Zero 8X
$1,650
Technical Specifications
| Tested top speed: 31.0 mph* | |
| Tested range: 21.3 mi* | |
| Weight: 72 lb* | |
| Max rider weight: 270 lb | |
| Water resistance: None |
Highlights
| Strong low-end acceleration | |
| Excellent braking | |
| Flat-free tires | |
| Small solid tires | |
| Compact yet heavy |
Summary
Like its predecessors, the Zero 8X has quality construction and some of the best low-end acceleration and braking performance we’ve ever tested. For zipping around a city, where a sane person isn’t going to exceed 25 mph, the performance band for this scooter is in the sweet spot. Its dual spring suspension and flat-free airless tires provide a sports-car-like ride. It feels very stable at speed yet less successful at soaking up imperfections in the road.
The Zero 8X is a fun-sized version of the highly-rated Zero 10X. At 44-inches long, when folded, it is just 2-inches longer than a typical 27 lb scooter. Though compact, the 8X still tips the scales at 72 pounds. Readers looking at the 8X should also consider the 10X, which is a bit bigger but packs more range, more top-end power, and larger pneumatic tires.
Overall, the Zero 8X is a great value. It sports performance that can hang with the fastest Dualtron models off the line. If you are looking for a quick, durable, low-maintenance scooter that is a beast at sane speeds but still has top-end performance — this scooter is for you.
For buyers looking to set a land speed record for or otherwise want more top-end performance, you’ll want to consider other scooters.
Best Alternatives and Competitors
| Model | Top Speed** | Range** | Weight** | Price |
| Kaabo Mantis 8 | 26.9 mph | 26.7 mi | 54 lb | $1,399 |
| Kaabo Mantis 8 Pro | 35.9 mph | 27.6 mi | 60 lb | $1,999 |
| Zero 8X | 31.0 mph | 21.3 mi | 72 lb | $1,650 |
| Apollo Phantom (52V) | 39.7 mph | 31.4 mi | 76 lb | $1,999 |
| Kaabo Mantis | 39.3 mph | 29.1 mi | 62 lb | $1,649 |
** Based on our performance tests which may differ from the manufacturer’s claims.
Zero 8X Review
Performance Summary
| Acceleration (0 to 15 mph) | 2.1 seconds |
| Acceleration (0 to 20 mph) | 3.6 seconds |
| Acceleration (0 to 25 mph) | 5.5 seconds |
| Acceleration (0 to 30 mph) | 7.8 seconds |
| Top speed | 31.0 mph |
| Braking distance (15 to 0 mph) | 11.1 feet |
| Range | 21.3 miles |
| Hill climb | 9.4 seconds |
Acceleration
The Zero 8X packs front and rear 800-watt nominal, 2300-watt (combined) peak power electric motors. It is the most powerful scooter with airless tires we’ve tested.
It is incredibly fast off the line — hitting 15 mph in just 2.1 seconds. To 15 mph, it is one of the fastest scooters out there and nearly as fast as the monster Kaabo Wolf Warrior 11, which reaches 15 mph in 1.9 seconds.
It accelerates very hard until about 20 mph when acceleration starts to roll off — yet we still hit 30 mph in a very brisk 7.8 seconds.
This potent low-end acceleration makes for a very thrilling ride. In an urban commuting setting, it makes merging in with cars and getting around very easy.
Compare tested acceleration of the 8X with other scooters on our performance tests page.
Hill Climb
The Zero 8X flogged the 200 ft, 10% grade hill climb test, sailing up the hill in 9.4 seconds with an average speed of 14.4 mph. We test all scooters on the same hill with a 165 lb rider.
This is just a hair slower than the Zero 10X, which completed the climb a second sooner. Compared to a 250-watt budget scooter, the Zero 8X is about 3X faster.
Top Speed
We reached 31.0 mph for a 165 lb rider on a 0% grade during our top speed test.
