Zero DS Smashes Electric Motorcycle Range Record With 271-Mile Ride
Range anxiety remains one of the biggest hurdles for riders considering an electric motorcycle.
Zero Motorcycles has just given them one less thing to worry about, with a DS covering an incredible 271 miles on a single charge.
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271 Miles on a Single Charge
Zero Motorcycles has claimed a new Guinness World Records title for the longest journey by an electric motorbike on a single charge, with a standard DS covering an incredible 271.23 miles (436.5 km) on public roads.
Ridden by motorcyclist Jelle Verstaen, the record-setting DS was equipped with Zero’s optional Power Tank, increasing its total battery capacity from 15.6 kWh to 19.2 kWh. That puts the old record 78 miles in the rear-view mirror, a 40% increase.
Zero chose the DS for its efficiency and comfort, with cast wheels offering aerodynamic advantages and an upright riding position helping on a ride lasting more than eight hours.
The previous record was set in March 2025 by a Verge TS Pro, which covered 193.05 miles (310.69 km) around Greater London in just over 16 hours, averaging around 12 mph. Zero’s riders cruised at around 32 mph where conditions allowed.
The two attempts took very different approaches. The Verge covered urban and suburban roads, while the Zero team travelled from the French-Italian Alpine region towards the Mediterranean coast, tackling mountain passes, towns and open country roads. The final 60 miles came with a proper downpour, but the DS kept pushing through. Everything was tracked by GPS and independently verified by Guinness World Records.
The DS wasn’t the only Zero to beat the previous record. Two other riders joined the run on production bikes. A DSR/X covered 239 miles, while an SR/S managed 217 miles, finishing with 4% battery remaining.
Zero Motorcycles CEO Pierre-Martin Bos says the record is about more than one bike going the distance:
“A record only means something if riders can relate to it. 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.”
Zero quotes a city range of 155 miles for the DS. With the optional Power Tank fitted, the record shows just how far the bike can go when its extra battery capacity is paired with smart riding. The group chose quieter roads and rode through the night to avoid traffic, while regenerative braking helped recover energy on mountain descents. Custom ride modes and cruise control also helped the riders manage power delivery and maintain a steady pace.
The record comes as Zero celebrates its 20th anniversary. Founded in 2006, the company has spent two decades developing electric motorcycles.
The BCB Take
For anyone who's ever watched the battery percentage drop and started doing the mental maths, 271 miles on a charge is some going. The Power Tank, regenerative braking and a steady pace all helped. How much of that efficiency can the rest of us tap into?
This wasn't a specially prepared record bike running low-resistance tyres or other tweaks. Apart from the optional Power Tank, the DS was stock, right down to its standard tyres and pressures.
Of course, most of us won't ride under those exact conditions every day. But what can this run teach us about getting more miles from our own bikes?
We’ll be speaking to Zero to find out what the team learnt from the run, which riding techniques made the biggest difference and what the rest of us can apply to our own rides. Got questions of your own? Drop them on our Facebook.
Ride safe, folks.
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