When I took the first corners on the country roads with the Zero S 11 kW, I quickly noticed that the riding feel was initially a bit unusual. It almost feels as if the bike wants to lean into the corner by itself. I suspect this is due to the low center of gravity of the battery – a trait also found in some petrol bikes.
Anyone who has ridden a BMW F850 GS might be familiar with this characteristic: You get the feeling that the bike is steering for you. It's similar with the Zero S, which can be a bit surprising at first. It was almost as if the bike was steering through the corners for me without much input. This confused me in the first few minutes.
But after a while – let's say after about half an hour – I got used to it. The feeling that the bike "steers itself" quickly disappears once you get accustomed to the dynamic behavior. Initially, it may be different from what you know from many other bikes, but the adjustment happens quickly, and soon cornering feels smooth and intuitive.
Once you get the hang of the Zero S 11 kW, cornering becomes really fun. The Zero S comes with three different riding modes:
If you want to go sporty, especially on twisty roads, the Canyon mode is ideal. In this mode, the regeneration – that is, the recovery of energy when you let off the throttle – is the strongest. This means you have a very strong engine brake as soon as you release the throttle. Especially on routes with lots of climbs and descents, this mode is perfect. You not only brake gently before each corner but also regain electricity at the same time. This ensures very dynamic and efficient riding performance.
In addition to Canyon mode, the Zero S naturally offers other modes tailored to different riding styles and conditions, such as an Eco mode for maximum range and a Sport mode when you want to go full throttle.
Especially in long, flowing corners, the Zero S shows that even an 11 kW bike can offer plenty of riding pleasure. Thanks to the immediately available torque of over 100 Nm, the bike accelerates directly and powerfully out of every corner. The electronic drive ensures that the power is always available exactly when you need it – no delay, no shifting, just throttle and go. This makes every cornering ride a real experience, and even with "only" 11 kW, it brings a lot of joy.