ElectricMotorcycleForum.com
Makes And Models => Zero Motorcycles Forum | 2013+ => Topic started by: NEW2elec on March 24, 2026, 10:19:34 AM
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A quick look at their US dealers and their Zero inventory east coast and west. I only see older big road bikes and the two small dirt bikes.
The only 2026 models are the small dirt bikes.
Unfortunately most of the review videos I've seen the Zero bikes do about the worst and cost about the most.
I would hate to see them die off but if the price to demand ratio can't be fixed I don't see any other outcome.
Maybe they will just focus in Asia and EU.
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The current US government policy instability (to be polite) reduces imports of parts to US. Would you order parts to build bikes if you didn't know if they would cost 500 or 5000 to import? While the price of your products was already sky high, so you cannot realistically raise it to recover the extra cost. Not if you had choice. The only viable option is importing fully assembled bikes in small numbers, but the big bikes are not assembled outside US yet.
If I were buying new electric motorcycle today I would probably go for the Honda. There are some viable Asian alternatives that I wish were sold here.
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Honda here too, except, it's not good enough yet, so I won't be buying an electric bike next.
Cas :)
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Apparently, the motorcycle dealership in Enfield Ct. no longer carries Zero, no dealer in the state showing in the dealer locator. The dealership showing up near pittsburg Pa shows no Zero bikes at all on their website. The one near Columbus Ohio shows 3 2024 and 3 2025. Go on cycle trader and look for a Kawasaki W800 and you will find 2023 and 2024 models I know not battery bikes. I kind of doubt that Livewire or Can-am have 2026 models for sale in the USA. Those two send me email messages and the links don't go to 2026 models, 2023 for the livewire one if I recall right.
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The only viable option is importing fully assembled bikes in small numbers, but the big bikes are not assembled outside US yet.
Are you sure about that? I understood that a 2025 SR/S was assembled in the Philippines?
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The only viable option is importing fully assembled bikes in small numbers, but the big bikes are not assembled outside US yet.
Are you sure about that? I understood that a 2025 SR/S was assembled in the Philippines?
I'm happy if I'm wrong. I understood that any assemblies in Asia where for international markets. US market bikes would be assembled in US.
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Honda here too, except, it's not good enough yet, so I won't be buying an electric bike next.
Cas :)
I hear you. I tested Suzuki Vstrom 800 DE last weekend. That is a tempting package.
When Honda comes out with extended range adventure type (where you can sit more upright and go further on a charge) I'll be all over it. Like a lady of negotiable affection on a lottery winner. As long as the price is reasonable. :)
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I'm happy if I'm wrong. I understood that any assemblies in Asia where for international markets. US market bikes would be assembled in US.
Aha, now I understand, I’m in Europe ;) .
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i asked the dealer in georgia, which is the first one to pop up when i did a search for them.
right now they are really pushing their smaller bike the x series dirt bikes, because it's new.
he said that the larger bikes are still manufacturered in california, and the smaller bikes are made outside the us because they were targeting them more for the euro markets.
he also told me that currently they are more focused on the newer line the X line and not too many of the premium 26s are on the shelves yet that june or july they should start stocking the shops with them was his latest update.
i didn't think to ask if you could order one and have it shipped right now but as mentioned earlier the holdup could be parts. According to him, they still are manufactured in california though, id imagine that parts may be coming from the phillippines for some of them since it's probably cheaper and the tariff thing, i think if you call them repair parts, the tarriff is a lot lower. last time i checked the tarriff charts, that seemed to be how it looked for stuff, computers / cars / servers/ etc, assembled units tarriffs high, parts/repair parts only like 10 percent. when i had some stuff shipped in from overseas she said they'd be labeled repair or salvage parts in case customs asked me what they were so that the rates were cheaper.
TS , the us bikes, they slap the sticker on them made in the usa or california or something, so yah, they'd have to be made here... unless it's just the sticker thats made in America :) but its only the big bikes made here.
aaron
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Just an FYI: When I bought my 2020 SR/F from the previous owner, the FIRST owner had replaced the stock fender and license plate mount with one of those stupid side-mounted license plate mounts so popular with the cruiser crowd. This was incompatible with the side bags so I ordered the parts to restore the original unit. My bike was held up in the shop for two months because one of the parts was stuck in customs. At first I thought it was just a story my dealer was giving me because they hadn't gotten around to installing it, but I checked with Zero support and they confirmed that the part was indeed stuck in customs awaiting approval. So SOME of the parts for the bigger bikes definitely come from overseas.
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Another reason I junked the awful unsprung deadweight of the original plate holder and put an R&G tail-tidy version on instead :) Looks way better and arrived the next day...