Range
The Zero 8X is fueled by a 936 watt hour Syncpower lithium-ion battery pack. It has a manufacturer-specified 45-mile range in single motor mode and under ideal conditions.
In our real-world range test, meant to simulate fast urban commuting, we obtained a range of 21.3 miles in dual motor mode. We test all scooters on the same loop with frequent stops, hills, and a 165 lb rider. The scooter is ridden as quickly as safe, in the fastest mode (least energy-conserving).
In single motor mode and with less aggressive riding, the range should increase significantly.
Braking
The braking power of the Zero 8X matches its potent acceleration capabilities.
Out of the box, we had to make some adjustments to the disc brakes to get them dialed in. However, once dialed in, we were able to bring this rocket down to zero from 15 mph in a distance of just 11.1 feet.
A typical quality scooter requires 15 feet to 25 feet of distance to come to a stop.
Stopping power is afforded by front and rear disc brakes as well as electronic motor brakes. Both systems are controlled by hand-operated brake levers mounted on the handlebars.
The electronic system is activated just as soon as you start to squeeze down on the brake lever. The strength of electronic braking can be controlled via the LCD display P-settings. Pulling the brake lever further takes up slack in the cable and activates the disc brakes. The braking control feels moderately linear and requires low effort for maximal braking.
Altogether, this provides a potent, redundant, and reliable braking system.
Ride Quality
The Zero 8X suspension is designed for soaking up larger potholes or drops off a curb. The disadvantage of the solid tires does show up in the ride quality — you tend to feel a lot more of the smaller bumps, especially at lower speeds.
The suspension, which is pretty middle-of-the-road in terms of stiffness, is really optimized for keeping the scooter stable while riding fast. Like a performance suspension on a sports car, you will feel more of the road on the 8X.
Because of the wider tires and less rounded profile, you tend to get a more floating feeling. Making sharp turns on the scooter takes some getting used to; you have to get used to the momentum of the scooter and learn to lean into sharp corners.
The Zero 8X has the same dual, spring suspension system as the Zero 10X. The suspension is medium stiff and provides ~2 inches of travel.
This is the best type of suspension system you will find on an electric scooter. The combination provides a suspension that is stiff on smooth roads but able to react quickly to soak up bumps. It is tuned for keeping you pinned to the road at speed and ensuring an errant pothole doesn’t throw you over the handlebars.
Zero 8X Features
Portability
The Zero 8X, though a bit shorter and lighter than the Zero 10X, tips the scales at 72 lbs. Despite its significant weight, it folds compactly enough to store in some surprising places.
To make it somewhat more portable and stow-able, the 8X has both a folding stem and folding handlebars. Together, these shrink the scooter to 44 in by 14 in by 18 in when folded — a much more compact size. For reference, a typical budget scooter without folding handlebars will be about 2-inches shorter but have greater width and height.
Even folded, it does not pass the Electric Scooter Guide’s Trunk Test, meaning that it can’t fit into the trunk of standard car length-wise.
Though the stem folds, it doesn’t lock — meaning one-handed carrying of the scooter is out. However, the weight alone pretty much rules out a one-handed carry.
The folding mechanism on the Zero 8X is the same dual clamp collar design seen on other Zero X scooters.
This collar design is good but not perfect.
To get the stem clamped down tightly, you need to iterate between tightening one clamp, then loosening and re-tightening the other. If you repeat this a few times, the folding mechanism will be very solid with little play.
Our stem mechanism was creaking a bit from metal-on-metal contact, but we hit it with WD-40, which quieted it down. Once dialed in, the stem is nearly rock-solid with minimal play due to the long lever arm.
The Zero 8X has folding handlebars that use a single screw mechanism to secure. The mechanism is excellent — one of the best we’ve tested. There is no play in the hinge of the handlebars once the thread is tightened firmly.
Cockpit
The handlebars have a lot going on. On the left side is the keyed switch, which controls power and an LED readout that shows battery voltage when powered.
