All-electric adventure bike? 2023 Zero DSR/X Review | Daily Rider

[@RevZilla]

Plan and share your rides with REVER! rvz.la/3N0mn72 Read more about the 2023 Zero DSR/X on Common Tread: rvz.la/42HT51Q

[@JuuryLP]

FYI - The walkaround "chapter" of the video is still named "a quick walkaround the GSX-8S" soo... yall might wanna change that :D

[@DeusRides]

The adventure part.. it is always dependant on what is your adventure. There is this guy, "Marc Travels" that is doing it on a Zero SR and it is definetely possible... I dont comment much here, so I take the chance to tell you that I am always waiting for your videos to drop. Cheers!

[@wrigzor]

Is there a plausibility of CTXL partnering up with sir-ronster to make a diy-gt -ev--bike, to challenge something for an entire episode?? Different drive chains, hot swappable to EV? and or propellers?? Rich.Rebuilds??

[@bikedawg]

Great review! Do you know if it has a CANbus electrical system ?

[@matthewbrown7659]

I would love to talk to the engineers at Zero, because they've done a great job with the technology that's available today. The main problems the company has are with the business side, and probably most of their engineers can't stand that aspect of their own company. It's ironic because ultimately their attempts to money hoard by being anti-R2R actually hurt their business in the long run. They should've taken some inspiration from iRobot's repair model and deliberately designed their bikes to be modular, implemented a power shutoff switch at the battery and discharge mechanisms so that it's easy to safe the electrical system to work on it, written detailed instructions, stocked a bunch of replacement parts, and encouraged owners to replace their own parts if they wanted to. Reduce the workload on their service centers so they don't get months behind on repairs. Some companies don't seem to understand that good customer service and putting power in your customer's hands *is* good for business a lot of the time. It doesn't have to be a battle, it can actually be a win-win relationship.

[@nix4644]

Excellent comment! 100% correct in my opinion.

[@mfennell70]

Wow. I had no idea. F. That.

[@kannermw]

Anyone who thinks EV tech can stand on its own is delusional. EV motorcycle gets 30% subsidy in federal tax credits and still not enough suckers dumb enough to buy.. Even at huge premium price and subsidy vs ICE motorcycle the companies like Zero are selling at low margins and thus need to generate other revenue streams to make them suitably profitable. In 2022 they sold a whopping 4,500 motorcycles and that is absolute peanuts compared to money invested to develop and build them. They are consuming way more cash then they are generating revenue and need funding from external sources to continue. We live in a culture of blind ignorance. The youngest generations falsely told they can be whoever they want to be. Alternatively, the old adage "If there is a will there is a way" now is reconstructed to mean if a special interest demands something they can expect it to be delivered at someone else's expense. Truly the world is increasingly being lead by the "Dumb and Dumber"..

[@Tazdeviloo7]

The bikes are easy to work on and the main battery contactors do shut off with the key. Zero just released detailed work manuals for all their bikes with pictures and everything. This comment section is bananas with all the FUD

[@kannermw]

@@Tazdeviloo7 They are junk. No subsidies for expensive to appease woke affluent goofs.

[@sladewilson8241]

Why no one mention thats ZERO are anti right to repair, for me that deal breaker and dont give them money if they think im not alllowed to work on MY bike

[@chukku2175]

a) you are right: this policy sucks and should make them "persona non grata" in the bike community b) some companies for conventional bikes are not much better. Ducati for example

[@LongDistanceMotorcycleFans]

Really? Is that even legal?

[@melaniabladeofmiquella]

Oh well f this then

[@lucascarracedo7421]

​@@LongDistanceMotorcycleFans sadly they get away with it by making it sort of legal. Same way Apples does with electronics. A future where we can't wrench on our bikes is a really sad picture.

[@collectivelogic]

The John Deere of motorcycles, without the heritage. That's the problem with electric and adding more technology to motorcycles. No right to repair because manufacturers are worried their garbage cheap design is too sensitive for messing with. They also don't want you making them better or faster. How about designing it with repairability and upgradability in mind and with proper documented steps? I know crazy....

[@WiseWik]

What pushes me away from electric bikes (and especially Zero) is the repairability aspect. They decided to go Apple route and lock every component down so you can't swap motors, batteries unless you pay them insane money. And everything is an add-on. You have to pay for that reverse function (a piece of code). I would go as far as to say - fu*k Zero!

[@AdamRW240]

I don't understand how this is a problem only with electric bikes

[@WiseWik]

@@AdamRW240 it's not. But as a (relatively) new company they made a deliberate choice to be this way.

[@JAMMAJ-cq2bl]

What pushes me away from electric bikes is the fact that they r electric😂

[@youtubeaccount9058]

Same here. The product is interesting, but the policies make it a non-starter.

[@awdrifter3394]

@@AdamRW240 Because it's much easier to lock down an electric motor than a gas motor.

[@narrator-timothymckean]

I’d love to have an electric commuter bike. Less maintenance, “refueling” at home, quieter ride, etc. but my current Honda commuter gets 60mpg and cost 5K. I would never save enough fuel to offset the additional cost of this bike.

[@Tazdeviloo7]

For convenience, it wins out. No oil changes, gas stops or valve adjustments. The most set it and forget it bike I've ever had.

[@JoshuaTootell]

My bicycle is cheaper still 😂

[@FilthyGoyim]

​@@Tazdeviloo7 how many miles have you put on it?

[@forkthepork]

@@Tazdeviloo7 I haven't changed the oil in my 75 cb750f in 3 years. Haven't done any mechanical repairs ever (7 years now). No, this isn't a good argument against EV motorcycles. I'm just a crackhead.

[@lunchtreyy]

@@JoshuaTootelltoo bad it's hard to bike in the us 😕 Hopefully things will change in my upcoming adult years

[@drewb.9301]

This appears to me to be a big, comfy, very expensive city commuter. To my mind it competes more with something like an NC750X than anything else. In that arena I'd say it's an interesting option with a few critical strikes against it, the most obvious being price. The second is the simply baffling lack of storage with such a massive, empty faring on the front of the bike, you really ought to be able to get a helmet in there at the very least. That said it's not an ADV of any sort. Taking a belt drive bike off road is not the best idea and it certainly doesn't have the legs for anything resembling touring. For me in particular, living in Canada, the lack of infrastructure combined with the bike's lack of highway range means the bike would never leave the town I bought it in unless it was on a trailer. For me this bike is a neat idea with no place to be. It's way too expensive for a commuter, has nowhere near enough endurance to be a tourer, and probably has no business being on any sort of trail with a dirt and rock sensitive belt drive far from any charging station. Probably a fun toy for someone with money to burn, but not the machine for me.

[@lovelessissimo]

One could buy an mt09 sp and a KLR for the price of one of these things.

[@pineapplehugs8845]

Are belts more sensitive off-road than chains? Somehow I’d gotten the impression it was the other way around Probably cause it *is* the other way around for bicycles

[@JoshuaTootell]

Belt drives are fine on mountain bikes. BMW F650 I think was belt drive.

[@Tazdeviloo7]

@@pineapplehugs8845 The DSRX has a beefy belt and an under belt guard where it feeds into the pulley so crap can't get in. This whole comment section is just a bunch of preconceived notions with little to no research or experience.

[@SocalMotoRx]

@@JoshuaTootell The off road F650gs had a chain. The commuter F650cs was belt drive.

