When Zero Motorcycles rolled out the LS1 at EICMA 2025, it was pretty clear this scooter wasn’t meant to chase headlines in the US. We talked about it back then as a signal that Zero was thinking beyond its usual high-performance electric bikes and looking at value-driven urban mobility instead. Now that pricing is official, that strategy makes even more sense.
On paper, the LS1 is all about smart, usable specs rather than big numbers. It’s a 125cc equivalent electric scooter powered by a centrally mounted motor with a belt drive. Output is rated at 11.3 horsepower and 37.6 pound-feet of torque at the motor, with Zero claiming around 177 pound-feet at the rear wheel. Top speed is just over 60 mph, and it can comfortably cruise at about 53 miles per hour, which is right where you want to be for city streets and secondary roads.
The battery setup is one of the LS1’s strongest value plays. It uses two removable 1.86 kWh lithium-ion batteries integrated into the floorboard, which keeps the center of gravity low and makes them easy to pull out for charging. Zero claims up to 68 miles of range in mixed riding. Riders who need more can opt for a third battery that fits under the seat. Charging is handled by an onboard 800W charger that tops things up in around five hours, or about three hours with the optional 1.5 kW external charger.
Photo by: Zero Motorcycles
It’s also built to be unintimidating. Seat height is just over 30.7 inches, and curb weight comes in at roughly 295 pounds ready to ride. ABS and traction control are standard, which is still not a given in this price bracket. Wheel sizes are 14 inches up front and 13 inches at the rear, paired with single disc brakes and non-adjustable suspension tuned for urban use. It’s not fancy, but it’s sensible.
All of that explains why the LS1 fits Europe so well. Cities are dense, licensing rules favor 125cc equivalents, and riders actually care about size, weight, and running costs. The same logic applies to parts of Asia, especially markets where scooters dominate daily transport and removable batteries are a big win for apartment living. If Zero ever expands the LS1 into Asia, the fundamentals are already there.
The US is a different story. Scooter culture is niche, urban density works against it in most states, and incentives for small EVs are getting scaled back rather than expanded. For Zero, pushing the LS1 stateside would be expensive and risky, especially when the brand’s identity in the US is still tied to premium electric motorcycles.
Which brings us to the price, and why this matters. The Zero LS1 lands at 5,230 euros, which works out to roughly $5,600 to $5,700 at current exchange rates. That undercuts many premium electric scooters while carrying a badge that actually means something. It’s not cheap just to be cheap. It’s priced to make sense, and that might be the most important move Zero has made in years.
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Rideapart.com?
– The RideApart Team
