Debuting in 2023, the DSR/X is Zero Motorcycle’s flagship dual sport bike and its initial foray into the adventure bike market. Going the ADV route meant that Zero had to make sure the DSR/X had sufficient range and off-road build, so the new bike was equipped with motor and chassis hardware that had more in common with the street-going SR/F and SR/S models than the DS lineup (the DS and DSR have since been upgraded this year with many components that were installed on the DSR/X). The DSR/X comes with a 17.3kWh battery, which is the largest-capacity unit available from Zero, giving it a claimed 107-mile city/highway mix (real world) range; an accessory Power Tank option can increase capacity to 21kWh. The Z-Force 75-10X direct-drive motor variant employs some of the same architecture as the previous 75-10 motor but with completely different internal materials, enabling this motor to deliver an amazing 169 lb.-ft. of torque and 100 hp at 3,500 rpm, with a top speed of 112 mph.
Although the trellis-style frame and swingarm look similar to the parts used on the SR/S and SR/F models, the DSR/X’s chassis architecture is different, with a relaxed steering head angle for more rake and trail, and the wheelbase is longer. The frame has been strengthened for the pounding that off-road bumps and jumps hand out, and the motor controller has moved out from under the battery to underneath the tailsection, giving the DSR/X an ADV-industry-best ground clearance of 9.7 inches. The Gates carbon drive belt has been redesigned with stronger construction and an increase to 25mm in width from the 20mm of the SR/S. In addition, the rear sprocket was given “mud ports,” openings near where the tip of the belt teeth engage the sprocket, so mud doesn’t pack up the sprocket (a chain conversion kit is available as an option). Bosch’s Advanced MSC with Combined Braking (basically linked braking that engages both front and rear brakes in various situations), Vehicle Hold Control (automatically applies the brakes on a hill to hold the bike, and automatically disengages once underway), and Off-Road mode (disengages the rear brake and increases slip on the front brake) maintain a safety envelope.
The 2024 Zero DSR/X is available in Tungsten or Black Effect starting at $22,995.
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- CSC RX1E, $6,995
- Kawasaki e-1 ABS, $7,899
- Kawasaki Ninja 7 Hybrid, $12,499
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