The click of the key; a detonation. Exhaust pipes clamor for attention then eventually simmer, the rumbling engine beneath you restraining thousands of tiny explosions. Mortal man perched atop this glorious event as if conquering and controlling nature itself. This is what it’s like to ride a motorcycle in the traditional sense. But an electric motorcycle? Not so much. And I’m totally fine with that.
But the electric motorcycle is a polar opposite experience. As an EV it’s a shiftless, nearly silent, gas-less reality. No hot muffler to burn your legs (or an inquisitive child’s hand), no fumes, and you can “fill up” in the parking garage at work.
There is no question that in general motorcycles are fantastic machines, but they present challenges: you can’t run by the grocery store, drop off dry cleaning or pick up your kid from daycare. I’ve tested a dozen different bikes, taken both a California Highway Patrol and Ducati moto class and been outfitted with fantastic gear; still, it’s hard to truly enjoy myself. I’m constantly in my head about braking, clutching, shifting and turn signals, not to mention old adages like “nurses call motorcyclists ‘organ donors,’” and “it’s not ‘if,’ but ‘when’” ringing in my ears amid the engine revs.
Electric motorcycles are, of course, not a new concept. And they weren’t cooked up by tree-hugging adrenaline junkies or politically charged X-gamers who wanted to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. They’ve actually been around since about 1911, when Popular Mechanics published an article plainly titled “Electric Motorcycle.”
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Zero FXS Specs
Horsepower: 54
Torque: 70 lb-ft
0-60 mph: 3.8 seconds
Mileage City/Highway: 90/37
Charge time: 9 hours
Since then, the electric bike has evolved, thanks to better materials, advanced battery technology and updated styling. But in 2016, everything, from cars to bikes to hoverboards, is using batteries. So it’s no surprise that the EV moto space has growing competition — even Harley Davidson is on board. Zero Motorcycles was an early pioneer in this field, and in celebration of their 10-year anniversary, they updated their lineup with two brand-new models: the FXS and DSR.
