HAWTHORNE, Calif. — Most electric vehicles come with a price premium that can be a deal-breaker.

Even without the sticker shock, it’s difficult enough to buy into new and unfamiliar technology without knowing for sure if it will do exactly what you want. 


What You Need To Know

  • The electric motorcycle maker Zero announced Tuesday that it has partnered with the rental company EagleRider to offer its bikes for extended demo rides

  • EagleRider is now offering Zero Motorcycles at five locations, including L.A., Las Vegas, and Phoenix

  • Zero is the only electric motorcycle brand offered through EagleRider

  • EagleRider is the world's biggest motorcycle rental company

Recognizing there is a cost barrier and learning curve to riding a motorcycle that plugs in instead of gassing up, the California-based electric motorcycle maker Zero announced Tuesday that it has partnered with the rental company EagleRider to offer its bikes for extended demo rides that cost a small fraction of the outright purchase price.

EagleRider locations in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Phoenix, and Miami are now offering two models of Zero Motorcycles for rent: the SR/F and SR/S, both of which have a combined city/highway range per charge of 123 miles. Rentals through EagleRider are $99 per day, compared with an outright purchase price of $19,495+.

EagleRider renters who decide to become Zero buyers will be able to apply up to $300 of the cost of a rental to the retail price of a new bike.

The L.A. EagleRider location — in Hawthorne — rents 32 models of gas-powered bikes from a variety of manufacturers, including BMW, Harley-Davidson, KTM, Triumph, and Yamaha. Prices range from $49 to $249 per day. Zero is the only electric motorcycle brand offered through EagleRider.