of our favorites is the improved battery-management and diagnostic-reporting system. Thanks to a revised algorithm, the Zero can now more accurately report the battery&amp;#039;s charge state and estimate the range. Riding Character: Apart from its eerily slender aluminum body, the Zero DS shouldn&amp;#039;t strike seasoned motorcyclists as unusual: The switch for high/low beams, turn signal, horn and kill-switch buttons are all in the orthodox positions, and there&amp;#039;s even a familiar ignition key to twist when you&amp;#039;re ready to ride. But what might throw you off is the ensuing silence. Twist the throttle\u2026er, current regulator, and there&amp;#039;s a slight jerk off the line as the DS gets going. Apart from a slight motor whine at speed, this is an almost entirely decibel-free experience, thanks in part to the new belt drive, which replaces last year&amp;#039;s old school chain setup. Acceleration isn&amp;#039;t quite arm-stretching at lower speeds, but once you&amp;#039;re up to 30 mph or so, the engine&amp;#039;s torque has a more immediate effect on thrust, pulling this featherweight 297-pound bike to a terminal velocity of 67 mph.  Sitting tall on this 35.8-inch saddle (also available with an optional 33.8-inch perch), the DS&amp;#039;s longer suspension travel makes it well-suited to potholes\u2014though a 43-mile range puts a cap on real-world commuting possibilities, and its street-biased tires left us wishing for more grip during a dirt-trail riding loop. At least a new optional quick charger can replenish the battery to 90 percent in two hours, halving its predecessor&amp;#039;s charge time. Favorite Detail: There&amp;#039;s nothing like riding a motorcycle, and there&amp;#039;s nothing quite like removing sound from the equation: The Zero DS hums along the road in near silence, offering a refreshing way to take in the world around you. Driver&amp;#039;s Grievance: Though its cruising range is estimated at 43 miles, the Zero DS won&amp;#039;t get nearly that far when ridden with a wide open throttle, which is what it begs for\u2014and demands\u2014under most riding conditions. Our aggressive canyon blast depleted the battery from a nearly full reading all the way down to less than 1/3 of its capacity in only 10 miles. The Bottom Line: Zero&amp;#039;s electric motorcycles have come a long way since the Santa Cruz, California\u2013based company was founded in 2006. Their two-wheeled creations now feel less like glorified mountain bikes and more like motorcycles\u2014well, perhaps junior motorcycles. They&amp;#039;ve increased battery capacity and reinforced suspension components, offering a product that&amp;#039;s more mature than it&amp;#039;s ever been. And yet, they still haven&amp;#039;t quite captured the imaginations of traditional motorcycle enthusiasts, as 65 percent of Zero owners don&amp;#039;t own another motorized two-wheeler. Zero executives will be the first to agree that their product is more of a supplement to, rather than a replacement for, an internal-combustion motorcycle. But thanks to a fresh infusion of cash to the tune of $26 million, we&amp;#039;re guessing that the gap between electric- and fuel-powered bikes will be closing sooner than you think. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/motorcycles/a6717/2011-zero-ds-electric-motorcycle-test-ride/>