[@jendrarambharos4379]

I usually love your ranking, but this one hurt a bit! I think as a "daily rider", i think of the daily commute, mixed highway and city driving, navigating parking lots, traffic, etc. I don't usually think of a 100+ mile commute round trip as the norm, and even if it was, on many bikes that would be a gas station stop and fill up every day! This is pragmatically, easier than that! It would be a daily fill up, but if you have a house, you just plug it in overnight, and it's ready to go. No pulling up to a gas pump, fiddling with gloves and digging out my credit card, trying to not spill any gas on my tank, so on and so forth. Not saying that stuff is hard, I just love the idea of hopping off of the bike, and just plugging it in overnight. That being said, this is not an "only bike" for my use case, i do longer joy rides on weekends and whatnot. I think for the typical "daily rider" needs, outside of price, this bike deserved to be ranked among the standard bearers of motorcycling as you put it, higher up in the list. I think they did so much to make it a great bike, it's just limited in full out range, which few commuters would have issue with i feel. Other than that, thanks for the daily ride!

[@Tazdeviloo7]

Was weird to see a "daily rider" aka commuter review knock the bike for non commute scenarios. This bike is best suited as a fun daily commuter above all else.

[@beanboy5315]

If any company actively tries to prevent me from working on my own property I just assume they are planning on making a lot from repairs and going to be needing a lot of them. Hard pass for me.

[@hi9580]

Or they just don't want random people doing repairs that cause safety issues, which affects their resell and brand reputation.

[@rubenfranco9046]

The marketing and business side of Zero, is killing the genius of the engineering side. I will never pay to unlock features.

[@avantos2113]

Agreed. Especially when the hardware is already there. Paying a monthly fee for a company to push a button to allow me to use something I already have is a significant problem...

[@PaddyLectric]

There is nothing to unlock. The bike comes fully equipped and ready to use.

[@nicktulloh]

@avantos2113 there is no monthly fee and never has been

[@abhijitnike]

BMW n KTM does that for one time cost which is also a bomb

[@Waldo1122]

@@nicktulloh There was a monthly fee to enable the reverse feature, they have now removed that since the backlash was too much for them.

[@bchdds]

This bike is 5k off right now and insane amounts of fun, bought one and don't regret it one bit. Fun factor is leagues higher than my gas bikes.

[@edn8539]

What makes it funnier than gas bike sir? Thanks

[@francescoferretti5813]

Thanks Zach! I was one of those who asked you to review it and it is really interesting to see where it stands. Very useful review. 🙏

[@CyberGasty]

That would be a real adventure finding a charging spot.

[@h.d.h]

Electric vehicle chargers are everywhere - they just aren't a visible eyesore in the same way that gas stations are. Nor do they leave behind decades of local environmental devastation.

[@experimentalcyborg]

Either you live rural or you haven't been looking. They're everywhere, it's just hard to distinguish them from regular parking spots.

[@CyberGasty]

@@experimentalcyborg Adventure bike, meant to travel and ride a bit off-road smartass

[@gmy33]

​@@experimentalcyborgzero could have easily put in 22.5 or 25 kwh batt ..just that extra range is giving people the insentive to buy ... energica is proving this.. with their experia

[@BrianTRice77]

There are apps for finding chargers. And honestly for back country travel, 220V plugs at camping sites are actually really good, especially 50A plugs for RVs. I’ve done this, just packing an adapter and paying the site owner a few dollars for the hour time and a tip.

[@retrothruster2539]

Very well said at the 24 minute mark!! Some of it boils down to whether or not you like the powerplant, I personally love electric motorcycles, especially off road, I've had and still have many different types in my ice bikes, electric for my riding area is very good (southeast tennessee with mtns at my back door). I bought a 23 DSR 14.4 a few months ago and am loving it, so far, I'm a member of the electric motorcycle forum and know full well about the company, I feel like I have a 50/50 chance of trouble free ownership out of this bike BUT at 52, I just got tired of waiting for the big 4 to come out with something in this category. Range, it's not bad but I'm a quick fix kind of guy with a short attention span, my normal 25 mile loop takes about 25% battery, I have other bikes for longer rides, I can't see owning just the Zero but it's neat to have in the stable. As far as an adventure bike this DSR/X, it's not, but it can be adventurous in the aspect of finding charge stations in rural areas and changing riding style to take full advantage of regin braking, sort of geeky but it takes one's mind off of hauling ass all the time and actually enjoying the scenery... Then the biggest adventure of all is dealing with Zero:)

[@markbock3027]

This bike would be an amazing commuter for someone who works 30, 50, 70 miles away from home (and can plug it in at work). But that’s a very limited market. For everyone else interested in purchasing a motorcycle, it just doesn’t make sense yet. I do believe electric motorcycles are the future… but that future isn’t here yet. We need a few more major advances in battery and charging tech. Once a bike like the DSR/X can realistically go 200 miles on a charge, and be recharged in 15 minutes, then I’ll absolutely look at buying one. Until then it’ll never be more than an expensive commuter.

[@edwardsp1916]

Agree. I've recently drove a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle and this seems to be the future. Easy to refill and it only takes a few minutes. The only exhaust is water.

[@davecarver1363]

That’s me. 60 mile suburban round trip and can charge at work. 13 k miles on my 2020 SR/F. Love it

[@hell_march6652]

Electric bikes have A future. I dont believe they are THE future. I think you are missing part of the allure of a bike and thats the sound and feel of it. ICE engines come in a variety of different flavors. single cylinder, inline 2, boxer twin, v twin, inline 3, inline 4, v4, boxer 4, inline 6, boxer 6, and hell there is probably a few I left out. Single cylinder thump. Inline 2's are either 180, 270, or 360 on their firing order. All of which sound and feel different. Harley has held a good part of the market and continues to do so because of the 45 degree v twin giving it, its iconic sound and feel. Want something wild? Look up the honda cbx 1050. That thing sounds like an f1 car!!! You dont get any of those sounds or feelings with electric bike. Infact you get zero.

[@westondifranco9313]

Holy crap, $25,000? I can get a DL1000 for a tenth of that price.....

[@keithdosik]

Yup

[@j_k9643]

Isn't this true for EVERY new motorcycle compared to 10-15 year old motorcycles? A better comparison would be a new DL1050 at $16k to the DSR/X at $25k (currently discounted to $20k).

[@awdrifter3394]

These companies are banking on the #ClimateChangeHoax and gas bikes/cars getting banned.

[@hairyneil]

Yeah, maybe it's just my taste, but for that money I'd rather have a 10k bike, two 5k's and new tyres, oil etc for a while

[@davidroeder7299]

My 05 was 3600$ with Pelican hard bags, skid plate, fuel controller and new tires. Just rode it 1200 miles in 3 days, try that with an electric bike!

[@clifford4081]

Is standing around a quick charging machine for 3 hours a adventure, maybe if you're in a rough neighborhood? 😮

[@marsrover001]

Zero does not support DC fast charging on any of their bikes. While public J1772 chargers are faster than a wall outlet it's not "fast charging" by any stretch.

[@martindrew3513]

The key to the cuffs is in the sidehatch, this is the first motorcycling-dentistry interface program under the clarifying guidance of Gavin Newsome.

[@ahniwa]

@@marsrover001 Isn't there still an optional fast charging add-on that can purchase in lieu of the expanded battery? I haven't looked in a bit, but they use to offer one or the other, but you couldn't get both on the same bike.

[@SpottedCreeper]

@@ahniwa Yes there is. It takes the place of the storage (like the extra battery does). I think it can get you up to 11kw charging, which will cut charge time in half.

