Honestly, if you saw a Zapp the new Zapp i300 IV U leaning against a brick wall in East London, you might not even think it’s a motorcycle. It looks like a piece of high-end office furniture that someone accidentally bolted wheels to. It’s got this radical "Z" shape—hence the name—and an exoskeleton that makes traditional scooters look like plastic toys from the 90s.
Most people are still stuck thinking electric bikes are either heavy Harleys or flimsy kick-scooters. Zapp basically said, "Hold my beer," and built something that sits right in the middle. It’s a 14kW beast that weighs less than most humans.
The i300 IV U (often just called the IV U or the Carbon/Ocean editions in different trims) is the British brand's attempt to fix the two biggest problems with city EVs: weight and charging. You don't need a driveway. You don't need a dedicated wall box. You just need a standard plug and a small amount of space under your desk.
What is the Zapp i300 IV U anyway?
Let’s get the terminology out of the way. The i300 is the platform. The "IV U" refers to a specific configuration and generation of this electric urban motorcycle. Unlike the scooters you see buzzing around delivering pizza, this thing is built on an aerospace-grade alloy exoskeleton.
There is no "frame" in the traditional sense where bits of plastic are wrapped around steel tubes. The frame is the body.
It’s incredibly stiff. When you lean it into a corner at 45 mph, it doesn't flex or wiggle. Most scooters feel like they're made of jelly when you hit a pothole, but the Zapp feels like a single solid block of metal. It’s also surprisingly fast. We’re talking 0 to 30 mph in about 2.3 seconds. That is fast enough to beat almost any car away from a red light, which is really the only "racing" that matters in a city like Paris or New York.
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The battery trick nobody expected
The most annoying part of owning an electric bike is the cable. If you live in a third-floor apartment, you aren't dragging a 300-pound motorcycle up the stairs to charge it.
Zapp solved this by using two "laptop-style" battery packs. They weigh about 6kg (13 lbs) each. They look like chunky briefcases. You just pop the seat, slide them out, and carry them into your house.
Here’s the breakdown of how the juice works:
- Each pack is roughly 1.25kWh.
- Total capacity is 2.5kWh when running both.
- You can actually ride the bike with just one battery if you're in a pinch.
- A full charge from 0 to 80% takes about 40 minutes on a normal wall outlet.
Now, let's be real: the range isn't huge. You’re looking at about 37 to 40 miles in "Eco" mode. If you’re pinning the throttle in "Zapp" mode, expect that to drop. This is a "city" bike. It is not for riding across the country. It’s for getting to work, hitting the gym, and getting home without ever visiting a gas station.
Why the exoskeleton design actually matters
It’s not just for looks. The Z-shaped exoskeleton is patented, and it’s the reason the bike only weighs about 90kg without batteries. By removing the traditional chassis and plastic fairings, they cut out a massive amount of "dead weight."
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Lower weight means the 14kW motor (which produces a staggering 587 Nm of torque at the rear wheel) doesn't have to work as hard. That torque figure sounds fake—it's more than some supercars—but because it's measured at the wheel after the belt reduction, it translates to a "punch" that feels like someone kicked you in the back when you twist the grip.
Suspension and Brakes
Zapp didn't skimp on the parts. You get:
- Inverted front forks: Usually found on sportbikes, these handle bumps way better than standard scooter forks.
- Pushrod rear suspension: The rear shock is mounted horizontally. It looks cool, sure, but it also keeps the center of gravity low.
- Four-piston brakes: It comes with ABS as standard because, with that much torque, you really need to be able to stop without sliding into a bus.
Is the Zapp i300 IV U worth the price tag?
The Zapp i300 IV U starts around £5,500 to £7,000 depending on the specific edition and carbon fiber options. That’s a lot of money for a "scooter." You could buy a very nice used car for that.
But you aren't buying a scooter. You're buying a premium British-engineered EV that doesn't require a garage. If you live in a city with a Congestion Charge or ULEZ (Ultra Low Emission Zone), the bike pays for itself in saved fees and gas within about two years.
Plus, the maintenance is basically zero. There are no oil changes. There are no spark plugs. There’s a carbon fiber belt instead of a chain, so you don't even have to grease it. You just check the tire pressure and the brake pads every once in a while.
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Common misconceptions about the "Zapp" name
There's a bit of confusion because the company, Zapp Electric Vehicles (which trades on the NASDAQ under ZAPP), is often confused with older "Zapp" brands or generic electric moped companies.
This isn't a rebranded Chinese moped. The design team includes people who worked on hypercars and high-end motorcycles. Everything from the "Zaddle" (the seat) to the interchangeable front fenders is bespoke. They even have a "Zapper" service where they ship the bike directly to your door and a technician comes to your house to service it. It’s a "white glove" approach to motorcycles.
What to do if you're thinking about buying one
If you’re tired of sitting in traffic and you have a place to plug in a laptop, the Zapp is probably the most stylish way to move through a city.
First steps for potential owners:
- Check your license: In the UK and Europe, you usually need an A2 license or a CBT depending on your age and the specific power-restricted version you buy.
- Measure your commute: If your round trip is more than 30 miles and you can't charge at work, this might be a stretch.
- Test the "Zaddle": The seat is minimalist. It’s comfortable for 20 minutes, but if you’re planning on sitting on it for two hours, your glutes might disagree.
- Look at the Cargo options: Since the frame is an exoskeleton, you can bolt on different storage boxes or a "parcel shelf." If you need to carry a helmet or groceries, you'll want to add those options at checkout.
The Zapp i300 IV U represents a shift. It’s not trying to be a "gas bike but electric." It’s trying to be a completely new category of transport. It's weird, it's fast, and it looks like it fell off the set of a sci-fi movie. For the urban commuter who wants to stop being a "car person," it’s one of the few EVs that actually feels like the future.