Zero MX all-electric motorcycle takes on the trails

Not one to rest on its ultra-quiet laurels, Zero Motorcycles has just introduced its newest zero-emissions bike: the Zero MX. Hitting the scene just a month and change after we test drove the Zero S, this whip is engineered specifically for track riding and motocross, with the fork, shocks, wheels and tires being all new for this model. In fact, we're told that the MX will enable riders to jump higher and land softer, with a beefier front-end and a "custom rear shock that gives riders a fully adjustable spring preload and easily tuned damping." Better still, it's available as we speak for the not-at-all-reasonable price of $8,250, though at least we're heading in the right direction -- the aforesaid Zero S rang up at nearly ten large (while that Brammo bike we tested today starts at twelve grand). Live action video is after the break.

[Uncontrol @ Jun 9th 2009 5:29PM]

Kamen Rider MX

[darkmax @ Jun 9th 2009 6:02PM]

Strange... I was just thinking about Kamen Rider.... Must be the new form of Kamen Rider Black

[DJP25 @ Jun 9th 2009 5:36PM]

That's actually a very reasonable price. Most 250F's run around $9000.

[Vinnie @ Jun 9th 2009 5:34PM]

It sounds like it's gonna fall apart

[General_Trelane, (retired) @ Jun 9th 2009 5:49PM]

How can you say that?

A petrol burning off road bike makes suck a loud noise that it covers up any rattling...

I imagine the same thing can be said about an ell electric car, you can hear any metal clunking when is it running on %100 battery power...

[Michael @ Jun 9th 2009 5:36PM]

One of the big appeals of a 2 stroke dirt bike is the sound of the engine and the powerband the engine provides, keep this junk. I'm tired of the eco police trying to ruin everything

[Yodaman @ Jun 9th 2009 5:42PM]

Likewise tired of the eco police. They need to concentrate more on making good products that people actually want and less on legislating us into crap we don't.

Full disclosure: I drive a Hummer and I don't give a damn what anyone thinks.

[Mystic @ Jun 9th 2009 5:45PM]

And I'm one of those who HATE two stroke engines and when you ride the damn things around my block like it's a motocross track! BTW Yodaman, I think you're a f3cking idiot.

[Uncontrol @ Jun 9th 2009 5:54PM]

yeah who cares about the planet earth anyway

ps. hummers are immoral

[jake @ Jun 9th 2009 5:56PM]

I'm pretty sure the powerband of an electric motor is going to be even better, and the bike is still loud enough to be heard by the rider or when it flies by. But it's quiet enough that there's going to be no problems with noise regulations.

[crescentdavid @ Jun 9th 2009 5:59PM]

I have to agree with Mystic. There's nothing more annoying than some half-wit, out in nature, carving up the hills with a noisy POS bike. Put it this way ... laws are specifically being enacted against the use of dirt bikes in certain areas because of noise and damage. So to all of you who don't like the "eco-police" as you put it ... enjoy being dinosaurs. You're on the way out ... just look around you at the direction of technology and manufacturing.

Now, put your belching 2 cylinder on a dirt track where it belongs and it's a different story. Perfect technology for that environment. I don't think these guys were thinking of this bike for dirt track racing ... it's just easier to shoot a demo on a track than in the wilderness.

[go seki @ Jun 9th 2009 6:00PM]

@uncontrol .. of course hummers are immoral .. hummers are chinese and un-american .. and therefore immoral .. and anything un-american is immoral .. uh wait ..

[Todd Stiers @ Jun 9th 2009 6:40PM]

Wow, I bet the maintenance is WAY less than a normal bike - might bring more people into the sport, more areas where it can be done.

[HOOPER @ Jun 9th 2009 6:40PM]

hey yodaman if you didn't care what anyone thinks of your hummer you wouldn't have told us about it

[John @ Jun 9th 2009 7:27PM]

i want you eco-minded people to answer one question please. all im asking is why is carbon dioxide bad for the enviroment? before you get outraged at my question ill give you some facts.
FACT- ALL PLANTS NEED CARBON DIOXIDE TO GROW.
FACT- MOST BACTERIAS NEED CARBON DIOXIDE SO THEY TOO CAN GROW.
FACT- AS THE CARBON DIOXIDE CONTENT ON THE EARTH GROWS, SO DOES PLANT LIFE.
FACT- PLANTS AND MANY BACTERIAS PRODUCE OXYGEN FROM CO2.
FACT- PLANTS AND BACTERIA WILL TAKE THE EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF CO2 OUT OF THE AIR AND WE DONT NEED TO BE SOO CONCERNED ABOUT IT.
ok now answer my question. oh ya one other little fact did you know that plants have had a twenty percent increase in growth in the past decade?

