Aerostich and Zero Motorcycles are teaming up for a unique winter project that will give both companies the full Northern Minnesota treatment. A lightly winterized Zero FX electric motorcycle will be left outside overnight, every night, in Duluth, Minnesota, and then left outside at work all day. No warm sleeping inside nice heated garages. No periodic washes. Just loving abuse.
The tires will have a few studs, the grips will be heated and the Zero’s battery will have an Aerostich-added warmer during the coldest periods because Duluth’s usual winter temps can sometimes be more than twenty below zero. To get to work, test riders will walk out to the Zero dressed in appropriate thermal layers and Aerostich gear, unplug it and ride there. To work and home and errands everywhere. Distances from three to thirty miles across snowy, icy surface streets and highways.
Even at commuting speeds the risk of frostbite is significant, so learning to dress quickly, easily and correctly is required. We are going to learn just how much of a pain-in-the-ass the extra gear rigmarole becomes, and what it feels like to make it part of our routine.
Will an electric motorcycle work for commuting and transportation all winter in frozen Duluth, Minnesota? Will Aerostich gear be enough? With a lightly winterized Zero FX electric motorcycle and a closet full of Aerostich gear, some brave (or foolish) volunteer riders are going to find out.
Follow how the Zero XR bike and Aerostich gear performs day-to-day, in what is sure to be some extreme winter riding conditions, by signing up to receive email blog posts, photos and videos here: aerostich.com/zbz.
I rode for about 1/2 an hr. on a 750 Nighthawk with National F-16 ( not much more than fly screen) At speeds up to 60, but only briefly, because of the ice at 20 below 0. The Darien jacket and fleece liner were the main layers of upper body, but not all. Insulated neck balaclava, gerbing heated gloves (which really did the trick even at that temp, don’t even think of riding below zero without those.) behind Storm hand guards. I also had a wind proof cover that fit across the front of my helmet down to the outside of the Darien. Insulated & padded pants by first gear “main” lower protection. Small chemical hand warmers crammed into toes of boots. Really was not in any uncomfort at all. Certainly could have gone farther, but don’t really know how far at hiway speed before heat loss would be a problem. Bigggest problem keeping bloody glasses defogged in town. Just had to leave visor up, not the best solution in my opinion. Working on that, not solved yet. The wind break around the bottom 1/2 of the full face helmet was probably a major bonus. It was made out of a piece of my first Darien. 2nd and third still in use. Second’s seam tape all came loose, so use it for local riding, when not expecting rain. Don’t know if it would really leak much. I have had one for so long couldn’t imagine going touring without a Darien jacket & pants. 🙂
I rode a 350 new Kawi Avenger home from the dealer 30 miles at 17 degrees. Later rode it to Cincinati and home in 1 day about 500 miles still winter. Ahh youthful exuberance.
A few years later rode a BMW air head with windjammer and hippo hands
30 miles each way to work. Only bike on the road, imagine that! Guess
the other bikers had more sense.
Thank God I’m still around to laugh at myself.
Now I’m riding a CTX 1300 since my ST1300 started bothering my old knees and hips.
12 bikes 48 years of riding, 7 different brands, still digging it.
Ride what you love, love what you ride.