2026 Zero XE and XB Review

Zero has introduced two new off-road models for 2026—the XB and XE—marking a return to the dirt-bike market where the company got its start nearly 20 years ago. We spent time testing both bikes at the Austin Moto Adventures ranch near Austin, Texas, and came away impressed with what Zero has accomplished.

Photography by Garth Milan

For those unfamiliar with Zero’s history, the company was founded in 2006 by Neal Saiki, a former NASA engineer. The first models were small dirt bikes that looked more like oversized mountain bikes with motors. I had the opportunity to ride one of those early bikes and even helped organize a demonstration race in 2008 inside the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas featuring Jeff Emig and Sebastien Tortelli. Zero eventually shifted focus to the street motorcycle market and has since become one of the most established electric-motorcycle manufacturers in the USA. (and is rapidly growing globally as well). Now Zero is bringing nearly two decades of electric powertrain experience back to the dirt.

If you’re familiar with electric dirt bikes, you probably know the Surron Light Bee, which has become hugely popular with teenagers, and the more recently released Surron Ultra Bee—a capable midsized dirt bike that’s proven itself on the trails. While sales data isn’t publicly available, these models are likely the best-selling electric motorcycles in the USA over the past five years. In terms of specifications, the Zero XB competes directly with the Light Bee, while the XE squares up against the Ultra Bee. We wanted to find out if these new Zeros can challenge the class leaders.

Riding the XB | 2026 Zero XE and XB Review

The XB is the smaller of the two Zero dirt bikes, with a seat height of just 32.7 inches and a weight of 139 pounds. It feels more like an oversized pit bike than a full-size dirt bike, but the capable suspension and brakes make it legitimately enjoyable to ride. It has enough power and throttle control to pull wheelies and climb hills that will surprise you. The claimed top speed of 50 mph provides plenty of thrills, and it feels reasonably stable for such a compact machine.

At an MSRP of $4395, the XB delivers impressive value. It comes with fully adjustable KKE forks and a shock with linkage that performs well even for my 165-pound frame. Several riders of varying sizes tested the bike during our session, and even larger riders enjoyed themselves. The motor generates 10 horsepower at the rear wheel, enough to keep things entertaining. Two power modes (Eco and Standard) let you tailor the performance, and there’s even a reverse function.

The bike rolls on 19-inch wheels front and rear, matching the original Surron Light Bee setup. Surron has since updated the Light Bee to an 18-inch rear wheel on its 2025 model to provide more tire options and provide more sidewall flex, which is a step in the right direction in our opinion. Serious riders typically opt for an even smaller aftermarket 16-inch rear wheel with the 19-inch front, but for play riding, the Zero’s standard 19-inch rear wheel is fine.

We didn’t conduct a full range test, but Zero claims approximately 40 miles per charge. Based on our riding time and battery consumption, that figure seems accurate, translating to roughly two hours of ride time. Of course, the range varies significantly depending on how aggressively you ride.

We didn’t ride this back-to-back with the Surron Light Bee, but based on memory, the performance feels comparable. We’ve learned that most aftermarket accessories for the Surron bolt directly onto the Zero XB, which tells you just how closely matched these bikes are. Teenagers looking for a play bike will love this, as will adults who want to recapture that youthful energy or anyone seeking a small, lightweight and inexpensive machine for getting around.

Riding the XE | 2026 Zero XE and XB Review

While the XB targets the entry-level market, the XE steps up as a serious competitor to the Surron Ultra Bee—a bike we’ve spent considerable time on over the past three years. The Ultra Bee sits slightly smaller than a full-size dirt bike but offers impressive capability for experienced riders while remaining approachable for beginners thanks to adjustable power modes and traction control. These bikes are not direct competitors to full-sized gas bikes or a Stark Varg, but they cost almost half as much and deliver a lot of thrills and performance for the price.

We only got a couple of hours on the XE during the introduction, but my Cycle News co-owner, Jesse Ziegler, raced one in the ECR eMoto class at the Red Bull Tennessee Knockout Hard Enduro event a few months ago. He finished three rounds of racing, including a fourth-place finish in the final, on a brutal course, which gave us solid insight into the bike’s durability, performance and battery range. Jesse completed the 15-mile Saturday qualifying loop in one hour and 41 minutes on a single battery that still had over 30 percent charge remaining. You can expect about two hours of aggressive riding and potentially up to three hours of casual trail riding. Range varies widely based on conditions, but it appears comparable to the Surron Ultra Bee.

Charging times are also in the same ballpark: expect 2.5 hours to charge from 20 percent to 80 percent, or up to five hours for a zero percent to 95 percent charge. Zero emphasizes that the batteries are easy to remove and replace, but at $2749 for a second battery, that’s a significant investment most riders won’t make. Zero does offer a quick charger that cuts charging time in half for $775 MSRP. Both Zero X models allow the battery to be charged in or out of the bike, which is a nice feature.

Compared to the Ultra Bee, the XE comes standard with a 21-inch front wheel rather than a 19-inch. The 19-inch wheel works fine for casual riding but is less confidence-inspiring when the terrain gets rougher or speeds increase. Zero made the right call here. The claimed 20 horsepower provides ample performance, and three separate power modes plus traction control let you dial the bike to your preference. On the trails we rode in Texas, we preferred Standard mode as it offered more control than Sport. Traction control isn’t necessary for experienced riders, but it would benefit beginners who want to keep the bike manageable. The reverse function might sound unnecessary on a motorcycle, but it proves useful when you need to reposition on technical terrain.

The KKE suspension exceeds expectations for a bike with a $6499 MSRP. It outperforms most entry-level gas bikes, so even experienced riders will appreciate the quality. The same applies to the disc brakes—they’re powerful with excellent modulation. Like most electric dirt bikes, the rear brake is mounted on the left handlebar rather than a right-foot lever. This takes minimal time to adjust to, and I prefer it for finer control. It also eliminates the need to worry about a brake or shifter, letting you focus on weighting the footpegs for balance.

Zero executed well on this bike. It stands as a legitimate alternative to the class-leading Ultra Bee with solid performance, quality components, well-tuned suspension, and the advantage of that 21-inch front wheel for improved stability.

Final Thoughts | 2026 Zero XE and XB Review

Zero is one of the longest-running electric motorcycle manufacturers and has sold more electric street motorcycles than any other manufacturer in the USA. Zero has built a strong reputation for quality with U.S.-based tech support and backs these two new models with a six-month standard warranty and a one-year warranty on the power pack for added peace of mind.

Seeing Zero return to its dirt-bike roots with the XB and XE is exciting. Both bikes deliver solid performance at competitive price points, and they benefit from Zero’s nearly two decades of electric powertrain development. Whether you’re looking for an entry-level play bike or a capable trail machine, Zero has proven it can compete with the established leaders in the electric dirt-bike market. The question now is whether its dealer network and brand recognition can help Zero capture a meaningful market share from Surron’s dominance. Based on these first rides, Zero certainly has the products to make it happen.CN

2026 Zero XB / XE Specifications

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