Zero electric dirt bikes are brand new for 2026. And we’re all very excited! Electric motorcycles aren’t new to Zero, in fact, they’ve been producing high-quality electric motorcycles for at least 18 years. It’s about time they enter the world of e-motos. The first two models Zero will release are the XE – a 15.5kW fast bike – and the entry-level XB, still capable of 7.5kW but not as competitive for serious off-road riders. Or, maybe just ones that aren’t as old or experienced yet.
Priced very similarly to other mid-sized electric dirt bikes, the Zero range aims to compete directly with E Ride Pro, the latter Surron models, and higher-performance Talaria bikes. If you’ve been following us for a while, you’ll know we are huge fans of E Ride Pro, and we think they’re leading the way in e-moto at the moment, but Zero has got us turning heads.
Let’s have a look at the Zero XE and XB, what the differences are between the models, which one is directly competing with E Ride Pro, and which e-moto we think you should buy if you’re in the market for a new or upgraded electric dirt bike.
What qualifies us to speak on this?
We like both Zero and E Ride so much we’ve gone out of our way to become dealers for both brands. That was only after we raced, abused, broke, fixed, and improved bikes from both brands, leading to the design of our own in-house aftermarket parts for E Ride and Zero models – parts we’re sure are the best quality available, and ones that will actually improve the ride feel and experience of owning these bikes. Shop GritShift to support our R&D efforts, racing, and independent articles like this one.
Zero XE vs XB on Paper
Before we work out the differences between Zero and E Ride Pro, we need to look at the differences between the XE and the XB.
The XB is the entry-level option from Zero, with a peak output of 7.5kW – still more power than the original Surron LBX! It is aimed at those starting out on dirt bikes, or those who usually ride gas motorcycles under 125cc. It’s lightweight, maneuverable, and has a top speed of around 50 mph. The range is around 40 miles.
The Zero XE is the higher-performance machine of the two new Zero dirt motorcycles. It has 15.5kW peak power from the 74V 58Ah powertrain. This power is about mid-range of what you can currently get in the mid-sized e-moto categories. It has a top speed of around 53 mph and a range of around 65 miles.
Here is a good comparison video of the Zero XE and XB:
To compare the Zero with the E Ride Pro, the XB doesn’t really compete. You’ll need to compare with an e-moto such as the Surron LBX, but that’s an article for another day.
However, the Zero XE at 15.5kW is very comparable to the E Ride Pro SS 3.0.
Pre-Ride Breakdown: Zero XE vs E Ride Pro SS 3.0
We haven’t had a chance to ride the Zero XE yet (we have ridden the E Ride), but with our massive combined experience on e-moto design and endless seat hours, we know when we see something awesome!
We first saw the Zero XE at AIMExpo in Las Vegas in February 2025, and our first thoughts were that the XE could do with some improvements in the looks department. “But the looks of the Zero XE are not what we are excited about, it’s the actual build of the bike,” said Bullet, GritShift’s CEO. When it appears most manufacturers are more focused on higher power output and how flashy the e-moto is, we can see that Zero is putting a huge amount of effort into the build quality, ergonomics, and general component functional design. It’s a refreshing change, but admittedly one that many people will have to know about in advance lest they judge the XE at only skin deep.
From an engineering perspective, we felt the rear end of the Zero looked really well designed. You can always swap up the front end, but not so easily with the rear. At AIMExpo, the complete rear suspension, triangle linkage, and swingarm of the XE all looked as though they were up to the task.
On paper, the power output is very similar, but E Ride Pro has the faster top speed. This could have something to do with the increase in weight on the Zero XE. It’s currently more than 50 Lbs heavier.
Rear-End and Chassis Design Analysis
Narrowing down the comparison between the Zero XE and the E Ride Pro SS 3.0, we need to dive into the components. As I’ve already mentioned, the front end/forks are a simple upgrade, so from stock, you need a solid build in the rear end and frame for any bike to work well. Having said that, the Zero XE front end looks promising, but across the board – Zero or otherwise – most riders choose to mod the forks in some ways to suit their riding style.
Zero XE:
The motocross-inspired rear end on the Zero XE looks like it’s going to perform really well. We noticed little things, like the position of the counter shaft sprocket and swingarm pivot point, which look to be in good alignment, resulting in better anti-squat. Hypothetically, this will optimize the transfer of power during acceleration and improve rear-wheel traction. The rear swingarm appears to be fairly rigid, with thought clearly placed on minimising side load and associated damage.
