One of the special things about Bike Week is the opportunity it provides to see and sample almost every motorcycle manufacturer’s new models all in one place. At the Midway you could start with a spin on a Triumph Bonneville, walk over to the Harley-Davidson display and jump on a Sportster to do an instant riding comparison, and if you’re brave enough, follow that up with a heart-thumping demo on a V8-powered Boss Hoss.

It also serves as a platform for up-and-coming companies to debut their work. One of these companies is Zero Motorcycles, who elected to use Bike Week to introduce the public to its new lineup of four electric motorcycles. The Santa Cruz, California-based manufacturer brought its Zero S Supermoto, DS dual-sport , MX track bike and the Zero X trail bike and set up a small moto course on the backside of the Ocean Center to give motorcyclists a chance to sample its new offerings.

We had a ten o’clock appointment with company rep John Ewert who was crazy enough to let a cruiser guy like me burn a few laps on its makeshift course. Better yet, Ewert introduced us to Zero’s CEO Gene Banman, who was kind enough to give us an overview of the motorcycles and answer any questions we had. As he talked, you could see the excitement in his eyes about his new company, and in this industry, if you don’t have the passion, you’ll get gobbled alive like a floundering fish in an Amazonian piranha pool. But Banman’s a bright guy. They don’t hand out Physics degrees from UC Berkeley to just anybody. Besides his book smarts, he has also made smart moves by surrounding himself with industry vets like Ewert and the newly acquired Abe Askenazi, the former Senior Director of Analysis, Testing and Engineering with Buell Motorcycles.

Being a guy who spends most of his saddle time on cruisers that are on the other extreme end of what electric motorcycles represent, I was very curious as to how this latest trend in technology would translate in real-world applications. No shifting, no exhaust noise, no sound from the big cylinders thumping up and down with each gaseous internal explosion – would the experience leave me disappointed?

Not in the least bit. The ride is engaging and provides motorcyclists with all of the essentials necessary for an invigorating experience. There are peculiarities that take a little getting acclimated to, like when you push the start button and the only indication the bike is running is the digital display of the speedo lighting up. But with one twist of the wrist, the torque is immediate and the E-bike catapults down the straight. Hitting the first curve, the bike is lightweight and agile. After a few laps, I’m grinning ear-to-ear like a kid on his first trip to Disneyland. I got to sample the Zero DS intially which was a perfect bike to attack the combination of tight radius turns and a small sweeper. Switching to the Zero MX was equally a treat. In true MX fashion, the dirt bike had more torque than the DS, a fact I found out when I first cracked the throttle and the front wheel lifted off the ground. It also came into play on one corner exit when I was coming out of the sweeper at a good lean and gave the throttle a twist and the rear-end broke loose on me. Should have seen the faces of the Zero guys as the bike’s sliding and it’s looking like I might be eating some asphalt but pull it out with a quick kick save. Fun stuff. Under the helmet, my grin only grew bigger.

We also got another unexpected treat at the Expo Center. While MotoUSA videographer, Eric Novisedlak was filming an interview with Banman, I hear the familiar COPS ‘Bad boys, bad boys, what you gonna do’ theme song booming out of big speakers from a trailer across the parking lot, followed by the familiar scream of police sirens. I walk over to see what all the commotion is and it’s none other than Jerry ‘Motorman’ Palladino and his crew doing his infamous ‘Ride Like a Pro’ demonstration. I love this guy. If you want to learn how to confidently handle a big bike, watch this guy’s video. Even long-time riders could learn a trick or to. The way this guy can handle a wide-bodied cruiser is incredible. The trio of riders proceeded to dodge in and out of tightly packed orange cones, banking, leaning, and stopping on a dime. I think anybody who wants to learn how to ride a big bike should take one of his courses. Better yet, his petite wife could wheel the big police Harley she was riding around just as well as he. I had seen one of his videos before, but their live demonstration was even more impressive.

