We rode Zero’s ridiculously fun XE and XB electric trail bikes – here are 5 things we learned

After spending a day riding Zero’s new lightweight trail bikes, one thing became clear: these bikes are ridiculously good fun.

The Zero XE and XB are part of the company’s new X Line, a stripped-back range of lightweight electric trail bikes designed for dirt tracks, gravel roads, and plenty of green lane action.

We travelled to Belgium to ride both machines and we came away with massive grins on our faces. Although you don’t need to travel that because you’ll be able to test ride the XE, XB, and a host of other Zero machines, like the DSR/X adventure bike, at the ABR Festival in June.

In the meantime, here are five things we learned after putting Zero’s latest bikes to the test in the dirt, sand, gravel, and on the tarmac in Belgium…

1. Instant torque makes them seriously addictive

The biggest surprise when riding the Zero XE is just how punchy it feels.

Electric motors deliver torque instantly, and the XE produces a whopping 635Nm from a standstill, which is more than three times the torque of a BMW R 1300 GS.

Even in Eco mode, the bike surges forward the moment you twist the throttle. Switch into Sport mode, and the acceleration becomes properly addictive, firing you out of corners with an immediacy petrol bikes simply can’t match.

With no clutch and no gears, riding it quickly becomes effortless. Just twist and go.

2. Lightweight design makes off-road riding easy

At just 101kg, the XE feels closer to a lightweight enduro bike than a traditional adventure motorcycle.

That low weight, combined with wide handlebars and a slim chassis, makes the bike incredibly easy to control on trails. Standing on the pegs and threading through tight forest tracks quickly becomes second nature.

The suspension helps too, offering 220mm of travel at the front and 248mm at the rear, which soaks up bumps and ruts with ease.

It’s the sort of bike that encourages you to play around a lot. Slides, skids, and the plenty of wheelies suddenly feel very tempting.

3. The XB feels like an electric mountain bike

If the XE feels like a lightweight trail bike, the Zero XB feels more like a big electric mountain bike.

Weighing just 63kg, it’s incredibly easy to flick through corners and manoeuvre along narrow trails.

Despite its compact size, the XB still delivers impressive performance. Its 7.5kW motor provides plenty of punch for blasting through woodland tracks and gravel lanes.

The only real limitation is the 28mph top speed, which means it’s happiest on trails and quiet lanes rather than open roads.

4. Range isn’t a big deal

While the riding experience is huge fun, range remains the biggest compromise with electric bikes in general.

But on lightweight trail bikes like these, you’re not going to pounding out road miles anytime soon. Zero claims around 65 miles for the XE and 47 miles for the XB. For short off-road sessions or exploring local trails, the range feels perfectly workable.

Even better, the batteries can be swapped out in seconds if you wanted to extend your riding day.

5. They could be the perfect second bike

Zero isn’t trying to replace your Africa Twin or GS with the XE or XB.

Instead, these bikes feel like a fun second machine for adventure riders. Something lightweight, simple, and hugely entertaining for a few hours riding local trails.

They’re the kind of bikes you could throw in the back of a van or keep in the garage purely for fun.

Try Zero motorcycles at the ABR Festival

Curious about Zero’s new trail bikes. Remember, you’ll be able to try them for yourself this summer.

Zero Motorcycles will be at the ABR Festival, where you’ll be able to sign up for test rides on a selection of the its electric bikes, including the XE and XC. That means you’ll be able to experience the instant torque, twist-and-go power delivery, and surprisingly capable off-road performance for yourself. You can check out Zero’s line-up in action at the ABR Festival in the video above, including seeing the XE and XB on the Bridgestone Trail.

And Zero will once again be sponsoring the Silent Disco as the ABR Festival, which you can see pictured above. Trust me, it’s the most fun you can have with headphones on!

The festival runs from 26 to 28 June 2025 at Ragley Hall in Warwickshire, bringing together thousands of adventure riders for the greatest celebration of motorcycling ever held.

If you’ve ever wondered what electric motorcycles feel like to ride, the ABR Festival test rides are the perfect place to find out.