All Quiet on the . . . Motocross track?
Remember when motocross was a loud, dirty sport?
It still is. But
a quieter, gentler motocross may
lie just over the next hill, thanks to
the Zero X motorcyle and its highpower
lithium-ion battery.
“At first, customers are interested
in our motorcycle because it’s
silent and clean,” says Neal Saiki,
inventor and founder of Zero Motorcycles,
Santa Cruz, Calif. “But
after a test ride, it’s the power and
torque of the battery and motor.”
Saiki’s aerospace-engineering
degree and 15 years spent designing
mountain bikes helped him
develop the 18-lb aircraft-aluminum frame of the Zero X.
More than 300 custom-fabricated
parts resulted in a total weight of
140 lb, less than half the weight of a
gas-powered motorcycle. The company
claims the battery, which fully
recharges in under 2 hr, delivers up
to 2 hr of riding with no noticeable
loss of performance. The electric
motor delivers over 20 hp. Performance,
according to the company,
is similar to a 250-cc gas-powered
dirtbike. And the battery is recyclable
and landfill approved.
The Zero X retails for $7,500,
and life expectancy of the li-ion
battery is five to six years with normal
use. Replacement cost for the
battery, if necessary, is $2,950. To
see a demonstration of the Zero X,
visit www.zeromotorcycles.com/video.php.
Make Contact
Zero Motorcycles,
zeromotorcycles.com