What is it?
All versions get a dual LED light setup
Electrification isn’t restricted to the world of cars. No, the two-wheeled segment is getting in on the action, too, and Zero is riding a wave of battery-powered interest through its line-up of electric motorcycles. From high-riding tourers to full-on sports bikes, Zero is here to show that battery power belongs in motorcycles.
It’s here to prove that it can make its way into dirt bikes, too. It’s why we’re testing this motorbike – the Zero XE – to see if plug-in power is the way to go when you’re venturing off-road, or if it’s not quite the right fit.
What’s new?
The battery can be charged up in five hours
The XE isn’t the only dirt-focused electric motorcycle that Zero offers. There’s also the smaller XB model, which does look a little similar to its bigger brother but is far closer to e-bike levels of performance. The XE will be the one to choose if you’re looking to travel a little further, or go a little quicker.
But there’s plenty of ‘proper’ equipment on the XE. You get a chunky front fork with 210mm of travel, and a rear shock with 85mm of travel. It’s got a classic staggered wheel size, too, with a 21-inch front wheel matched to a smaller 18-inch rear wheel for better agility when you’re heading off-road.
What’s it powered by?
The battery can be removed for easier charging
The XE gets a single electric motor, but it’s quite a punchy one. With just shy of 21bhp and 58Nm of torque, it’s got more than enough to tap into to make things interesting. On top of this Zero says that by the time that power reaches the rear wheel, you’re getting a huge 635Nm of torque – more than most road cars. The XE can manage a top speed of 53mph, whereas the smaller XB can only head up to a 28mph top speed.
Zero says that if you travelled at a steady 31 miles for much of the time you could get 65 miles of range – though we found during our very-cold test ride that it fell a bit short of that after some brisk riding.
What about charging? Well, you can remove the 4.3kWh battery and charge it back from flat to 95 per cent in five hours.
What’s it like to ride?
There’s a lot of torque being sent to the rear wheels
The XE takes a bit of getting used to initially, as when compared with your standard-size motorcycle, it still feels quite small, even as the ‘bigger’ off-road Zero model. However, what you immediately notice is just how light this bike is and even when you’re just meandering on the road, it’s easy to adjust. It’s also very pleasant to be on a dirt bike that doesn’t make a sound – you don’t feel quite so antisocial when you’re riding through somewhere quiet.
But realistically, this is a bike designed primarily for off-road use, so how does it get on there? Very well, actually. Again, that lightness plays to the XE’s strengths, while its nimble handling helps when you’re navigating larger obstacles. The issue we found, however, is that the sheer level of torque heading to the rear wheel means that the back tyre can suffer from quite a bit of spin, particularly if you’re riding on slippery or greasy areas like our clay-based test route.
How does it look?
The XE is light and easy to handle
The XE has all of the trademark dirt bike features, with tall forks up front and chunky, no-nonsense tyres. In fact, we’d argue that a lot of people could mistake this bike for a ‘regular’ petrol version, though it did turn quite a few heads as it silently passed along streets.
There aren’t any other colourways to choose from, though the white, red and black combination that Zero has chosen looks good.
What’s the spec like?
The compact screen shows all key information
The Zero XE is priced at £5,590 in the UK, putting it towards the lower end of the spectrum price-wise. In comparison, the petrol-powered Honda Montesa trials bike comes in at £6,999, while Suzuki’s far more powerful RM-Z250 will set you back £7,199. However, both of those are petrol motorcycles and could cost more to run than the XE.
All XE models get some cool equipment as standard, however, including twin LED headlights, and a compact 2.4-inch colour TFT display which is clear and easy to read, despite being relatively small. It’s here that you can see the bike’s remaining range, headlight setting and kickstand status, among other features.
Verdict
The Zero XE is quite an interesting alternative to your usual off-road motorcycle. Of course, if you’re planning to travel further afield, then this bike’s range won’t suit, nor will its relatively low top speed if you need to head to a dual carriageway in between.
However, if you’re going local – or taking your bike in a van – then the XE’s lightweight nature could prove very appealing, as could its silent powertrain, which creates far less disturbance than your typical two-stroke.
