It was bound to happen—the electric motorcycle made its way into the motorcycle community. The electric car was a big hit; will the electric motorcycle take part in the limelight? On Friday April 2nd, a new line of electric motorcycles from the company Zero was introduced to the public at Hollywood Electrics in Los Angeles, CA. The 2010 line included the Zero X for trail riding, Zero S for urban riding, Zero MX for Motocross and the Zero DS for dual-purpose use.
The Zero X and MX piqued my interest. There have been many who have clamored for stricter laws on dirt bike noise and Zero has got their answer. Now thanks to the power pack technology (some models take less than 2 hours to charge) Zero Motorcycles has implemented in their new line of electric motorcycles, a quiet dirt bike is now available to the public. Amidst the criticism of noisy off-road machines, quiet dirt bikes have the potential to ward off complaints of excess noise disrupting the surrounding nature.
At first some may shy away from the hefty price tag. Some models start at $7,495—and in these tough economic times, it's difficult to justify that price. However, for those concerned about the price, they will be happy to learn that the operating cost is
"Less than $.01 per mile or kilometer." Also, there is a rebate for the Zero S or for the Zero DS. California residents, who wish to purchase either of these models, may qualify to receive a $1,500 rebate from the State of California. To read more about the rebate, please visit
www.zeromotorcycles.com/incentives.
Outside of the benefits to riding a quiet dirt bike, one must wonder what demographic the electric motorcycle will appeal to—and why? The goal of many urban riders is to modify their motorcycles in order to make them louder, so why purchase an electric motorcycle? According to Chris Heimbuck, Manager of Product Marketing for Zero Motorcycles, maintenance is a good reason to do so. The lack of an internal combustion engine reduces the amount of maintenance. The only things that require attention are the chain, tires and brakes.
An additional benefit to Zero Motorcycles is their lack of heat from the traditional internal combustion motor— this is ideal for the summer months. There is no cooling system either, which further reduces the weight. The road models only have one gear, which means the bikes lack tachometers, a clutch and gear selector. Other than brake fluid, the bikes don't hold any other liquids. This makes the bike's weight consistent and evenly distributed. Meaning it will handle the same whether it's on a full charge or virtually an empty battery—unlike gas powered bikes.
One thing is for sure—Zero Motorcycles will not cater to the shorter rider. The Zero S has the lowest seat height option, at 32 inches. I am 5'2"—and consequently, I did not ride any of the models. However Aren, an accomplished rider, threw a leg over the Zero S street version, and had this to say, "I didn't know what to expect to be honest, but the Zero S had plenty of torque right off the line. The bike felt planted and nimble on city roads. Easy to ride, but the lack of engine braking might make you scratch your head a little."
Overall, I would not recommend this bike to a shorter rider, such as myself. However, if you've got the legs and are a beginner who wants to learn how to ride a motorcycle, Zero models are a good alternative since there are no gears, so shifting becomes obsolete. If you are looking for an agile bike—one that is easy to maneuver due to its low weight, Zero Motorcycles has a bike for you.