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.
@@velocity-ninja4428 Gotcha, didn't realise it was Euro 5 for bikes. The plans to ban the sale of fossil fuel vehicles by 2035 still includes bikes though right?
@@chrism6880 I know of the 3 common types. Mild hybrid (the motor won't move the vehicle on its own) self charging hybrid (will move the vehicle until the engine kicks in . And plug in hybrid ( that you could in theory never use the engine)
@@chrishart8548 Dump the 1800cc motor, the 4 gallons of fuel, the half gallon of engine oil, the radiator, the water in the radiator, the hundreds or so moving parts in a combustion engine for the 3 parts of an electric motor, with only one part moving. The 100% torque from zero revs of an electric motor compared to an internal combustion engine that has to be at several thousand RPM to get to its max torque figure. Electric motors make more sense for cruising than combustion engines. The rate of development of batteries, motors, charging time reduction and the future is electric.
@captainwin6333 so just a BEV. I would love to see some numbers on range performance and weight. Could actually work out well. Would cost a fortune but the range will be better than anything else with 2 wheels offered so far.
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
It won't sell here in Europe. Electric scooters sell extremely well, but they're built for cities and commuting. They don't compromise by having an extra gas engine that adds weight but not performance.
Us Scandinavians don’t care. Bikes are toys here that you can use for like 3 months at best….everything here is top dawg stuff!! Well lots of learner bikes due to licensing but everyone I know has the type of thing I used to dream of back in the usa. Group rides are all v4 super duke blah blah stuff. Mayne italy is diff tho. I cant say
@@nordicjourneys I care and Im Norwegian! I just used my bike today, 1 celcius in Oslo today. So, been riding since march and will not stop until the snow arrives next week, I think. Just a little short of six months, in other words. Btw, the Honda x-adv 750 that I`ve got, uses 0.39L/10km. A 90`s Litre-bike was using a liter of fuel per 10km. EASY! So with a gasprice of 25 NOK/ 3 dollars per liter, it makes perfect sense to have a bike with great fuel-economy in 2023.
@@soulslaveone I rode yesterday in uppsala. About 3 degrees here. I have a 1290 superduke and get horrible mileage but I dont care it is a toy with 180hp. If I want to save Ill drive my car which gets like 4.5l/100
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.
my main issue with full electric is the range, with a hybrid you wouldnt have to plan your ride as much so you can still go touring without any worries.
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.
@@austinbauman3818 What you think it should be compared to reality is lunacy. Look at how much EVs weigh. It is mostly about the weight of the battery to store sufficient energy for range and provide higher peak output without overheating. An electric hybrid always weighs more than an engine powered nearest equivalent. In a passenger car that is not a big issue but in a motorcycle it is.
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.
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?
Perfect points . Cruisers run in the rev range where electric is best. Weight is much less an issue. Begs the question, where the hell is Honda's hybrid Goldwing???
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.
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!
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.
It's all added weight and complexity that isn't required in a light vehicle like a motorcycle. This is all because of stupid government regulations pushed by the dumb climate change scam
This is why a plug-in hybrid makes a lot of sense. No range anxiety for longer trips and plenty of all-electric driving for running errands and commuting.
@@903lew would be probably heavier than a verseys 1000 but it would be interesting to see. Would also add a fair bit to the price as the verseys has always been a premium over the normal ninja
@@chrishart8548 Aye, we’ll see. I’m just glad to see Kawasaki doing something interesting. And considering the kit on this bike surely there’s some weight savings to be made.
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.
A hybrid makes so much sense for me. I live in a terraced house 'close' in the UK. I leave for work at 0100. I have to roll my bike down the hill onto the main road before firing it up. If I had electric to carry me away from the houses before engaging the engine, it would be soooo good. But I'd want more power than this.
It's a commuter bike aimed at the Asian and European markets. It will lead onto some cool bikes and seeing as it's Kawasaki, there will be a superbike version within 5 years. What about an H2 hybrid hyper cruiser to rival the Diavel and Rocket? Having ridden both, and an Energica Eva Ribelle, I am all in for that bike.
Asian markets? Highly doubtful, this would be waaay too expensive for most asian markets as a commuter bike. This is a rich country bike. The average Asian commuter bike has only in the last few years risen from 125 to 150cc
@@chrispekel5709 last time I checked India, Korea and Japan were all in Asia. I clearly stated commuter bike not carry 3 tons of vegetables to market bike
You're over thinking this. No one is going to buy this motorcycle, but Kawasaki made it to spur on a new industry as if to say, here look, it's possible, we made one.
