Zero Motorcycles ramps up its streetbike game yet again with the all new SR/F model slated for 2020 that brings even more of the yummy-goodness to the table that made them the world's top EV bike builder. Top-shelf tech rides on a new chassis with -- you guessed it -- a new electric drive motor and power-storage unit deliver more performance and range than its previous top-line naked streetbike, the SR. Best of all, the SR/F's looks are comparable to the smokerbikes in the naked genre, so it's even more palatable to the masses in general who have yet to embrace the EV bike technology.

2020 Zero Motorcycles SR/F

Specifications
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2020 Zero SR/F Design

The 2020 Zero SR/F is a sharp-looking ride. It borrows from its predecessors even while it presents a new face to the world to show a continuity of design and a natural aesthetic evolution that brings it more in line with convention.

It leads off with a pared-down front fender that sports splashguard-style uprights to protect the swept area of the inverted front forks. A single headlight housing rocks a quartet of high-low LED projectors that are bracketed by LED DRL strips on each side for increased nighttime visibility and daytime safety. Standoff turn signals spring from a small flyscreen to finish off the visage and conceal the headstock/tripletree area in a bid to keep everything looking sleek and clean.

The cleanliness continues right into the instrumentation that is handled entirely by a single five-inch color TFT display. Not only does it deliver all the pertinent metrics and act as an interface for the rider aids, but it's completely configurable so you can pick and choose what is displayed where. On top of that, the SR/F is connected to the web via cellular networks so it remains in constant communication with its app. The Cypher III operation system ties all the various systems together and manages same, plus it handles security by sending a text message to your phone if someone starts trying to boost your ride.

A low-profile bar and short risers pull the pilot forward over the faux fuel-tank hump defining a flyline that looks much like your typical naked smokerbike in profile. It also sports some minimal cheek fairings that add a little character to the look and further tie it in with conventional design. Of course, the tank is a lie; it hides the charger port and can tote Zero's accessory Charge Tank or Power Tank for faster charges or greater range, respectively.

The stock sculpted seat rests at 31 inches even, but the factory offers a 30.3-inch saddle for the vertically challenged and a 31.9-inch seat for riders who shop in the big-n-tall aisle. Long brackets transfer the load from the passenger's footpegs directly to the swingarm pivot boss. A set of J.C. handles provides four points-of-contact to go with the stadium pillion pad that doubles as a butt-stop for the pilot.

A pair of huggers -- one bolted to the business end of the swingarm and the other mounted to the front of the swingarm -- take care of the rear-wheel fling, and since the bottom of the subframe is completely enclosed, anything that escapes the fenders can easily be rinsed off. An LED taillight bar and standoff-style blinkers finish out the gear in the rear.

2020 Zero SR/F Chassis

A welded-pipe Trellis frame on the Zero SR/F provides the structure, and on this new frame, the motor and swingarm pivot are mounted concentrically. This “Power Pivot” keeps the drive-belt tension consistent regardless of the asymmetrical swingarm's position in a way that the typical eccentric drive-pulley and swingarm-pivot arrangement cannot.

Cast, 17-inch rims round out the rolling chassis with Pirelli's Diablo Rosso III hoops to make the connection to the pavement with a 120/70 up front, a 180/55 out back. The tires have a “ZR” rating, which means the tires will take anything you can throw at it up to the bike's 124 mph top speed.

A pair of 43 mm Showa BP-SFF forks support the front end with a 40 mm piggy-back monoshock out back (also from Showa) and the full trinity of adjustments all around. Suspension strokes measure in at 4.72 inches and 5.51 inches for the front and rear, respectively.

The brakes are all business with a pair of 320 mm discs and four-bore, J-Juan calipers that provide the bulk of the stopping power up front opposite a 240 mm disc and single-piston anchor in the rear. Additionally, the motor has a regenerative-braking function that puts some juice back in the battery on the downshifts and when coasting.

For safety, the factory chucked on the Bosch Advanced MSC system that provides top-shelf ABS protection so you can get the most out of the binders.

