Will Kawasakis ALL NEW Hybrid change motorcycles?

Is the 2024 Kawasaki Ninja 7 Hybrid the best of both worlds? It’s interesting to consider what the book on the electrification of motorcycles will look like a decade from now. There will be chapters on the startups that led the initial charge and the bikes that changed the public’s perception of electric motorcycles.

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[lazmandjik]

Not surprised that Kawasaki is the first to do this. Good on them, they build well engineered stuff beyond just bikes. I'd like to try one. Will they be sold in Canada ?

[motozest]

Take this electric motor, massage it to a healthier 30hp or so, fit it onto a ZX-10R variant with slightly more relaxed ergos - call it the ZX-10RH or the ZX-H10R - and you've got an absolute winner.

# Insane horsepower up top
# Immediate low end grunt
# City center compatibility
# Lower fuel consumption

You're welcome.

[SSS-mpth]

Glad Kawasaki is trying new things. This is not particularly impressive but maybe 5-10 years from now we can have 1000cc hybrid that is as crazy as my ZH2 but better fuel economy.

[MacAlex]

Electric mode to drive around town with no emissions, eboost for fun, automatic gears for highway touring, all in a nice looking and classic sport tourer bike.
Seems good to me 👍
I'm glad Kawasaki didn't made a hybrid Versys. 😄
Only downside is the extra weight, but maybe it's not that bad, since it seems to be in a low position. I'll have to drive one to check it out 😁

[joelrosado]

Seems like a great concept for a commuter bike. But can it get me to downsize from my n1k?

[Kwhopperfan]

Really impressed! I knew a hybrid was coming but honestly thought it was going to be a Honda, like the Goldwing for its 50th anniversary. Not that I need a hybrid sport bike, I like the technology, I thought for the past decade the C14 would have been perfect for the hybrid setup, with increased range, economy and the power boost, what’s not to like? I still would prefer manual though, not a fan of the DCT at Honda despite its refinement over the past 15 years. I just like the control a manual offers.

[AbnormalWrench]

You said the main purpose of this bike was MPG....and then you never mentioned what it is.

[sizfhyb]

Future generations won't be tied mentally to ice-only power, so it won't matter. As a "Boomer" rider myself, I get the disagreement; but time, technology, and people move on...

[joanlechuza]

If u want a money pit bike/die young/racing racing go for the fuel gusling superbikes
If u want go point a to point b / live longer and fuel economy in style id rather buy this😊❤

[petersafwat]

The bike is nice and all but really whats with the telescopic right way up forks?? what with the boxy swing arm and why such a long wheelbase? looks very disproportionate otherwise the idea works but if the price doesnt make sense no one will buy it

[PetrolJunkie]

I realize that Kawie is experimenting and it's cheaper to pull parts out of the parts bin (the engine) than to go to the drawing board and start with a blank page that that is what they going to need to do, here.

It's a good first attempt. In the spring I'll test ride one but I doubt I'd buy one as they are right now. I'm not typically a first generation of new tech sort of guy.

[ArtstradaMagazine]

the Yamaha NIKEN should be a hybrid also

[dragonling]

Things no-one has spoken about, but are important: What is the range and top speed on electric only mode?

[martinezd]

I can see this having lots of potential down the line; something like in lower speeds and the electric motor kicking in to dull power. Ir has potential

[ark]

Wish this had the option to charge from a wall, could have helped save money in the city

[yaksauce]

My decades long dream is realized! It promises to be one-step-beyond and I’m psyched it’ll be sold in the US market. Wonder if it utilizes the KERS system of F1 cars which uses super-capacitors instead of cell battery pack? (Super-capacitors are solid state, non-combustable, light weight, inexpensive, long usable life-cycle, rapidly chargeable, etc).

Honda, the innovator of hybrid technology, is watching this release closely as they recently displayed an e-Wing trike that truly is one-step-beyond!

But why do all automatic bikes (Livewire, Zeros, Honda DCTs, etc) retain the rear brake foot lever??? Not having a lever under the LT hand feels strange if not disorientating to seasoned riders. Most people progress onto a motorbike from riding bicycles and/or scooters for many years and are trained to squeeze both levers in urgent stops. It ain’t natural.

I love my Honda DCT, but had mine’s modded with a left hand brake lever from the Silverwing scooter and I love it even more.

Can’t wait to see this Ninja 7-eleven at a dealership near me soon! But I want mine to have a LT hand brake lever, please.

[rafaellastracom]

The notion is absurd. Drowning out the joy of riding a motorcycle by adding needless weight, not to mention complexity, for miniscule gains in fuel economy makes for yet another stillborn project from the hands of the technocratic 'elites'. These people simply do not live in the real world.

[spittyrides]

I'm actually really excited about this bike. If the price is right I'll get one.

[patrickcallahan]

This is a bike i am interested in, I currently ride a 2019 Concours 14! So the Ninja 7 would be a significant step back, however, i have been reassessing my personal needs. My commute these days are less than 10 miles. My wife drives a Toyota Rav 4 hybrid, we love the fuel economy and the tech. This may well be a good option for me in the future?

[jaythomasni]

Cutting corners when cutting edge tech was expected,