Electric motorcycle manufacturer Zero Motorcycles unveiled two new models on Monday, the latest step in its quest to challenge gas-burning bikes and fend off competition in the small but growing segment.

The California company is releasing its newest bike just months after American heavyweight motorcycle maker Harley-Davidson unveiled its LiveWire motorcycle in November. Other established bike manufacturers intend to produce electric motorcycles, but Zero has something of a head start. It specializes in electric motorcycles and has been making them since 2006.

"We sell more full-size premium electric motorcycles than all our competitors combined," said Zero Motorcycles CEO Sam Paschel, at a launch event in New York on Monday. The Zero SR/F is a brand new product "from the ground up," he said.

The bike comes in two trims, a standard model starting at $18,995 and a premium model available starting at $20,995.

That means Zero's higher-end version is about $10,000 cheaper than the Harley-Davidson LiveWire, a new electric bike the venerable motorcycle company hopes will help it attract new riders, including those who are excited about the potential for electric powertrains. The LiveWire's price hovers around $30,000, which means it could need to come down if Harley-Davidson wants to compete with an upstart like Zero.

The Zero SR/F will feature a brand new battery motor and rapid charging system. The SR/F has 140 pound-foot of torque and "unbelievable acceleration," Pashel said. It has a top speed of 124 miles per hour and over 100 horsepower. The bike can drive up to 200 miles in the city with its largest available battery, about the same as Zero's current motorcycles. It can be charged to nearly full capacity in about an hour.

The company said the motorcycle, which will begin shipping in April, will connect to the cloud and comes with an integrated mobile app.

"I certainly applaud Harley's efforts to attract new riders with electric bikes, which should appeal to a younger, urban dwelling demographic," said Raymond James analyst Joe Altobello. "That said, it will likely take time to really move the needle for them given the relatively small size of the market, the potential improvements in battery life, and the relatively high price point, with LiveWire starting at nearly $30,000."

Rising sales of all electric vehicles indicates there is a future for a plug-in motorcycle, Pashel said.

"From 2008 to 2010, over that three year period, the total number of plug-in vehicles of all types sold in the United States, were under 5,000 units," Paschel said, speaking to a room full of reporters at the vehicle launch. "Now if you compare that with last year, there were over 300,000 plug-in vehicles of all types sold in the United States. Your presence here indicates that the idea of electrification has gone from something of a novelty to something that has a lot of excitement around it."

Specification Zero SR/F Standard (Premium):

Range:

• City: 161 miles (259 km)
• Highway: 55 mph (89 km/h)
• Combined City: 123 miles (198 km)
• Combined Highway: 70 mph (113 km/h)
• Combined: 109 miles (175 km)

Motor:

• Peak torque: 140 ft-lb (190 Nm)
• Peak power: 110 hp (82 kW) @ 5,000 rpm
• Top speed (max): 124 mph (200 km/h)
• Top speed (sustained): 110 mph (177 km/h)
• Type: Z-Force 75-10 enhanced thermal efficiency, passively air-cooled, interior permanent magnet AC motor
• Controller: High efficiency and power dense, 900 Amp, 3-phase AC controller with regenerative deceleration

Power system:

• Power pack:Z-Force® Li-Ion intelligent integrated
• Max capacity:14.4 kWh
• Nominal capacity:12.6 kWh
• Charger type: 3.0 kW, integrated/ 6.0 kW, integrated
• Charge time (standard): 4.5 hours (100% charged) / 4.0 hours (95% charged) and 2.5 hours (100% charged) / 2.0 hours (95% charged)
• Charge time with 6 kW Rapid Charge option: 1.8 hours (100% charged) / 1.3 hours (95% charged) and 1.5 hours (100% charged) / 1.0 hour (95% charged)

Drivetrain:

• Transmission:Clutchless direct drive
• Final drive: 90T / 20T, Poly Chain® HTD® Carbon™ belt

Chassis / Suspension / Brakes:

• Front suspension: Showa 43 mm Big Piston Separate Function forks, with adjustable spring preload, compression and rebound damping
• Rear suspension:Showa 40 mm piston, piggy-back reservoir shock with adjustable spring preload, compression and rebound damping
• Front suspension travel:4.72 in (120 mm)
• Rear suspension trave: 5.51 in (140 mm)
• Front brakes:Bosch Advanced MSC, dual J-Juan radial 4-piston calipers with radial master cylinder, 320 x 5 mm discs
• Rear brakes:Bosch Advanced MSC, J-Juan single piston floating caliper, 240 x 4.5 mm disc
• Front tire:Pirelli Diablo Rosso III 120/70-17
• Rear tire:Pirelli Diablo Rosso III 180/55-17
• Front wheel:3.50 x 17
• Rear wheel:5.50 x 17

Dimensions:

• Wheelbase: 57.1 in (1,450 mm)
• Seat height: 31.0 in (787 mm)
• Accessory, low: 30.3 in (770 mm)
• Accessory, tall:31.9 in (810 mm)
• Rake:24.5°
• Trail:3.7 in (94 mm)

Weight:

• Curb weight:485 lb (220 kg) /498 lb (226 kg)
• Carrying capacity:515 lb (234 kg) /502 lb (228 kg)

Economy:

• Equivalent fuel economy (city): 430 MPGe (0.55 l/100 km)
• Equivalent fuel economy (highway): 219 MPGe (1.08 l/100 km)
• Typical cost to recharge:$1.61
• Pricing: MSRP (Does not include government incentives. Does not include local shipping, applicable taxes, PDI, or road registration fees.) $18,995 / $20,995
• Standard motorcycle warranty* : 2 years
• Power pack warranty* : 5 years/unlimited miles

* For additional details about powerpack or standard warranty: Click Here

Specifications are subject to change without notice. Imagery may not reflect most current product specifications. Zero Motorcycles reserves the right to make improvements and/or design changes without any obligation to previously sold, assembled or fabricated equipment.

Credit:Robert Ferris , cnbc.com ,Ultimatemotorcycling.com.

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