Zero X Line lands
- Paul
- Aug 1
- 2 min read
As someone who grew up terrorising everyone around me, and frequently myself, on two stroke machines I shouldn’t really like electric bikes. But I do and I’m not afraid to say it!
I first came across Zero and their SR/F model a few years ago. While I was initially sceptical, I found a bike that was easy to ride and incredibly fast. There were a few things that took a bit of getting used to such as the lack of gears and the appalling lack of charging stations in Ireland. I quickly learned to work with and around both issues. The bikes are very well finished with Showa suspension, radially mounted brake calipers and a TFT screen. They also have standard size wheels and tyres, allowing a bigger choice of rubber depending on how you ride.
The big news this month is that the company have made a leap into the other end of the market with two new bikes, the XE and XB. Both are the initial machines in a new X line family within the Zero range and are designed to offer and easier route to riding an EV. Now they are being delivered to the dealerships across the globe and here in Ireland they can be found at Franklin Motorcycles here in Dublin.
The new bikes are made for people who like to ride trail roads and have a bit of an off the beaten track adventure. They promise plenty of power as well as a decent range. The chassis is incredibly light. The battery is swappable and can be charged out of the bike making it easier to store in a garage or shed that may not have a power supply.
The XB weighs in a wonderfully low 63 kilos and yet it has 400Nm of torque! It’s also road legal and can be ridden on a moped or an older car licence. The XE, on the other hand is the one with even more power. It weighs a bit heavier at a shade over 100 kilos, but puts out a staggering 625 Nm of torque! It has the same charging system and is considerably faster with a top speed of 90 kph.
Compare these two to something like a Honda CRF 125 and the electric is staggeringly more powerful.
Zero are based in California and the nice man in charge of the company, Sam Paschel, their CEO is both a happy and a proud young motorcyclist saying; “The delivery of the first X Line bikes is a major milestone for Zero and for the future of off-road EV performance. It’s the start of a new chapter in how adventure riding is experienced. With the XB and XE, we’re making electric motorcycles more accessible and approachable for riders everywhere.”
The bikes are available in the next few weeks from Franklin Motorcycles. Talk to any of the team on 015385005 to find out more.
