Hugo Eccles
Founder and Chief Creative, UNTLD MOTO
January 29, 2026
Designer Hugo Eccles has built some of the most forward‑thinking custom motorcycles of the last decade. From his background in automotive and industrial design to his work under the UNTLD MOTO name, Hugo’s projects consistently challenge assumptions about what a motorcycle should look like and how it should feel.
When Zero Motorcycles was putting the final touches on the production SR/F in 2019, the timing felt right to collaborate. What followed was the UNTLD MOTO XP ZERO, a custom build based on a pre‑production SR/F prototype, and a rare opportunity to explore electric motorcycle design without the constraints of tradition. In this Zero Story, Hugo shares the thinking, process, and intent behind the XP ZERO.
The XP strips the SR/F down to its essential architecture, then rebuilds it around a new design language.
Hugo Eccles of UNTLD MOTO has some admirers here at Zero Motorcycles. “We’ve been fans of Hugo’s since we saw his Hyper Scrambler on Jay Leno’s Garage,” says Brian Wismann, SVP of Product Development. “We’d been looking for the right opportunity to work together.”
So, while the SR/F was in the final, secret stages of development, we gave UNTLD MOTO a pre‑production prototype. “The SR/F is the perfect fit for Hugo’s future‑forward design approach.”
For Hugo, the XP project was a unique opportunity to reimagine electric motorcycles from the ground up.
“Our idea of motorcycles is based on the legacy and limitations of the internal combustion engine,” he explains. “But with electric, those constraints disappear.”
UNTLD MOTO’s process began with removing everything and then carefully reintroducing only what was absolutely necessary, such as knee panels for control.
In the XP, those knee panels blend into a transparent top surface that allows the rider to see through to the powertrain. “We wanted to showcase and celebrate this incredible technology,” Hugo says.
Transparent surfaces and integrated knee panels reveal the powertrain beneath while maintaining rider control.
The design also drew inspiration from aerodynamics.
“The Zero SR/F can go from zero to 124 mph without a single gear change, and that rush of acceleration feels like riding a jet,” Hugo explains. “We wanted to express that feeling with panels and winglets that function as control surfaces.”
Winglets and body panels reference aerospace design, translating acceleration into visual form.
One thing about combustion motorcycles that Hugo did want to recreate was the excitement of startup.
“Because electric motorcycles are quiet, there isn’t as much distinction between their inactive and active states.”
UNTLD MOTO approached this challenge by designing an experience. When approached, the XP recognizes its rider, illuminates hidden LEDs, and comes to life.
“Hugo is one of the most interesting designers out there, and it shows with the XP Zero. You can see his industrial design perspective in every detail. He’s created something truly exceptional."
Illuminated details transform the XP as it moves from inactive to active.
As extraordinary as the XP ZERO looks, Hugo insists that UNTLD MOTO didn’t set out to design a futuristic motorcycle.
“Our goal was to embody the electric riding experience through a new design language specifically tailored to the SR/F’s unique architecture. If the XP looks futuristic, it’s because electric motorcycles like the SR/F are the future.”
The XP reflects a design language shaped by electric performance rather than combustion-era constraints.