[@polska905]

I'm sure getting a charge in Chicago is a hell of a adventure

[@BadHaddy]

I own a 2016 FXS that was laid down by the PO, and i picked it up for 2000 at auction. Getting repair parts from zero is like pulling teeth. My 2016 needs new battery packs due to the previous owner not taking care of them. Go ahead, contact zero and try to order one. The P/N is 46-08056. THankfully they uses easily available battery pouches, and the BMS self-kills but is not made by them so is easy to 'wake up' and 'bless' if you know what you're doing. It shouldn't be that way though... I have a Zero from 2011, and you are 100% on your own. They cannot be serviced AT ALL. Not zero, or the dealer. No parts are available unless you cross reference and figure out suitable replacements yourself.

[@Hansengineering]

Neat!

[@Surly1966]

As far as this being an ADV bike. Maybe if you put it on the back of your huge RV and use it from there for 100 miles then go back plug it in for the night? Other than that there a little work to be done yet.

[@jonr3891]

Haven't scanned the other 474 comments - sorry if this has already been covered: I'm intrigued, but... e-bikes seem ideal for commuting, but the prices need to come down. I'm also interested in the true cradle-to-grave carbon footprint of buying a new e-bike (lithium mining, etc) vs riding whatever ICE bike one already has, vs buying a new ICE bike with euro-5 emissions. ??? thanks for another fun DR ✌

[@dangerkingston]

The burrito bowl is a surprisingly apt analogy. Great ride today 👍

[@John_Ridley]

I really would love to own an electric motorcycle. But an 80-100 mile range doesn't work for me, I like going out just wandering the countryside for 3 to 5 hours. Also $25,000 would be more than I'd want to spend for any bike, even if they had one for that price with a 250 mile range.

[@gunarslodzins]

fully agree. even if I imagine that I'm ready to spend 25k or price falls at some point to 15k. For ADV bike less that 200 mile range and then charge it 6-8h? doesn't work for me. this just a bike like urban mobility vehicle.

[@NewZeroland]

"Urban assault" is such a great description for Zeros. Thanks for being realistic and setting the record straight about adventure touring, but still focusing on the positives! That was really refreshing.

[@Tazdeviloo7]

"Super commuter" comes to mind as well. Do you still feel like Zero is anti right to repair? It seems like they've gotten better in recent years with axing hardware paywalls and releasing work manuals.

[@NewZeroland]

@@Tazdeviloo7 for sure! Well.. Zero was forced to release their manuals because California passed a new law for that. Whether or not they'll agree to sell us parts has yet to be seen, but I've moved on. Until they sell something with DC charging, I can't find a reason to buy another one.

[@mariorad529]

Another thing to be taken into consideration is that belt drive does not bode well in dirt roads and can snap pretty easily from the debris and mud. That alone makes the bike a certain non ADV by comparison of ICE bikes in that category

[@ElroyMcDuff]

I just poked around their website and they have a chain kit that can be put on the bike.

[@mariorad529]

@@ElroyMcDuff Interesting, good to know it has that option at least

[@Tazdeviloo7]

The DSRX has a pretty durable belt system with a full guard top and bottom to keep out debris and mud. There's still a factory chain kit if you really want

[@mariorad529]

​@omrinc2010 I saw the video, and? The journey was still a pain in the butt, so saying "no issues" is pretty false if you even watched it... they had a lot of problems on the journey and said themselves they wouldn't do it alone and without support, so what are you even talking about? And without even considering the price, which is insanely expensive, so for most people it wouldn't be a viable real world option when you can get much better motorcycles with a long history and proven track record already. Give it 10 more years to see where the EV tech will be and we'll talk. Right now it's not there.

[@triumphbill]

On a positive I do like the wind screen adjustment.

[@Uriel-Septim.]

That is also about it, price, range, color/design, weight, sound all sucks.

[@skroomber]

Can adjust the windscreen while riding. Need torx to open the storage compartments.

[@ToriADVMoto]

Man Zach, it seems like an amazing during the week bike for commuting to work and just generally ripping around. However, I just can't get over the cost. Buddy of mine had a DSR with the big battery and can get 100 miles and I truly did love it. How quiet it is. It was a completely different sport in my opinion. I would love to have one but it's just not feasible. Cost-wise you can buy a damn good GS for that kind of money

[@OhThisFleece]

I'm sure it's a great daily rider if you forget about the price. The adventure part is what matters. It just doesn't make sense

[@DankoStojanovic]

Adventure touring with 100 mile range? No, not really

[@SpottedCreeper]

@OhThisFleece - agreed - this is a great daily rider as a commuter, comfy, quiet, cheap to run (but not cheap to buy!), super quiet (some of us bikers don't want to wake the neighbourhood when we head off to work) - it's just not an adventure bike.

[@SirNarax]

Adventure riding with adventure bikes doesn't make a lot of sense either though. These ADV bikes are far too big, heavy and unwieldy to be ridden well off road. But people convinced themselves they need scale. This is true regardless of what energy source drives the bike.

[@aluisious]

@@SirNarax If I was really going to ride across Africa or South America I wouldn't take anything bigger than a KLR650, and probably a DRZ400S would be better, and quietly a TW200 might be the best. The question is do you really want to go on an adventure, or do you want a motorcycle that looks like a Land Rover?

[@SirNarax]

​@@aluisious Those would be pretty smart decisions. Especially with the TW200. I am surprised people who actually go on these types of adventures don't go on something like a TW200. Maybe it is just a little too slow for the times where you do go on pavement. I'd have one today if it wasn't for the carburetor which is fine part of the appeal for that kind of bike. I just don't have interest in messing with them anymore. I am also not one to care if my bike looks like a land rover or not. Capability is all that matters. I suspect the people that do care are the people who's adventure concludes at the Wal-mart parking lot.

[@mickleblade]

My electric bicycle has the same range as this zero. But if the battery goes flat I can still pedal, and it's fine, it was a lot cheaper too . Hmm.

[@JCintheBCC]

Wait, you have an e-bike with 180 miles of city (low speed) range? (I’m not comparing highway range since you can’t ride highway speeds on an e-bike). What bike is that?

[@SpottedCreeper]

You can say the same for an ICE bike - you run out of petrol, you're pushing it home.

[@rdavidsen7344]

The average e-bike weighs over 60 pounds, most 80-90 pounds, and most e-bicycle riders aren't exactly fit 'bicyclists'... pedaling an e-bicycle without an electric assist, though 'doable' is more marketing than reality.

[@mickleblade]

@@JCintheBCC nope, I done screwed up, twice. Zak was saying 100 miles, and I forgot its 100km I've got. My bad.

[@Yessica_Kaz]

As someone who daily rides a 2014 Honda NC700X, this bike seems like the perfect step up in luxury. The electric drives similar to the DCT, I almost never take my bike outside of my city limits, and I would gain features like heated grips, traction control, and reverse all while getting to keep my frunk. If I had the cash to blow on it (5x more than I spent on my used Honda) It would be perfect for me.

[@narrator-timothymckean]

Same! I also commute daily on the NC700. The mileage is great, and cost about 5K used.

[@nothingtoseehere93]

Have you sat on it? It’s a far far far cry from luxury.

[@Yessica_Kaz]

@@nothingtoseehere93 I haven't actually, but if I had the money for a bike like this I'd certainly have the money for an aftermarket seat or a sheepskin to throw on there

[@j_k9643]

@@nothingtoseehere93 I have and it is as comfortable as my R1250GS.

[@Geshmaal]

You would love a Zero, I test rode an SR/S and it was so smooth and effortless to ride. Having instant power available via your right hand, not even waiting for a transmission to change ratios lets you feel so connected to the bike. I could use one for my commute and quick blasts in a perfect world where I have 20k to blow on a bike and somewhere to charge!

