Zero Motorcycles teamed up with the “Huge Design” firm to engineer and develop the FXE, which is currently Zero's most cost-efficient model. This bike got its start in 2018 as an FXS base and the FXE launched in 2022. It has since become a popular segue for riders looking to ditch the gas and go with a displaced-footprint machine such as that in which Zero specializes. Seriously, it is literally all they do, and it pays dividends.
Dual riding modes let you dial in delivery, and by extension, battery life. Also, the onboard charger used with household voltage for convenience and ease of use since you could technically plug in almost anywhere. The bodywork is minimal, and not an ounce wasted on superfluous features. Capable of going up to interstate speeds, the FXE can travel 100 miles of city riding on a single charge, which makes it a viable commuter and errand-runner.
2023 Zero FXE
- Model
- FXE
- Engine:
- Z-Force® 75-5 Radial Flux Motor
- Power Output
- 46 HP
- Torque
- 78 LB-FT
- Range
- 100 Miles
- Driveline
- Belt Drive
- MSRP
- $12,995
- Charge Time
- 1.8 Hours - 9.7 Hours
- Compact And Efficient With No Fat
- Lightweight And Easy To Handle
- Good Top Speeds
- Color Choice Is Disappointing
- Range Is Short At Interstate Speeds
- No Way To Add Power Storage
2023 Zero FXE Performance And Capability
The FXE rolls with the air-cooled, Z-Force 75-5 motor. It's a brushless motor with permanent magnets and operates under the control of the 550 amp, three-phase brushless controller. The 2023 Zero FXE produces 46 horsepower and 78 pound-feet of torque. You'll have to wind it up to 4,300 rpm to get that power, but the torque is all there as soon as you roll on for a considerable advantage over smoker bikes, especially in the lower end of the rev range.
It runs a direct drive, so it has twist-and-go operation. The sustained FXE top speed is 75 mph, but the FXE is capable of short sprints up to 85 mph, which is just the thing for making passes on highways and interstates. Range and speed are inextricably linked. Interstate speeds (70 mph) will reduce the range to just 40 miles, while combined city and highway (55 mph) riding bumps that up to 60 miles on a single full charge. As for charge times, they are also quite variable based on equipment choices. The onboard 650 Watt charger can take up to 9.7 hours from fully discharged to fully charged on household voltage. A single accessory charger drops that down to 4.1 hours for a full charger, while the max number of chargers can slam the battery up to full in just 1.8 hours flat.
Design
At a glance, I'd say the FXE was definitely influenced by the current supermotard culture that has a racing segment and a trickster segment, the last of which is why it's sometimes referred to as a “hooligan bike.” I don't judge; those tricks ain't going to do themselves after all.
The front end is probably the most unusual with its fender-upright spoilers, but no fender to connect the dots. Instead, there's a mudguard mounted up under the headlight, kinda' dirtbike style, as the only forward-fling containment. I have my doubts as to its effectiveness in, say, rain for instance.
A single round headlight splits the night, and around behind the housing, a five-inch, color TFT dash acts as the instrument panel. The panel is networkable with your phone, so you can use your mobile device as a ride recorder for later review, much like a racer might.
Supermotards usually have low-profile fuel tanks, so the FXE's non-existent fuel tank area has just the vestigial suggestion of a tank, but just barely. Seat height is tallish at 32.9 inches off the deck, and it comes with a tapered pillion pad and fold-up footpegs, so you can take a passenger with you right off the showroom floor. You can slide forward on the saddle, as you might for trick riding, but there's a soft shoulder that segregates the pilot from the pillion, so you won't be able to slide to the rear quite as easily.
The rear end returns to the norm with a taillight bar and turn signals mounted high and another mudguard that holds the license plate. Overall, the factory makes no real effort to try to pass their FXE off as a smoker bike, so it's obviously something else at a glance.
