Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Cars
  3. News

Zero Motorcycles expands line with lighter, lower-cost models

Add as a preferred source on Google
ZeroXB and ZeroXE riding on a dirt road in the desert, right front three-quarter view.
Courtesy of Zero Motorcycles

Zero Motorcycles announced its 2025 lineup with two new lightweight electric on- and off-road models that expand its reach to the e-bike and light e-motorcycle markets. Zero’s current electric commuter, touring, and adventure motorcycles cost more than $12,000.  Zero plans to roll out six new sub-$10,000 models during the next two years in what it terms an “All Access” strategy to meet the needs of additional riders. The new models will comprise Zero’s new X Line.

The Zero X-Line

A rider sitting on a Zero XE watching another rider doing donuts in the dirt on a Zero XB.
Courtesy of Zero Motorcycles

The XE and XB motorcycles resemble motocross bikes with narrow knobby tires, flat saddles, relatively flat bars, and ample clearance between the wheels and fenders. When they arrive at U.S. dealerships in the summer of 2025, they will be sold for off-road riding only, although both will be sold as street-legal models in Europe.

Recommended Videos

The XE and XB will have removable batteries, switchable traction control, and factory-tuned suspensions.

The Zero XE

2025 Zero XE right profile with a dark gray rock wall background.
Positioned as its first true trail bike, the Zero XE is the larger and more powerful of the two X-Line motorcycles. Powered by a 4.3kWh battery, the XE’s electric motor produces 21 horsepower and 468 pound-feet of torque. Zero claims the top speed will be 53 mph and rates the range at 65 miles, traveling at 31 mph. The actual range any rider will experience varies on many factors. Charging is estimated to take 5.5 hours.

A rider on a Zero XE riding on a rocky mountain trail.
The XE will weigh 223 pounds and have a 35.4-inch seat height with a 21-inch front wheel and 18-inch rear wheel. The front fork suspension will travel 215 mm, and the rear monoshock will travel 248 mm. Both front and rear suspension are adjustable. The XE features dual-piston DOT hydraulic brakes with clamp on a single 240 mm front rotor and 220 mm rear rotor.

The Zero XE will start at $6,495.

The Zero XB

2025 Zero XB parked in front of a dark gray rock wall background.
The smaller, less powerful Zero XB is a beginner’s off-road bike. The XB’s specs position it as an e-bike competitor, with a 28 mph top speed and an estimated 47-mile range. The battery stores 2.4kWh of energy to power the 7.5kW motor, producing 10 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque. Zero estimates it will take three hours to recharge the battery.

A rider kicking up dust on a 2025 Zero Motorcycle XB.
Weighing in at 139 pounds, the XB seat height is 32.7 inches with 18-inch wheels front and rear. Single-piston hydraulic disk brakes have a 220 mm rotor on the front and a 203 mm rotor on the rear wheel. Also fully adjustable, the front fork suspension has 195 mm travel, and the rear monoshock has 176 mm travel.

The Zero XB will start at $4,195.

Bruce Brown
Bruce Brown Contributing Editor   As a Contributing Editor to the Auto teams at Digital Trends and TheManual.com, Bruce…
Apple edges out a win in the PC market’s worst quarter by stumbling less than everyone else
Apple basically has a bigger share of a shrinking pie.
Computer, Electronics, Laptop

Apple won the PC market’s worst quarter, but that’s not the entire story. It won the race by stumbling less than everyone else.

PC makers shipped just 57 million computers worldwide in Q3, which might look good, but it’s a 21% year-over-year plunge (via Counterpoint Research). And despite Apple’s Mac shipments falling by 11%, to 5.6 million, its market share rose from 8.7% to 9.8%. How did that happen?

Read more
GM is giving OnStar AI smarts and a new way to monitor your parked car
GM's 2027 OnStar overhaul will introduce an AI assistant for natural-language vehicle controls and a new camera feature that records certain incidents around parked cars.
GM OnStar featured

Update (October 22 23:54 PT): In response to our query, GM clarified that offline recording support is already available on eligible vehicles. Like Tesla's Sentry Mode, it requires owners to connect a USB drive to save incident recordings, which can be viewed on the vehicle's infotainment screen. The upcoming Connected Cameras feature will build on this by giving owners remote access to these recordings via the revamped OnStar app, allowing them to check footage without walking out to their car.

General Motors has announced plans to add a new Connected Cameras feature to its OnStar service starting next year, giving drivers a way to monitor parked vehicles remotely and capture footage of certain incidents.

Read more
Musk says you can’t just buy the Cybercab. It’s primarily for Tesla-owned cab service
Plan on riding a Cybercab, not parking one.
Tesla Cybercab at night

Missing out on the self-driving future is a tough pill to swallow, especially as a car enthusiast. But that is what Tesla handed us on Wednesday, without a hint of mercy.

During its October 21, 2026 earnings call, Elon Musk told investors the Cybercab is meant mainly as a ride service. Further, nearly all of them will be owned and managed by Tesla.

Read more