Front suspension:

Showa 43 mm Big Piston Separate Function forks, with adjustable spring preload, compression and rebound damping

Rear suspension:

Showa 40 mm piston, piggy-back reservoir shock with adjustable spring preload, compression and rebound damping

Front suspension travel:

4.72 in

Rear suspension travel:

5.51 in

Front brakes:

Bosch Advanced MSC, dual J-Juan radial 4-piston calipers with radial master cylinder, 320 x 5 mm discs

Rear brakes:

Bosch Advanced MSC, J-Juan single piston floating caliper, 240 x 4.5 mm disc

Front tire:

Pirelli Diablo Rosso III 120/70-17

Rear tire:

Pirelli Diablo Rosso III 180/55-17

Front wheel:

3.50 x 17

Rear wheel:

5.50 x 17


2020 Zero SR/F Drivetrain

Whether you choose the Standard or the Premium package for the 2020 Zero SR/F, the Z-Force 75-10 motor is a constant across the board. This new motor boasts enhanced thermal efficiency and radial cooling fins to deal with the extra waste heat, and the main Lithium-Ion powerpack rocks an aluminum heat-sink housing with cooling fins of its own for improved thermal stability. That's important since excessive heat can be the death of the EV drive.

A 900 amp, three-phase controller meters the juice according to demand at the right grip. Like the rest of the Zero lineup, the SR/F has a direct drive that precludes the need for a heavy gearbox, not that it needs one. All 140 pound-feet of torque are available as soon as you crack the “throttle,” and it pulls all the way up to the top with backup from 110 ponies that top out at five grand.

The stock power pack will store 14.4 kWh worth of juice, but at this point, the two models diverge slightly. A 3.0 kW on-board charger provides the basic charging service with a charge time of 4.5 hours for a full charge, and if you spring for the 6 kW Rapid Charge option, you can expect a full charge in as little as 1.8 hours.

The Premium rocks the 6 kW charger stock for a charge time of 2.5 hours and a Rapid Charge time of an hour and a half. I'm here to tell ya' sports fans, that's dead-fast charging right there, and it elevates the SR/F's viability significantly. Both models deliver 161 miles in the city, 82 miles at interstate speed with a combined average of 109 miles per charge.

Model:

Premium

Standard

Peak torque:

140 lb-ft

140 lb-ft

Peak power:

110 hp (82 kW) @ 5,000 rpm

110 hp (82 kW) @ 5,000 rpm

Top speed (max):

124 mph

124 mph

Top speed (sustained):

110 mph

110 mph

Motor:

Z-Force 75-10 enhanced thermal efficiency, passively air-cooled, interior permanent magnet AC motor

Z-Force 75-10 enhanced thermal efficiency, passively air-cooled, interior permanent magnet AC motor

Controller:

High efficiency and power dense, 900 Amp, 3-phase AC controller with regenerative deceleration

High efficiency and power dense, 900 Amp, 3-phase AC controller with regenerative deceleration

Power pack:

Z-Force® Li-Ion intelligent integrated

Z-Force® Li-Ion intelligent integrated

Max capacity:

14.4 kWh

14.4 kWh

Nominal capacity:

12.6 kWh

12.6 kWh

Charger type:

6.0 kW, integrated

3.0 kW, integrated

Charge time (standard):

2.5 hours (100% charged) / 2.0 hours (95% charged)

4.5 hours (100% charged) / 4.0 hours (95% charged)

└ With 6 kW Rapid Charge option:

1.5 hours (100% charged) / 1.0 hour (95% charged)

1.8 hours (100% charged) / 1.3 hours (95% charged)

Transmission:

Clutchless direct drive

Clutchless direct drive

Final drive:

90T / 20T, Poly Chain® HTD® Carbon™ belt

90T / 20T, Poly Chain® HTD® Carbon™ belt


2020 Zero SR/F Pricing

The 2020 SR/F can be had in red over black with gray trim or green over black (my fave). MSRP comes in at $18,995 for the Standard and $20,995 for the Premium. If you want the Rapid Charge option you can expect to shell out another $2,300. Oh yeah, and heated grips are part of the Premium equipment if you're into cold-weather rides.

