Like a lot of motorcyclists, I followed in the same footsteps as my father. He had taught my brother and I at an early age the enjoyment that can be had through riding. This would eventually lead to family motorcycle trips and become a preferred method of transportation to high school and college. The two-wheel therapy would alleviate my mind and allow me to be more focused, so commuting on a motorcycle was a no brainer, right? Well, things took a drastic turn when it came to commuting to the workplace.

After relocating to one of the most congested cities in Texas, second only to Houston, I was inundated with the nonsensical traffic jams that plague the Interstate 35 corridor through the capitol area. The joy of motorcycling was quickly fading and my desire to throw a leg over to ride to work became a daunting task. Even the weekend outings to the Hill Country was marred by recent developments that increased traffic encountered when trying to reach the twisty roads.

Enter the Zero Motorcycles SR/F. The electric motorcycle provides sport styling with a comfortable body position.

It wasn’t so much the fault of the motorcycle, as it was the new riding style that I was struggling with. I’ve always had a spirited side that enjoys the rapid acceleration motorcycles offer. However, the traffic had defused me to a constant up and downshift. While the connection with the motorcycle was nice, it was making the commute into work, something motorcycling had always done the opposite for me. In my quest to remedy the problem, I began to test out other motorcycles, seeking to return my commute into the previous fun.

At the time, the Japanese and Italian sportbike manufacturers were once again at a horsepower war, but aside from big power, bold new graphics, and a few rider’s aids, the bikes remained the same. The smaller cubic-centimeter units had become quite popular and offered comfort, but were lacking where I wanted power. I even went out and tried a few dual-clutch and continuously variable transmission-equipped motorcycles, but something still didn’t feel right. On a random test ride, I decided to check out the all-new Zero Motorcycles SR/F electric motorcycle.

I wanted to dislike the electric motorcycle idea. After all, I had spent decades on internal combustion engine (ICE) motorcycles that provide Formula 1 RPM range and impressive power to weight ratios by most standards. However, I’m not one to refuse a free ride on any motorcycle and after being informed to respect the instant torque, off I went.

Leaving the dealership, it became increasingly alarming just how quiet the electric motorcycle is. I’m accustomed to hearing the exhaust notes emitted from a V-twin or inline-four engine leaving its exhaust canister in a rapid fashion. The sounds of other motorist vehicles struck me by surprise. It was at this moment that my viewpoint of the popular mantra “loud pipes save lives” shifted. I no longer had the ability to rely on my exhaust to provide attention. Instead, my situational awareness had to be amplified. In my mind, learning to utilize your strengths rather than relying on others, made me a better rider.

Once exiting the confines of the city, I finally stopped panic grabbing for the clutch, I was finally able to test the salesman theory of respecting the instant torque. Throttling on was unlike any ICE engines I had piloted before, as 140 lb-ft of torque quickly went into the rear wheel via Zero’s direct drive system. The visceral feeling of acceleration could compare to an inline-four cylinder at high RPM, but this was being felt off the line, instantaneously. After a few more laps, I headed back to the dealership.

I’ll openly admit, the test drive opened my mind to electric motorcycles, but I had gone there with the intention of finding a commuter. Once back at the dealership and going over the functions, it turns out the Zero was equipped with five different modes that control power. Then you could even download the app and create a custom map to control max speed, power, natural regeneration, braking regeneration, and more. The horror of thinking if my parents had this control when i was riding, how much more boring….uhh safer the ride would have been.

What really makes the Zero SR/F stand out is its ability to be configured to the rider’s liking.

The Zero was different, but in all the right ways. I’ll stray from saying the motorcycle industry had grown stagnant, but the Zero was a complete change of pace and fit my agenda nicely. It paired a strong technology package with superbike prowess, but retained versatility. While this doesn’t mean I’ll be selling my gas-powered motorcycles anytime soon, it’s nice to see a different approach to motorcycling and have the option to enjoy commutes into work again.