Zero E-Michigan

Day 5: Pittsburgh to Charleston Stats and Map: Intended mileage 254 Actual mileage 270 Cumulative mileage 789 Number of charge stops 4 Charging cost $3.02 Charging energy (kWh) 8.6 paid and ~ 19 free Detailed Rever Map Video Route The route took me back roads into West Virginia and mostly along the Ohio River to a friend's house for lunch in New Martinsville, and then on to another friend's house in Charleston, WV.  One of my Michigan friends calls this my "sponge tour" since I'm apparently sponging off a good chunk of my friends in the areas I'm riding through.   First Stops My first stop was at Racoon State Park which was really just a pit stop, but they happened to have a free Level 2 charger so I got about 10 miles of additional range while I stopped

Day 4: Genoa, OH to Pittsburgh, PA Stats and Map: Intended mileage 250 Actual mileage 250 Cumulative mileage 518 Number of charge stops 3 Charging cost $0.15 (no kidding) Charging energy (kWh) 7.3 paid + ~ 10 at friends' houses Detailed Rever Map Day 4 Video Route Today's route was more or less as planned from my friends Pam and Tom's house to my friends Karl and Mary's house.  However, there were quite a few detours due to road work, flooding, and a downed tree.  So the progress was slow along the lakeshore (little towns along the lakeshore with low speed limits), central Ohio (a million traffic lights), and the Pittsburgh approach (a really screwed up last hour or so due to that tree requiring me to go across a different bridge across the Ohio River).   Lake

Day 2: Wet Weather Riding Stats and Map: Intended mileage 95 Actual mileage 95 Cumulative mileage 268 Number of charge stops 1 Charging cost $2.24 Charging energy (kWh) 6.4  Detailed Rever Map Day 2-3 Video Route Today was shorter by design because of the weather.   As expected, it was pouring all day so I chose to only finish my original route from Muskegon to Genoa.  Sure enough, I got soaked despite my "rain gear".  I think I need another visit to Cycle Gear and get some actual waterproof gloves and maybe a rain overcoat.  The internal jacket liner sorta works but it still means my main riding jacket gets wet.   Charging in Monroe, MI Charging Stop I probably could have made today's trip with a single charge, but to be honest I was cold and needed a coffee by

Day 1: Muskegon to Genoa, OH Chelsea, MI Stats and Map: Intended mileage 274 Actual mileage 170 Cumulative mileage 170 Number of charge stops 2 Charging cost $2.50 Charging energy (kWh) 18 Detailed Rever Map Day 1 YouTube video Intended Route The intent on the first day was to get to Genoa, OH where a high school friend has invited me for dinner and an overnight stay.  I also wanted to meet up with a few other friends for a coffee in Chelsea, MI where there is a charging station in town.   My motorcycle, a 2022 Zero SR/S , has a secondary road range of about 100-120 miles depending on temperature and a few other factors.  So with a nearly 300-mile trip today, the goal was to stop 2 times to charge.  I typically like to ride 2-3 hours max before stopping for a break and chargi

Riding the Dragon Tail of the Dragon   Designated US 129, the Tail of the Dragon in Deals Gap, NC  boasts 318 curves in 11 miles and is bordered by the Great Smoky Mountains and the Cherokee National Forest with no intersecting roads or driveways to hamper your travel. Motorcyclists and sports car enthusiasts in eastern USA typically fall into two categories:  They've ridden or driven the Tail of the Dragon or they want to.   Checking out the bikes Electrics at the Dragon Austin Ammarell, owner of eMoto Powersports , has been organizing an event to gather electric motorcyclists for several years called Electrics at the Dragon.  Renting a set of AirBNB houses in Robbinsville, NC, Austin's event allows eMoto enthusiasts to rent a room at very reasonable rates.  The shared common spaces like a garage with plenty of parking and common kitchen and living spaces fosters a sense a camaraderie and telling of riding stories for the attendees.   EVRider 's Bill Bortzfield gives a gr

QUICKLYNKS 12V Bluetooth monitor (Amazon affiliate link) The recent  12V Battery Post and associated YouTube video elicited quite a bit of engagement, so thanks for the feedback!  The initial analysis indicated that the 12V battery on my Kia Niro EV was potentially marginal.  It turns out a single measurement with a multimeter isn't enough to get a true picture of the battery health. Fellow EV owner and builder Mike Walenga whom I met via the Kalamazoo EV Association recommended a 12V Bluetooth battery monitor which I thought might be helpful for readers of this blog as well.  See link below the picture on the left or in the text above. Note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Prefer a video version of this?  See this Zero E-Michigan YouTube Video . Our friend's Prius' 12V battery was draining due to  a dome light left on. Data Snapshots Obviously checking the voltage on your 12V battery with a multimeter only gives you a single snapshot in time.