LEAN AND MEAN (AND GREEN)
No longer a novelty for technology-obsessed bikers with a penchant for the unusual, electric motorcycles are here to stay. With the introduction of Harley-Davidson’s LiveWire and the news that some of the biggest names in the game are joining forces to start doing some serious thinking about the future of motorcycling, things are really starting to hot up in the electric motorcycle market. Not that Zero has much to worry about just yet. It’s been around since 2006 and has cemented itself as the brand to beat when it comes to electric motorcycling, setting benchmarks for performance and range with each new model. But there’s one bike that continues to be the biggest success for the Californian factory: the S.
Since its inception back in 2006, Zero has made a name for itself with its eclectic mix of electric bikes which combine minimalist design with ‘proper’ petrol-bike comparable specification.
There’s a whole host of models to choose from, including the high-spec SR models, the lightweight, off-road FX, supermoto-style FXE and trailie-inspired DSs, alongside the bike we’ve been testing here, the mid-range S.
Zero’s S is the streetfighter model in its range, a naked sportbike bike that’s been stripped back to the bare essentials. The overall look is clean and stylish, if not a little sparse, and at first glance the basic aluminium twin spar frame, rear monoshock, inverted forks and single disc brakes might make you question its twelve-and-a-half grand price tag. But it’s not quite that simple. If it was kitted out with the latest and greatest parts, it’d be considerably more expensive – but and that’s not what Zero’s going for.
With an 807mm seat height, the S is deceptively dinky when you get up close. Thankfully, there’re some low-set footpegs and wide-ish bars helping to offer plenty of room for my 6ft 1in frame… but I’m not so sure that someone a little bit taller would be quite so content. The riding position’s upright, with just enough forward lean to make it feel like you’re on something sporty. There’s no fairing and no screen, so don’t expect any kind of protection from the elements, but being honest you’re rarely going to have an issue unless you’re planning on covering some miles on dual-carriageways and motorways. You’d be much better off using the S in it’s natural habitats, e.g. in town and on some twisty roads (and then you’ll be less likely to run the battery flat, too).
The S is powered by Zero’s air-cooled Z-Force 75-5 electric motor which kicks out 59bhp, 80lb-ft of torque and has a top speed of 86mph. It’s a direct belt drive job and there’re no gears to mess around with, which means it really couldn’t be easier to ride. It’s perfect for learners. And strangely enough, despite its punchy power output, it can actually be ridden on an A1 licence because of strange quirk in the way power is measured for electric vehicles (thankfully, it’s fairly unlikely you’ll find too many 17-year-olds with a spare 12 grand).
In the full power Sport mode it feels rapid off the line, probably because all that torque is available at once and there’s no need to waste time shifting through the gears. In reality, it delivers smooth, linear power all the way up to its restricted top speed. I did have a couple of sketchy moments when winding open the throttle on the exit of particularly wet corners, losing a little bit of traction at the rear wheel, but thankfully the tyres soon found grip and I was on my way safely. There is an Eco mode if you fancy cooling things down a little, but with a 30mph restriction, it’s only use is for when you’re pottering through town (or crawling back home because you’ve been a little over-zealous with the throttle). There’s a Custom mode too, which can be customised using the Zero Motorcycles smartphone app, and allows you to adjust the power delivery curve, monitor drivetrain parameters and dial-in max torque and regenerative braking levels. Clever stuff, right?
The bike’s battery is a 12.6kWh lithium-ion number which helps to offer a maximum of 150 miles from a single charge if you’re riding around town. That drops down to between 90 and 100 miles if you do a mix of town and country riding, and down again to between 70 to 75 miles if you’re exclusively bombing around at higher speeds. If you were really pushing on with the throttle pinned at every opportunity, I think you’d