2013
ZERO S ZF11.4 ELECTRICMOTORCYCLE
THE BELLS ANDWHISTLES
Bay, where in summer the locals pull up
for a quick roadside dip.
WhiletheZero’s lowweightgetsmeupto
speed quickly, it also helps keepme nimble
whendodgingeventhemostunpredictable
cars and pedestrians, of which there are
many. “I didn’t evenhear ya!”marvels a guy
in the Shibley’s lotwhowas toobusymind-
ing his towering ice cream cone to watch
where he was going. Since electric motor-
cycles don’t affordyou the safetybenefit of
being the loudest thing on twowheels, the
no-noise factor does catch some off-guard
and there are times when you may need
to use your horn. Still, as Bob points out,
mostmotorcycle accidents happenwhena
driver can’t see themotorcyclist—notwhen
he can’t hear him.
Our trip ends aswe arrive at the hulking
neonWeirsBeachsignmarkingthefocusof
bike week festivities (a.k.a. Party Central),
where next month thousands will be lin-
ing up their bikes as if this were a giant
7-
Elevenparking lot. Thepatchholders and
hang-arounds who gather here every year
might not be impressedwith the Zero, but
Bob is so ening, especially a er I let him
take a spin around town on it. “It’s safer,
because you can concentrate on the road
and not on shi ing gears,” he says. “And it’s
fun. In this case, silence reallywas golden.”
And while it’s true that 300,000 motor-
cycles whispering into town for Laconia
Bike Week wouldn’t be the same as the
time-honoredentrance-by-near-deafening-
roar, that may not be such a bad thing.
ALYSSAGIACOBBE
is a writer and editor based
in Newburyport, Mass. At 5 foot 3, she thinks
leather pants look better on tall people.
ROADTRIP
||
DISPATCHES
BOARDING PASS
Warm-weather
adventures, brilliant autumn foliage and
winter sports galore add up to make New
Hampshire a year-round destination.
United can take you there with nonstop
service to Manchester from its U.S.
hubs in Chicago, New York/Newark,
Cleveland and D.C.
For more information
or to book your flight, go to united.com.
PERFORMANCE:
The Zero can cover
137
city miles on a single charge,
powering up in 7.4 hours for about
$1 (the equivalent of more than 500
mpg). The clutchless transmission
and lithium-ion battery pack won’t
need replacing for 300,000 miles,
while the adjustable suspension
system permits gliding over a variety
of terrains at speeds of up to 95 mph.
STARTING PRICE:
$15,995
PERKS:
An Android/iPhone app and
Bluetooth connectivity allow riders to
monitor power usage while riding, adjust
top speed and torque, customize the
dash and connect with each other for
on-the-road communication.
MOTOR:
54
hp electric with maximum
torque of 68 lb-ft fueled by a recharge-
able 11.4 kWh battery pack. Brushless
and air-cooled, it’s designed to perform
well without regular maintenance.
HEMISPHERESMAGAZINE.COM
•
MAY 2013
27
