ELECTRONS, FREEDOM and the OPEN ROAD
The Zero DSR Black Forest is essentially an attempt to pull electric motorcycles out of the boring commuter box and into the world of adventure and freedom associated with conventional bikes of a similar styling. The advertising on the website shows riders enjoying the freedom of spectacular US countryside and riding on and off road. A wonderful image and all possible except for one thing... the range. I am not sure where the charging points are in the middle of the US wilderness, but there had better be some or our intrepid riders will be walking home. But more of that later.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
At first look the bike is similar to many adventure-style bikes. In fact, it reminded me quite a lot of the Tiger 800 when I sat on it.
The core power plant is Zero's Z-force motor and battery pack. This bike was fitted with optional charge tank (a £2300 option) to enable faster charging from modern type 2 fast chargers. Batteries and motors aren't light, however, and at 207kg the bike is slightly heavier than my RF900!
It isn't a bike for the vertically challenged and I couldn't quite get my feet flat on the ground when sat astride it. The panniers sit fairly far forward too, and make