Warranty:

2 years

└ Power pack warranty:

5 years/unlimited miles

Color:

Red, Green

Price:

Standard: $18,995, Premium: $20,995


2020 Zero SR/F Competitors

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The naked EV streetfighter genre is expanding at a fairly rapid pace, so for my head-to-head with the 2020 Zero SR/F I want to look at a couple of different machines. First, Harley-Davidson's LiveWire is close enough to release to be a viable entry, so let's start there. The “LW” carries itself with a sporty demeanor unseen from the MoCo since Erik Buell divorced the Milwaukee-based giant. Honestly, it's more or less on-par with the current naked smokers whether they be Japanese or European in origin, and is a sharp departure from the established norm for Harley-Davidson.

Like the Zero, it offers multiple charging options with a rather vague “overnight” charging time through the level-1 charger, and a smokin' fast one-hour charge time if you have access to a level-3 public charging station. This will get you around 140 miles in the city or 88 miles on the interstate, and while the factory is vague on the top speed, it does claim a three second 0-to-60 time. That's pretty damn quick, y'all.

Lean-sensitive ABS and traction control increase stability and safety with a Drag-Torque Slip Control that mimics the function of a slipper clutch so you don't break the rear end loose when you roll off. Plus, H-D finally embraced fully adjustable suspension components, front and rear. As usual, H-D is proud of their products, and so it commands a premium price at $29,799.

Next is the Eva EsseEsse9 from Italian builder Energica. Like the SR/F, it carries a very smokerbike-like flyline and only gives itself away as something “other” at the engine area. No doubt about it; this is a good-looking bike, especially for an EV.

The front suspension is fully adjustable, but the rear stops a skosh short with adjustable rebound-damping and preload only. ABS and a quartet of Riding- and Regenerative-mode profiles provide some ride-quality control for a total of 8 choices in power delivery and recovery, and the Eva alone rocks a Parking Assistant feature that will creep you forward or backward at 1.74 mph.

As for the drivetrain, a 13.4 kWh lithium battery drives a 109-horsepower motor that delivers 133 pound-feet of torque for a 125 mph top speed. Travel range comes in at 93 miles per charge (combined), and charge times vary between 3.5 hours with a Mode-2 or -3 charger, and a blistering-fast 25 minutes on a Mode-4 charger. Energica falls in the middle of the price range with a $23,400 sticker.

He Said

“Man! The battle for EV bike superiority is heating up nowadays, and as with anything where we have this kind of competition, the consumer is the ultimate winner. Competition drives innovation, and the technological advancements in this burgeoning field are coming fast and furious nowadays. As for the SR/F, there's no doubt that Zero looks to retain its position as the world's leader in this field. Oh yeah, and the looks don't hurt; it sheds much of that stodgy Zero look for a panache that'll likely appeal to even more people than the previous iterations.”

She Said

My wife and fellow motorcycle writer, Allyn Hinton, says, “All things considered, the SR/F looks like the EV we've been waiting for...at least until next month when improvements in technology, range, and recharge bring another contender to the top of the pack. The Cypher III app looks amazing in its ability to connect you to the bike and it's just an awesome-looking ride.”

