Can Electric Motorcycles Be Adventure Vehicles?
Highway 142 in Washington is the kind of road you see in car commercials and Instagram feeds. But for the author, his eyes were focused on the display of his electric motorcycle, the Zero DSR-X, which showed that he had 63 miles of range left. As he navigated the scenic route to the next charger, he pondered the question of whether electric motorcycles could truly be considered “adventure” vehicles.
Go Anywhere You Dare (as Long as There’s a Plug)
Zero isn’t the only company pushing electric vehicles into the great outdoors. Other companies like Rivian, Polaris, and Mercury offer electric vehicles designed for off-roading and exploration. So when the author had the opportunity to test ride the DSR-X, he felt well-prepared to give it a fair review. With experience owning a dual-sport motorcycle and an adventure van, he was no stranger to the trade-off between convenience and new experiences.
Magic Carpet Ride
The DSR-X, with its angular and rugged design, delivered an exhilarating ride that felt like an amusement park thrill. With 100 horsepower and 166 foot-pounds of torque, the DSR-X could go from zero to 60 in 3.6 seconds. The electric motor provided a smooth and powerful ride, and the bike’s stability control system ensured a safe and controlled experience.
That Range, Though
One of the main challenges of electric motorcycles is their limited range. While Zero advertises a city range of 180 miles for the DSR-X, real-world conditions can significantly reduce that range. The author found that the bike was losing about 1% of battery for every mile ridden at highway speeds, making it challenging to reach destinations without careful planning for charging stops.
A Different Definition of Adventure
Despite the limitations of range and charging, the author discovered that adventuring on an electric motorcycle offered its own unique experiences. The need to plan charging stops and interact with strangers along the way added a sense of adventure and discovery. The author concluded that while the DSR-X may not be the ideal choice for long-distance, off-grid expeditions, it still offered a thrilling and unconventional way to explore the world.