If you’re an OG in the electric dirt bike scene, then you know Zero Motorcycles is the OG in the game, having been around the longest in the USA. Recently, Zero has been best known for their street bikes, adventure bikes, and dual-sport models. However, the 2025 Zero XE marks a significant return to what Zero originally made its name on: true mid weight, trail-ready electric dirt bikes. This category is perfect for riders looking for something nimble yet still powerful – lightweight but capable. The bike is not quite full-size, but it feels like a real dirt bike rather than a pit bike toy. After spending a day testing the bike in the Mojave Desert, hitting high-speed desert whoops and loose, sandy terrain, we were able to get a solid first impression of this highly anticipated bike.
But we weren’t just riding the Zero XE for fun. We had a mission: prepare for racing the 2025 Zero XE at the Biltwell 100, a high-speed desert race in the Mojave desert of California that features not one, but two electric classes. It was the perfect opportunity to test how the Zero XE would perform under the demanding conditions of a Baja-style race. Before hitting the racecourse, though, we wanted to see how it held up in this environment.
What’s New About the Zero XE?
Well, for starters, everything is new. The Zero XE is a completely new model for Zero, which marks return to the mid weight, dirt-focused electric bikes that originally made Zero famous. In many ways, this bike felt like a more modern love letter to the company’s earlier machines, but with the benefit of 18 years of tech advancements.
At $6,495 USD, the Zero XE delivers a solid package for the price. Here’s a breakdown of the specs:
Battery: 74V, 58Ah (4.3kWh total)
Peak Power Output: 15.5 kW
Suspension: KKE fork and shock, tuned in-house by Zero
Weight: 223 lbs
Wheel Sizes: 21” front, 18” rear
Modes: Eco, Standard, Sport
Other Features: Hill hold, adjustable regen, traction control, cruise control, reverse
The 21” front and 18” rear wheels are a key part of the setup. Zero wisely steered clear of the usual 19” front wheel, a common misstep in this category, and the result is a bike that feels more capable over rough terrain. With the in-house tuned KKE suspension, which we noticed is some of the best KKE we’ve tested, it’s a bike that’s ready to ride hard but feels plush and comfortable right off the showroom floor.
Testing the Zero XE in the Mojave Desert
Our testing grounds for the Zero XE was the Mojave Desert, an unforgiving landscape full of fast, whooped-out sections and loose, sandy trails and the same grounds that will host the Biltwell 100. It was a great test environment to see how well the bike handled in flat out conditions and what we can expect to race in the coming weeks.
From the very first twist of the throttle, the Zero XE felt solid. It didn’t rattle or feel unstable like some bikes in this class tend to do. We rode in Standard Mode for most of the day, which provided a nice balance of smooth power, but when clicking up to Sport Mode, the XE provided a snappy throttle response, and the bike accelerated smoothly, easily reaching it’s top speed (with the stock sprocket) of 54 mph on the straights. But the real highlight came when we hit started hitting the desert whoops. The bike handled the high-speed desert terrain surprisingly well, with no weird noises or loose clanking. It was just a fun, smooth and stable ride. When we hit the rough stuff, the KKE suspension did its job. It was admittedly soft at first, but after a few suspension adjustments, the bike became more controlled. A few clicks in on the rear shock was enough to keep the bike stable without sacrificing too much of the plush comfort. It’s a solid setup, almost surprising how solid, but for harder rides or more racing, we’d likely consider stiffer suspension for better performance. Currently, the setting feels more geared toward the plush trail rider than the fast racer, but think most will appreciate the plush comfortability of the stock suspension setup.
Let’s Talk Range
A big question we had heading into the race prep was how far the Zero XE could go in the desert. We rode the bike hard for 17 miles through rugged terrain, and by the time we stopped, we had 53% battery remaining.
The regen system kicked in around 30% battery, which started to slow the bike down when letting off the throttle. It’s not a major issue but something to keep in mind during longer races. Fortunately, the regen is adjustable, so we can tweak it to our preferences before race day.
By the end of my ride, I was down to 7% battery. The bike was running low on power, and it was clear that we’d be pushing it for the last few miles. Despite the low power, we made it roughly 28 miles, but it’s important to note that once we hit that 7%, performance started to drop off significantly. It’s something we’ll need to consider for race day—if we’re planning to race hard, a battery swap might be necessary around the halfway point.
Suspension: KKE Fork and Shock
The KKE suspension on the Zero XE surprised me in a good way. We see this brand on almost every eMoto that comes out of the Made-in-China factories, but more often than not, the suspension lacks a proper tune. Fortunately, for the XE, Zero’s engineers tuned it in-house, and it definitely shows. Right out of the box, the suspension is more focused on slower trail riding, with the rear shock feeling plush enough to soak up smaller hits. However, after several miles of more aggressive riding, we started to feel it soften up, especially during higher speeds or in rougher terrain.
It’s not so soft that it was hard to ride, though. A few quick adjustments to the rear shock improved things significantly, which was a pleasant surprise—because, honestly, a lot of times when we tweak suspension, we don’t notice much of a difference. For riders planning on hitting higher speeds, bigger jumps, or whoops, you’ll likely want to tune it and stiffen it up a bit more, especially if you’re heavier or pushing the bike at race pace. But overall, the setup feels appropriate for the bike and the type of riding it’s designed for. If you’re aiming for racing, an upgrade to something like the Sirris F43 fork and R46 shock would be a game changer for this bike, but for general trail and recreational riding, this suspension is really solid.
Racing the Biltwell 100: Can the XE Handle It?
As we prepped for the Biltwell 100, there were a few things we realized we’d need to tweak on the Zero XE to make it fully race-ready:
- Tires: The stock tires are solid, but we might switch to slightly larger tires with more sidewall for better traction and comfort. This could slightly impact range, but it’s worth testing.
- Foot Pegs: The stock foot pegs are a bit dull, and they don’t offer as much grip as we’d like for race conditions. Something more aggressive will be key for keeping our feet planted.
- Handlebars and Grips: Personal preference matters here. Swapping out the bars out to something flatter and less sweep is what I’m personally after, and more aggressive grips to keep the hands stuck to the bars.
- Rear Sprocket: The stock 49-tooth rear sprocket works for general riding, but for higher-speed sections like the ones in the Biltwell 100, we’re considering going down a tooth or two for a bit more top-end speed.
None of these changes are major, and it’s all stuff we would do to almost every bike. It’s a testament that the bike is really well-equipped.
Final Thoughts: The Zero XE is a Contender
After spending a full day testing the Zero XE, we’re impressed. For $6,495, it delivers a ton of value. It handles tough terrain, offers solid performance, and will give riders a well rounded experience right out of the box. It’s straight up just a fun bike to ride, and with a few tweaks, it’s got a lot of potential for being a very capable machine.
We think Zero has done a great job with this one and we’re excited to see another option in our favorite category of eMoto. The Zero XE feels like a rebirth of the electric dirt bike that kind of started it all for the company. Back 18 years later with better battery tech, a solid powertrain, and a modern design, the Zero XE is poised to be a true contender in the midweight electric dirt bike category.
We’ll continue to test it as we approach the Biltwell 100, and we’ll have more updates soon. But for now, we’re excited to see how it performs on race day. If you’re in the market for a midweight electric dirt bike, the Zero XE is definitely one to keep on your radar.