E Ride:
The E Ride Pro SS 3.0 we already know has a sturdy frame and good rear suspension. However, the E Ride Pro does tend to have some swingarm flex, which places unwanted side load onto other components. Keep in mind, this is only applicable to those who are sending it, jumping (and casing) triples, and blitzing whoops. In other words, for the standard rider, the E Ride Pro is perfect, and you won’t notice the flex.
If you are one of these riders and haven’t looked at upgrading your swingarm, I would highly recommend checking out the Heavy Hitter Rogue E Ride Billet Swingarm. This will save you from any damage to any other components, like the jackshaft and bolt.
Components and Rider Feel
Zero:
Sitting on the Zero XE, the width of the seat feels good, the frame and surrounding plastics seem in their natural positions, and overall, the rider triangle was pretty spot on.
The seat height for the Zero XE is 35.4 in.
Brakes are a huge 240mm front with a 220mm rear rotor, DOT hydraulic with dual piston, and complemented with a 21/18 wheel setup, the Zero is setting up to be a neat ride.
E Ride Pro:
Seat height on the E Ride Pro SS 3.0 is slightly lower at 32.7 in, but still feels just as natural in the rider triangle. Coming with a 19/18 wheel set up, which is common amongst mid-sized e-motos, the E Ride Pro SS 3.0 is great for all kinds of riding – trails, track, or road.
Motor and Drivetrain
Zero XE:
This is what we’re really excited about: the Zero has a QS-based motor with internal gear reduction. We know QS motors with gear reduction have proven themselves time over time. You just need to look at Rusty’s YZE build, which very rarely has any mechanical issues – and have you seen how he rides it?!
This motor definitely has its advantages over the gearbox motors like you find in Talaria for example, which can be error prone at times.
With only 15.5kW, for industry standard now, this e-moto isn’t very high powered. However, in Bullet’s experience, “I’ll say the most fun I’ve ever had on any of these bikes is always the underpowered ones”. It’s not all about power, it’s also how the power is delivered and the riding feel.
E Ride Pro SS 3.0:
The E Ride Pro SS 3.0 is simply a really good all-around electric dirtbike! Having similar power to the Zero XE, the E Ride Pro has 15.8kW from a 72V 50Ah battery. We already know it’s reliable, quick, and exactly what you need in the mid-range category.
The bonus with E Ride Pro is that the aftermarket options are already here. If you want to increase the power or change the controller for more customization, there are so many great aftermarket plug-and-play options.
We do need to talk about the weight. The E Ride Pro SS 3.0 is the lightest e-moto in this class by a long way. It’s only 167 lbs! Compared to the Zero XE, which comes in at 223 lbs. With such a large weight saving, you could imagine the E Ride Pro will be a fair bit faster, as there is almost no way that it won’t be in the real world.
The Verdict: Which Bike Should You Buy?
If you are set on buying something right now, the answer is easy. If you’re in a position to wait, this is a very difficult question given how fresh the Zero bikes are on the market.
We already know the history of the E Ride Pro, the quality of the e-moto, how it rides, the customization options, and more. And it’s great! The Zero XE, from initial glimpses, looks like a solid build as well. It has the backing of a great brand known for high-performance machines, so everything is leaning towards this being an awesome bike and strong E Ride competitor.
But we don’t know for sure yet. Once we can get our hands on the first run of Zero XEs, we’ll be able to put them to the test. Thrash them. Ride them in the usual GritShift manner. Work out which parts will need upgrading to meet the GritShift standard for hard riding. We know there will be parts that will need the GritShift strength.
This isn’t aimed just at Zero; all e-motos are designed to meet a certain standard. We just severely jump over that standard and ask these e-motos to do things they simply weren’t designed to do. Why? Because it’s fun!
The real test will be if the frame is sturdy enough to withstand triples. Are the parts that need to be upgraded, upgradable?
So, what’s the answer? At the moment, we can 100% say the E Ride Pro SS 3.0. If you’re looking for a good, do everything well, beat your mates’ e-moto, this is the bike for you. In the very near future, we would love to add Zero to this conversation, but the aftermarket just hasn’t had enough time to work all the issues out yet.
If you’re buying today, you have to decide if you’re going to be part of that guinea pig group, or go with something already known and trusted. Having done this for years, we know that issues will arise, as they do with all bikes. We choose to carry the E Ride because right now, out of the box, it’s the best you can get.
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