Specs & Dimensions
Seat Height | 32.9 in |
Wheelbase | 56.0 in |
Curb Weight | 298 lbs |
Chassis
Aircraft-grade aluminum is the material of choice for the lightweight strength it brings to the table. The steering head on the FXE sets a rake angle of 24.4 degrees with a dead-short, 2.8-inch trail figure, and combined, they make for a very agile machine indeed, just the thing for tricksters.
Showa products appear at both ends with 41 mm front forks and a 40 mm rear monoshock, all with the full trinity of suspension tweaks, so you can dial in the ride that you want, within reasonable limits of course. Suspension travel is far beyond what you'd expect on a street bike this size at 7 inches up front and 8.94 inches out back, so this metric definitely points to a stunt bike 'cause you'll never need that much stroke in even the roughest of urban jungles.
Cast wheels run with a 17-inch diameter and come shod with Pirelli Diablo Rosso II hoops in a 110/70 ahead of a 140/70. A single 320 mm disc and twin-pot, J-Juan caliper slow the front with a single-piston anchor and 240 mm disc out back, all under the protection of the Bosch Gen 9 ABS feature.
Chassis & Suspension
Front Suspension/ Travel | Showa 41 mm inverted cartridge forks, with adjustable spring preload, compression and rebound damping/ 7 in |
Rear Suspension/ Travel | Showa 40 mm piston, piggy-back reservoir shock with adjustable spring preload, compression and rebound damping/ 8.94 in |
Rake | 24.4° |
Trail | 2.8 in |
Front Wheel | 3 x 17 |
Rear Wheel | 3.5 x 17 |
Front Tire | Pirelli Diablo Rosso II 110/70-17 |
Rear Tire | Pirelli Diablo Rosso II 140/70-17 |
Front Brake | 320 mm disc, J-Juan asymmetric dual piston floating caliper |
Rear Brake | 240 mm disc, J-Juan single piston floating caliper |
ABS | Bosch Gen 9 ABS |
2023 Zero FXE Price And Availability
MSRP for the 2023 Zero FXE starts at $12,995. It comes only in the Jet Black / Gray colorway for now. The Quick Charger adds $775 to the price.
Pricing & Features
Warranty | |
└ Standard motorcycle warranty | Two Years |
└ Power pack warranty | Five Years, Unlimited Miles |
Colors | Jet Black-Gray |
Price | $12,995 |
Competitors
Zero finds itself in rare company nowadays with this potent FXE model. There are similar designs such as the KTM SMR 450 and Ducati Hypermotard that fit the mold pretty well and are certainly geared toward the same sort of rider, but they run dino-juice engines, so it's like apples to oranges.
Italian giant Energica has plenty of electric motorcycles, just none that quite fit the bill as far as design, not even close. This is unsurprising as Zero has been at the cutting edge of EV-bike development, and as such is laser-focused on that one task.
He Said
“Looks like fun, but with the range such as it is, you won't be able to do much of a commute on it; not unless you can plug up once you get to work, that is. At least you can power it up effectively and relatively quickly without a dedicated public fast-charging station, and that is definitely a selling point.”
She Said
My wife and fellow motorcycle writer, Allyn Hinton, says,
“I like it. I like the look and the whole jackassery vibe. Until the range and recharge get better, though, and we get some infrastructure, it's just a plaything. A fun plaything, granted.”
FAQ
Q: What is the charge time of Zero FXE?
With standard charging, a full charge is 9.7 hours. With the max accessory charger, that time is cut down to 1.8 hours for a 100 percent charge.
Q: How fast is a Zero FXE?
The sustained top speed of the Zero FXE is 75 MPH but can do sprints up to 85 MPH for short distances.
Q: What is the range of the zero FXE?
Range directly depends on speed. At city speeds, the claimed range is 100 miles with a combined city/highway range of 75 miles. At 70 MPH highway speeds, range is a claimed 40 miles.
Q: How much does a Zero FXE cost?
MSRP on the 2023 Zero FXE starts at $12,999. If you want the Quick Charger, add $775 to the cost.