10 Things We Like About The Zero SR/S

The Zero SR/S electric sport bike offers the best combination of versatility and performance

Electric motorcycles are no longer regarded as boring or only meant for short-distance riding. Modern electric motorcycles have come a long way, boasting swift, torque-rich acceleration and blazing performance. While remaining environmentally friendly, these bikes are really fun to ride and provide a healthy range before needing to recharge the batteries. Zero Motorcycles lead the pack of electric motorbike manufacturers. By delivering advanced battery technology and an impressive range, it has established itself as one of the top electric-performance motorbike manufacturers. Zero's flagship electric bike, the SR/S, combines traditional sport bike ergonomics with cutting-edge battery technology to give exceptional performance.

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With a starting price of $23,995, the Zero SR/S appears to be a pricey prospect when compared to conventional motorcycles. However, the SR/S is certainly one of the most complete, versatile, and fun-to-ride electric motorcycles money can buy right now. The typical cost to recharge a fully drained SR/S battery is approximately $1.94, which is significantly less than the cost of refueling a gasoline bike. Although the initial purchase price of an SR/S is quite high, with low maintenance and recharge expenses, electric bikes stand to offer a value proposition while being eco-friendly in the long run.

The Zero SR/S is a highly versatile electric motorcycle that can be used for both city commutes and highway trips. Its design features include high handlebars, a comfortable seating position, accessible power, and features that make it an ideal commuter for the street and an excellent sports tourer on highways. The riding ergonomics are designed for comfortable city commutes and relaxed high-speed cruising with lower foot pegs and a balanced suspension setup. With a curb weight of 518 pounds, the bike is relatively lightweight for an electric motorcycle, and with a carrying capacity of 482 pounds, it can carry enough luggage for longer road trips.

Zero Motorcycles is renowned for providing cutting-edge features and advanced battery technology in all its flagship electric motorcycles. With SR/S, riders have access to ride modes that can be customized for bike performance through the Zero App and the bike's dash interface. As standard the SR/S comes with Rain, Eco, Standard, Sport, and Canyon ride modes all preloaded, but can be virtually custom tuned and adjusted. It is the first electric motorcycle to come with Bosch’s MSC System which delivers dynamic acceleration and enhanced stability on all conditions. The combination of Cypher III+ and Bosch’s MSC provides the best-in-class straight-line ABS and cornering brake control, traction control, and drag torque control.

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The full-color 5-inch TFT display dash can be customizable to display bike info according to the rider’s preferences. The electric bike comes with an on-the-fly ride mode switching option, cruise control, heated grip control, and more. Thanks to the Zero app (which is connected to the dash) and Cypher III+ OS creating an integrated ecosystem, riders can access the Cypher Store to purchase additional bike features and upgrades. Additionally, Zero Motorcycles offers numerous accessories in three main categories: comfort, performance, and design, from which riders can choose their preference and customize the bike according to their ride style.

As with all electric motorcycles, the SR/S also offers instant torque for quick acceleration along with efficient performance. With class-leading performance and the largest stock battery capacity, this sporty electric bike can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in under 3 seconds and can easily reach a top speed of 124 mph. The lightweight steel-trellis frame and custom swingarm make the bike very agile and nimble around corners. Thanks to the perfect weight distribution and mass-centralized design, the bike feels surefooted and confidence inspiring at high speeds. Additionally, the bike comes with Showa suspension that delivers an incredibly comfortable ride and a balanced riding experience when pushed.

The highlight of every Zero electric motorcycle is the in-house developed intelligent Cypher operating system. The OS monitors and optimizes its bike's performance, range, and efficiency in the background. The SR/S comes with Zero’s latest Cypher III+ operating system with new performance and safety upgrades such as faster charging, dash navigation, and parking mode. With the latest version of OS, riders can access numerous software upgrades that allow them to customize the bike using the all-new Cypher Store through the Zero App.

The SR/S has more sporty looks compared to the naked SR/F which it is primarily based on, giving it 13 percent more highway efficiency resulting in better battery range. As with all models from Zero, the design is inspired by the aerospace industry and the aerodynamic fairing offers an improved drag coefficient. Although the bike looks sporty, the riding position is mostly relaxed with elevated handlebars, upright seating, and lower foot pegs. Most riders will be comfortable with the SR/S seat height of 31 inches, however, a low seat option (30.3 inches) is also available as an accessory. Its slim chassis and enhanced ergonomics offer excellent maneuverability too.

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The electric sport bike comes with a scalable Rapid Charge System which allows the bike to be configured for different charging levels. It comes with a 6.6 kW standard integrated charger that can charge the battery up to 95% in about two hours and 100% in around 2.7 hours. Similarly, the SR/S is equipped with an additional 6 kW Rapid Charger (12.6 kW total) and can be charged up to 95% in approximately one hour and 1.6 hours for 100% charge. However, the upgraded charging module requires dealer installation. Additionally, the bike requires the included EVSE cord to charge from a standard 110V outlets.

The SR/S gets the largest stock capacity battery, the new Z-force 17.3 kWh lithium-ion power pack. For consistent cell cooling and maximum long-term performance, the battery comes with an aluminum heat-sink housing and thermal transfer interface. With class-leading battery power and energy density, the bike offers an excellent city range of 187 miles. However, on highways with steady 55 mph speeds the range drops to 114 miles and a combined range of 142 miles. Similarly, with a steady highway speed of 70 mph, the range drops to 93 miles and a combined range of 124 miles. The battery can be extended to a massive 21 kWh with an optional 3.6 kWh Power Tank upgrade. Additionally, the SR/S comes with a standard five years or unlimited miles comprehensive warranty for the battery and two years or unlimited miles warranty for the bike itself.

The SR/S, like all of Zero's flagship electric motorcycles, is equipped with the latest Z-Force 75-10 motor, which provides 140 pound-feet of torque and 110 horsepower right away. It delivers class-leading performance and efficiency thanks to the combination of Zero’s famous internal permanent magnet brushless architecture and a passively air-cooled compact motor design. The sporty electric bike offers instant low-end grunt and blistering accelertion thanks to its powerful direct-drive motor with clutchless operation. Its coaxial power pivot design architecture makes sure of the constant drive-belt tension and delivers maximum torque to the rear wheel for better performance.

Roopesh has been an avid motorcycle rider for more than two decades. He is fascinated by all types of two-wheelers, from basic commuters to supersport tourers. When he is not writing about motorcycles, he is out touring on bikes to explore new places. He believes that traveling on motorcycles is the best way to experience and stay close to the elements of the earth.