2025 Zero XE and XB – First Look

There are many reasons to be critical of electric motorcycles and price is often the third pillar, after range and recharge times. Zero Motorcycles, whose own lineup of motorcycles can be aspirational to many, is aiming to do something about that as it launches its new All Access initiative. As part of this initiative, Zero plans to release six new motorcycles in the next two years – all with a price tag of under $10,000 USD. Zero tells us these are all-new models, not spinoffs of existing platforms. With price tags set much lower, this is Zero’s attempt at making electric motorcycles more affordable and more accessible to more people, especially as Zero sees its customer base growing internationally.

“This is where the real innovation comes in,” says Brian Wismann, Senior Vice President of Product Development. “It’s not just the tech and it’s not just the manufacturing. Today, the main innovation we can bring is on pricing.”

The first two models in the All Access initiative are the XE and XB. Both are designed with the trail rider in mind, as Zero’s own market research and customer surveys routinely came back with people wanting to see a dedicated trail bike from Zero. Let’s start with the XE.

With the XE, you have an enduro-style motorcycle, just powered with electricity. In fact, that’s what the E stands for. However, the E could also stand for Europe, as the XE also neatly fits into Europe’s A1 tiered licensing category and will be offered with lights, mirrors, and everything else for road legality.

Here in the US, both the XE and XB are off-road only, green sticker bikes, intended to inspire riders new and old to get back into riding trails like riders used to do (nevermind the fact that most of those riding areas Gen X learned to ride are now malls or housing developments…). This all-new frame houses a 4.3 kWh battery that can be swapped out for another. With an output of 180 watt-hours, that makes it the largest capacity swappable battery on the market today. Its permanent magnet motor, when factoring in the internal gear reduction, is capable of an output of 468 lb-ft of torque and a peak of 21 hp. Top speed is 53 mph, while range is rated at 65 miles (at 31 mph)

On the tech side, the XE features three different ride modes – Sport, Standard, and Eco – with switchable traction control, hill hold, a tip-over sensor, and regen adjustment. All the bike’s information is fed to you via a 2.4-inch TFT that, while small, is still able to display an impressive amount of information.  

On the hardware side, you have a 21-inch front wheel and 18-inch rear. There’s a 240mm disc in front, 220mm disc in back, with two-piston calipers for each. You have fully adjustable suspension at each end, providing 8.5 in. (215mm) and 9.8 in. (248mm) of travel front and rear. Zero took its own test team to local off-road riding areas like Hollister to adjust the spring rates and valving to their liking. All-in, the XE comes in at 223 lbs, with a seat height of 35.4 in. 

To me, the Zero XB seems like Zero’s original model – a motorized mountain bike, basically – reimagined. In a way, it’s not far off. The XB is Zero’s smallest, lightest, and least powerful model, which shouldn’t come as a surprise considering its nearly $4,000 price tag. It also slots in nicely with Europe’s B-class license restrictions, which is what the B in the name stands for. But while the XB could be an appealing option for new European riders looking at scooters and/or sub-125cc machines, here in the US, Zero is targeting urban commuters, or even customers from adjacent categories like e-bicycles to give the XB a try.

With such an emphasis on new or crossover riders, it stands to reason that the XB is small and lightweight. To the latter, Zero says the bike weighs 140 lbs, and while we don’t have dimensions on the bike as of press time, the rider in the photos looks huge compared to the XB underneath them.  

On the hardware side, we’re looking at another all-new platform separate from the XE. The battery is small, with only 2.4 kWh, and weighs 30 lbs. Horsepower is a modest 10, but the motor puts out (again, accounting for the gear reduction) 275 lb-ft of torque. It’s healthy, but don’t expect to get very far with it as Zero says it's good for 47 miles (again, at 31 mph). That kind of mileage won’t cut it for American audiences, but for the European audience this bike is aimed at, it seems much more favorable. Like the XE, the battery is removable so you can charge it separately from the bike, or you can swap the battery entirely to keep riding. Like the XE, the XB also has the same suite of electronics, including switchable traction control, ride modes, hill hold, etc. Information is also displayed via the same 2.4-inch TFT.

KKE suspension is used on the XB just like the XE. It’s also fully adjustable, with suspension travel measuring 7.7 in. (195mm) and 6.9 in. (176mm) front and rear. There are 19-inch wheels all around, and braking is handled by a 220mm rotor in the front and 203mm rotor out back, both with two-piston calipers.

Zero says both models will be available in dealers starting Summer of 2025.