Quantya Track
What's Hot:
. Ergonomics make this feel like a real motorcycle-peg location, bar and seat are all up to par.
. Big fork provides great feel and ample performance for real riding.
. Mellower delivery gets great traction and is thus more usable than the Zero-X.
. Standard-sized spokes make strong wheels.
. Rear brake pedal was familiar to most (though a hand brake is also available).
. Graphics and plastics look stealth and aggressive.
. Feels planted and stable, even at speed.
. Strong brake components and other hardware have stout build.
. Hides its weight well and doesn't feel overly heavy on the track.
. Belt drive to relay sprocket takes drive forces off motor.
What's Not:
. Tamer power delivery may be better for technical riding but isn't as fast over open terrain, especially at top speed.
. Inconsistent and erratically delayed power delivery; throttle does not feel as directly connected to power delivery as the Zero-X.
. Rear shock feels sag-less, springy and less progressive compared to the fork.
. No kill switch-be careful with the key on!
. Tires are more dual-sport than dirt.
. Power seems to taper down just a little after about 10 minutes, and then stays there for the duration of charge.
. Battery takes longer to recharge than the Zero-X and simply doesn't hold a charge as long-we saw 45 minutes at a trail pace and 25 minutes of hard riding before a considerable power loss.
. Nonremovable battery leaves no option but plug-and-don't-play while it charges.
The Winner
When you get down to it, it's difficult to declare an outright winner between these two machines. The Zero-X boasts an awesome, consistent power delivery that just may overlap the chassis' handling and ergonomic oddities. The bike altogether feels like a motorized bicycle, but many of the Zero-X's shortcomings-suspension, grips, spokes and graphics-can be fixed. On the other hand, the Quantya Track feels like riders-not just engineers-built it, though this shows on the scale. The power may not be as consistent as the Zero-X, but the easier initial hit makes the Quantya easier to ride (particularly in off-road situations), and the ergonomics are solid. Between the two machines, the absolute best electric bike would be a combination of the two, as the Quantya's ergonomics and strength with the Zero-X's battery would be a sweet machine. But if we have to pick a winner, we'd hand it to the Zero-X based on the simple fact that the longer-lasting, removable battery equals more time in the saddle. And since we've been having so much fun on these, we really value saddle time!