Zero X

If there was ever one constant rule of the universe, it would be: reversion to the mean. It doesn’t matter whether you’re talking about tulips, or tech stocks, or home prices, the only thing you can be sure is that someday, things will correct towards a long-term average. The latest issue that’s gotten people overestimating to the moon is oil prices. You have every panicky-pansy predicting the country is going to collapse because oil is going to $1000 a barrel and that we should do everything and anything to get prices back down. Shut the fck up. First, those same aholes btching about gas prices are the same ones who used the first dollar of disposable income they earned to buy a freaking Escalade or Hummer. If instead, you had bought a car that got more than 9 miles a gallon, we probably wouldn’t be in this mess in the first place.

Now that gas is above $4 a gallon, people are thinking twice about buying such a gas guzzler, and that leads me back to my first point: reversion to the mean. From hybrids to smaller more efficient cars, people are adjusting their behavior to accommodate high gas prices. Over time, this behavioral change will lead us to consume less oil and thanks to the second rule of the universe: free market works, gas prices will eventually come down.

So what’s with all this blathering bullsht about oil and reversion to the mean? It was a long segway into the Zero X electric motorcycle, which has recently started shipping to customers. Based in Santa Cruz , California , the Zero produces and sells the Zero X, which is a lightweight electric dirt bike that is able to go from 0-30 mph in under 2 seconds, and whose electric motor delivers over 20 horsepower and provides similar performance to a 250cc gas-powered bike. The bike is powered by a lithium-ion battery that provides up to 40 miles per charge or up to two hours of trail use, and is designed to last about 6 years. Good thing it does since a replacement battery isn’t cheap at around three grand. Actually, the whole bike isn’t exactly bargain basement at $7450, which is pricier than its comparable gas brethren.

Initial reviews have been positive. Popular Mechanics writes:

“The Zero X is so small and light that it feels more like a big, electric mountain bike than anything—quite the easy ride. The key, tethered to your wrist as a kill switch in case your butt leaves the seat pad, clicks forward one notch, and you’re ready to ride. Saiki says it’s easy to over-goose the throttle thanks to the instant torque of the electric motor, so he suggests we flick the “0 to 30 mph” switch and the “easy” power delivery selector. We listen.

The bike pulls away smoothly in those modes and accelerates briskly. Its lightweight and adjustable suspension, with a generous 8-in. front and 9-in. rear travel, makes you feel invincible. We yearn for a dirt motocross track instead of this oceanfront pavement.”

The company has only produced about 45 bikes but the current order backlog means that you’ll have to wait two months before you can get your own Zero X. The company is also working on an electric Supermoto bike which should be coming out in the near future. To order your very own bike and start saving the planet, go to zeromotorcycles.com.