[Yodaman @ Jun 9th 2009 8:42PM]

@ HOOPER: Your lack of logic astounds me. I mentioned it to antagonize the likes of Mystic. If I gave a damn about impressing goofballs like him, I'd be wearing Birkenstocks and driving a Prius. Nobody gets on a left-leaning blog and mentions his Hummer in an attempt to brag or impress; you fail logic 101 for that brilliant deduction.

[CaramelZappa @ Jun 9th 2009 11:39PM]

@John

I'm not a big fan of the whole "GLOBAL WARMING IS GONNA KILL US ALL TOMORROW" thing, but think about it. Yes, all those things need CO2, but that's what things like breathing humans and other animals produce. it's an ecosystem, it needs balance. And yea, an excess in CO2 may increase plantlife, but keep in mind we're constantly cutting down forrests because we want things like paper and wood for houses and plain old firewood. So we are producing much more CO2 than nature intended and destoying the one of the natural ways the planet deals with that. We are shifting the balance of nature, and while it may fix itself eventually, why make the problem worse and someday have to deal with the consequences of it?

[something clever @ Jun 10th 2009 12:31AM]

Anybody that uses any form of transportation other than walking (in bare feet) is immoral!!!!

[onedollarbill @ Jun 9th 2009 5:41PM]

If you brought this to a track/riding area the "bros" in their lifted trucks and "Metal Mulisha" would probably try to stomp your ass and call you a hippie. haha

[Taylor. Yes, Taylor. @ Jun 9th 2009 6:06PM]

I dunno, it's pretty damn cool, I'd be surprised if they weren't at least intrigued, even if they preferred their oil-burners over this.
-Taylor

[The Fuzz 53 @ Jun 10th 2009 1:04PM]

Yeah, but you wouldn't need to worry about burning a piston, adjusting valves, putting fuel in the bike, changing oil, jetting a carb, blowing out a transmission, and having the bike vibrate the living shit out of your body. I would say they'd be laughing at you in your dust.

[gummybuffalo @ Jun 9th 2009 5:43PM]

although this is sweet and i love that they're trying to make bikes more economical....dirtbikes get at least 50mpg anyway.

[go seki @ Jun 9th 2009 5:52PM]

I'm not a dirtbike rider but that bike doesn't look "right" in fact I think its ugly.
I think sticking to your Japanese engineered 2 stroke is probably the go until the "hover bike" arrives.

[The Fuzz 53 @ Jun 10th 2009 1:05PM]

If you find a place to buy a brand new Japanese 2-stroke bike, let me know.

[required @ Jun 9th 2009 6:15PM]

I love this for the sound, in fact I think it is worth the price for that alone.

[Yodaman @ Jun 9th 2009 6:29PM]

Mystic: You can think whatever you want. As I said, I don't give a damn what anyone thinks. That definitely goes for some eco-minded twit on some random Internet forum.

Guess what - you don't own nature. We all do. You don't have the right to stop me from enjoying nature on an ATV, just as I don't have the right to stop you from enjoying it with those undisciplined little shits you call children. You want to stop people from tearing nature up? Good, I'm with you. I support Tread Lightly. But if you just want to be a crybaby and whine about people using "your" space in a manner that you don't "approve" of, making "too much noise", well, you can go climb a fucking tree. I don't like to hear your little brats screaming, either, but you don't see me crying about it and trying to pass laws.

If I meet you on a trail, I'll smile politely and go about my business. I won't make a stink about the manner in which you're enjoying our shared spaces - whether I approve or not, I support your rights. You ought to learn to do the same.

[Rik Feilden @ Jun 9th 2009 6:34PM]

Cross you legs Yodaman - your tiny internet-penis is showing.

[Yodaman @ Jun 9th 2009 8:43PM]

Oh, now there's an intelligent reply...

