Fun and fast electric sport tourer

Made in California, the Zero SR/S is thoughtfully designed and enjoyable to ride

- Zaihan Mohamed Yusof

The Zero SR/S, a two-wheel electric vehicle (EV), is stealthy, fast and light on the pocket.

If the Traffic Police patrol on the IIIhp SR/S, I am sure more motorists will be caught for offences because the speedsters will not see the officers coming until it is too late.

Pitched as an automatic sport-tourer motorcycle, the California-crafted SR/S is a magnet for curious stares from other motorcyclists during the test ride.

Every time I pull up at a traffic light, other motorcyclists give the black machine a once-over.

Some seem to be baffled when they cannot spot the Zero's exhaust pipe, clutch lever or gear shifter.

Once the light turns green, a quick twist of the throttle sends the belt-driven SR/S leaping ahead effortlessly and noiselessly.

With 190Nm of torque, the SR/S belittles even the mighty Suzuki Hayabusa's 150Nm torque figure.

What is fun about riding a fast electric motorcycle like the SR/S is that you can keep recreating this scene the curious stares and the effortless off-the-line performance at traffic stops.

For me, though, what stands out on the SR/S is the thoughtfulness of its design.

The motorcycle's mirrors are located at the waist level on the inner fairing, just below the handlebars. This allows me to avoid hitting car mirrors as I slip between vehicles to the front of traffic light stops.