LEAN AND MEAN (AND GREEN)

No longer a novelty for technology-obsessed bikers with a penchant for the unusual, electric motorcycles are here to stay

- Ross Mowbray

With the introduction of Harley-Davidson’s LiveWire and the news that some of the biggest names in the game are joining forces to start doing some serious thinking about the future of motorcycling, things are really starting to hot up in the electric motorcycle market. Not that Zero has much to worry about just yet. It’s been around since 2006 and has cemented itself as the brand to beat when it comes to electric motorcycling, setting benchmarks for performance and range with each new model. But there’s one bike that continues to be the biggest success for the Californian factory: the S.

Since its inception back in 2006, Zero has made a name for itself with its eclectic mix of electric bikes which combine minimalist design with ‘proper’ petrol-bike comparable specification. There’s a whole host of models to choose from, including the high-spec SR models, the lightweight, off-road FX, supermoto-style FXE and trail-inspired DSs alongside the bike we’ve been testing here, the mid-range S.

Zero’s S is the streetfighter model in its range – a naked sportbike bike that’s been stripped back to the bare essentials. The overall look is clean and stylish, if not a little sparse, and at first glance the basic aluminium twin spare frame, rear monoshock, inverted forks and single disc brakes might make you question its twelve-and-a-half grand price tag. But it’s not quite that simple. If it was kitted out with the latest and greatest parts, it’d be considerably more expensive – and that’s not what Zero’s going for.