[@DanteYewToob]

Everyone talking about right to repair needs to remember one simple thing, and I’m 100% pro R2R… but the fact is that electric cars and motorcycles have components that can easily kill you if you do something wrong. I’m not saying that it’s right, but until we have some sort of safety system set up, and electrical knowledge becomes more mainstream I don’t feel comfortable with any person opening up an electric motorcycle or car. Perhaps you could buy an insurance or something where you pass a basic test to prove you won’t kill your self trying to fix it… I dunno! I do know that the dunning Kruger effect is real and I know several people who would try to fix it themselves and cause a serious problem or get hurt. I believe people should be able to fix their stuff, but the more complicated and dangerous things become the reality becomes much more grey. You accidentally cut the wrong wire or mess up an expensive computer component and you could end up in a fatal crash that affects more than just yourself! I know because I did a very simple battery swap on a hoverboard and it took days of studying to understand how to do it, and I did the very simple steps and it never worked right again… it would randomly stall out at speed and make you bail. I gave it to an experienced electrical hobbyist I know and they couldn’t figure it out either! I didn’t damage anything, we double checked the wires and connections and everything seemed fine. Now imagine the same problem at 60mph in traffic on a motorcycle or in a car! I’d be dead. 100%. If you have the confidence and skill to fix something, sure… sign a liability agreement and go for it. But I absolutely do not think 90% of average mechanics and hobbyists can safely repair an electric vehicle.

[@Tom-op1pv]

This video makes me so excited to go ride my Tiger 900 Rally Pro.

[@johnthunter8107]

I have a Tesla and 2 ICE motorcycles, I would LOVE an electric motorcycle. The short range is not great but if it could use the Tesla Supercharger and charge in, say, 10 minutes, it'd be worth considering. Range really needs to be +150 highway and charge in 10-15 minutes. Until that happens, adoption will be slow. The price is a bit steep too.

[@byDanimal]

That was a great look at the DSR/X, thanks for being Frank and honest in your evaluation! Also thanks for answering my burrito question!

[@southend26]

The name is Zach though

[@byDanimal]

Oh Dad (I blame autocorrect!)

[@adamcarlson4922]

Level 2 charging is NOT ‘fast charging’. There are now enough DC fast chargers (Tesla Superchargers etc.) available that there is no longer any excuse for an electric motorcycle to be released without the ability to DC fast charge. ESPECIALLY one purportedly billed as an adventure bike. With aDC fast charge ability this would be a much better sell.

[@tstartrekdude]

Fun Fact, the Chevy Spark had a 19KWH battery. It was good for about 80 miles.

[@ahniwa]

My 2017 Fiat 500e has a max range around 50 miles in the PNW winter. And even then, that's fine. It's an around town commuter and errand car. I would consider an electric motorcycle for the same purpose, but for the moment, they're just too expensive. Generally, though, I think people overestimate the amount of range they really need, especially for day-to-day riding.

[@youtubeaccount9058]

@@ahniwa Same here, I just want a nice but inexpensive city car, and have other cars if I need range. About 4 years ago we looked at the 500e before getting my wife's Mini, but the Fiat dealer said they wouldn't touch it and wouldn't know how to do anything if they tried. It was only sold in CA and I think WA. Fiat was dragged kicking and screaming into producing that car and yet people liked it.

[@ahniwa]

@@youtubeaccount9058 It was a 'compliance car' for California. We got them in WA after their 3-year leases expired. Fiat lost money on every one they sold, from what I understand. Cute AF though. And they never need to be serviced, really, so that's nice.

[@tech-kyle]

I have a Spark EV too! I tell everyone it's a perfect commuter as long as you have a backup for longer trips. It's a fun, low maintenance, cheap-to-run car that covers 99% of my needs. I thought surely if I like my EV, then I would love something like a Zero and while the test ride was fun, I realized that my bike was my backup and everything that didn't matter much for the car, (weight, range, charge time) mattered much more for something that was going to be taken up logging roads or ridden out to a destination. I think if this was just going to be someone's "commute for cheap" bike, it'd be great, but it's going to take a long time to pay for itself when you could get a MT07 instead and still not pay much in fuel. If they can fix weight and recharge time, range won't be an issue. Stopping for 15 minutes for a fast charge every 50-80 miles isn't too bad. Most people do that anyways just to stretch and get a drink.

[@Hansengineering]

Bikes are heinously un-aerodynamic. The most aero motorcycle is 2x worse in Cd than a full sized truck.

[@marxula555]

I think the best use case for that bike is someone who lives in/near the city AND has access to a power outlet in the space they park the bike. Not every parking garage has power access for the bike at apartments. The biggest thing going against it is the up front cost of ownership. Based on where you live, you would have to calculate the break even mileage for charging the bike plus cost to purchase vs a conventional bikes cost plus the cost of gas per mile.

[@sdpicturecard6858]

If I had $25,000 to blow on a second motorcycle, I’d definitely consider this one. I don’t tour or ride long distances on a motorcycle, so the this bike’s deficiencies in those areas mean nothing to me. For gettin’ around town or doing short freeway distances, this bike seems perfectly suited. And it doesn’t burn gas. As Zack said, it’s a good urban transport choice. If I look at this bike in that respect, and if I forget the price tag for a moment, this bike is quite compelling.

[@jackbuckleyauto]

For 25k you can get an r1, an r3 track bike, and a ktm adv. 25k on this is a crime

[@sdpicturecard6858]

@@jackbuckleyauto Price gouging is a crime; this isn’t that. I wouldn’t pay $25,000 for a Harley, either, or any other motorcycle, for that matter. My budget simply doesn’t allow it, and there are better alternatives for much less money. Now if I had money to burn, it would be a different matter. The $25,000 price tag for this bike wouldn’t be a show stopper, which would allow me to see the bike’s electric advantages for the kind of riding I do and evaluate the bike on that basis. That’s why I said “if I forget the price tag for a moment, this bike is quite compelling.”

[@SocalMotoRx]

@@jackbuckleyauto I’m not totally sold on electric bikes and especially their prices but yes you can buy 3 other bikes for the price of this bike but you also need to do three extra oil changes per year. Depending on how many cars and bikes you have it gets exhausting. I see these electric bikes as a good option for someone who has the money and wants a second or third bike that they don’t have to work on for the most part.

[@CaffeinatedCruiser]

I was completely confused about this bike until the burrito analogy. Now it’s all clear. Thanks Zach

[@martindrummer90]

This is really funny. I just went to a dealership to look at some Zero bikes, and the DS felt a bit too tall for me (I am 5' 10" for reference) so I sat down on the SR/F and felt great. They even encouraged me to test it, and oh man, that thing was fuuun. I currently have a 2018 GSX-S1000 and probably wouldn't give that up for a $20k electric bike. But maybe in the future.

[@Big_DT]

Let me get this straight, this is a 550lb Full SizeTouring ADV with belt drive(good luck if you get gravel in it), and it takes somewhere between 2 to 9 hours to refill/fully charge, and it has less range than my Triumph Bonneville, and it costs as much as a BMW GS? Thanks, but no thanks, I'll keep my Tiger Sport 660.

[@GL4SS_20]

Paying $25k to have this is absolutely INSANE

[@viinisaari]

everything is expensive if youre poor

[@hermanstokbrood]

Everybody is talking about the limited range but the biggest limitation is not being able to "fill it up" in 5 minutes.

[@MrTrevorkemp]

Let's see some benelli's on the daily rider leaderboard. Maybe start with the TNT 135. Also the live wire is a much better bike. It has level 3 fast charging and supposedly can go from 0 to 100% in about an hour when you are fast charging it and has pretty much the same range as this bike also, I don't know if you guys have done a daily rider on the live wire one yet, but I would like to see a daily rider on the live wire one I'm interested to see how you mentioned the differences between the two seeing as hell. This is 2 and 1/2 to 3 hours to charge up and the live wire is about an hour charge up.

