Higher end e-bikes have been gradually blurring the line between what’s a bicycle and what’s a motorcycle for several years now.
For 2025 Zero Motorcycles has decided the time is right to jump into the low-end of the somewhat murky category pool. The big news is the rollout of two entirely new off-road bikes called the XB and XE.
The small electric motorcycles are a step above all-terrain e-bikes but nothing close to Zero’s DS-line of adventure motorcycles.
We’ll get into specifics in a moment, but first, for Zero fans that were hoping its S and DS-lines would get bigger batteries or DC fast charging for the 2025 model year, forget it. It’s another year of color changes for those models and the FX-line.
Related: More Zero Motorcycles coverage
Zero XB
Now back to what’s truly new. Zero’s new XB checks in at just 139 pounds with 275 lb-ft of torque, which should make it a fantastic bike to load in the back of the pick-up for some weekend off-roading or riding around the farm.
But that’s about it. With a top speed of just 50-mph this isn’t a motorcycle that you can take on the highway or even on public streets in many places.
You’ll notice that video of Zero’s new X-line at the top of this post only show the bikes being used off-road. That’s because, depending on where you live in the world, these aren’t street-legal motorcycles.
See Also: Coverage of other electric motorcycles
Here in the U.S. the bikes are too fast to be classified as an e-bike but too slow to be registered a street legal motorcycle in many areas of the country. If you want to use either the XB or XE on public roads, be sure to check your area’s rules before buying one.
E-bicycles are capped at 28 miles-per-hour in most areas of the U.S., although it’s become common knowledge that in some cases speed limiters are easily removed.
Some manufacturers end-up putting pedals on much faster bikes with speed limiters in an effort to get around local laws as some customers seek out ways to defeat the speed limiters. Kudos for Zero for not playing that game.
The XB has a 2.4 kWh battery that fully charges in three hours off a regular household outlet. Zero rates the range at 47 miles at 31-mph, which again, puts it a bit above high-end e-bike territory. Just like some e-bikes, the battery is swappable.
Its closest direct competitor here in the U.S. is probably the Sur-Ron X. The Zero XB is priced at $4,195.
Zero XE
Next up is Zero’s XE, which takes things up a notch. It comes with a bigger 4.3-kWh battery that’s still swapable and gets a slight top speed increase to 53-mph.
Range jumps to 65 miles at 34-mph while the weight rises to 223 pounds. Zero rates the torque on this one at 635 newton-meters, which translates to an estimated 468 lb-ft of torque.
The XE’s price is getting up there at $6,495. The X-line includes features such as multiple ride modes, color dash and adjustable suspensions.
Zero Neutrino Concept Motorcycle
Zero is also showing off its Neutrino concept bike, which looks like a Honda Grom-sized EV entry.
Details for the Neutrino hadn’t been released at the time of this video’s recording but the photo indicates it would likely come with a 5.9 kWh battery.
While street motorcyclists were likely hoping Zero would focus on updating its larger bikes, the new smaller models makes sense economically.
The global low-powered electric motorcycle and scooter market is expected to grow by almost $24-billion over the next four years, according to market research firm Technavjo.
Zero’s FX-line of small, entry-level EV motorcycles also continues for 2025, giving Zero dealers a full suite of offerings ranging from just under $4,200 all the way up to $23,000 before options.