First impression: Zero S electric motorcycle

Several manufacturers are now marketing electric motorcycles, but they remain a rare enough sight that riding one can draw a certain amount of attention.

While riding one of the newest electrics, a Zero S, in the neighborhood surrounding our Yonkers, N.Y., offices, people engaged in sidewalk conversations stopped and stared mid-sentence as I whirred past. I know this because I could hear them talking, even going by at 30 mph. The Zero is that quiet. It even drew attention from the local police, who pulled me over just to ask questions about the battery-powered bike.

So, what is it?
Santa Cruz, California-based Zero has been making an off-road motorcycle since 2008, but the Zero S is their first street bike. Like the competing Brammo, the Zero S is lightweight at 225 pounds, nimble, and easy to ride. (Read: “Brammo electric motorcycles coming to Best Buy.”) There is no clutch or gears to shift; you just twist the throttle and go. Disc brakes front and rear provide smooth, sure stops. With performance roughly comparable to a small, 250cc gasoline-powered motorcycle, the Zero S is targeted at commuters and urban dwellers who don’t need a lot of cruising range or high-speed capability. 

Company officials say the Zero S has about a 45-60 mile range, depending on how hard and fast it is ridden. Top speed is about 60 mph, and the lithium-ion batteries recharge in roughly four hours using any household 110-volt outlet.

Rather than using a traditional dealer network, Zero plans to sell their bikes direct to customers through the company Web site. This, they say, will help keep the price down. At $9,950, the Zero S is still expensive, and it is about 2-3 times the cost of comparable gasoline-powered models. But it’s also about $2,000 less than the competing Brammo, and the company says state and Federal tax credits could shave another $1,000-$3,000 off the price, depending on where you live.

Most of the cost is in the batteries, but CEO Gene Banman is confident his bikes have a future and that battery costs will come down. Banman says he’s seen a 25 percent drop in the last 12 months, and that he expects to be able to reach price parity with gasoline-powered motorcycles in about five years. That could make electric motorcycles a viable option for some, and maybe even make them popular enough that you don’t get pulled over just for riding one. 

See our motorcycle and scooter buying advice and ratings.

Also, see our recent first impressions of:
Aprilia 850 Mana
Can-Am Spyder motorcycle
Piaggio MP3 motor scooter

—Jim Travers

Comments

[Peter Duncan]

Buying an unproven $10k electric bike over the web with no dealer or service network in place sounds like such a great idea! But maybe not offering any service enables the manufacturer to get around my states motorcycle Lemon Laws?...and who will give me insurance cover on such a bike? Come on Consumer Repports do some research and ask some thoughtful questions on our behalf. Please!

[Ajlouny]

For a 250cc bike, $10,000 seems a bit too much comparable to other bikes out there for the same power. I wouldn't want to purchase a bike sight unseen. What's the safety level when the engine is not loud enough to attract other vehicles. So many questions.

[mikejgrant]

Im sick and tired of working on any of my 5 cycles that im just about ready to get one of these. If youve owned a bike and had to rejet carbs, adjust valves, replace clutches, youll understand how attractive this bike looks.
By the way, loud pipes dont save lives. They annoy!!

[Chris]

Eh.... but I see no mention of the fact that the lithium-ion batteries need to be replaced every 4 years - currently around $3K each for EM's and $20K for cars (Teslas). It's comparable to dropping in a new engine every 4 years... Not good. Everybody is banking prices will go down but technology & demand must catch up first. The EV companies will have to eat the consumer battery replacements costs initially - to sell EV's & cause demand.

[Rudynf]

Electric motorcycles are a great step in the right direction. If we were paying European gas prices electric motor bikes would seem alot more affordable. As with anything else, new products are usually more expensive when they first hit the market. Remember stereo VCR's were priced around $500, flat screen TV's 10 to 15k when they were new to the market. If our government could get out of the oil business and be more supportive of new inovation we could see something better for consumers. Also, I agree with the earlier post, a louder engine is not a safety feature, this is coming from a Harley owner.