[@SonriseSunset]

You talk about battery levels and charging - 10-15% or less. What did you find the performance of the bike when the battery is under 25% - 30%? Reason I ask is bc on my eBike, when the battery gets much below 30%, the motor really doesn’t have the same kick, particularly once battery get 20-25%. When I questioned the maker on that, they said anytime you get below 30%, you should the battery. I ran into a guy with a performance Tesla model and I asked him about performance once the car’s battery get to those lower levels and he confirmed same thing.

[@derek17005]

Isn't Zero one of the makes that's going to be making everything subscription based? That alone would steer me away along with an alleged range of 80-100miles on an adventure bike!

[@j_k9643]

This is old misinformation. They never had subscriptions. They had options that you could add that were able to be enabled through software. Once enabled and paid for with a single payment, they stayed with the bike and didn't require any additional payment.

[@andyincalimoto843]

@@j_k9643 right but what happens if you sell the bike, is that software still active, do they turn it off, if so do you have to sell the bike for cheaper because the feature is no longer active? I feel once you pay for it, then that's it it should be on forever and for who'm ever owns the machine.

[@j_k9643]

@@andyincalimoto843 That is exactly what happens. Once the option is activated it stays turned on no matter who owns the bike.

[@Charlesbjtown]

This particular bike will do MUCH more than 100 miles. I have a 2018 S model with the 13kw battery..... and even it will do 100 miles easy, in the city or backroads.

[@uberDoward]

Zack on the topic of charging - you absolutely can install a Level 2 charger at home, if you need to be able to quickly throw juice into your electric motorcycle over, say... lunch time. 240v / 50a circuits are coming in a LOT of new home builds now!

[@alexwilsonpottery3733]

@@joeblow1285, jeez, no, just a bit of wiring your cousin could probably do.

[@Hansengineering]

​@@alexwilsonpottery3733 the point is if you haven't already got a home, you can't afford one now. I make more than 76% of Americans and there are *zero* affordable homes. I have a garage at my apartment, but it's got a single 110v switched outlet. At least I'm not metered for that outlet.

[@JoshuaTootell]

How many people NEED to quick charge their motorcycle AT HOME?

[@christopherbiomass7155]

I figure that the reason it has a belt drive is to make it more maintenance free (and cleaning/lubing a chain usually involves more petroleum products). But belt drives sap about 5% more power than a chain drive. So that should be 5% more range. Not much, but it's at least something to counter the bike's only major issue.

[@Tazdeviloo7]

You can get a chain drive kit direct from Zero. I think Zero knows their bread and butter are the "urban assault" super commuters. Plenty of Zeros with 100k+ miles on em.

[@theprodigalstranger5259]

Zacks' gloves matching the "tank" accidental? I think not!

[@garrettno2906]

I think Zero's potential niche here is with the customers looking for and ADV bike that their not really going to use for adventure/touring. Picture the guy who uses his KLR 650 to commute and get groceries. It's comfortable, with a little extra storage and a decent layout to add paneers. It can't really tour and I would never use it off road, but honestly there's plenty of people riding ADV bikes right now who don't do either of those. If you want a local commuter that doesn't use gas with a bit extra storage, then it's fine I guess. I still feel like the technology on electric bikes needs a bit more time to develop before the motorcycle community can fully get on board.

[@matthew3454]

I think this is very fair point. ^^^ Liveing in Atlanta and seeing daily riders I'm seeing more and more ADV bikes small and big. It fits this budget of a condo liveing 30+ year old that might leave the city on the weekends and few times a week commuteing. Its one bike purchase that can be easy rideing for both. These guys are not crossing state line just poping around town or going via Hwy or back road to an old town on the weekend. I get why guys would choice it, the 125 cc cafe / wrench guys can be alot in the city and these guys what something with new tech. Zero might be makeing this for a growing market. not my nich but I see it.

[@Cowelly84]

I've just got back from a Demo of this bike, what a machine, so so good. The Eco mode is very useful for stop start motoring. The sport mode is excellent, very very torquey and smooth. The bike is very balanced. If you get a chance to have a go, do it!!

[@dannydaw59]

What's that little amber colored canister on the handlebar? I'm guessing that's brake fluid that the rider can inspect.

[@CokeforColor]

I like how Zack's screen protector is upside down on his phone and he can't be bothered to put a new one on. 😆

[@carloalbertoranzani8041]

I started on an electric bike, I love electric bikes, but I now had two petrol bikes in a row because the only one brand with modern security features like cornering ABS is zero, and my GS can be repaired where I want and how I want. They (bmw) still have some software feature behind a paywall (pro riding modes), but not as extensively like Zero

[@danielfrancis4258]

Bonjour Zack! I had a 2015 Smart Fortwo EV from 2015 to 2018 with a 17,7 kwh battery. The inboard charger was 3,3kwh and charging time was 5 to 6 hours on a level 2 (240v) charging station. Range was about 135km (85mi) in the summer. With a 6,6kwh inboard charger, the Zero can charge twice as fast but a level 3 (400v) capability would have been a better option. I already have two bikes (Victory and Kawasaki) but should i want an electric bike i would buy a LiveWire from Harley. Up here in Québec these bikes can be bought for around 23000$ CDN with very low mileage, are compatible with level 3 (400v) chargers (charges in less than an hour) and build quality is unmatched compared to EV bike competitors. The almost non-existant dealer network from Zero is also a deal breaker for me. Thank you Zack for the great work.🖖

[@tres311]

The last vehicle that needs electrified is a motorcycle. Never would I buy a EMC

[@RyanWithAviators]

Electric touring/ADV bikes: For the people who like being stranded in the middle of nowhere with a dead battery. ADV bikes are all about literally going out in the middle of nowhere and exploring, camping for several days, etc. Not the place for a bike that is dependant on plugging into an electrical outlet to recharge.

[@nestorasbellas6604]

If you need 3500$ to upgrade from 17,5 Kw to 21 Kw battery, thus to fit a 3,5Kw battery on, how much would you need to replace the original 17,5 Kw battery when eventually will deplete? This is a topic not often discussed!

[@brandonreed70]

It seems like this is discussed ad nauseam as some kind of "gotcha" that doesn't really exist. The battery will likely lose on the order of ~1%/yr. When the pack is at 80-85% capacity in 15 years, a replacement battery could be half (or less) the current price due to ever decreasing per kwh pricing. And the original pack would still have value in stationary storage applications. I wouldn't buy this due to its abysmal range, full stop. The battery replacement Boogeyman doesn't concern me in the least.

[@michaelpatrick6984]

I have a 2023 FX. When I bought it I thought I would ride it offroad more, but it feels better on the street. The near silent ride with jet like acceleration. I feel like I'm riding a Tie-Fighter. I'm completely addicted to it and want a DSRX next. It has a 2 year full-bike, 5 year battery warranty. I put 6k miles on it in the first year. My typical rides last about an hour and 15 mins. I weigh 130 lbs. Not good on the interstate at all. The battery goes down very quickly at that speed. Much better for riding around town or out in the country. Going to get the DSRX when my battery warranty expires.

[@MotorcyclesandZen]

Missed opportunity with the intro engine noise... lol. As always good job Zack, one of the few videos I watch till the end on KZbin.

