zero cafe

About a year into the Rebel project, I started to doubt if I’d ever actually ride the thing. With the dream of commuting on two wheels still intact, I realized something that sketchy wasn’t a Monday-Friday solution. So I went for it and bought a new 2012 Zero XU, a super light commuter with way more plastic than it needed. In fact, buried underneath was a pretty good looking purpose built electric frame, so I got to work on stripping it down café-style into something I could get around New Orleans on easily. A great city bike. Sold it to a collector. 

the bike

The cafe treatment for an already lightweight Zero XU made for an extremely compact urban commuter. Mostly bolt on parts and moving things around - no metalwork on this one. 

the basics

2012 Zero Motorcycles XU

Removed bodywork

Wiring redesign

Clip-on handlebars

Relocated dash components

Custom headlight bracket

New headlamps (KC)

Android dash

Trimmed stock seat mount

Ryca motors cafe seat, taillight unit