Price: £TBA | Power: 58.3bhp, 68.5hp with ‘e-boost’ | Weight: TBA | Overall BikeSocial Rating: TBA
It’s been two years since Kawasaki first previewed its planned hybrid petrol-electric sports bike in October 2021 but it’s finally been given a name – Ninja 7 Hybrid – and will be in UK dealers for all to buy by April 2024.
Part of a plan to electrify its entire motorcycle range by 2035, meaning all new Kawasaki’s will be either pure electric or hybrid, and to introduce 10 such machines by 2035, the Ninja 7 Hybrid is by far the most advanced petrol-electric model two-wheeler ever to reach production. Combining a 451cc parallel twin with an electric motor, plus an automated manual transmission, the company claims the Ninja 7 Hybrid offers off-the-line acceleration comparable to a 1000cc superbike, outright performance in the 650cc-700cc class and fuel economy comparable to a 250cc bike.
Pros & Cons
- 1000cc acceleration, 250cc economy. What’s not to like?
- If you’re into tech, the Ninja 7 Hybrid has it in spades
- “e-boost” feature adds a fun element to worthy hybrid thinking
- No word yet on weight or price – might they be on the hefty side?
- Fussy styling and unusual proportions
Review – In Detail
Price & PCP
For and against
Engine & Performance
Handling & Suspension (inc. weight & brakes)
Comfort & Economy
Equipment
Rivals
Verdict
How much is the Ninja 7 Hybrid? We don’t know yet. And because the bike is unlike anything else on the market it’s hard to even make a guess at where Kawasaki might choose to position it.
On one hand, it’s a technology showpiece, with innovations unseen elsewhere. Name another sports bike with an electronic transmission that can be operated in either manual or auto mode, even offering a reverse function, and features an ‘e-boost’ button to give an kick of extra power and torque when you call for it. On the other, the outright power is on a par with the Ninja 650, a bike that also donates its modest forks and brakes, and the rear suspension is akin to the Ninja 400, suggesting Kawasaki is keeping a careful cap on costs to make sure the Ninja 7 Hybrid is within reach.
Given that the all-electric Ninja e-1, available from October and with substantially less performance and on-board tech than the Ninja 7 Hybrid, costs £8,299, it would be surprising to see the Ninja 7 Hybrid with a price any lower than that.
At the heart of the Ninja 7 Hybrid lies a 451cc parallel twin that Kawasaki describes as ‘brand new’ – although that capacity is shared with the Eliminator 500 and it’s been clear ever since the earliest prototypes of the hybrid were shown that the engine is closely related to the twin in Ninja 400 and Z400 (which also forms the basis of the Eliminator’s 451cc twin).
Kawasaki hasn’t released detailed information about the engine, but the chances are it shares the Eliminator’s 70mm bore and 58.6mm stroke.
However, the engine’s power is substantially higher than the Eliminator or Z400, which are both A2-legal machines with sub-47hp outputs. On petrol power alone, the Ninja 7 Hybrid manages 58.3hp (43.5kW), rising to 68.5hp (51.1kW) when the ‘e-boost’ function is engaged, adding the electric motor’s power to the mix.
Off the line, Kawasaki says the performance, with e-boost, is on a par with a 1000cc superbike, thanks to the immediate extra torque of the electric motor. Overall, the firm puts the performance in the same league as 650cc-700cc bikes.
That electric motor is a 9kW design, meaning it’s almost certainly the same one used in the new Ninja e-1 and Z e-1 electric bikes, which claim a 9kW (12hp) max power. It’s coupled to a 48V lithium-ion battery under the seat and allows the Ninja 7 Hybrid to function in three modes – Sport-Hybrid, Eco-Hybrid and pure EV. In the all-electric mode, performance is understandably limited, with Kawasaki suggesting it’s intended for residential areas or parking garages. There’s no information yet on the EV-only range, but it’s unlikely to be more than a handful of miles.
The ‘e-boost’ function, which we first revealed way back in 2020 thanks to Kawasaki’s own patent on the idea, maxes out the electric power boost to briefly combine all the power and torque of both the electric and petrol powertrains.
