This week on EV Rider we’ve got a tail of the tape, a direct comparison between LiveWire’s S2 Mulholland and Zero’s 2024 base S model. The 2024 S has the same battery size as my personal 2020 SR/F that is seen in some of the video shots.
I’ve owned the 2020 model year Zero Motorcycles SR/F since 2019 and recently got to spend a day with the 2024 S2 Mulholland featured in the video at the top of this post, courtesy of Adamec Harley-Davidson. During my day with the LiveWire I racked up more than a hundred miles (see full Mulholland review here).
First let’s go over LiveWire vs. Zero pricing. For the 2024 model year Zero makes variations of its S-line motorcycles. The fairest comparison is to Zero’s base S model, which carries a retail price of $14,995. The Mulholland starts a thousand dollars higher at $15,999. Keep in mind prices may have changed by the time you read this or watch the video and those base prices don’t include any dealer discounts or potential incentives.
The S-line Zeros featured in the video are the 2024 S and a 2020 SR/F Premium. The 2024 SR/F features a bigger battery than my 2020 and a lot more torque than the base S, so when referencing stats I’ll be referring to the 2024 Zero S to keep this comparison fair.
The Zero S and Mulholland are closely matched in a lot of ways, with the biggest difference being battery sizes. The S comes with a 14.4 kWh battery with 12.6 kWh of usable capacity, while the Mulholland has 10.5 kWh of usable (nominal) capacity.
When it comes to torque and horsepower, both bikes have more than enough for most of us but the LiveWire screams with 194 lb-ft and 84 horsepower. LiveWire says that’s good for a 3.3 second 0-to-60 mph run, which based on my seat of the pants experience feels right.
The Zero S has 97 lb-ft of torque and 65 horsepower. If you want more you’ll have to step up to the SR/F but that’s really a closer competitor to the LiveWire One, so we’ll stick with the S.
The Mulholland also wins in the weight department coming in at just 432 pounds compared to 492 pounds for the S. The Mulholland sits a little taller than the SR/F.
Out on the road they both feel light on their feet. Around town I’d say the Mulholland feels a bit more flickable although the Zero’s lower seat height (31-inches vs. Mulholland’s 31.75-inches) makes for a more comfortable experience when you’re stuck at stoplights since more riders can flatfoot the Zero.
In terms of overall comfort, the Mulholland wins hands down. The Mulholland’s seating triangle is more relaxed compared to the Zero’s more aggressive riding position. The Mulholland’s seat is also more comfortable as the miles start piling up.
Next let’s move on to build quality. I’ve got to give the nod to the Mulholland. Nothing against the Zero. I own the Zero featured in the video at the top of this post. But I’ve got to say I felt the fit and finish is superior on the LiveWire. That makes sense. Harley has been in this business a very long time. When it comes to range, the Zero beats the Mulholland all day long.
Zero says the S will go up to 101 miles in a 50/50 mix of city and interstate riding at 70 miles per hour. LiveWire does its testing a bit differently but says you can expect 91 miles going 55 miles per hour.
Out in the real world it quickly became clear the 2024 Mulholland has significantly less range than my 2020 SR/F, which had the same size battery as the 2024 Zero S.
When it comes to handling, that’s tougher. I didn’t get to spend enough time with the Mulholland to be able to make a good assessment on but first impressions were strong.
You can’t really go wrong with either of these bikes. They’re both great urban commuters, although if you want to do some light touring you’ll probably want to lean toward the Zero.
That’s simply because you’ll get a few extra miles of range before you need to stop for a charge. Even here, there’s not a clear winner because the base model S only charges at 3 kW, while I saw a 5 kW peak charging speed from the Mulholland and I’ve seen other Mulholland owners report 5.5 kW peak charging speeds.
Back on the road the two bikes take a different approach to braking with the Zero using dual J-Juan discs upfront while the Mulholland features a single Brembo.
Both have antilock brakes with the Zero using Bosch’s Base Motorcycle Stability Control system and LiveWire using cornering enhanced antilock brakes.
When it comes to the guage clusters I prefer the Zero because it displays more information and allows for more customization of what is displayed. However, the Zero doesn’t offer navigation. At the time of this post Zero had pulled its navigation after troubles during beta testing. I do not know whether Zero plans to reintroduce it via a firmware update.
The LiveWire’s navigation is attractive, offering a full map view. The Mulholland also offers multimedia controls, which the Zero lacks, allowing Mulholland riders to easily control their music apps.
If you were to ask me which bike I think looks better? That’s a tough call. I really like the look of both motorcycles. I know that’s a bit of a copout but let’s face it, styling is subjective anyway.
Both bikes feature a wide range of riding profiles and allow the rider to customize things like torque and regen. Both motorcycles also feature over-the-air firmware updates, meaning even fewer trips to the dealer for service.
Adding it all up, if we stick to the base model Zero S, which bike wins? To me, the Mulholland. It’s got the base S beat due to the LiveWire’s stronger performance and more premium feel.
But it’s a razor thin margin when you consider the Mulholland costs more and has a smaller battery.
As I said earlier, if you’ll be sticking to primarily urban use cases, you can’t really go wrong with either bike. If you’re looking for a more all-around EV motorcycle with faster charging and more range, then the LiveWire One or Zero’s SR/F, SR/S or DSR-X are worth a look.
What do you think? Would you go for a LiveWire or Zero? Let me know in the comments and for additional details be sure to watch the video at the top of this post and if you enjoy it, please give the video a like and subscribe to my YouTube channel so I can bring you more adventures in EV motoring