2020 Zero SR/F Specifications

Model:

Premium

Standard

Range:

City:

161 miles

161 miles

Highway, 55 mph (89 km/h):

99 miles

99 miles

└ Combined:

123 miles

123 miles

Highway, 70 mph (113 km/h):

82 miles

82 miles

└ Combined:

109 miles

109 miles

Motor:

Peak torque:

140 lb-ft

140 lb-ft

Peak power:

110 hp (82 kW) @ 5,000 rpm

110 hp (82 kW) @ 5,000 rpm

Top speed (max):

124 mph

124 mph

Top speed (sustained):

110 mph

110 mph

Motor:

Z-Force 75-10 enhanced thermal efficiency, passively air-cooled, interior permanent magnet AC motor

Z-Force 75-10 enhanced thermal efficiency, passively air-cooled, interior permanent magnet AC motor

Controller:

High efficiency and power dense, 900 Amp, 3-phase AC controller with regenerative deceleration

High efficiency and power dense, 900 Amp, 3-phase AC controller with regenerative deceleration

Power system:

Power pack:

Z-Force® Li-Ion intelligent integrated

Z-Force® Li-Ion intelligent integrated

Max capacity:

14.4 kWh

14.4 kWh

Nominal capacity:

12.6 kWh

12.6 kWh

Charger type:

6.0 kW, integrated

3.0 kW, integrated

Charge time (standard):

2.5 hours (100% charged) / 2.0 hours (95% charged)

4.5 hours (100% charged) / 4.0 hours (95% charged)

└ With 6 kW Rapid Charge option:

1.5 hours (100% charged) / 1.0 hour (95% charged)

1.8 hours (100% charged) / 1.3 hours (95% charged)

Drivetrain:

Transmission:

Clutchless direct drive

Clutchless direct drive

Final drive:

90T / 20T, Poly Chain® HTD® Carbon™ belt

90T / 20T, Poly Chain® HTD® Carbon™ belt

Chassis:

Front suspension:

Showa 43 mm Big Piston Separate Function forks, with adjustable spring preload, compression and rebound damping

Showa 43 mm Big Piston Separate Function forks, with adjustable spring preload, compression and rebound damping

Rear suspension:

Showa 40 mm piston, piggy-back reservoir shock with adjustable spring preload, compression and rebound damping

Showa 40 mm piston, piggy-back reservoir shock with adjustable spring preload, compression and rebound damping

Front suspension travel:

4.72 in

4.72 in

Rear suspension travel:

5.51 in

5.51 in

Front brakes:

Bosch Advanced MSC, dual J-Juan radial 4-piston calipers with radial master cylinder, 320 x 5 mm discs

Bosch Advanced MSC, dual J-Juan radial 4-piston calipers with radial master cylinder, 320 x 5 mm discs

Rear brakes :

Bosch Advanced MSC, J-Juan single piston floating caliper, 240 x 4.5 mm disc

Bosch Advanced MSC, J-Juan single piston floating caliper, 240 x 4.5 mm disc

Front tire:

Pirelli Diablo Rosso III 120/70-17

Pirelli Diablo Rosso III 120/70-17

Rear tire:

Pirelli Diablo Rosso III 180/55-17

Pirelli Diablo Rosso III 180/55-17

Front wheel:

3.50 x 17

3.50 x 17

Rear wheel:

5.50 x 17

5.50 x 17

Dimensions & Capacities:

Wheelbase:

57.1 in

57.1 in

Seat height:

31.0 in

31.0 in

└ Accessory, low:

30.3 in

30.3 in

└ Accessory, tall:

31.9 in

31.9 in

Rake:

24.5°

24.5°

Trail:

3.7 in

3.7 in

Curb weight:

498 lb

485 lb

Carrying capacity:

502 lb

515 lb

Economy:

Equivalent fuel economy (city):

430 MPGe

430 MPGe

Equivalent fuel economy (highway):

219 MPGe

219 MPGe

Typical cost to recharge:

$1.61

$1.61

Details:

Warranty:

2 years

2 years

└ Power pack warranty:

5 years/unlimited miles

5 years/unlimited miles

Color:

Red, Green

Red, Green

Price:

$20,995

$18,995


Further Reading

Harley-Davidson LiveWire

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See our review of the Harley-Davidson LiveWire.

Energica Eva EsseEsse9

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See our review of the Energica Eva EsseEsse9.

Zero S / SR

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See our review of the Zero S / SR.

Zero Motorcycles

Read more Zero news.