TopSpeed - Zero

America’s Most Underrated Motorcycle Might Surprise You

Charles Pennefather — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 16:31:10 GMT

When you think of American motorcycle brands, you think of all-metal cruisers and full-dress tourers that have heft as a feature. You don’t think of light motorcycles, despite there being manufacturers like Buell around. Brands like Janus have light motorcycles as well, but they are extremely niche products. Harley-Davidson, to its credit, has taken steps to shed weight with the modern chassis on the new Sportster range, but they still aren’t what one would call truly lightweight motorcycles, even for their class of product. That's where the most underrated American motorcycle comes in.

The Electric Bike That Actually Feels Practical

Enrico Punsalang — Fri, 15 May 2026 12:31:19 GMT

Electric motorcycles have spent years trying to prove they can be fast, futuristic, and exciting. That part isn’t hard anymore. Even relatively affordable electric bikes can deliver face-melting acceleration and enough torque to embarrass gas-powered superbikes off the line. But excitement alone has never been the problem. The real challenge has always been practicality. Riders want to know if they can actually live with one every day without changing their lifestyle around the bike.

The Budget American Adventure Bike That Can Do It All Is The Zero DS

Tijo Tenson — Mon, 04 Aug 2025 19:01:19 GMT

America is known for its love of big twin cruiser bikes. But what about adventure bikes? There are plenty available across the pond, with the likes of the Honda Africa Twin and the BMW R 1300 GS being some very coveted names in the segment. But there are just a handful of impressive go-anywhere ADVs at home. In fact, there are just two, and both are relatively new offerings. The Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 Special is a solid first-time attempt at making a big V-twin-powered do-it-all ADV. But it is on the expensive side at close to $20,000. This leaves us with an even bolder option, which is also the most affordable American ADV today.

Why The Zero FX Is The Budget American Dual-Sport That Can Truly Handle The Wild

Charles Pennefather — Fri, 01 Aug 2025 15:01:22 GMT

Say ‘budget dual-sport’ and immediately a Japanese brand comes to mind. They have established themselves as leaders in most budget segments because of the mix of engineering, low maintenance, and low cost of purchase. American motorcycles, on the other hand, are known for being expensive cruisers and tourers. So saying ‘budget American dual sport’ can come as a surprise to many. There are more than two American motorcycle manufacturers, though, and if you comb through them, you’ll find a wealth of motorcycles, including budget ones, and many different styles of motorcycles.

Here’s Why The Zero DSR/X Is The Most Versatile Electric Motorcycle

TJ Hinton — Tue, 27 May 2025 19:05:16 GMT

When it comes to do-it-all bikes, none are quite as versatile as one of the more recent categories to hit the scene: the adventure bike genre. For adventure bikes in general, we're looking at a cross between a sport-tour machine and a dual-sport in that it has some off-road capability while maintaining the same on the tarmac for a bike that can handle almost anything. The Zero DSR/X is one such bike. It brings interstate-friendly speed, and depending on the options you pick, an extended-range battery system to deliver real-world performance wherever you are. It starts at $22,995 MSRP.

Tariff Trouble: America's Cheapest Electric Motorcycles Are Getting Pricier

Punya Sharma — Thu, 01 May 2025 18:12:40 GMT

It appears tariff troubles are finally catching up to the motorcycle world. And as expected, the first hit is coming to the electric motorcycle segment. We say so because Zero Motorcycles has just announced a price update is in the progress for its recently revealed XB and XE.

Here's Why You Shouldn't Overlook This Electric Motorcycle

Tijo Tenson — Mon, 31 Mar 2025 21:05:21 GMT

Electric motorcycles are evolving rapidly. At one time, EVs were barely comparable to ICE motorcycles because of factors like outrageous weight, slow charging, dodgy technology, and even doubts about brand sustainability. But in 2025, the landscape is very different. We finally have reliable electric motorcycles. One fine example is Kawasaki's duo of urban-focused sporty EVs—the Ninja e-1 and the Z e-1. But what about EVs with long-hauling and off-roading capabilities?

Bankrupt Electric Motorcycle Companies: Why Its Too Early For High-Performance Electric Bikes?

Tijo Tenson — Sat, 16 Nov 2024 17:00:14 GMT

The electric motorcycle segment is currently very volatile. Many new, ambitious EV bike companies are chiming in, wanting a piece of cake in this evolving landscape. But many companies are going down, too! Two high-profile electric bike makers recently filed for bankruptcy, which got us thinking. Why are electric motorcycle companies going kaput? We are not talking about vaporware here but reputed names that have existed for some time. One of the motorcycle makers mentioned in this article is the maker of high-performance electric motorcycles only.

The 2025 Zero XB And XE Are The Cheapest American Electric Motorcycles Yet:

Punya Sharma — Tue, 05 Nov 2024 14:16:14 GMT

Ever since its inception, Zero has been a key player in the electric motorcycle space. Credit here goes to its ability to keep up with the times, make its lineup more accessible for the masses, and actually deliver products to the public. Taking a step in that direction yet again, the American company has now revealed its “All Access” plan. It involves the launch of six new e-motorcycles under $10,000 in the next two years. Two of these have broken cover at the EICMA: the 2025 XE and XB. Let’s check them out.

10 Cheapest Automatic Motorcycles You Can Buy Today

Tijo Tenson — Sun, 03 Nov 2024 17:05:15 GMT

In the motorcycle world, automatic gearboxes are often associated with scooters, and clutchless transmissions are mostly branded as "boring". But there are automatic motorcycles out there that are "exciting" too. More importantly, the tally of such bikes is rising super-fast, as more and more people realize the ease of riding such bikes. As a domino effect of that, automatic motorcycles are also becoming more affordable and powerful.