I'm totally sure the video shows the real SR/S as it looks exactly the way the Zero representative from the European headquarter (Amsterdam) told me in November at the EICMA.
So it's most likely real, as expected. I expect this will give Zero a sales boost, depending on range& price. I also hope they've also been thinking about hard luggage options -- IIUC, there's no off-the-shelf hard luggage solution for the SR/F yet, and the SR/S certainly needs one for long trips.
Soft luggage is always an option, but not the same thing.
Big question is the price and the availability. A Swiss Zero dealer mentioned fall.
Next Fall? 8-9 months from now? Seems a bit too far away to announce now. I suspect there might be lots of potential customers who would delay purchases & wait, if so.
I'd expect 2-4 months, in time for the Spring riding season. After all, their standard annual time to announce model changes is towards the end of the calendar year, but they didn't do it this time.
Also, presumably, the frame & drivetrain & charging aren't changed from the SR/F at all, likely ditto suspension & brakes, so it's not a huge project in itself, although it would have needed lots of testing, simulations, wind tunnel work etc. (I hope there'll be a 15%+ highway range improvement from the unfaired bike, maybe even 20%).
I'd expect the charger & Power Tank situation to be the same as with the SR/F Premium.
Another interesting question might be, if an SR/F can be 'upgraded' to an SR/S.
I'd expect technically yes, but probably not cost-effective, and not supported by Zero (as in, they're not going to sell the fairing and other needed parts separately).
May be they are better prepared for a big demand than they were for the SR/F. Or the SR/S leads to an even higher demand ... who knows.
Depending on the actual range & price, this may finally open up the non-commuter market.
I think Zero knows they have a problem w.r.t. Energica at present (except for fleet sales), in terms of charging & range, so it'll be interesting to see how they approach selling the SR/S .
Looking at Zeros employment site with its open positions I'd say that this shows the signs of a truly growing company. However, this isn't my turf; I'm a complete laymen regarding production and business development.
https://www.zeromotorcycles.com/company/employment[/url]
Yes, that's very encouraging -- as is well known, they have a problem with customer support, and most of those positions have to do with logistics & QA.
Significantly, they're hiring a VP Operations, which I don't think they had previously, and the detailed job description is instructive:
https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/vp-of-operations-at-zero-motorcycles-inc-1656976413/