[mattworldwide @ Jun 9th 2009 6:27PM]

I've been riding motocross since the early 80s and I welcome this new tech. Even when I was a kid, I remember neighbors yelling at me because my Honda cr80 was so loud. With this kind of bike, there could be MX tracks anywhere..awesome!! Where I live, to ride a dirt bike, one has to drive way out in BFE because of the noise pollution. But these new bikes have no noise or pollution? Now there could be MX tracks right in town!! What's there to complain about? Can't wait to see what these bikes are like in a few years. This one is pretty good but needs better suspension, peg placement, and a better seat. Oh yeah, a new battery is around $3,000. yikes!!

[Yodaman @ Jun 9th 2009 6:35PM]

They'll find something to complain about, don't worry. Too much dirt. Too many people. You're "tearing up nature." "That track is ugly." ... There's always something with these people.

[Todd Stiers @ Jun 9th 2009 6:41PM]

Wow, I bet the maintenance is WAY less on this than a normal bike - might bring more people into the sport, more areas where it can be done.

Much less filth overall, gets to the essence of low-level-flight :)

[Chris @ Jun 9th 2009 7:00PM]

One of the benefits of an electric motor is instant torque and I think that alone could be a huge reason to want this. Being able to slow down and speed up quickly are really important on a dirt bike. I spent a decent portion of my childhood riding a dirt bike and I would have loved this. Also, I wouldn't have pissed off so many neighbors.

[John @ Jun 9th 2009 7:18PM]

wait engadget thinks a little over eight grand is unreasonable for a mx bike? do they know anything about mx? most basic bikes set up for racing are about twelve grand and a competitive bike is reaching to thirty grand or more.

[sean @ Jun 9th 2009 7:36PM]

Stock, factory bikes are 7-9 grand. This thing isn't a heavily modded supercross bike. Duh.

[hank94jp @ Jun 9th 2009 7:53PM]

" the MX will enable riders to jump higher and land softer"

PF Flyers; Guaranteed to make a kid run faster and jump higher

[mattworldwide @ Jun 9th 2009 7:55PM]

Basic MX racing bike for 12 grand? I raced a 2004 YZ450f last year and the bike cost me $2000. Almost all stock MX bikes come ready to race. Even with upgrades, you can race competitively for under 3 grand on a good used bike. Brand new with upgrades, you can easily come in around 8 grand. Here are a couple good bikes around 3k that would do just fine racing: http://www.thumpertalk.com/classifieds/showproduct.php?product=51821

http://www.thumpertalk.com/classifieds/showproduct.php?product=51815

[lasmn @ Jun 9th 2009 8:54PM]

Have a look at Derringer Cycles. It's a 40MPH 180MPG Honda Powered piece of rolling art. They don't require insurance, helmets, a license or registration (In CA anyway)
$3,500 and gets more attention than a Lamborghini. In Beverly Hills anyway...

http://www.derringercycles.com

Press Kit
http://scottnathan.com/derringer_press09.pdf

[adam.fred @ Jun 9th 2009 10:04PM]

Yeah this means kids can ride bikes in the city and other places where there are laws against noise. Not everyone lives in the country or has a dad that can drive them out with the bike on a trailer to some track.

[phillyriceboi15 @ Jun 9th 2009 10:54PM]

for some reason...it doesn't look as exciting without engine noises. its like watching porn on mute...it's not as good.

[Ken @ Jun 10th 2009 2:13AM]

LOL, is that a bicycle disc brake on the front!? And that vid is not that impressive.

[Barry H @ Jun 10th 2009 2:37AM]

Well, some folks may missing the roaring sound of engine. It could be part of fun for this kind of activity.

[crunkykd @ Jun 10th 2009 12:21PM]

It looks much easier for a beginner to get into. No left-hand clutching and left foot pedal up-down shifting. You don't have to worry about stalling doing a long hill-climb. I wonder how long it goes on a single charge and how long it takes to recharge?

[HektikLyfe @ Jun 10th 2009 12:47PM]

I still prefer the Killacycle. This one doesn't look half as deadly.

[James @ Jun 10th 2009 3:50PM]

I just saw a show about this thing today, it performed very well up against a professional motocross rider on a gas bike. Price isn't bad for an all-electric vehicle, especially a high performance type. The cost is in the batteries, and like the Tesla roadster, anything with a gigantic Lithium Ion battery is gonna be spendy. Not gonna sweep the nation overnight, but it looks pretty cool to me, and hopefully is another stepping stone on the way to improved technology and lower cost higher performance batteries.

[smi2710 @ Jun 10th 2009 7:59PM]

its sounds like its gonna fall apart :) it does seem to do the job tho sorta will it clear a triple or a 100ft gap