Brand new concept bike and disruptive technology along with it. I’m picking they went with the smaller IC unit to resolutely prove the concept of economy linked with performance. They knew they were up for criticism whatever capacity they initially released and they’ll certainly have more impressive offerings in the pipeline. Could be a bit heavy for general use but in a cruiser or adventure bike this technology could sell in great numbers. If you can’t pass in 15 seconds, you probably shouldn’t. This would still make a decent tourer. Really impressed with your camera setup - magic having that OTS view! 👍🏻
I do also feel like they’ve missed the mark a little bit. That being said, the ability to quietly get out of the neighborhood in the morning before hearing exhaust notes is appealing.
Exactly, this would be a godsend if someone working night shift wanted to take their bike to work, would get daily use of that aspect of it coming home... 12.5K USD new for this is a bit much, but I personally might get this used in a few year's if the price drops enough.
I don't understand why hybrid cars/bikes etc always try to overcomplicate things with their hybrid drive engines. They should be 100% electric vehicles with a steady state petrol/diesel generator to keep the batteries topped up. Then you can do your daily commute on 100% electric and anything that requires more distance with the generator running.
Maybe because it's oftentimes more efficient to directly couple the ICE to the wheels than to take the losses of conversion and efficiency is the whole game? Just my thought.
I’d love to actually see one of these in person at a dealership. The electric version of being quiet would be amazing when doing early morning rides to work through the city
Will most definitely get an Insta 360 at some point for filming rides as well. Also I think you hit the nail on the head with what Kawasaki is doing. They challenge themselves and put awesome stuff out. Like the H2 and all other models like the ZX6, KLR, Versys and my Z750 as well in the naked segment in the 00's and the legacy of that continues to this day with the Z800 and 900. So now with this Hybrid motorcycle I find that really awesome.
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😂😂😂
Spite, the 360 camera is a travesty 🙁 So many m/cycle UA-camrs are using. They're all going to look back soon at the content they filmed with it and be embarrassed. You could save yr money and just film through a goldfish bowl ! Please ditch that distorting crap 🙏
Up until March1st of 2023 I was the owner of a '94 buttercup yellow Yamaha V-Max. Without riding it aggressively it got 22.5 MPG I can only imagine how bad it would be if I got rough with it on the road. Since I have three other Honda motorcycles, I traded it in on a '23 black Honda Grom which when ridden at 26MPH in third gear will deliver 155MPG
Honestly i think the ninja 7 is gonna turn out to be like the "holy trinity" supercars. Its groundbreaking for the theory of fast cars being hybrids and not just extending range and in 5 years or so if companies put in enough time high performance hybrids could be a thing but as it stands its a unique breakout. The only thing that scares me is how much time and effort kawi put into it and there not being any competition. The competition and 3 companies doing the holy trinity is why it caught on. As a singular item the ninja 7 doesn't appear to make a big stir and there isn't a push to improve. Hoping it starts SOMETHING cause seeing an R2E and a GSX-E400 would be cool and again competition brings improvement
Guys most of us will drive under 30 miles a day, charge at home and use an electric motor to be completely silent! Then you need to make a long trip to another town, use your damn gas, what's not to get about this bike? U can't stall, you can drive at night like an actual ninja. It's real innovation, not just crazy power no one actually needs like all new bikes. Oh yes, the redundancy of riding on electric mode if there is something wrong with the engine is cool too.
It costs me $37 to fill the tank on my R3 here in New Zealand, so yeah we get taxed through the roof on our fuel. This motorcycle might just be what we need.
@@spitescorner exactly.. Now it's a Ninja 7 for only 15 seconds at a time 😂 and truthfully that name doesn't fit it as a lot of people would assume it is going to be in the same class as an MT07, When clearly it's not..
Van Driessen raises some good points, as usual. It's also nice to see Kawasaki push the boundaries, like Yamaha. Shame we don't see the same from Honda and Suzuki. I'd never buy one, but I'm excited to see where hybrid technology might lead in the motorcycle market, much as I am for hydrogen combustion, ammonia combustion, and synthetic fuels.
A hybrid should be launched on a sport tourer, a full dresser or an adventure/adv tourer. These numbers are kLR like, put them in a KLR. KLR riders have been salivating over the hope of a diesel powered klr for decades specifically for range and milage. Swing and miss not a sportbike
It really seems like Kawi is obligating themselves to making any new tech go in a ninja. I guess they think their brand wouldn't exist unless ninjas were the most equipped bikes in their classes.
