Castiglione di Sicilia | Italy – With the DSR/X, electric motorcycle pioneer Zero Motorcycles is taking its first serious venture into the heat of the competitive adventure bike market. In my first test in Sicily, the California-made electric motorcycle made a thoroughly good impression, both on and off road…
Among several other European motorcycle journalists, I was invited to Sicily for the presentation and first test ride of the Zero DSR/X. After landing at Catania airport, we headed to the Hotel Il Pìccolo Etna Golf Resort & Spa in Castiglione di Sicilia during evening rush hour. At the foot of Etna, Brian Wismann, CTO of Zero Motorcycles Inc. presented to us the new Adventure Bike.
Until now, there had been no new electric bikes from Zero Motorcycles for quite some time. The last model offered, the DSR Black Forest, which had already looked outdated, no longer fit with the brand’s current lineup of premium motorcycles. So, that gave me reason to be even more impressed by the electric bike unveiled in Sicily at the foot of Mount Etna. With the newly developed Zero DSR/X, the Californians are showing they are hungry for a piece of the booming adventure bike market, even against their popular, nonelectric competitors.
TEST RIDE ON THE SLOPES OF ETNA
The next morning, it was time to set out for the first test ride on the brand new DSR/X. The Zero crew explained the vehicle to us, and then we were off. Right as I took a seat, I already felt comfortable and well situated on the bike. The upright, slightly forward-leaning seating position offers a good compromise between comfortable cruising and dynamic riding. I was very impressed by the e-motorcycle’s acceleration and pull-through. The 75 kW (100 hp) engine power and the torque of 225 newton meters were very well balanced – just the right power delivery for a comfortable yet sporty touring motorcycle.
The test track on the slopes of Mount Etna was chosen by the Zero crew to showcase the new bike’s abilities as best as possible. From long curves and straights to tight hairpin turns, it checked every box. The road conditions also varied from very good asphalt to rough ground. To finish it off, there was an off-road passage with a selective forest section and gravel paths. The DSR/X’s suspension didn’t let itself get rattled in any situation, ironing out almost every bump and keeping me feeling good.
The Bosch motorcycle stability control, installed for the first time in an electric motorcycle, made a valuable contribution. Off-road, I was particularly impressed by the smooth and easy-to-meter power take-off, which was especially helpful in the slower, more technically demanding sections. A dedicated driving mode electronically doses the power of the motor and the intervention of the electronic assistance.
LIMITED RANGE FOR TRAVEL
Range is a decisive factor for an adventure bike. Daily stages of 400-500 kilometres (250-300 miles) are part of the everyday life of a motorcycle traveller. Therein lies a challenge with the Zero DSR/X – especially off the travel routes, where the charging infrastructure is still far from well developed. Why is that? On the 83-kilometer (51-mile) test round with seven off-road kilometres (4.5 miles), my test bike used 53 percent of the battery charge. Using this, we can extrapolate a total range of just under 160 kilometres (100 miles). Considering the 1,520 meters (4,987 feet) of altitude ridden and the brisk pace, the combined range of 185 kilometres (115 miles) stated by Zero seems more or less realistic. So, on an average travel day, you will probably need at least two charging stops. Because of this, it’s advised to order the additional fast charging module. With a charging power of up to 12.6 kW, this cuts the charging time of the 17.3 kW battery (15.2 kW net) by half, getting you from 0-95 percent in around one hour. The list price of the Zero DSR/X with this additional equipment is just under 30,000 Euros in Austria (£27,000 in the UK, $27,500 in the US) before subsidies. It’s a steep price, and although it offers a lot in terms of technology and comfort, there’s no denying that your experience is limited by its short range.
Text and photos: Armin Hoyer – arminelectric.com
Photos of Armin driving: Zero Motorcycles and Alberto Cervetti
Translation from German to English: Ethan Shenhar
