Electric car owners will tell you: Nothing accelerates like an electric motor. And electric motorcycles? They're even zippier off the line. The designers of Zero's latest electric ride left the 14-kWh battery exposed, as if to trumpet the potential of our high-performance, rechargeable future. Nestled behind that power cell is an air-cooled 110-hp motor, which puts out 140 pound-feet of torque that can rocket the bike from 0 to 60 in under two seconds. Four default ride modes dictate the amount of traction control and the rate of acceleration. Cruise downtown in Street mode, choose Rain when things get slick, or create custom settings via Zero's smartphone app. The 161-mile range is just enough for a week's worth of there-and-back commutes. To replenish your electrons, either hook it to a standard J1772 charging station (4.5 hours to 100 percent at a level 2 station) or use a wall socket (8.5 hours). Best of all, there's no transmission, so there are no clutch-grabbing gear shifts required. A twist of the throttle jets you all the way to the office—or as far from work as your charge allows.
Styling by Jesse Silver
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