The powertrain drives through a manual transmission, but because it needs to be able to juggle power automatically and seamlessly from the electric motor and combustion engine, it’s an electronically-operated one with automatic clutches. That means there’s no clutch lever on the left bar or gear lever by the left peg. Shifts can be done either fully-automatically or via bar-mounted buttons in manual mode.
The frame is a steel trellis design, much like the existing Ninja 650 and Ninja 400 models, but it’s purpose-made for the Ninja 7 Hybrid to be able to pack in the engine, electric motor, fuel tank and battery pack, all in a bike that’s not too huge.
Kawasaki hasn’t released full specs yet, but the Ninja 7 Hybrid isn’t a small machine. Even at a glance it’s clear the wheelbase is substantially longer than the Ninja 650’s, for example. Overlaying images of the two bikes (above) shows the Ninja 7 is in the region of 10cm longer, in fact, suggesting a wheelbase of over 1500mm.
With no official specifications yet, the weight is unknown, but since the Ninja 400 – with a similar parallel twin engine and steel frame – comes in at 189kg and the Ninja 7 Hybrid adds an electric motor, battery and automated gearbox to the mix, it’s sure to be well north of 200kg.
From the images, we can see that the brakes are the same axial-mount, two-piston Nissin calipers used on the Ninja 650, and the right-way-up forks also appear to be the same, suggesting they’re non-adjustable and 41mm in diameter.
Ther rear suspension, in contrast, appears to be closer to the Ninja 400’s design, with a simple, rectangular-section swingarm and rising-rate monoshock.
With a semi-auto transmission and the ability to run in all-electric mode at low speeds, the Ninja 7 Hybrid’s forte promises to be smooth useability, and despite having the 48V battery under the rider’s seat, the seat height appears to be around the same as a Ninja 650 (790mm).
However, economy is where any hybrid should really shine and the Ninja is no exception. Once again, Kawasaki hasn’t provided numbers yet, but the company says the Ninja 7 Hybrid has fuel economy ‘on a par with the 250cc class’. What will that mean in the real world? We’d expect something like 70mpg should be well within reach, and potentially even more than that. Honda manages to squeeze around 80mpg from the NC750, remember, so economy isn’t purely about engine size; a large, low-revving motor can be more economical than a small screamer.
Early-adopters are likely to be a key demographic among Ninja 7 Hybrid buyers so Kawasaki is giving the bike plenty of advanced features.
As well as the three riding modes and the ability to run in pure EV form when required, the addition of an electric motor means Kawasaki has been able to give the Hybrid a ‘walk mode’ that trundles the bike forwards or backwards at low speed to help when you’re manoeuvring into tight spaces or shifting it around your garage.
There’s a full colour TFT dash and smartphone connectivity, of course – these things are becoming the norm in the 2020s – but the hybrid design and auto box means Kawasaki has also been able to add some less familiar tech. One example is the Automatic Launch Position Finder (ALPF) that, when activated, automatically selects first gear whenever you come to a halt.
Until we know the price and more detailed specifications, it’s hard to pick rivals for the Kawasaki Ninja 7 Hybrid, and even then the simple fact that there are no other bikes even remotely like it in terms of hybrid technology means customers aren’t likely to be cross-shopping with other models. If you want to be among the first to experience a proper hybrid-powered sports bike, this is your only option.
We’re as interested as you… We’ll let you know when we’re ridden it.
If you’d like to chat about this article or anything else biking related, join us and thousands of other riders at the Bennetts BikeSocial Facebook page.
What is MCIA Secured?
MCIA Secured gives bike buyers the chance to see just how much work a manufacturer has put into making their new investment as resistant to theft as possible.
As we all know, the more security you use, the less chance there is of your bike being stolen. In fact, based on research by Bennetts, using a disc lock makes your machine three times less likely to be stolen, while heavy duty kit can make it less likely to be stolen than a car. For reviews of the best security products, click here.
MCIA Secured gives motorcycles a rating out of five stars (three stars for bikes of 125cc or less), based on the following being fitted to a new bike as standard:
- A steering lock that meets the UNECE 62 standard
- An ignition immobiliser system
- A vehicle marking system
- An alarm system
- A vehicle tracking system with subscription
The higher the star rating, the better the security, so always ask your dealer what rating your bike has and compare it to other machines on your shortlist.
