Inspired by the famous SR-71 stealth plane, the Zero “Blackbird” is a contemporary sports car that hides an electric heart under the aluminum fairing. Perfect for flying silently and undetected!
The Lockheed SR-71 “Blackbird” is one of the most iconic aircraft in American history. From the sleek shape to the blacked-out livery, the image of the Mach 3-compatible reconnaissance aircraft has outlived its technology.
The last thing you think of when you see a Zero FX electric dirt bike is an SR-71 Blackbird. Yet Christian Moretti, the boss of Plan B Motorcycles, a custom workshop located in Italy, turned to the retired reconnaissance plane for inspiration when a customer rolled a 2019 Zero FX in his shop. The brief called for a lightweight, modern cafe racer, and the Blackbird's mix of nostalgia and futurism fit the bill.
Transforming electric motocross into a sporty road bike, however, was not an easy task. The Plan B Motorcycles workshop adapted the chassis by abandoning the original 41 mm Showa fork in favor of a 50 mm Marzocchi front. New CNC-machined triple clamps hold the new fork to the aircraft-grade aluminum frame while a fully adjustable Gears Racing monoshock lowers the rear.
17-inch Grimeca wheels improve the FX's on-road handling, and supermoto-derived slicks provide more than enough grip on the asphalt. Dual Beringer six-piston calipers mated to dual 340mm ceramic discs stop the Zero in no time.
Christian Moretti not only transformed the chassis of the FX, he also revised the aesthetics to obtain a sports car style. The builder fashioned the faux gas tank, custom tail section, and fairings from aluminum, and the special ink-coated paint job prioritizes stealth while letting the metalwork shine.
Of course, form also follows function, integrating additional fans to amplify airflow over the air-cooled Z-Force 75-5 brushless motor. Plan B Motorcycles takes this feature to the Nth degree with two air ducts that activate each time you start and open fully when braking.
"The fan speed is controlled by the accelerator", revealed Christian Moretti. “The more gas you put on, the more air is channeled through the shroud, cooling the battery, motor and governor assembly. »
Christian Moretti brings the same level of creativity to the cockpit. Featuring a cheeky infrared reversing camera, a top-mounted steering damper (which the FX probably doesn't need), non-functional "airplane" switches and a power indicator. attitude, the dashboard is complete, like that of a real plane should be!
