Neal Saiki: Sustainable Performance

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NeilSaiki.jpg“Snipers just know to shoot any kind of gas can.” Snipers don’t usually come up in an interview with a bike designer, but they did talking to Neal Saiki, the founder of Zero Motorcycles. High velocity rifle fire is just one thing Neal has to worry about with his company’s new range of electric dirt and street bikes, Zero is developing unconventional products for an incredibly conservative market. When it comes to motorcycles, saving the world is not enough.

Click below for the feature:
Neal Saiki: Sustainable Performance

  • modelasian

    Zero is so rad! Unfortunately for them, as soon as the batteries get good (next year according to Neal), I don’t see how Honda isn’t going to come-a-crushing.
    Even if the market for e-bikes (and cars) is small, once the economy gets back in gear Honda will want to create a big public mindshare. Honda already made a hydrogen car, for no reason I can see beyond PR and bragging rights.

  • http://artistruth.livejournal.com will

    Saiki is such a badass partially because he’s just so well spoken. We need an effective spokesperson for a tangible future- Thanks HFL!

  • Scott

    good story.

  • http://sidewaysnortheast.blogspot.com/ frank

    Very cool, I guess I wasn’t paying attention, didn’t realize Zero is a US based company.
    If they wanted to boost interest and potential sales, they could show up with some of their off-road bikes at the Thursday evening rides we run during the summer up here in Vermont/New Hampshire. There are usually 20-30 guys riding single-track trails, typically about a 3-4 mile loop. Great way to demo bikes and test under great off-road conditions.

    • http://hellforleathermagazine.com Wes Siler

      You should contact your local sales rep through Zero’s website and invite them out.

      • http://sidewaysnortheast.blogspot.com/ Frank

        Done. I hope they call.

  • http://muthalovin.com The_Doctor

    This is a really great story. The focus on the aspects of enjoying a motorcycle for its intended purpose instead of its consequential purpose is whats usually lacking in electric vehicle campaigns. Tesla is billed first as green, sports car as second. Reading all the stories on HFL about the Zero is thoroughly enjoyable. Thanks Wes.

  • Zac

    From the feature article:
    “I think in San Francisco we were only able to manage 12, 12.5mph and that’s it. It’s just like New York; you can only manage like 10mph.”

    Did someone forget to tell Mr. Saiki they can lane split in California? I commute everyday in SF, through downtown, and it is nothing like New York. Bikes can go downright fast here in traffic. I see it and do it each hair raising morning. I’m not saying I use my top end, but I certainly need to get past 30mph even during rush hour, and I don’t think i’m unique in that.

    Don’t get me wrong, I think Saiki rules the school, and I love the idea of their bikes, but unless one of their bikes can get me to work right quick, between the lanes, i’ll stick to my gsxr-600

    • http://hellforleathermagazine.com Wes Siler

      Measure your average speed across town. It doesn’t matter if you’re getting up to 60, 70mph, you spend so much time stopped at traffic lights that the average comes wayyyy down.

      In town, you’re lane splitting at what? 15-20mph? Maybe up to 40mph on a stationary highway? A 12.5mph city center average is spot on.

  • Core

    Great article!

  • Zac

    You know I didn’t think about average speed. I’ll have to look into that. Good point.

  • http://www.plugbike.com/ skadamo

    read some info on electric motorcycle forum that reminded me of this article. Sounds like some of the design decisions for the Zero DS may have come from interest from the military.

    http://electricmotorcycleforum.com/boards/index.php?topic=509.msg1564#msg1564