Zero XB (2025 - ) Electric review

With a modest 10 horsepower at best and a 28mph top speed the XB is clearly positioning itself as the cool, eco-friendly alternative to more conventional bikes and scooters younger riders may be considering on a moped-grade AM licence. Designed in the first instance to be ridden hard off-road, the XB is built around a high-quality aluminium frame containing the removable battery and the motor, the latter driving the rear wheel via a conventional chain. 19-inch wheels wear chunky off-road rubber while long-travel and fully adjustable suspension is built to swallow lumps and jumps. Manufactured to a seemingly impressive standard, the XB channels Zero’s long experience of building electric bikes into a newly affordable area of the market, bridging the gap between fancy e-mountain bikes and conventionally powered dirt bikes.

While not a kids’ bike per se, the XB is on the compact side and short in the frame for a six-foot adult like your tester. Given the limited top speed and a best-case range of less than 50 miles between charges that’s unlikely to be too much of a problem, and the size and the lack of weight make it very easy to chuck around off-road in relative safety.

It’s not especially fast, it won’t go very far and the off-road knobblies can feel a bit sketchy on tarmac surfaces. But the Zero XB isn’t built for conventional notions of practicality, and while less useful than a scooter or moped, it offers a cooler alternative for young riders looking to take their first steps into powered two-wheelers on or off the road. Though minimal in its build there is a decent amount of tech to help along the way, including traction control, various rider modes and more. The removable battery pack is another neat feature, this meaning you take it with you and charge anywhere there’s a three-pin socket to hand. Which is handy because public charging for electric bikes can otherwise be a hassle. While it won’t stop thieves bundling it away the fact you’re immoblising the bike by taking the power source with you is also a security feature of sorts!

Electric motors are at an advantage over petrol equivalents for the fact they are legislated on their continuous power output, even if the peak figure can often be somewhat higher. They also have a load more torque, the XB’s 42Nm at the motor latter dwarfing that of 50cc or 125cc equivalents. Nor is there any delay in its response, the XB easily picking up the front wheel from a standstill if you’ve got it in Sport mode and brisk enough to have you away from the lights before any rider on a conventional bike has even released the clutch. True, you then run into the 28mph top speed like a brick wall but at town speeds the performance is more relevant and exploitable. In the dirt the XB meanwhile feels punchy, chuckable and fun. Braking uses a bicycle configuration, with the rear brake operated by the left lever where the clutch would be on a geared motorcycle. This, at least, makes for an easy transition for youngsters taking a step up from buzzing about town on Lime Bikes or mountain bikers coming e-bikes or regular bicycles.

The XB’s long-travel suspension is off-road optimised and fully adjustable on the fork and shock alike. As such you can rattle it over broken surfaces at a heck of a rate, confident it’s not going to bounce you off line or worse. While the knobbly tyres have their limitations on tarmac the paired wheel sizing means predictable handling, and sharper turn-in than its XE big brother with its larger 21-inch front wheel. Most impressive of all is the 63kg weight, this and the user-friendly riding style making it a cinch to chuck about and great fun whatever your experience level.

The purchase price is a chunk more than a kid-friendly 50cc dirt bike, but the XB has broader ambitions than that and, in the context of pedal assist e-mountain bikes, looks decent value. Fuel is only going to cost you pennies in charging, though anecdotal evidence suggests insurance may be somewhat burly given the stereotypes associated with such machines.

We’ll have to see, but Zero is a respectable brand with a broad experience of building electric bikes of all types, so we’d consider its tech as proven as it is effective. The fact it’s sold through a conventional dealer network also means you have more support than direct-sale alternatives without an equivalent aftersales infrastructure in place.

All Zero bikes are covered by a two-year warranty, which is about standard for the industry. While electric motors and batteries don’t need as much upkeep as combustion-engined equivalents the chain, brakes, tyres and suchlike will require the same level of attention as they would on any motorcycle, even if the modest power shouldn’t put too much strain on them.

The XB is a minimalist machine focused on off-road thrills, but the specification is still pretty impressive for the money, not least in terms of the engineering and cycle parts. It looks very well put together and finished, Zero’s in-house engineering expertise meaning the adjustable suspension works well out of the box. While there’s no big TFT screen the small handlebar-mounted display has the necessaries and tech includes three rider modes, adjustable regenerative braking, cruise control, switchable traction control and even a reverse gear should you need it.

If you liked the idea of an electric dirt bike but not the dodgy image associated with others in the market Zero’s reputation might be enough to tempt you. True, its scope is relatively limited beyond a plaything for grown-ups, but as a first powered two-wheeler for younger riders it’s a convincing alternative to a moped or scooter. And with a much broader range of ability if you want to take it off-road.