[@honda116969]

25K?? Way overpriced don't care how fast it is! Or what it does

[@thebestdamager7400]

It's not overpriced, it's expensive. It actually costs that much to build, it's not just them beeing greey

[@calebwany8422]

Yep, at that point, just get a car

[@1136tscc]

With the big neck bolts, green color, and comes alive with electricity I would name this bike frank

[@rocketrollsvlogs7625]

I don't like the price. Otherwise this would be a great comfortable city commuter. I think i rather have a DS for less than half the price or maybe a DSR, as i really don't need the range. I have a 35 mile roundtrip commute to work. Could charge overnight and at the office. I think the Africa Twin may be safe for another year.

[@garyphilip3382]

Zero’s marketing wouldn’t allow it, but it’s really an “ Adventure Style “ bike . I have yet to find a handy electric outlet in the real wilderness!

[@aluisious]

Just take a solar panel and spend a week walking around while it recharges. That's an adventure.

[@gregshamieh6339]

Funny thing, that. Zero has been actively working with the Backcountry Discovery Route people to develop charging infrastructure along the routes. So real wilderness - yeah, an issue. Pre-packaged wilderness? They're working on that. ;-)

[@garyphilip3382]

@omrinc2010 That’s true but you can carry fuel in auxiliary containers. Carry extra batteries? Maybe!

[@jerryandnancywertzbaugher7778]

Last summer while visiting the Seattle area My son in laws and I rented bikes inlcuding a ZERO sport bike. Wow! Great fun. Loved it. Would consider adding one to my collection if it were priced just a bit better. With performance on par with many other fine new sport/touring bikes, it needs to be priced competitive; which I would peg at 12 to 15 grand. At over 17 grand it just doesn't compete. An interesting observation (to me anyway). On the highway or freeway range really sucked. Cruise steadily at 65-75 and the meter drops like a rock. But on twisty back roads and mountain blasting is seemed like it would go forever. Stunning difference. Had to attribute the contrast to regenerative braking. The juice eaten up with acceleration seems to come right back when frequently braking for corners and hills. Great for touring on the best motorcycle roads; just stay away from Kansas and other flats States (who wouldn't want to do that anyway?)😎

[@erniecolussy1705]

Air drag is proportional to the square of speed. So doubling speed nearly quadruples energy usage. In theory you can go nearly four time farther at steady 35 mph than you can go at steady 70 mph.

[@wayausofbounds9255]

Electric motorcycles would be great for a niche commuter transport market because of the range/charging limitations except the price. If they dropped the price to be sub $10-15K I could see people getting them as a clean and cheap alternative to cars. At the price point these companies are asking this bike will disappoint both clean transport and motorcycle enthusiast.

[@thebestdamager7400]

It's not "what they are asking", it's how expensive they are to build, especially the batteries

[@DM-ye9mm]

i had one of the base models of the zero line-up. sticker price was 9395.00.

[@Grort]

Tbf, there are companies that do little electric mopeds and 125cc's relatively cheap (Niu, Sunra, Super Soco) to fill that niche, cause at that power level you can build them fairly cheap. It's just those mostly slide into Europe and wealthy Asian countries cities better than the US and Canada which have higher speed limits and often longer commutes. So they exist, but they don't seem to pierce the North American market as well as the bigger electric bikes, which are inevitably pricier, with stuff like the BMW CE 04 and the Metacycle seeming to be the closest to filling that middle gap?

[@brianm263]

Not sure if I missed it, or you didn't mention it, there is no gear changing, and no oil changing, or valve checking during the life of the bike. That, plus no gas, adds up to some pretty good savings over the life of the bike compared to an ice bike. I mention the lack of gear changes because when I test rode one(years ago), that was when I noticed the torque the most, cruising at 55, then punching it. It was like I had downshifted 3 gears on a gas bike. I was turned into a fanboy back then, but wanted something for long days. Now that I have a r1250rs, a smaller zero would be very nice for commuting. I only live 8 miles from work, it would be nice to charge up overnight, commute for a whole week and take the beemer out on weekends. Not that the beemer is hard to commute on either, just thinking best of both worlds.

[@12masterr]

I have zero interest in that thing!

[@jgm9927]

Im all about alternative fuels but . . . Took my little Suzuki (pd. $2500) on a general ride the other day. Covered 250 miles before i got home. Think it burned 3 gal. Of gas. The price makes it unmarketable IMHO! Nuff said~

[@brianm5753]

Crazy thing is even if you ride at 25mph everywhere you still won't get too far

[@mikerider58]

Yeah, EVs have all marketing but nobody is really interested in EVs except silly rich folk who want to be noticed.

[@lucamagnani5243]

@@mikerider58 I think the idea is that these rich folk put their money there and that funds R&D for these techs to be cheaper and better, but really even ignoring price which is a big dealbreaker for alot of people. Lithium batteries are not viable, they have short lifespans, weigh a lot and don't hold enough charge for most vehicles, and you better pray to Allah, God, Buddha and Jeff Bezos that it isnt set on fire cause those fires are hard as shit to put out. However, there's gotta be some sort of incentive for companies to develop better battieries. I mean if we stay with lithium eventually we'll have the same problem of running out of oil just with lithium

[@JoshuaTootell]

Pretty sure I wouldn't categorize my coworker in the maintenance department as "rich", and he loves his Model 3 ​@@mikerider58

[@kannermw]

​@@mikerider58 As an already high taxpayer it pisses me off we are incentivizing these woke garbage toys for the more affluent with increased deficit spending.

[@mikerider58]

@kannermw indeed, and you'd think by watching all the TV ADVERTS 📺 that we have all become EV Robots 🤖 when the reality is 99% of us aren't interested in these new battery operated road toys 😉

[@amasdaha9734]

Burrito bowl is a perfect analogy!! A bit more troublesome and messy, need to use tool to eat it, takes longer… but all the flavor!

[@CoryRwtfyt]

25k is way to much for something you'll take off road and zero doesn't want you to fix your own bike. The closest charging station to my local off road trails is about 30 miles one way. To take an electric bike on a proper road trip through my area would result in a lot of walking unless to go straight from charger to charger.

[@respen43]

If you want to do a challenge for CTXP, try doing something like the TAT on this.

[@Hansengineering]

If they started in March in NC they'd go thru a whole summer and run into snow in the Rockies next winter.

[@danfry532]

$25,000? 😂😂😂😂😂. No thanks.

[@farmoboy83]

Appart from range, this is the main reason why evs are not a solution for most people. Prices are completely out of reach of the average consumer. Even eletric bikes equivalent to 125cc are priced as a middlerange naked bike. No sense

[@pigeonpallz1733]

For that price there are tons of bike I would buy way way way before this thing lol

[@DankoStojanovic]

With all incentives $20k... still no thanks

[@NorCal-refrigeration]

28,500$ with battery 🪫 up grade

[@pistonburner6448]

EV bikes are going to cost *_MUCH_* more than that $28,500!! Much of it are just hidden costs...and there's a reason why they're keeping all of this hidden. It's not just by chance but they're being careful to hide it. They can force you to pay the rest of that price, it's only the purchase of the bike itself that is voluntary...and that's why they're putting in so much effort (using your tax money) to mislead you into buying them. Follow the money. (And follow what that one most populous nation of the world is paying our politicians to push...you know that country which owns most of the raw materials and has their auto and bike industry riding on the forced transition to EVs for a chance to take over our markets)

[@mdragon99]

Hmmmm, shouldn't operating cost be a bigger consideration for a "Daily" rider? Also, no service costs. Brake pads and tires, that's it for costs. Fuel up in here in the cold, barren North just hit $2.25/l and having 300+ kms range is more than enough for my daily weed shopping. It's a pity they can't get the up front cost down but I'm glad to see we have solid options for dropping ICE now in town.

