The FX is Zero Motorcycles’ fourth and final bike in the 2015 model year line-up, and if you’re really the action-loving rider, this may be just the right bike you’ve been after. Street legal, trail-ready and sporting darkened, sober looks, the 2015 Zero FX is the road-worthy dirt bike of choice if you had any plans to go electric.
Zero chose an air-cooled motor for the 2015 FX, just like the rest of the new bikes have. It can produce 27 horsepower, and reach a top speed of 85 mph (137 km/h), with the top sustained speed being 70 mph (113 km/h). The 2015 FX packs the same mind-boggling energy efficiency, as it does 472 MPGe (0.50 l/100 km) in city mode and 202 MPGe (1.16 l/100 km) in highway mode. In the US, you can get the base version for $9,845, while the bike is sold for around €9,890 in Europe (Germany).
For this money you’ll get a nifty package which includes new Showa suspensions and ABS, too. The 2015 FX has a sturdy 41mm upside-down fork, with comprehensive adjustment for spring preload, compression and rebound damping, while the rear is equipped with a piggyback monoshock with similar adjustments. Braking power is improved by the 9th generation Bosch ABS system which will prevent the dual 240mm rotors form locking. It looks like J-Juan calipers are the standard trim for the 2015 Zero bikes, as the FX has them, too.
Modular battery packs for enhanced versatility
One of the nicest features of the 2015 FX is that Zero engineered the bike with a modular battery rack. Being a real dual-sport bike (with wire spokes), this machine will surely reach tough trails and will have to tackle all sorts of rough obstacles. A light weight is one of the key assets of such a bike, and Zero offers the possibility to load either one or two power packs inside the FX.
The 2015 Zero FX can be ordered (or ridden) with either one module, (ZF2.8) or two (ZF5.7), with range expanding accordingly, from 35 miles (56 km) to 70 miles (113 km) in city conditions. The power rating is not influenced by these changes, so if you plan to go hardcore, the lighter version only makes a lot of sense. And since you can charge these batteries on or off the bike, carrying the other one as a spare in the support car is also a smart idea.
Looking for a fancy modern electric bike to lead the way to real dual-sport fun and be good for both city and highway commuting? If you can spare 4 hours of charging (ZF2.8) or just under 8 hours for the bigger battery, you’re all set with a fresh charge at the end of the work day.
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