I really, really don’t hate this bike. It looks great, the tech is cool as hell. But I wish they gave us like 80-90 hp, and kept the wheelbase short…. Or, don’t call it a ninja and market it as a standard/commuter bike, which it is. I really hope they keep developing this technology.
As an expat Brit living in the US, I can tell you that most Americans don’t really believe in the rest of the world, even though they buy so many products from China especially. For a small percentage, the rest of the world has “cute” places to “do”.
I agree with the comments on this being a platform for touring. I had a chance to try out an Energica for a short tour around the Olympic Peninsula. The entire trip became about where can I charge. Not having to worry about running out of electrons while still having that off the line torque or for passing and sipping fuel the rest of the way does fill that niche of a week on the road type of riding. That said, this is still one for the early adopters, but they gotta set the starting line somewhere. This is also going to help encourage other manufacturers to spend more on R&D to catch up and compete.
I love the idea of going stealth occasionally and having the gas engine most of the time with the boost for traffic light take offs! The only downside is going to be the price. It will be more expensive than 2024 zx6r.
Hearing you say Kawasaki as cow-uh-sack-ee is like an ice pick to the brain. Your'e a well respected YT motorcycle content creator and a learned man. Please pronounce Kawasaki properly cow-uh-sock-ee. After all you don't Yamaha as Yea-may-hay or Honda as Hoon-day!
SOUNDS LIKE F1 tech... ERS are an F1 car's Energy Recovery Systems. These harvest electrical energy over the course of a lap, giving drivers a power boost that can be used to attack or defend during a grand prix. The ERS can generate an extra 160hp for around half a minute per lap. Two components form the ERS: the Motor Generator Unit - Heat (MGU-H) and Motor Generator Unit - Kinetic (MGU-K). The MGU-H recycles waste heat from the turbocharger, while the MGU-K recovers lost energy from the braking system. The electricity produced is kept in the Energy Store (ES); usually a battery made up of lithium-ion cells.
I feel like that even if the bike isn´t gonna be the best it will still be important for the developement of hybrid motorcycles. A bit like the early toyota prius I reckon.
I could see a beginner on this bike, in first gear, fullish throttle, push the boost button, and dumping the clutch, where the extra 6 inches give them enough reaction time to hopefully slam the throttle close before they take the main loop to pain town.
The only thing I'm disappointed with is they went for 450cc instead of the original 300cc spec which was significantly lighters and less expensive overall, slapped into existing Ninja 400 frame. Sad.
Finally saw these in the showroom. They have a nice aesthetic, but they won't pull a greasy string out of a cat's butt. Kawasaki Ninja used to mean something. It used to instill fear or apprehension in brand x riders, especially the Italic brand riders. This is lame, even if it is a first step into a new market segment.
Props to Kawasaki for realising Honda had out-nerd biked the Versys 650 with the NC750 and putting a load of R&D into this heavy hybrid thing. It would have been pretty sweet if the electric motor powered the front wheel separately from the rear and you could use it to creep about at low speed in traffic or reverse the bike. As it stands it's sort of like a bike version of the Honda CR-Z if anyone remembers that thing.
@@chrispekel5709 tbh it's not a bad choice if you want a sort of unique and compact economy car but it's actually slower than a base Civic without really being more economical...weird one.
I suspect you're being optimistic on price. The problem with a hybrid is that you have the cost of a gas engine and its 1000 parts plus the cost of an electric drivetrain and its expensive battery. They'd have to be willing to take a pretty serious loss to make it a loss leader
1) Both are motors but one of ‘em is an engine (ICE). 2) It maybe utilizing a KERS system with super-capacitors instead of batteries … such as F1 cars … to lower weight, decrease packaging dimensions, and enhance performance (despite super-caps having a shortened usable duration). 3) It will be a legend for decades ,whether you approve or not, because it beat Honda at it’s own game (fyi Honda innovated hybrid technology). However, Honda displayed their e-Wing trike couple years back and I bet they’re waiting for other manufactures to risk the perils of an uncertain market segment before offering their jewels! 5) Still confused and bewildered as to why there’s not a brake lever under the LT hand, like bicycles and scooters. It ain’t natural … and probably unsafe!
Camera angles, good. Breakfast, breakfast Crunchwrap. The hybrid bike, itself meh, but it’s also the first one. But look at the gen 1 Prius and how far it has come in 20+ years.