[@NorCal-refrigeration]

Great charging stations installed on wildernesses trails. 😂😂😂😂😂😂 not a chance.

[@alexwilsonpottery3733]

Also, no gas-stations - have you noticed?

[@NorCal-refrigeration]

@@alexwilsonpottery3733 you can carry gas. Electricity ⚡️ not so much 😂😂✨😂

[@audiogarden21]

3:15. I would assume the adjustment markers are so you can quickly set your preferred height if you share your bike with another rider or a single rider that makes a lot of adjustments on the fly.

[@Tazdeviloo7]

It's for saving that sweet spot to limit wind buffeting.

[@mitsuman5555]

So the market for this is adventure riders who don’t care about the sound of an ICE, riding range, the ability to work on their own bike, or value for money. Those 3 guys must be thrilled.

[@Hansengineering]

idk tbh the vast majority of adventure bikes never even see dirt.

[@JoshuaTootell]

Like all those "baggers" who never go farther than a tank of fuel.

[@gregorytubbs3444]

Less than 100 mile range at that price? No thanks.

[@Bmichaels679]

Just bought a new Arai helmet from Revzilla because I really like to support great content like Daily Rider.

[@512mbflashdrive]

weighs more than an ATAS. 2x the price. ⅕ of the range. wow.

[@calebwany8422]

Capitalism

[@cerberez]

Wow you made me think about electric motorcycles in a different way! It's a different experience!

[@wheelgun5102]

Electric bikes should be commuter bikes. Or really electric scooters.

[@Uriel-Septim.]

Agree, get one if your live in a big city and just want to be seen going around the neighborhood or to commute to work, small, easy to park with no gas pollution or cost would work great, for touring or having fun in the twisties, I just can`t see them work.

[@MrDwaynecasey]

I have a Talaria XXX… its more of a cross between a moped and a dirtbike. It can get about close to 50 miles of range depending on speed…. max out at about 50 miles an hour. A more comfortable speed is about 35-40 mph. I use it to go to and from work ,the gym, every once in a while and bounce around a little off-road, even with the super Moto street tires. The Zero looks really nice.

[@MichaelBelsey]

I have no interest in any electric vehicle. The grid can't handle demand as it is. Gas will work when the power goes out and you can store gas on your own property.

[@mixflip]

I dont know if this bike could survive exploring around the sierras/Tahoe area? Finding charge stations would be tough. Also its easy to get seep in the backwoods with no place to plug in and Tahoe is pretty well populated. Meanwhile gas stations are plentiful and if I wanted to ride up to the summit or peak of a mountain using fire roads...Im sure the fire roads would kill the range quick on this ebike. Whereas I could just pack a rotopax fuel tank and ride with confidence that I would make it to the top and back home on a gas bike. But then again 175 mile range is still impressive for a ebike.

[@keithdosik]

Adventure bike and all electric do NOT go hand in hand. I have been doing a lot of long haul trips on my V Strom and if I had to stop and wait for it to charge every couple hundred miles, it wouldn’t be possible. This machine is meant for rich people who don’t ride to “save the environment” and flex.

[@westondifranco9313]

I said the same thing. Give me a vstrom 1050 or older DL1000, sport touring rubber and luggage. I'll go across the country with that that bike.

[@keithdosik]

⁠@@westondifranco9313 you can buy a brand new DL1050 and have an additional 5-7500 grand to add gear, gas, or a Toyota Camry 😅

[@westondifranco9313]

@keithdosik I'd have 0 issues buying an older one, putting a nice exhaust on, getting it setup. Then buying another one and probably having money leftover.

[@keithdosik]

@@westondifranco9313 lol exactly

[@johnhoaglun1]

Another great review… thanks Revzilla. The price and range per charge seem like the only factors keeping it out of the top 5 group. That was the first electric motorcycle review that actually made think that they are almost getting practical enough for consideration. I ride an 890 Adventure and a R1250GSA and 200-400+ miles in a day is a real and frequent thing in the state of Texas. For an urban bike the Zero is starting to move into the interesting territory.

[@gmy33]

Energica experia could convince you ... better quality and service ..more range faster charging

[@robluce6334]

I will never own a vehicle powered with lithium. Edit: The problem with the electric vehicle debate is that people debate the wrong topic. Electric motors will always be better than ICE, every day, in all ways. The problem is Lithium vs Gasoline. Lithium is awful compared to Gas, every day, in all ways. Electric vehicles will fail, not because electric isn't better, but because Lithium is terrible, and there isn't something better (yet).

[@Friscorockhead]

Those are valid concerns. Is there any way to prove, without a shadow of doubt, that electric vehicles are better than ICE vehicles? I honestly don't know, but I'm aware of the destruction and pollution that takes place to acquire the materials needed to make this type of batteries. Also, the working conditions are far worse than a typical oil workplace. I've read of slave labor conditions associated with battery production. As it stands right now, we're still burning fossil fuels to produce most of the electricity that keeps these vehicles charged (I fully support America going all in on nuclear power!). If we're going to undergo this massive shift in technology, I'd like to be 100% sure it's the better option in every way. We've come so far with ICE engines, and they're objectively efficient now. If given more time, they would become even more efficient. I'm not opposed to electric vehicles at all, but I just hope we're doing the right thing. The onus is on electric vehicle technology to be overwhelmingly superior to ICE vehicle technology if we're going to make this drastic change...not just equal to to, or slightly better. Only time will tell.

[@alexwilsonpottery3733]

@@Friscorockhead…And just wilfully looking the other way when it comes to the massive and continuing degradation and pollution of our shared environment when it comes to coal and oil production and use?

[@Friscorockhead]

@@alexwilsonpottery3733 of course not. I don't think I said anything to imply I support that. I just think there's consequences to switching to EVs that are not being considered by a lot of people. You're speaking as if it's a proven fact that EVs aren't contributing to the degradation and pollution to our environment. They absolutely are. If they can reach the point where they perform better than ICE vehicles and the total impact on the environment is less then I fully support the transition.

[@alexwilsonpottery3733]

@@Friscorockhead - yup, we both left some things out. As a person who’s used mined resources in my work for decades, I’m intensely aware of the consequences of all mining. Replacing gasoline/diesel powered vehicles with lithium powered ones doesn’t really solve any problems.

[@robluce6334]

@@Friscorockhead 1: Electric is better that ICE. That's immaterial, because Lithium is so bad that it overrides any benefits of an electrical drive. Long debate, but if it weren't true, there would be no debate. If you stop and listen to any electric vehicle debate, the debate is about lithium, not about the drive. 2: Oil/Lithium uses slaves (metaphor). Immaterial to the discussion because this is about the society, not about the technology. If a society allows slavery, slaves will be used for anything, if not, they won't. 3: Hydrocarbons pollute. Burning of hydrocarbons create carbon dioxide and water, both of which are required by all life on the planet. Lithium is a poison. There is no plan or technology that can safely handle or recycle the billions of tons of lithium that will be required to power an equivalent of the current hydrocarbon infrastructure. This is exactly like suggesting that everyone switch to nuclear powered vehicles without understanding the polluting impact of the material involved. Yes, lithium isn't Uranium 235, but the question is the same. Why would we believe that batteries with a 12 year service life filled with an devastating environmental poison like lithium would be better than carbon dioxide and water? Lithium poisons our childrens world, literally. Carbon dioxide is tame by comparison. And for what? So we can have range anxiety because we can only drive 80 miles? Lithium is doomed. It will be a curse to future generations, and when people realize what they've done by filling landfills with leeching dead lithium batteries and poisoning the ground water, it'll be too late. Welcome to the hell that's being created to save the planet.

