Is hybrid power the future? Kawasaki Ninja 7 ridden | MCN Review

#kawasaki #ninja #ninja7 #hybrid

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Do you think hybrid tech is the future? Let us know in the comments!

[bk]

I think there's tons of potential for this kind of tech when applied to commuting and touring. If you can dramatically increase the range of a bike, it means you don't have to be as strict about sticking to your planned route because you have fewer than 200 miles between refueling. Being able to reverse a bike that's loaded with luggage is nice, and not having to work a clutch going through the city after a long day in the saddle will be a relief for any rider with arthritic hands.

[DonReba]

I actually want this... almost. The ability to ride around my neighbourhood quietly — transformative. Turning off the engine in traffic on a hot day, instead of idling — amazing. But I want it on an adventure bike, like the KLR. A quiet, torquey electric motor would be a great complement to the big thumper off-road. Add to that valuable cargo capacity for adventures and city use.

[MuscleBandit]

Not for me but I like that tech is being developed leading to a future whereby we keep engines for longer.

[michaelhoward]

I think this is an impressive first step into HEV motos for Kawasaki. I also anticipate them surprising people with what they're capable of.

[scottmitchell]

I agree with your assessment, it's a start, and the whole point is to use way less fuel and still have the power and excitement.

[marscruz]

I like the way the reviewer questions the use case for this new bike. Electric bikes are limited by their range and a hybrid can overcome this but at what cost? It's easier to make a hybrid car because there is more room for batteries and the electronics package.
This is not for me but it's a bold first step for Kawasaki. It will be interesting to see the public's reaction to it.

[veljkovic]

I love to see such an honest feelings from a reviewer. I mean, you can see the disappointment in this man's eyes.
Thanks for saying objective words and expressing your true feelings.

[Darryl]

Another advantage of the hybrid is... Not annoying my neighbours when I start up in the early hours. Great review!

[AFJDM]

I'd love to see an SX version of this: panniers, cushy seat, heated grips, tall windscreen, 250 highway miles at 80 mph. It's a modest sport tourer that doesn't look like the generic "adventure" tourers that are the crossover equivalent in the motorcycle world.

[duncanorr]

I think a versys 700 that's a competitor to the nc750x would be the way to go for this bike

[David-uuwq]

It all comes down to cost.
I have an NC750X dct, which regularly does 70mpg on my commute.
These are about 8.5k new.
If this hybrid is north of 10k, I wouldn't bother with it.
Depreciation may be an issue too, due to its complexity, making buyers nervous.

[bmccameron]

My NC750X manual does 3.2 to 3.6 l/100km without really trying. Huge amount of storage and versatility. High torque, great tourer, including 2 up capable. This new kwaka seems like a gimmic that achieves nothing more in reality. Maybe less usable in many ways.

[tstartrekdude]

A want a hybrid bike, but done the opposite way. Take a full electric bike with an electric only drive train and put a tiny gas motor in it as a range extender. A 100cc cylinder if ran at peak efficiency is probably enough to keep a battery mostly level going down the highway, you could have 2 or 3 hundred miles of range with a setup like that with current batteries, and for around town run it in electric only mode. These light hybrids that are mostly just gas bikes seem like a technological dead end.

[davepanting]

What a brilliant honest review. This guy has a fantastic attitude.

[Geshmaal]

I think this is about a decade late tbh, if the Honda NC700 had come out as a hybrid when it came out then that would have sort of made sense.

That said this bike appeals to me - I have a regular commute on mixed roads into a city - some 70mph dual carriageway, some stop-start traffic etc. I also have a regular work trip that's all motorway with some sections that get totally gridlocked. My version of "fun" riding is pottering about on country lanes, I like a winding road but I don't make a habit of exceeding the speed limit so I don't need a huge amount of performance. Overall I want a bike that's comfortable, economical, reliable and simple to maintain - this bike might tick those boxes but it's competing with the Honda NC750 and even the ADV350 in my considerations for a "next bike".

[JoJo-qxwc]

i agree with your statement that this is meant to be a utility vehicle, not found of the paddle shifter like system for gear shifts seems a little inconvinient but i feel like the newly developed honda e-clutch is much better suited for hybrid bikes as you can have the best of both manual and automatic with the exact same feel

[tonyw]

Good review, better than a full EV bike, which are mostly useless. I thing they should probably not used the Ninga name but I'm glad to see Kawasaki are being innovative

[reverendhoover]

That was a great piece of well considered journalism.

[felixarbable]

id love to see this on a commuter, would be great to get 90mpg or something like that, maybe a versys style bike