40 • November 2026 • Powersports Business

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

Zero Motorcycle’ s three-person crew that set a new Guinness World Record for the longest journey by an electric motorbike on a single charge.( Photo: Zero Motorcycle)

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

Slotting between the KTM SX-E 2 and KTM SX-E 3, the all-new KTM SX-E 2.12 gives taller, little riders the ideal starting platform.( Photo: KTM)

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

See KTM, Page 42