With the afternoon sun hanging high in the sky, we shot over to Willie’s Tropical Tattoo for his annual Old School Chopper Show. By the time we got there, you could barely walk around the lot. Willie’s was overflowing with patch-wearing club members and one percenters, true salt-of-the earth bikers. Many of the crew from the Limpnickie Lot, like Paul Wideman of Bare Knuckle Choppers and Pat Patterson of Led Sled Customs were also throwing down at Willie’s annual shin dig. Almost 180 motorcycles competed in 13 different categories, and the work ran the gamut, from a sleek, stretched, ground-skirting custom with a black shovel for a seat to go along with its shovelhead engine to Nash Motorcycles Looky Looky Ironhead Sportster bobber with all electrics and its battery hidden neatly away in a leather saddlebag and Nash’s signature Looky Looky glass fuel gauge fobbed in the tank. Inside, tattooing needles were buzzing while outside live music blared in the back. Roadside Marty was his usual charming self as he simultaneously entertained the crowd and kept the program on track. Willie was all smiles as friends came from far and wide to pay tribute to the long-time Daytona fixture.

One of the cool things about Bike Week is you never know who you’re going to run into. We’re cruising down the A1A when we see the unmistakable dreads of Michael Ballard and the black-stockinged legs of his better half Angie of Full Throttle Saloon fame standing on the side of the road. We recently interviewed Ballard at the Sacramento Easyriders Show so we whip around and pull over to say ‘Hello’ and see if they needed a ride. Just about that time, their buddy pulls up across the street, but Ballard tells us he’s set up on Beach St. and invites us to stop on by.

As the sun sets, it’s time once again to hit our newfound home-away-from-home, Main St. Daytona Beach, aka ground central for biker debauchery. But our usual pursuit of the best band and the coldest beer gives way for a more stand-up cause, the annual Biker Fusion Event at the Dog House Bar & Grill. With a long list of sponsors like the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino and Rise Above Consulting, the event is a fundraiser in support of our men and women who selflessly give of themselves to keep our great country safe. While we’re blessed enough to be enjoying ourselves on the beautiful beaches of Daytona, they’re on the other side of the world in hostile environments we can barely fathom. So events like the Biker Fusion Party are more important now than ever. All proceeds raised from the event go to the Post 911 Foundation and Soldiers’ Angels. The Post 911 Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to honoring and assisting first responders and veterans who have served our nation in the aftermath of 9/11. Soldiers’ Angels aims to provide aid and comfort to the men and women of the Armed Services. On this night, donations were being raised for three different soldier support packs ranging from $20 to $100. The basic package, called the Deployment Pack, was filled with goodies like Rice Krispie Treats and amenities like hand wipes that we might take for granted but make a world of difference for soldiers serving on the battlefield.

With Bert Baker of Baker Drivetrain fame and popular custom bike builder Bryan Fuller serving as hosts, the auction raised thousands of dollars for the cause. The list of items up for bid ranged from electric guitars donated by the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel with custom Buck Wild paint jobs to an American flag flown at Ground Zero and Afghanistan.

The highlight of the night was when Romulo ‘Romy’ Camargo took the stage. Romy is a Special Forces soldier who took a bullet to the neck in Afghanistan and is now paralyzed. Before the bullet almost took his life, Romy was the type of guy who you wanted next to you in combat. He is considered a brother by many in attendance and loved to ride motorcycles when he wasn’t busy serving his country. Now he can’t ride, so his brothers-in-arms took up to the torch to build him a special motorcycle with a sidecar so Romy can once again experience the freedom of riding. His friend and custom bike builder, Izzy Izquierdo, led the charge along with Rich Miller, and together they got the build done in time for Bike Week so that Romy could take a ride down Main St.  Daytona Beach police even blocked off his route, something they just don’t do. It was a special night for somebody who has payed a heavy price for his country, who is ‘scarred so others may live free’ – a motorcyclist, a brother, and a friend.

My night ends, more somber than usual, but once again I am empowered by the giving nature of motorcyclists, who despite the bad rap we get, are some of the most compassionate and big-hearted people around.