From the Alps to the Mediterranean, that was the journey the Zero DS took when it traveled 271.2 miles in one stretch, making Zero Motorcycles the new Guinness World Record for the longest journey by an electric motorbike on a single charge.
The record-setting ride was completed on a Zero DS, which features a standard 15.6 kWh battery paired with the 3.6 kWh Power Tank, bringing total capacity to 19.2 kWh. Aside from the Power Tank modification, Zero says the bike was completely stock, with standard tires and no record-specific modifications,
Zero claims the goal was not only to break a record, but to find out how far a production e-motorcycle could go on public roads, using the technology already available to Zero riders.
Before the ride, the Zero team meticulously planned their route to maximize battery life. They avoided major roads with heavy traffic, rode at night, kept speeds in check, anticipated changes in terrain, and utilized Zero technology like custom ride modes.
The three-person team eventually reached the 193-mile mark, which was the previous world record. However, one rider kept going — even through thunderstorms — and eventually rode 271.2 miles, surpassing the previous world record by just over 78 miles.
The record-breaking ride came at a significant time for Zero, the company says. This year marks 20 years since the e-motorcycle manufacturer was founded in a California garage. Battery technology has come a long way since then, and Zero says it is celebrating the feat not only because it showed Zero technology’s capability, but because it’s something its customers can pick up and do, even tomorrow.
“A record only means something if riders can relate to it,” says Pierre-Martin Bos, Zero CEO. “These were three production motorcycles, exactly as they leave our dealers, ridden on public roads — one of them by a Zero Motorcycles customer. All three surpassed the previous record. That is no one-off; it demonstrates what our technology can deliver today, and we intend to keep raising the bar.”
KTM is staking its newest entry-level electric dirt bike firmly in the Goldilocks zone. Not too big and not too small, but just right — sitting between KTM’s SX-E 2 and SX-E 3 — the all-new SX-E 2.12 gives junior riders on the taller side the ideal starting platform.
Like the SX-E 2, the SX-E 2.12 is built around an extended aluminum extrusion frame, with a 12-inch front wheel replacing the SX-E 2’s 10-inch front wheel, and extended suspension elements providing a taller stance.
Upfront, a WP Hydraulic Fork provides 90mm of travel, with a preload-adjustable 34mm hydraulic monoshock in the rear that mounts directly to the swingarm, offering 70mm of travel. This results in a 66mm increase in seat height over the 500mm seat height on the SX-E 2. The ground clearance and overall wheelbase also increase without affecting the overall 64 lb. weight.
A lightweight, maintenance-free 1,8 kW HUB motor is powered by a water-sealed IP65 9.4 Ah lithium-ion power-tool-type battery, delivering a maximum of 50 Nm. Also, an external charger supplies up to 500 W and can connect to any 110- or 230-volt socket, charging to 100% in 60 minutes.
The SX-E 2.12 features a roll-over sensor that cuts power in crashes or tip-overs. A wrist lanyard key also provides a direct connection between the rider and the kill switch, stopping the motor in the event of an uncontrollable riding scenario. An illuminated multifunctional display located on the handlebar also makes keeping an eye on selected ride modes simple, with different colors indicating which ride mode is selected.
The 2027 SX-E 2.12 is currently available at authorized KTM dealers, with an MSRP of $ 2,349-$ 2,699.
Harley-Davidson’s offshoot electric brand LiveWire announced its S4 Honcho Street now meets the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) criteria for use in rider training programs, a significant milestone for a company that is aiming to make motorcycling more accessible and safer for a new generation of riders.
In July 2025, LiveWire teamed up with Bartels’ Harley-Davidson Riding Academy in Marina del Rey, California, and made it the first new rider program in the U.S. to offer certified training on LiveWire’s all-electric S2 motorcycles. The company says that for the next generation of two-wheel riders, clutchless e-motorcycles can feel more familiar and approachable, and its platform is a natural bridge from e-bikes to motorcycling.
The recently certified S4 Honcho Street combines a lightweight chassis, low seat height, and fully electric powertrain required for MSF training, while removing the complexity of clutch operation and gear shifting.
“The next generation of riders is coming up on e-bikes and electric vehicles, so their expectations for mobility are changing,” says Jon Bekefy, head of commercial at LiveWire. “For many, an electric motorcycle is a more natural first step into motorcycling.
At just 266 pounds with a seat height below 30 inches, the S4 Honcho is well-suited for training environments. However, it meets all three primary MSF qualification criteria, including power output, weight, and seat height.
For decades, learning to ride has often required mastering multiple skills simultaneously, including throttle control, clutch operation, shifting, and braking. The S4 Honcho’s electric powertrain removes much of that complexity, allowing new riders to focus on core riding skills before progressing to more advanced techniques.
The S4 Honcho brings several advantages to rider
education programs:
Lightweight 266 lb. curb weight for low-speed maneuvering
Under 30-inch seat height
Fully electric powertrain with no clutch or shifting required
Tuned top-speed profiles equivalent to first- and second-gear learning environments
Up to 73 miles of range at 20 mph, including swappable batteries
Simple charging, vehicle protection kit, and fleet management for training operators
LiveWire says these characteristics help remove obstacles that may discourage prospective riders. As rider training organizations continue to explore new tools and technologies that support rider success, LiveWire believes motorcycles like the S4 Honcho can play an important role in attracting and developing the next generation of motorcyclists.
California has brought some clarity to the concerningly opaque legal lines between electric bikes and electric motorcycles and mopeds, after it recently enacted SB 1167.
As detailed in its Oct. 7 Ride Report, the Motorcycle Industry Council said it spent months improving the bill’s vehicle definitions, classifications, and related requirements.
California Senate Bill 1167, which was signed by California Governor Gavin Newsom on Sept. 30, effectively changes the type of vehicles that are prohibited from being advertised, sold, offered for sale, or labeled as e-bikes.
The bill’s co-sponsors — CalBike and PeopleForBikes — sought to clearly define what qualifies as an e-bicycle and which vehicles fall outside that definition, giving law enforcement clearer guidance as higher-powered off-road e-motorcycles are increasingly used on public roads.
The law maintains California’s definition of an e-bike as a bicycle with operable pedals and an electric motor of no more than 750 watts. Motorcycles, motor-driven cycles, mopeds, and off-highway e-motorcycles cannot be advertised, sold, or labeled as electric bicycles. The law also establishes disclosure and labeling requirements intended to make the differences between those vehicle categories clearer to consumers and law enforcement.
In June, Washington state also enacted a similar law that established a clearer distinctions between e-bikes and e-motorcycles. It’s safe to anticipate other states making their own definition between e-bikes and e-motorcycles, and MIC says it will continue to monitor similar legislation as states consider how these electric two-wheel vehicles should be classified, labeled, advertised, and sold.
California seemed to be at the center of the concerns, and the bill was in part a response to the growing public safety crisis surrounding high-powered e-motorcycles being marketed as e-bikes. These concerns peaked in April following an incident where a teenager driving an e-motorcycle struck and killed an 81-year-old pedestrian
For dealers, the new law now regulates how they advertise, label, and disclose products. The law draws up a clear regulatory line between legal, low-speed electric bicycles and high-powered e-motorcycles.