We really like the key feature because it allows a quick grocery store run without needing to worry about locking up the scooter (though we don’t recommend leaving it for long). With the key removed, the scooter is a 73 lb paperweight. Sure — a strong person could throw it into the back of a truck, but its sheer mass will deter the opportunistic thief.
On the right side are the standard Zero display/accelerator and buttons that control motor and power modes.
The Zero 8X has a colorful LCD display that shows speed, odometer, battery, and mode. It also allows you to adjust different so-called P-settings for tuning the scooter. In full sunlight, the display is mostly visible — except the battery level, which is difficult to see.
Like many scooters with trigger-style throttle built into the LCD display, the throttle is not super ergonomic. Your finger is outstretched for long periods — this can be quite uncomfortable. Unfortunately, this style of throttle is the current standard for higher-performance scooters. However, generic aftermarket thumb throttles are available from places like Alibaba.
Below the LCD display is are two buttons that control the power and motor mode of the scooter. The Eco/Turbo button will cap the top speed of the scooter to save energy but does not affect acceleration. The Single/Dual button controls whether one or two electric motors are used. For maximum range, Eco/Single should be used. For maximum fun, Turbo/Dual should be enabled.
Lights
The Zero 8X has both front and rear lights that are mounted low on the deck; it also has LEDs that wrap around the edge of the deck.
Overall, the lights aren’t very bright. Their low mounting position is good for throwing light onto the ground, just around the scooter, but not great for being visible from far away.
If you do a lot of riding at night, we recommend additional, brighter lighting. Read our complete guide to riding an electric scooter at night.
For extra safety, we always recommend using additional lights. Check out our guide for staying visible while riding at night.
Tires
The Zero 8X features 8.0-inch by 3.5-inch airless (solid) tires. We usually favor pneumatic (air-filled) tires because of the performance benefits but were impressed by the 8X’s tires.
The solid tires do diminish the ride quality somewhat — especially when it comes to smaller bumps and feeling more of the road. However, they should be virtually maintenance-free, which is a huge plus.
One aside: we only tested the Zero 8X in dry conditions. In our experience, airless tires tend to perform much worse in wet or slippery conditions than pneumatic tires. That said, the Zero 8X does not have an IP rating, so it should not be used in rain or other conditions that would subject it to more than incidental water.
Deck
The deck has 20.0-inches by 7.1-inches of standing space, an awesome Zero 8X logo, and cool LED side lights. The suspension configuration gives the deck 6-inches of ground clearance — enough to clear many obstacles.
Build Quality
The scooter was scuffed but unharmed during 3X side drop tests where we tip the scooter over onto the ground.
We haven’t had any significant problems with the test scooter aside from:
- One of the handlebar grips fell off due to a stripped screw
- Brakes needed adjustment out of the box
- Creaky stem resolved with adjusting tightness and WD-40
Zero 8X: Review Conclusions
The Zero 8X is the (almost) pint-sized version of Apollo Pro / Zero 10X. It has many of the same components, including the suspension, but is downsized all around.
Overall, the Zero 8X is the best solid tire scooter we’ve tested and ranks among the top scooters, at any price, in terms of performance. Off the line, it can hang with even the most premium Dualtron scooters.
Like the 10X, it is a great buy, and you get a lot of quality, range, and fun for your dollar. The solid tires also make the 8X frustration-free, and you won’t worry about having to repair a flat on this scooter — ever.
If the Zero 8X isn’t appealing — check out our alternative suggestions. You can also check out our Editor’s pick of best electric scooters.
Zero 8X Technical Specifications
| Make | Zero |
| Model | 8X |
| Weight | 72 lb |
| Folded dimensions | 44 by 14 by 18 in |
| Motor power, continuous | 1600 W |
| Top speed | 33 mph |
| Range | 45 mi |
| Battery capacity | 936 Wh |
| Battery recharge time | hrs |
| Max rider weight | 270 lb |
| Brake type | Disc + Disc |
| Tire type | 8.0 in Solid + Solid |
| Built-in lights | Front + Rear |
| Water resistance | None |
