The DS has been a part of Zero’s lineup of electrical bikes since its first yr of huge availability in 2010. It has at all times been, kind of, a taller model of the model’s commonplace “S” mannequin. The vibe is extra sport touring than journey touring, which might be the perfect kind issue for anybody with an city commute. Now in its third technology, the new-for-2024 mannequin has been critically upgraded and it has morphed its approach into probably the most effective each day rider on the planet.
Full Disclosure: Zero shipped me a model new DS to check for a month. I used my very own electrical energy to cost it up, and returned it in precisely the identical situation it was after I acquired it. I didn’t take it on any lengthy street journeys, I merely used it as a each day commuter, which is the bike’s finest use case.
Powered by the identical Z-Power 75-7 everlasting magnet AC motor that Zero launched for the 2022 DSR mannequin, the brand new DS makes a formidable 68 horsepower and 97 pound-feet of torque. That’s actually a lot for a each day commuter, and it has sufficient instantly-available torque to essentially set you again if you romp on it. The 14.4 kWh battery pack is a reasonably large one for electrical bikes, and is allegedly good for 144 miles of metropolis using (common of 25 miles per hour), and might run a stable claimed 98 miles at freeway speeds. Zero says this bike will run 104 miles per hour earlier than working out of steam, although that’ll critically impression the bike’s vary.
A regular 110V outlet is a lot to cost this bike for each day rider use. It’ll cost from flat to one hundred pc in underneath 10 hours. In the event you completely must run it flat on daily basis and have a shorter window to cost, a 220V hookup will get this factor as much as full in 4.5 hours, and an non-obligatory 6 kW fast charger will juice it up in 1.8 hours. Regardless of the way you shake it, you aren’t taking this bike on massive lengthy street journeys throughout the nation. It’s undoubtedly supposed to trip round as an on a regular basis sort of bike.
I principally used this bike to commute backwards and forwards to the gymnasium, run occasional errands, and a pair quick 30-ish mile freeway rides. I by no means had something remotely approaching vary nervousness, as a result of there’s a lot in right here for day-to-day use. It’s not precisely going to take you on any adventures, and also you’ll run out of juice chasing the great roads exterior your given metropolis, so it’s most likely finest to both get one other bike for these sorts of rides, or trailer this bike to the bottom of the street and run it earlier than trailering residence. Neither state of affairs is good in the event you’re seeking to lose your self on two wheels with a twisting ribbon of asphalt. However totally different bikes serve totally different functions.
As a metropolis runabout, that is about as comfy and useable because it will get. With a pleasant deep seat the DS doesn’t have a really tall standover top and would most likely serve properly even for shorter riders. There’s loads of suspension journey and damping for even the worst roads {that a} pockmarked metropolis like Cleveland, Ohio can throw at you. The DS makes a number of sense on this low-speed city atmosphere.
There are many issues to like in regards to the DS, together with the brand new Cypher III+ working system, and the trick TFT show. There’s loads of data accessible at a look with this show, and in contrast to my LiveWire, the show is seen in direct daylight, because of the matte end and small hood over the display screen. One factor I discovered annoying, nonetheless, was that the show nonetheless contains the image for heated grips, despite the fact that this bike doesn’t include heated grips. That possibility is for higher-trim fashions just like the DSR/X, however they didn’t program out the little pictogram on the show to remind you that you simply selected to purchase a budget one.
And within the case of the Zero DS, low-cost doesn’t even imply low-cost. This bike will run you a staggering $15,995 ($1,000 greater than the S that it’s primarily based on.) The extra highly effective DSR—with an non-obligatory 100 horsepower and 169 lb-ft Z-Power 75-10X motor—will run you no less than $19,995, whereas the extra off-road acceptable DSR/X is available in at $22,995. That’s some severe coin for a each day commuter motorbike, however in the event you’re dedicated to the EV life and wish to trip two wheels on daily basis, that is perhaps your finest guess. The DS has a very good chunk extra vary than a comparably-priced LiveWire S2 Mulholland, for instance, and it’s also going to be much more comfy for each day use.
My each day rider is a 2020 Harley-Davidson LiveWire, and this was actually a welcome change from my bike. It is a rather more relaxed and comfy trip. The seating place is rather more upright, and the bars are excessive, which made my wrists rather more comfy. The LiveWire rides sportier, and definitely has the sting on a quick street or race monitor, however the DS is unquestionably the higher floor road commuter.
The DS, nonetheless, doesn’t have fairly the competence of my admittedly rather more costly bike. The supplies and aesthetic really feel barely much less refined. The J. Juan brakes on the Zero are a lot to cease the bike, however I discovered them overly noisy and missing optimistic really feel to my gloved hand. The DS is a way more plastic-intensive design, and every thing you contact feels a bit cumbersome. It’s additionally a very good bit slower than my bike. The DSR mannequin solves that gripe, but it surely’s price noting.
I did, nonetheless, love the Showa-developed suspension with simply adjustable rear preload. Stylistically the blunted nostril isn’t my cup of tea, however the knob to regulate the windshield top is well reachable and may be rapidly managed at pace. There are a ton of little design bits on this bike that simply make dwelling with it simple. I notably cherished the massive storage container the place the “tank” could be. It isn’t large enough to swallow a helmet, however you’ll be able to undoubtedly run to the shop and decide up dinner (no pizzas) with it. And reverse! Reverse is simply such a cool occasion trick for a motorbike to have. I adore it.
In the event you’re complaining about vary on an electrical motorbike, you simply don’t get it. And that’s OK. These bikes aren’t for everybody, however for the very small phase of the market that loves them, this can be a pitch proper within the strike zone. There’s a lot I like right here. And just some issues I don’t. For the value, it’ll nonetheless get beat in a number of classes by gasoline bikes, however I undoubtedly “get” it. If it suits your life and using wants, you’ll be very glad on a DS. When you’ve got the money for extra energy, get the DSR.
