Is The Kawasaki Ninja 7 Hybrid Doomed?

We finally have details on the brand new Kawasaki Ninja 7 Hybrid, the only problem is it's kinda underwhelming. Is it doomed to fail, or is there something to redeem it?

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00:00 - Intro
01:42 - Details and Specs
07:09 - It's Not That Impressive...
10:00 - Gas Mileage Doesn't Matter

[chrism]

I feel like the bike begging to get a hybrid version is the Goldwing

[velocity-ninja]

My take on it was that this bike was developed with Euro 6 emissions in mind. You can get 650ish class performance with 250ish class emissions. The bike was already through development before they walked back Euro 6. Unfortunate for Kawasaki.

[soulslaveone]

"Nobody is gonna care". Well. Have You talked to any Europeans who has four times the price of fuel, compared to Americans?

[CHAOS]

Kawasaki is awesome for not being afraid to try new things. I'd definitly get this hybrid as a commuter biker. The nobody cares about MPG isn't considering the Asian and Euro markets where gas is super expensive

[papajulietromeo-]

The „boost button“ thing is really limiting the whole concept of a hybrid. The electric motor should add power automatically if needed. 15 seconds is plenty of time, if you consider how long you really need max power. A 60 hp bike will accelerate to legal limits in about five seconds. After that, you only need a fraction of the whole power to maintain your speed. So instead of adding a manual boost button, just let the bike‘s ECU do the whole power management.
Recuperation would be great to refill the battery quicker, but I guess if the small motor already has a thermal problem with acceleration for 15 seconds, then adding recuperation would kill it pretty quickly.

[mathias]

This is fantastic, I have been wondering for many years, why nobody has made a hybrid motorcycle ? I would much rather have that than a full electric motorcycle. You still get the sound from a "real" motorcycle but better fuel economy and probably cool acceleration with that extra power from the electric engine. I hope more manufacturers build hybrid motorcycles.

[frankgrimm]

I would think hybrid tech would be better for touring/commuting bikes, but maybe I am partial. I actually would love a 700lb dresser that gets 80mpg, has 450 mile range, runs at low rpms at 80mph and only really hear the exhaust when I get on the throttle.

Also, why put a heat sensitive component behind the engine and between the exhaust pipes? Why not put it up front with the radiator?

[Chillin]

This is the prius of motorcycles. It might be underwhelming, but someone had to do it.

[rasharddauvergne]

More people will buy it than you guys think

[MentatOfDune]

Hybrid bikes will make huge sense when you can get 50km on electric and use ICE for anything more. Then the work commute will work on electric and you also have the ICE for weekend range.

[austinbauman]

ADV bike is where this tech will shine. a 450 twin has enough power to cruise on the highway, but the electric power can take over for very smooth low speed off-roading. Kawasaki just needs to refine the systema bit so the battery can sustain an 80% engine 20% electric "sport mode" and I think they'd have a hit on their hands.

[brandynborsi]

Just saw one today for the first time at a dealer. Guy told me it’s got 1000cc acceleration. I proceeded to look at the 160mm rear tire and knew he was full of bologna! Then I saw a top speed vid of these hitting 124mph… so lame! I told him he didn’t have a single bike in the dealership that was fast enough for me given the best they had was a 636 ninja… which he said was faster than my tuned Concours 14! Dude did not know a thing about bikes lmao😂 I told him my concours hits 190 and he retreated to his desk😂😂😂

[fullmetalcorgi]

"Who would want 15 seconds of 20 HP?" -Spite

Laughs in Nitrous

[dcxplant]

This is a system similar to F1. The boost is used for passing, and must be regenerated before using again. Jeep has a similar system called eTorque, which is highly reviewed. We own a Jeep Wrangler plug-in hybrid with eTorque and it works well. IMO this motorcycle will perform better than anyone expects.

[gc]

this Hybrid has longer range than electric bikes twice the price and is faster off the line than gas bikes with 50% more fuel consumption. i say that is pretty solid result for a first effort. as a proof of concept this bike is a win.

[lew]

I’d love this drivetrain in a Versys-frame. This is where I think it would excel.

[lovingmylifeasIage]

Kawasaki is giving the motorcycle industry the middle finger. You said once that we didn't want the ZX4RR. Well I got one and just love it. It is so much fun for the roads I ride. Not every bike needs to be good on a track, which seems to always be reviewers criteria. Take some bikes on the twisty's up in the mountains once in awhile. That is were the ZX4RR shines.

[abluebird]

I thought it was cool until I found out it was 450cc. I already have a 400cc my next step is a 600

[MarioScott]

this is a gen 1 product, this is a wait and see type of situation

[djedUVprojector]

If you ride (commute) in England between towns this 15 second boost is perfect. Coming off roundabout - BOOST momentum slow down for next roundabout BOOST again for next little stretch of road.
I've been waiting since a similar bike was promised in 1999!