Bike files: Zero DSR/X

Electric might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but the Zero DSR/X is one of the best of the breed…

Electric motorbikes, I didn’t know you could buy one of them?

It’s true. Just as we have electric cars, there are electric motorcycles too. They’re a real rarity though, so you’re forgiven or not being too aware.

In the UK, in 2024, around 3% of powered two-wheelers sold were EVs, although most of these were low powered moped types. Less than 120, or 0.1% of all bikes registered, were electric bikes which could be described as ‘full-sized’ (ie: requiring at least an A2 licence). They’re not common, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t relevant.

So electric motorcycles are the future?

In a way they are the present, as this Zero DSR/X demonstrates, but the numbers still suggest there’s a long way to go if they are to become mainstream – if indeed they ever do. With legislation set to ban sales of new internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, manufacturers are working hard to find alternatives, whether that’s electric, hydrogen, cleaner petrol, or something else we’ve yet to hear about.

Tell me about Zero

Zero’s the oldest of the electric motorbike brands on sale today, and the only survivor from a host of two-wheeled EV start-ups committed to making high powered electric motorcycles. The Californian based company was formed in 2005 and has stayed afloat while the likes of Alta, Brammo, Energica and Lightning would come and go.

While a few of their bikes are learner legal, the majority require a full licence. They are powerful, with instant torque and cost around £20k. They’ve got a small number of dealers on the British Isles and a small but loyal following.

What are they like to ride?

One thing Zero do very well is their test ride programme. They run a lot of demo days, where you can try one out with no obligation to buy. If you’re curious, we’d urge you to go along and give it a go. Most people who ride a Zero really enjoy the experience. The acceleration is out of this world, with a smoothness and silence which makes an EV so different to riding a bike with a petrol (ICE) engine.

Electric bikes may not have the roar and rumble of a petrol bike, but they make a futuristic whoosh which can be quite additive. Without a clutch and gears to worry about, they are actually quite easy to ride and can be very engaging. Top speed is in three figure territory but, really, it’s all about that super smooth acceleration.

On first sitting, the flagship DSR/X feels fairly familiar to experienced bikers. It’s got typical adventure bike ergonomics, and although the seating position is fairly upright it’s got a remarkably low seat height. And because there’s no fuel tank, and the batteries are quite low in the frame, the DSR/X has a low centre of gravity. This makes for a very agile motorcycle, despite a hefty 247kg kerb weight.

Sounds too good to be true. Why aren’t they more popular?

You know the term ‘elephant in the room’? Well, for many riders there’s a whole herd to be found upon opening the EV can of worms.

Some will bemoan the lack of sound, gears and revs – although we’d argue that one man’s meat is another man’s poison. What you can’t deny is that the range and charging times don’t stack up well to a petrol bike. Again, it won’t matter to some, but a Zero DSR/X will struggle to cover 70 miles on a full charge on the motorway, before taking over two hours to recharge up to 95%.

Even riding slower and adding the optional fast chargers (which halve the charge time) won’t wash for riders, but probably the biggest barrier to entry for the DSR/X is the price. They’re priced at the same sort of money as a Ducati Multistrada V4 or loaded up BMW R 1300 GS, meaning you really have to be committed to the electric cause (not to mention having a few quid in the bank) to make the switch to electric motorcycling.

And that’s the cost of greener motorcycling?

To be fair to Zero, they don’t really go in hard on the environmental angle. They say the main reason to buy one of their bikes is the ‘fully immersive ride’ and they certainly do bring a new dimension to motorcycling with the twist and go power delivery. Whether or not it’s more environmentally friendly than a similar petrol bike isn’t really for us to say, although obviously the Zero does emit, erm, zero tailpipe emissions.

Electric motorcycles sound awful!

You mean they literally make a terrible sound? Or the idea sounds awful? Or both?

Look, don’t knock them ‘til you’ve tried them is what we’d say. We’ve already mentioned the reasons why many are put off, but that doesn’t mean they are not a lot of fun to ride. As we mentioned already, Zero run a lot of demo days in an attempt to spread their vision of electric motorcycling and if you get the chance to try one we wholeheartedly recommend doing so. It is a very enlightening experience and will help you make up your own mind as to whether or not this is the future.

Ok, but back to the Zero DSR/X… give us some interesting facts about it?

Many of the Zero’s numbers are impressive. Torque is the defining characteristic of EVs and the DSR/X makes a staggering 229Nm of pulling power almost instantaneously. To put that into perspective, a 2.5 litre Triumph Rocket 3 has a torque peak of 225Nm at 4000rpm.

Top speed is quoted at 112mph and maximum power (largely irrelevant considering the torque) is 100bhp. Interestingly though, these peak power levels are not sustainable for long periods of time and the ‘sustained’ top speed is 100mph, with only 48bhp of ‘continuous’ power available, but the numbers are largely meaningless as the way it is all delivered is so much different to anything you’ve experienced in a petrol propelled motorbike.

There are a whole host of riding modes, which are both pre-set and user definable, which allow the rider to tailor the power delivery and maximise range and performance.

The battery holds just over 15 units of electricity. Assuming a unit (or kWh) of household electricity costs around 25p, you can plug it into a regular socket at home and recharge for around £4. You can also plug it into public charging posts (which are more expensive) although you do have to watch out as it’s not compatible with the fast, CCS, type charging.

As standard, the bike comes with a 6kw onboard charger which connects to a Type 2 socket (making a full recharge take the best part of three hours) although you can buy an extra onboard charger to double the charge capacity and halve that time.

Do you need a licence to ride a Zero DSR/X?

Yes, you do need a full licence to ride the DSR/X, although there is an A2 version (called the DSR) and even a learner legal model (DS). These also deliver massive torque and have their power measured in a different way to petrol bikes, which recognises continuous power rather than peak power, meaning the Zero you can ride on a CBT and L plates actually has a top speed of 86mph and maximum horsepower of 60bhp, which can be used in short bursts.

This ‘learner’ has performance way beyond the typical 125, although it also costs almost as much as a BMW R 1300 GS, with a £16k price tag at the time of writing (March 2025)?

So should I buy a Zero DSR/X?

If you’ve gotten this far and still think an electric motorcycle is for you, you’re probably the target buyer. If you can afford one and are not put off by the limitations around range and charging, you’re certainly going to get a motorcycle like nothing else out there. It’s a brave choice, for sure, but it’ll gather a crowd and will be a talking point at any bike meet.

What are the alternatives to the Zero DSR/X?

With Italian rivals Energica out of business, the only real alternative electric brand is Harley-Davidson’s Live Wire spin off.

In terms of price, the DSR/X is up against heavyweights like the Ducati Multistrada V4 and BMW R 1300 GS, although we’d say the Zero is more comparable to much cheaper models like the Triumph Tiger Sport 660/800 and the 700 and 900cc versions of the Yamaha Tracer range.

But if your heart is set on electric, most of the other choices will come from Zero’s range – with the SR/F and SR/S models giving streetfighter and sports touring twists on the same platform. Honda are also set to join the large EV sector in the not too distant future, and it will be interesting to see if the world’s biggest motorcycle manufacturer can get bikers excited to go electric.