Electric Motorcycle

Quiet. [Link]

The Zero X is so small and light that it feels more like a big, electric mountain bike than anything—quite the easy ride. The key, tethered to your wrist as a kill switch in case your butt leaves the seat pad, clicks forward one notch, and you’re ready to ride. Saiki says it’s easy to over-goose the throttle thanks to the instant torque of the electric motor, so he suggests we flick the “0 to 30 mph” switch and the “easy” power delivery selector. We listen.

The bike pulls away smoothly in those modes and accelerates briskly. Its lightweight and adjustable suspension, with a generous 8-in. front and 9-in. rear travel, makes you feel invincible. We yearn for a dirt motocross track instead of this oceanfront pavement.

Then we stop and switch to “0 to 60 mph” mode and flick the other lever to “Sport.” Twist that right grip, and the Zero X will pull the tire a few inches off the ground as it accelerates—even with your weight pitched slightly forward. Saiki says it can hit 30 mph in just two seconds, and cautions that “the battery dumps a lot of amps—really quick.” Indeed. It pulls serious wheelies—if that’s what you dig. Hold the grip pinned, and the bike starts some serious speeds. It’s a blast.

But the speed of the Zero X may not be as important to some as its silence. We can imagine a casual trail ride on a pair of these bikes where both riders can not only hear the sounds of the wilderness around them, but also carry on a conversation as they ride. Try that on a two-stroke.

So how do you get one? The Zero is in production now—ready to be shipped exclusively from Zero’s Web site, delivered to your door in three crates (wheels, battery and frame components) or fully assembled on a pallet.