By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Electric Motorcycle
Zero FXE (MY2023) vs FXS (Gen1)
Zero FXE vs FXS: traffic, parking, daily miles. Here's how to choose.
Roll off the Zero FXE's throttle and the regen slows you without a jerk, and opening it again doesn't upset the chassis. From a standstill, the Zero FXS's throttle hooks up hard. The torque's instant, and it snaps you forward.
So which one do you buy?
The FXE has the edge if…
Keeping running costs low
By a nose: FXE
Running costs lean slightly toward the FXE. A well-kept example of either matters more.
Daily commuting & city riding
Narrow edge: FXE
On the way to work, the FXE asks a little less of you. Most of that is simpler maintenance. Close enough that the test ride should settle it.
A confidence-building first motorcycle
Inches ahead: FXE
Fresh off the training course, the FXE feels a bit more forgiving. Only by a small margin, though.
The FXS has the edge if…
Sporty riding on twisty roads
Nose ahead: FXS
Once the road starts to bend, the FXS noses ahead. Credit more feel through the bars and a sportier chassis. Your own skill counts for more than a gap this size.
What makes each one tick
FXE
Mid-corner, there's no inline-four that meters its pull as finely as the FXE's motor. It's carrying its mass over the front wheel, and a late grab of the brake lever piles that weight onto the fork. The tail won't stay put.
Nils rode the FXE in Austria in 2024 (NastyNils Testride).
FXS
The FXS slices through city gaps like a scalpel, and it's carrying its weight low in an aluminum frame. Corner entry in Austin takes barely a nudge before the bike's tipped onto its new line. There's no clutch to fuss with. The motor's near silent past the storefronts.
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The FXS has the lower wet weight: 291 lb (132 kg) vs 298 lb (135 kg).
- The FXE makes more peak power: 43 hp (32 kW) vs 27 hp (20 kW).
- The FXE makes more peak torque: 78 lb-ft (106 Nm) vs 70 lb-ft (95 Nm).
Which one for the way you ride
Comfortable long-distance riding
Not built for this
Neither one is built for long-haul comfort. For big miles, look at a proper tourer or sport tourer.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
FXE
From Nils' own saddle time
Strengths
- Torque Dosing Beats Combustion
- Regen You Never Notice
- Light, Nimble, Instantly Fun
- Seating Built For City Traffic
- Motor Shrugs Off Track Heat
Trade-offs
- Nose-Heavy Under Braking
- Suspension Pitches And Squats
- Sidestand Cuts Left-Hand Lean
- Range Tight, Charging Slow
FXS
What owners say
Strengths
- Instant electric torque and snappy acceleration
- Lightweight and agile handling
- Low maintenance and quiet operation
Trade-offs
- Limited highway range and range anxiety
Known problems to check before you buy
FXE
No confirmed faults on file yet. That's not the same as fault-free.
FXS
- ABS Hydraulic Control Unit may be misconfigured (recall 17V145000) Recall 17V145000 NHTSA campaign 17V145000: on certain 2017 FXS units the Anti-Lock Braking System Hydraulic Control Unit may store the wrong vehicle model information, which can cause the ABS to function improperly and increase crash risk. Dealers reconfigure or replace the HCU free of charge.
- Incorrect model year on emissions (VECI) label (recall 17V762000) Recall 17V762000 NHTSA campaign 17V762000: on certain 2018 FXS ZF7.2 units the Vehicle Emission Control Information (VECI) label may show the wrong model year, failing 49 CFR Part 567 certification. Dealers replace the label with a corrected one free of charge.
What they share
- Seat height
- 32.9 in (836 mm)
- Engine
- Electric
- Cooling
- Air-cooled
- Top speed
- 85 mph (137 km/h)
- Gearbox
- 1-speed
- Final drive
- Belt
- Front tire
- 110/70-17
- Rear tire
- 140/70-17
Where the spec sheets split
| FXE | FXS | |
|---|---|---|
| Wet weight | 298 lb (135 kg) | 291 lb (132 kg) |
| FXE | FXS | |
|---|---|---|
| Power | 43 hp (32 kW) | 27 hp (20 kW) |
| Torque | 78 lb-ft (106 Nm) | 70 lb-ft (95 Nm) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| FXE | FXS | |
|---|---|---|
| Manually Adjustable Front Suspension | Not offered | Standard |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