Its a dumb idea.... the gas-engine should be the generator, the electric-engine should be the drive motor. Maybe they tried that and couldn't get it balanced out but that is what Trains and Ships now use.
The fact is that technology just isn't there tbh. Ev poses a unique challenge in terms of weight, size and power output for motorcycles. Someone has to put some serious time and money into developing something comprehensive for a motorcycle that isn't super heavy and still meets the normal range on a charge that a full tank of gas would, while still remaining true to what a motorcycle is. Cars are the norm and that's what all the innovation and technology research is going into because naturally that's square one from a population stance. I still believe we are far away from a practical EV motorcycle, thus largely gutted and restricted bikes will be the norm moving forward. With the way things are trending, you would think this would be priority number 1 for all motorcycle manufacturers but from the outside looking in, that doesn't appear to be the case. The next decade will be very interesting to say the least. Long live inline 4s and Cp's💪
Actually it has different problems which were not mentioned in this video.... - in sport mode transmission is not automatic (like on DCT), but only manual with ability to change gear only with buttons on handlebar (Kawasaki engineers were surprised during tests that someone may want it.....) - in ECO mode engine is going only up to 3500 rpm to reduce fuel consumption (meaning engine will get carbon buildup) - in EV and ECO mode it does not work like regular automatic gearbox or DCT meaning if you need power you will not have any no matter how much you turn gas because there is nothing similar to kickdown and in ECO SW does not allow pass 3500 rpm for engine - I was expecting way higher torque when running in hybrid mode when electric engine with high torque runs together with gas engine. Instead that increase is really low - cheap components which does not deserve Ninja trademark (is worse then Ninja 650 vs ZX-6R) + on EV it is capable to run about 7 miles with that small battery + fully charged battery is in about 12 miles + e-boost works from standstill and on the move + big wheelbase (something very positive compared to 90% of modern production made - excuse me - for asian torso) + price supposed to be slightly over ZX-4RR, but still under ZX-6R
A hybrid version is going to do a lot better than the E-1 fully electric bikes that only have a 41mi max range. Like, wtf are you going to do with that? Take a long trip across country? Nope, not even a short trip to the mountains. A hybrid is at least not an instant fail.
It’s a start. The Corvette E-Ray has some or the same issues. The battery only option last for 3 miles. But I agree with the 500lbs weight on the 451. I picked up the Eliminator and which has a wet weight of 388. It’s truly a gem in this set up and hope you can review it. It will be interesting if it sells at 12k and hopefully the they offer a warranty longer than 12 months. The entire MC industry will be watching closely.
Now they need to train a whole bunch of technicians on hybrid systems and the dangers. Also they’ll need the necessary safety tools built into their shops. I imagine not many dealers are going to get these in. Let alone work on them.
how about some forced induction around the battery so you can use it the whole time? use fans or something. actually a liquid cooling system would be cool af
It's all just talk, guesses and conversations. Aren't we asking for too much from a new emerging technology. It's a whole bunch of pretty unchartered territory for even Kawasaki. You can't blame them for playing it safe. I understand that you view motorcycle life mostly from an American standpoint. Nothing wrong with that. I'm sure you also know that other parts of the world are completely different. It's always great to hear your side of the story though. A 400cc Ninja is literally more bike than you'll ever realistically need in my country of Singapore. Our legal highway speeds are 60mp/h. You have to be earnestly forgiving about hybrid motorcycle tech. It's just really starting up. Let's enjoy our ICE for as long as they last
If it's a quiet engine then I would love this engine on the KLR 650. Wasting it on a sports bike is kind of a bummer. That's a very niche market with nothing but whiny riders that cry over a few pounds on their bike. This technology is the future for Electric Motorcycles. Not that pure EV bs that is still 50 years away from something as simple as logistics.
Biggest thing for me is not being able to control the gear shifting. The more I think about it, the more jarring it sounds to have a bike shift on its own. I'd hate for it to shift halfway through a turn or something. Please correct me if I'm wrong about that. I pretty sure it's auto
We'd have to see the reviews. so far I heard that the auto gear changes are a bit clunky, but it's basically a first generation of a huge potential range of bikes
Thanks to Insta360 for sponsoring the channel! Check out the X3 camera here: store.insta360.com/product/x3?insrc=INR04CE
Loved the new camera placement! Switch up once in a while 😊
Just wait until Honda comes out with the Hybrid Goldwing.
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.
You mean Euro 7? Euro 6 was introduced in 2014.
