QUICKSPIN I 2023 Zero Motorcycles DSR/X
P96
vibration from the engine. So
much about the bike is down-
right smooth, including throttle
delivery. It's by far the best I've
felt from any electric bike. Most
ride-by-wire systems feel vague
with no real middle ground, ei-
ther all the way on or all the way
off, if you will. The Zero, how-
ever, feels very cable-esque and
allows the rider to use some old-
fashioned throttle control, which
is great when transitioning from
more traditional cable-operated
dirt bikes.
Comparing an electric power-
plant to a traditional gas power-
plant is like comparing apples
to oranges. Yes, they're both
bikes with motors, but the overall
riding experience is entirely dif-
ferent. There's no real bottom,
mid, and top-end to speak of on
an electric bike, and the lack of
a shifter or a clutch furthers the
distance of similarity. The power
feels strong and continues to
pull past the speed limit without
any sign-off in sight. Riding the
electric DSR/X is noticeably
easy, too. Dare I say easier than
internal combustion. Simple
things like coming to a stoplight
don't require downshifting or
pulling in the clutch. You never
need to worry about stalling;
you're always in the right gear
and the proper rpm range. You
get the idea. Veteran riders
won't think these are big deals,
but it does simplify the ride and
is attractive for newbies.
The ergos and riding position
feel on par with other compa-
rable adventure bikes like a
Yamaha Tenere or Aprilia Tuareg.
It's wide up front, as expected,
and the "gas tank" offers a little
more than seven gallons of
onboard storage. Hand guards
and an adjustable windscreen
are other accessories that come
standard and are a must for
ADV touring. Rider posture feels
natural, and I expect it would
be comfortable for much longer
days in the saddle than we did.
Five different ride
modes are available
to the rider.
