brands we love: zero motorcycles

“Jumping the Shark” is a familiar term in the world of television and more broadly, pop-culture. It, of course, is in direct reference to the infamous scene from the 5th season of the smash hit '70s sitcom Happy Days where the character Arthur Fonzarelli (aka Fonzie) decides to jump over a shark while wearing water skis. What it means is that something no longer warrants the attention it once rightfully deserved and that thing is clinging desperately to relevance by any means possible. Now that you have that context, I’d like to ask you a question: Have motorcycles jumped the shark?

I don’t think it’s any coincidence that classically Fonzie rode a motorcycle and that his leather jacket-clad look was inspired by the bad boy motorcyclists of the era the TV program displayed. But these noisy, often dangerous and overly complicated machines are mostly appreciated by two groups: Enthusiasts and Posers. To an outsider, it seems like it is very little in between.

So what's an average guy supposed to do? I mean I have always kind of wanted to feel the wind in my hair as I whip around on a bike, but I can’t go buying something that I couldn’t maintain. That’s just not sustainable. Enter Zero Motorcycles. Essentially, the Tesla of bikes, making high powered, battery driven bikes that possess way more than meets the eye.

Model wearing Rhone Street Jogger and Rhone MicroClimate Jacket

From a design standpoint, these motorcycles look like the beautiful love child of Ducati and Honda. Thoroughly modern elements are married with classical style to create a look that is equal parts Sean Connery James Bond and Daniel Craig James Bond.

And if you haven’t felt the raw, unleashed power of an electric engine in say, a Tesla, prepared to have your mind blown by the amount of torque on a Zero Motorcycle. Their Z-Force® motor was developed especially for their bikes and crushes competitive brushless motors, producing 130% more power and 150% more torque. If it sounds sophisticated, that’s because it is, but Zero stands up to the test of time providing an ownership experience that is as carefree as it is exhilarating.

My favorite part about Zero bikes is the policy that frankly every producer of motorized vehicles should abide by: “Ownership should appreciate mile after mile.” Meaning that eventually, the upfront premium you pay for an electric vehicle will save you money in the long run. Just think about no fuel, no clutch, no oil, no filters, no spark plugs. None of the things that routinely take you off the road. All in all a move to an electric bike seems like the noble thing to do for the environment (and it is) but the fact that it will probably save you money just makes it that much more obvious.

We love this brand not only because they are making something completely revolutionary, but because the people behind it are as good as the product itself. Motorcycles may have jumped the shark, but Zero seems like it belongs in a category all its own, correcting everything that is wrong with the current offering.

This past week Zero revolutionized the game again with a brand new bike, the SR/F. Here are just a few details to pique your interest:

• Top speed: 124 mph (current bikes top off right about 100 mph)

• 0-60 time in under 3.5 seconds

• Comes with a rapid charge system that can potentially charge in as little as an hour (with all additional charge modules installed)

• Bike gets 200 city miles on a single charge and about 100 miles if you are on a highway.

Interested? We were too. To read more about Zero Motorcycles and their brand new launch, visit their website.