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, roughly, 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 significantly upgraded and it has morphed its approach into presumably the most effective day by 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 once I acquired it. I didn’t take it on any lengthy highway journeys, I merely used it as a day by day commuter, which is the bike’s greatest use case.
Powered by the identical Z-Drive 75-7 everlasting magnet AC motor that Zero launched for the 2022 DSR mannequin, the brand new DS makes a powerful 68 horsepower and 97 pound-feet of torque. That’s definitely loads for a day by day commuter, and it has sufficient instantly-available torque to essentially set you again whenever you romp on it. The 14.4 kWh battery pack is a fairly 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 operating out of steam, although that’ll significantly impression the bike’s vary.
A typical 110V outlet is loads to cost this bike for day by day rider use. It’ll cost from flat to 100% in beneath 10 hours. Should you completely must run it flat day by day and have a shorter window to cost, a 220V hookup will get this factor as much as full in 4.5 hours, and an elective 6 kW fast charger will juice it up in 1.8 hours. Irrespective of the way you shake it, you aren’t taking this bike on huge lengthy highway journeys throughout the nation. It’s positively meant to experience round as an on a regular basis sort of bike.
I largely used this bike to commute forwards and backwards to the health club, run occasional errands, and a pair brief 30-ish mile freeway rides. I by no means had something remotely approaching vary nervousness, as a result of there’s loads 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 in all probability greatest to both get one other bike for these sorts of rides, or trailer this bike to the bottom of the highway and run it earlier than trailering residence. Neither situation is right if you happen to’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 in all probability 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 plenty 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 out there at a look with this show, and not like my LiveWire, the show is seen in direct daylight, due to the matte end and small hood over the display. One factor I discovered annoying, nonetheless, was that the show nonetheless consists of the image for heated grips, although 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 just 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 based mostly on.) The extra highly effective DSR—with an elective 100 horsepower and 169 lb-ft Z-Drive 75-10X motor—will run you at the very least $19,995, whereas the extra off-road applicable DSR/X is available in at $22,995. That’s some critical coin for a day by day commuter bike, however if you happen to’re dedicated to the EV life and wish to experience two wheels day by day, that is perhaps your greatest wager. The DS has chunk extra vary than a comparably-priced LiveWire S2 Mulholland, for instance, and additionally it is going to be much more comfy for day by day use.
My day by day rider is a 2020 Harley-Davidson LiveWire, and this was truthfully a welcome change from my bike. This can be a far more relaxed and comfy experience. The seating place is far more upright, and the bars are excessive, which made my wrists far more comfy. The LiveWire rides sportier, and definitely has the sting on a quick highway or race observe, however the DS is unquestionably the higher floor road commuter.
The DS, nonetheless, doesn’t have fairly the competence of my admittedly far more costly bike. The supplies and aesthetic really feel barely much less refined. The J. Juan brakes on the Zero are loads 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 all the things you contact feels a bit cumbersome. It’s additionally bit slower than my bike. The DSR mannequin solves that gripe, however it’s value 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 could be shortly managed at velocity. There are a ton of little design bits on this bike that simply make dwelling with it simple. I notably cherished the big storage container the place the “tank” can be. It isn’t large enough to swallow a helmet, however you possibly can positively run to the shop and choose up dinner (no pizzas) with it. And reverse! Reverse is simply such a cool celebration trick for a motorbike to have. I find it irresistible.
Should you’re complaining about vary on an electrical bike, you simply don’t get it. And that’s OK. These bikes aren’t for everybody, however for the very small section 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 only a few issues I don’t. For the worth, it’ll nonetheless get beat in plenty of classes by fuel bikes, however I positively “get” it. If it matches your life and using wants, you’ll be very joyful on a DS. If in case you have the money for extra energy, get the DSR.
