Zero XE Review | Silent, Swift, and Seriously Fun: This EV Rewrites the Joy of Dirt Bikes

Zero, the EV motorcycle brand, is now 20 years old, and to celebrate two decades of producing fully charged two-wheeled adventures, the XE has been launched with a nod to the company's founding models from 2006. John Marcar has been testing the new Zero XE off-road.

Age, it's just a number, right?

Next year, I turn 40, which means I'm at a dangerous stage of life for the introduction of new hobbies, especially one on two wheels. I've been riding motorcycles now for just over 10 years, and in that time I've owned, borrowed, and reviewed all sorts of wonderful motorcycles, including slow-and-steady classics, adventure bikes designed for global exploration, and track-focused Superbikes engineered to break lap records. What I've somehow avoided until now, though, are enduro and dirt bikes.

When Zero emailed to ask if I fancied trying out the brand's latest EV bikes, I was excited to RSVP but equally intrigued by the prospect of trying some enduro riding for the first time. In terms of a story, it almost writes itself: after all, Zero's first bikes were electrified versions of dirt bikes that would have otherwise been powered by petrol and two-stroke oil. And for the feature, what could be better than hopping a leg over a dirt bike for the first time to see what riding off-road is like? (What's the worst that could happen? etc, etc)

Getting to Grips with Electric Off-Road

The location for an entire morning of off-road riding was Desert Rose Riding Academy, a dedicated off-road riding facility just outside of Battle in Kent. The facility spans many acres of woodland, with multiple terrain levels and ground surfaces to contend with.

As a newbie, along with a couple of other dirt-bike first-timers, I was introduced to my bike on a simple rectangular assessment field. The idea of the assessment field is to get to grips with the controls whilst the pro instructors from Desert Rose can keep an eye on your riding and offer any pointers that they think might be beneficial.

I approached the field with some apprehension, but any concerns I had were quashed within a few minutes of riding - I took to the XE as if it were a bike I'd been riding for years. The handlebar positioning, footpeg location, and ease of use of the throttle and brakes all felt beautifully natural. Before I knew it, I was locking up the rear wheel into corners and powersliding out of them - all whilst giggling with laughter in significant relief of not being totally useless.

Design, weight and proportions

Zero's XE is an accumulation of 20 years of experience and refinement. Visually, the XE is the definition of a dirt bike, with dimensions similar to those of a smaller petrol engine enduro bike. Being battery-powered, it's a touch heavier than a petrol-powered equivalent, at 101 kg (a similarly sized KTM 125cc bike weighs 92 kg), but the difference is hardly noticeable when moving the bike around on foot, and the extra weight is completely disguised under acceleration due to the Zero's unique power delivery.

The biggest difference in dimensions is between your legs. Where a petrol-powered bike would take up space with an engine, cooling and exhaust systems, the Zero XE houses a very slim battery and an equally narrow motor that drives a chain to the rear wheel. This narrow body allows for immediate control and weight distribution through your feet - ideal for a first-timer like me.

Opinion: The sound of laughter is better than two-stroke

Now, I appreciate this comment might ruffle some hardcore two-stroke fans' feathers, and that's okay, we're all allowed an opinion, right?

I don't think two-stroke engines sound very nice. I get that for some, the sound is associated with long-term childhood memories of launching bikes over jumps and between trees, but when you break it down, it's a tinny, metallic racket that lacks any depth or pleasantness. What IS a nice sound, though, is the sound of laughter, and thanks to the ever-so-quiet operation of the Zero XE, the laughter and even chatter of fellow riders can be heard over the bike's electric motors. This is especially fun when chasing a couple of new friends through bluebell-lined woodland, listening to their laughs and occasional creative use of expletives after near misses with trees or unexpectedly successful jumps.

Power, Performance and Sound

To describe the Zero XE as silent would be false. The 58Nm motor does create a zip and a whine as it draws power directly from the 4.3kWh battery. The sound emitted is perfectly correlated with the torque delivered, which at its highest setting is a frankly absurd 635 Nm at the rear wheel. The peak power from the battery and motor is 20.1 hp (15.5 kW), and whilst that's 15-20hp down from a typical 125cc two-stroke, thanks to the way in which the power is delivered, the lesser power feels dramatically more punchy on dirt than almost all 125cc petrol bikes I've experienced on tarmac.

Range and Charging Times

Given the bike's design brief, an advertised overall range isn't likely to appear in any of the advertising headlines; however, at an average speed of 31mph, a total of 65 miles can be realistically expected. To put any minds at rest about how quickly that power is used, in 2.5 hours of constant riding through challenging woodland and over numerous hills and slopes, I managed to exhaust just 40% of the battery whilst using approximately 80% of my own energy - leave me be... I'm almost 40.

Assuming most buyers of the Zero XE will be fitter than I, the great news is that the batteries are interchangeable and can clip in and out, meaning with a spare battery on standby, a swap of a depleted battery for a fully charged one can take place in a matter of seconds, which will allow for the adventure to continue.

Charge times for the 4.3kWh battery are around 5 hours, 0-95% with a 220V charger. The bike can also be plugged into a wall socket, eliminating the need to remove the battery from the frame. The battery packaging, both in and out of the XE, is fantastic.

Back to the riding

Once I'd satisfied both myself and the excellent instructors at Desert Rose Academy, it was time to head into some of the more challenging courses. These routes involved carving through woodland with steep inclines, sharp drops and deep gullies.

Several excellent features on the XE include multiple rider modes (ECO, Standard, and Sport) and a handy Hill Hold feature that prevents the bike from rolling back when you stop on a slope. There are also regen rate adjustments that, beyond putting charge back into the battery, also do a great job of scrubbing speed without unsettling the bike with the brakes. There's also a tip-over sensor that cuts throttle if you have a fall, and, just in case you ever need it, cruise control is equipped as standard, along with a reverse mode to help with manoeuvrability.

Suspension and braking performance

The XE's size and weight provide excellent visibility for wheel placement. The fully adjustable suspension (Front: 210mm fork travel / 220mm wheel travel - Rear: 85mm shock travel / 248mm wheel travel) soaks up the bumps with ease and comfort when riding both standing on the pegs or sitting on the saddle. This was especially impressive given my 90kg of mass and the rate at which I was hitting some of the dips and jumps.

At the centre of the 21-inch front wheel is a single 240mm brake disc and twin-piston calliper. On the 18-inch rear wheel is a single 22mm disc with a twin-piston calliper. The XE has adjustable traction and ABS, and for my ride, I opted to switch off the rear ABS for more control when braking into tighter turns.

Can it be Road Legal?

In short, yes. Like all other Zero models, you can affix a number plate to the rear and enjoy the bike on the road. It is worth noting, however, that the dirt-bike design brief is exactly that - and as a result, aspirations to use the XE as a regular commuter bike might be challenged by the reality of long-term use of a narrow saddle and very limited storage options.

Price and options

The Zero XE has a retail price of £5,590, plus around £300 in OTR fees if you'd like the bike road-registered. And additional batteries can be purchased from retailers for £2,309.00

Conclusion

If the aches and pains of my legs, back and arms are anything to go by, then it should be used in evidence that the Zero XE is both fun and rewarding for a total off-roading novice like me. One unexpected muscular ache came from my face - and that was all due to the enormous smile and constant laughter.

It's been repeatedly asserted that riding motorcycles is good for your mental health. I'd go so far as saying that riding the Zero XE off-road is so much fun, it could be prescribed as an antidepressant.

words by John Marcar
Photography by Chippywood.pix on behalf of Zero