[@stevewallace853]

The last decent ride I went on turned into a 405miles 9hr day ride...I'd have had to spend an additional 9-12hrs recharging assuming I could find fast chargers that worked. Otherwise it could have taken 24-32hrs recharging. I still don't think battery bikes are there with current battery tech, maybe in the near future.

[@TonySims888]

Agree. For motorcycle riders, the tech is not there yet. For the early adopter types who must have the newest toy, it probably works. It's attractive, it's fun, but not practical.

[@tomg6284]

My new motorcycle has a 126.92kw battery. That gives a range of 228 miles. Yes your correct my battery for storing power is called the KTM's gas tank. It only takes 1 minute to recharge to 100% full. CO2 is plant food. Remember a fool and his money are soon parted. $25,000 + fees, no way.

[@pistonburner6448]

That $25,000 is just the beginning. Then you have to pay in taxes for all those subsidies to the EV companies, your EV bike purchase subsidy, EV charger construction, electric grid construction, new power plant construction...and then more taxes to replace the list fuel taxes, yearly taxes (depending on where you live), tax revenues ICE bike companies used to pay the government each year, etc. etc. The increased tax bill over the next 10 years(and inflation caused by the rising electricity prices) is probably going to cost another $25,000! Then wait until our hight voltage electrics module breaks or your cooling system breaks (if your EV bike even has a proper cooling system, and if it doesn't then your battery is going to age massively faster and use a lot more electricity): I had that happen to my electric car and if it wasn't covered by warranty it would've cost about as much as an economy car's full engine replacement! The service techs told me those things break very often, it just has to get a voltage spike during charging and it's toast, they see those needing replacement pretty often! It took a month to get fixed too!

[@chrishart8548]

I have an electric car that's only 77kw battery vs your 126.92kw battery. Yet is does 339 miles vs your 228miles. What sort of ktm is it ? Must be very big and heavy.

[@pistonburner6448]

​@@chrishart8548 Please don't lie. You'll get caught in those as there are other people here who have owned EVs and have studied them. Your electric car doesn't do anywhere near 339 miles even in totally fraudulently staged conditions. Maybe if you hypermile in slow city traffic with an average speed of max. 40 mph you can do 280 miles to 10% of charge at best...without A/C or heating. When on the highway you will have about 77kW-10%=69.3kW (after subtracting a minimum of 10% of buffer as no-one can plan trips getting to their destination or charger at exactly 0%) if you've taken it straight off the charger. Then depending on the car your consumption will be at the very minimum about 25kW/100km and more typically 35kW/100km. So you'll do about 220-300km or 140-190 miles at maximum on real highway driving...in great weather and if your battery is pre-conditioned to its favourite temperature. If you have worse weather and your battery isn't pre-conditioned, and if your car decides it needs to pre-condition itself up again as it's approaching the charger (with Tesla that's 7kW of constant heating power drawn from the battery) you can have as little as 150km-200km or 95-125 miles of range!

[@chrishart8548]

@@pistonburner6448 it's OK for around 200 miles generally. Going 70mph on the motorway absolutely kills it . aAnd as soon as I put the air conditioning on 30miles disappear. Its 80kw on the back but it's 77kw really. I'd imagine a 126kw battery would have a fairly decent range.

[@shockrocker976]

It's funny, as a 5'8 rider - loud helmet on anything with a windscreen has never been a problem for me. On my Africa Twin, it's so quiet behind the screen when it's up. Also, I am so excited for the future of electric bikes, even as someone who outside of my '22 AT, owns 4 other antique bikes. I would LOVE to get to the point where range can last a week like it can on my AT. Unfortunately, it can't right now. When it can, I'll ditch gas.

[@EllaBananas]

Zero really's gotta remember that everyones broke as fuck these days. Only people dropping 25k on a bike are the retirees and rich kids. And there arent a lot of either these days.

[@EllaBananas]

The issue of motorcycle range is primarily brought about by our currently battery tech. Basically, to store the amount of power required to make a bike that will rival and exceed gas bikes, the battery would end up being too heavy to be reasonable for the power output. Thats less of an issue with cars because, well, theyre already chonky. Price is pretty much the same story. Batteries are expensive. But that means that the ideal scenario for an electric motorcycle, is likely to be on the small city bike side. Thats where price and range tends to come together in an appealing way. But everyone wants to copy tesla for some reason and try and win everyone over with performance. Motorcycles are already pretty much fast enough. Sadly it seems if I want my 300 class e motorcycle with smooth direct throttle control and torque that isnt excessivly limited, I'm going to have to build it myself.

[@EllaBananas]

Electric motorcycles have the ability to be something really special, but so far most companies have missed the mark imo.

[@alexwilsonpottery3733]

@@EllaBananas- yup, everyone seems obsessed with straight-line performance, as usual in the US - everything is a drag-race. Riding a straight-line-slow bike quickly in the twisties is a lot more fun. Power corrupts, and most can’t manage too much of it.

[@Patiboke]

3:30 I read that the battery is the same like the Zero 14.4 kWh, but for durability they keep it between 10 and 90% or something like that. In this one they unlocked the possibility to use it all the way from 100 to 0%. Only recommended for long trips.

[@dirtbike-adventures]

Seriously, why waste time on making this video? An EV motorcycle? Come on...what could be less appealing?

[@Giitzerland]

Imagine that not far into the future, these bikes will likely have a auto-gyro mode that helps stability at low speed, and stops.

[@OCCUPIEDNATION]

Can't help but notice, that from certain angles it looks a lot like my old BMW K75S!! That bike made a strange whistle at low speeds as well! 😂😂

[@PromethSunrise]

Is it just me or the bike looks exactly like a Moto Guzzi V100 Mandello? It's the same

[@waynebrissette9459]

My wife has the Zero SR/F, and to Zack's point about charging, she uses it to commute on, to work and back leaves her with about 20 miles of range, so she has to put it on the charger. For a commuter bike this is fine, but for an ADV it's not. We already have a L2 charger because we have 1 plug-in hybrid and 1 full electric car and honestly if you're going to buy any electrical vehicle, I feel the L2 charger is a necessity, not an optional thing. I think as you get used to driving and riding electric vehicles, range anxiety is reduced, but you still have it. And it also means ensuring if you do decide to take it around you know where you can stop to charge... which of course means knowing you can't just make a 10 minute stop, it's going to be a bit and you must plan that into your schedule. In the end, I think there's a place for electric vehicles, but are they motorcycles? I'm still not sold and we're a family that owns one.

[@Bearded.Wonder]

Interesting bike, this... I like the looks, the windscreen adjusting knob thingy, and the initial throttle response compared to some snatchy ICE bikes (looking at you, Versys). However, I do feel some ICE bikes are kinda hamstrung in this area due to emission regulations and what that does to fueling. But, ultimately I don't hate it because it's electric. I just don't like it because it's electric; if that makes any sense. For me, it wouldn't suit my purposes, but it will suit someone else's. I like there to be options. Some folks will love it and it will be everything they want. This should be just another option in the moto universe and nothing more. It won't save the world. It's just another option. Thanks for the review, Zack.

[@kevinmair7571]

Nice fair review. I agree with all of your comments, good and bad but I want one! Just a thought though, most adventure riders seem to average about 40 to50 mph, right up the DSRX'S street, no pun intended. And you can charge anywhere there is electric it.

[@kevinmair7571]

Electricty. I would a the charge tank for 12kw charging.

[@mikecarr1484]

I can only pray it catches fire while charging to eliminate the problem before it goes any further.

[@notinthehead]

Reverse gear is cool! I use a parking garage and help going backwards when the road is slanted would be helpful.