Cas :)
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Yesterday I received four sets of brake pads for my Aniioki e-bike, which only cost $30 and were shipped directly from the depths of China to my door. I didn't pay any CA state sales tax, shipping, custom, or tariff fees. When it comes to avoiding taxes and fees, the Chinese really know how to play the game. ;)
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Richard, yes they do, they know all the tricks and ins' and outs of labeling and how to get things through. the only thing that causes issues is batteries because of what they are, you can't really lie about them, and doing so would be a major felony with the hazmat and stuff on them. Anything with lithium batteries in it is supposed to be declared, packed certain ways bla bla bla. Id hate to think how many years you'd do purposely shipping batteries and not labeling the hazmat when you know you were supposed to.
when i had my charger built for my bike, the tariffs were going to be about 2k or so but they managed to get it in on something else for free. Sometimes i wonder how hard they check small packages vs like a boat full of one item or huge shipments.
Aaron
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Another reason I junked the awful unsprung deadweight of the original plate holder and put an R&G tail-tidy version on instead :) Looks way better and arrived the next day...
Cas :)
Do you have a photo of it installed?
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If Zero goes belly-up, it won't be because of imported parts or tariffs; it'll be because of their own complete lack of customer support or service. There's only a small market of people who have both the desire and the money to buy electric motorcycles, and Zero has made sure that those people won't be repeat customers. Myself included.
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Another reason I junked the awful unsprung deadweight of the original plate holder and put an R&G tail-tidy version on instead :) Looks way better and arrived the next day...
Cas :)
Do you have a photo of it installed?
(whoops, necro reply - forgot to take one so far!)
Cas :)
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I'm happy if I'm wrong. I understood that any assemblies in Asia where for international markets. US market bikes would be assembled in US.
I don't think this is entirely accurate You can determine build location based on the first 3 digits of the VIN. 538 is Scotts Valley, PAG is the 3rd party assembly plant in the Philippines. Looking at 2024, 2025 and 2026 Zeros on Cycle Trader and Moto Hunt, it seems that the DS, DSR and DSR/X are being assembled in the Philippines since the model year 2024. The S, SR, SR/F and SR/S seem to still have 538 VIN numbers.
What I don't know is whether S, SR, SR/F and SR/S bikes are assembled in Asia also. I haven't seen a VIN on any European listings.
The FX series bikes seem to still carry 538 VINs. So they are made in Scotts Valley. The XE bikes carry an A4Z VIN and I understand these are made by Zongshen in China. Same for XB models.
What does seem to be true is that there are no 2026 model year Zero bikes other than the XB and XE. Given all the turmoil caused by the Trump administration regarding the economy, electric vehicles, and tariffs, it isn't too surprising that Zero is having a tough time selling full size motorcycles in the USA. Word is that Livewire is really suffering too.
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Interesting. Nice investigation mdjak1.
So currently it seems that of the latest US located bikes; DS line are made in the Philippines (half fairinged), S and FX lines in US (naked, fully fairinged and light weight), X line by Zongshen in China (ultra light).
Rest of the world could be; S and DS lines made in the Philippines, FX line in US, X line in China.
At least they're all still made and sold on planet Earth.
I'd really like to see a new bike from Zero. Where ever it will be made. Between the current S/DS and FX lines. But there is not even a prototype spotted.
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What I don't know is whether S, SR, SR/F and SR/S bikes are assembled in Asia also. I haven't seen a VIN on any European listings.
I have a 2025 SR/S (Netherlands) which has a “PAG-number”.
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... Word is that Livewire is really suffering too.
LOL, that's the understatement of the century. I think the last numbers for the Livewire is 653 sold in 2025. That's over all four quarters.
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... Word is that Livewire is really suffering too.
LOL, that's the understatement of the century. I think the last numbers for the Livewire is 653 sold in 2025. That's over all four quarters.
That is the AI search I got but if that is sold to dealers or the finance company that actually owns them prior to an actual customer might need clarification.
Copilot Search Branding
LiveWire Motorcycle Sales in 2025 — Dealers vs. Consumers
LiveWire Group’s 2025 sales for electric motorcycles are a mix of both dealer and consumer channels, with the company emphasizing both wholesale distribution and direct-to-consumer sales.
so the sales might mean sales of as old as 2023 models and 2025 models still in inventory?
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What I don't know is whether S, SR, SR/F and SR/S bikes are assembled in Asia also. I haven't seen a VIN on any European listings.
I have a 2025 SR/S (Netherlands) which has a “PAG-number”.
Thanks for that. So Zero must be making those in Asia too.