@@Joric78 Motorcycles lag automotive emissions standards by a generation.
@@velocity-ninja4428 Gotcha, didn't realise it was Euro 5 for bikes. The plans to ban the sale of fossil fuel vehicles by 2035 still includes bikes though right?
Not sure about that. I would think that would be the case, I just don't think we're gonna be ready. That plan will probably get walked back as well.
I feel like the bike begging to get a hybrid version is the Goldwing
All the luggage full of batteries instead of space for your stuff. And a really short range. Sounds perfect.
@chrishart8548 you...don't know what a hybrid is...do you?
@@chrism6880 I know of the 3 common types. Mild hybrid (the motor won't move the vehicle on its own) self charging hybrid (will move the vehicle until the engine kicks in . And plug in hybrid ( that you could in theory never use the engine)
@@chrishart8548 Dump the 1800cc motor, the 4 gallons of fuel, the half gallon of engine oil, the radiator, the water in the radiator, the hundreds or so moving parts in a combustion engine for the 3 parts of an electric motor, with only one part moving. The 100% torque from zero revs of an electric motor compared to an internal combustion engine that has to be at several thousand RPM to get to its max torque figure.
Electric motors make more sense for cruising than combustion engines. The rate of development of batteries, motors, charging time reduction and the future is electric.
@captainwin6333 so just a BEV. I would love to see some numbers on range performance and weight. Could actually work out well. Would cost a fortune but the range will be better than anything else with 2 wheels offered so far.
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
It won't sell here in Europe. Electric scooters sell extremely well, but they're built for cities and commuting. They don't compromise by having an extra gas engine that adds weight but not performance.
"Nobody is gonna care". Well. Have You talked to any Europeans who has four times the price of fuel, compared to Americans?
Us Scandinavians don’t care. Bikes are toys here that you can use for like 3 months at best….everything here is top dawg stuff!! Well lots of learner bikes due to licensing but everyone I know has the type of thing I used to dream of back in the usa. Group rides are all v4 super duke blah blah stuff. Mayne italy is diff tho. I cant say
@@nordicjourneys I care and Im Norwegian! I just used my bike today, 1 celcius in Oslo today. So, been riding since march and will not stop until the snow arrives next week, I think. Just a little short of six months, in other words. Btw, the Honda x-adv 750 that I`ve got, uses 0.39L/10km. A 90`s Litre-bike was using a liter of fuel per 10km. EASY! So with a gasprice of 25 NOK/ 3 dollars per liter, it makes perfect sense to have a bike with great fuel-economy in 2023.
Another European here. I couldn’t care less.
I care about it but for getting more range and not having to go to the pump as much
@@soulslaveone I rode yesterday in uppsala. About 3 degrees here. I have a 1290 superduke and get horrible mileage but I dont care it is a toy with 180hp. If I want to save Ill drive my car which gets like 4.5l/100
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.
my main issue with full electric is the range, with a hybrid you wouldnt have to plan your ride as much so you can still go touring without any worries.
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.
Agree completely. Built as lightweight as possible.
LOL batteries are heavy. Way heavier than liquid fuel equivalent but keep the delusions coming😅
Yeah but a battery doesn't have to be heavier than another cylinder. I want a single that can have twin power for a few miles
@@kannermw
@@austinbauman3818 What you think it should be compared to reality is lunacy. Look at how much EVs weigh. It is mostly about the weight of the battery to store sufficient energy for range and provide higher peak output without overheating. An electric hybrid always weighs more than an engine powered nearest equivalent. In a passenger car that is not a big issue but in a motorcycle it is.
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.
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?
a hybrid scooter would actually be pretty sweet
Perfect points . Cruisers run in the rev range where electric is best. Weight is much less an issue. Begs the question, where the hell is Honda's hybrid Goldwing???
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.
The ZX4RR is actually positioned to be a Track toy
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!
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.
It's all added weight and complexity that isn't required in a light vehicle like a motorcycle. This is all because of stupid government regulations pushed by the dumb climate change scam
This is why a plug-in hybrid makes a lot of sense. No range anxiety for longer trips and plenty of all-electric driving for running errands and commuting.
... why hauling raound a second motorcycle ypu don't need half of the time?
I’d love this drivetrain in a Versys-frame. This is where I think it would excel.
It would be even worse probably add another 20kg to a already Heavy bike
@@chrishart8548 Maybe. But 20kg down low isn't something I'm worried about tbh. I'd still like to try it out.
@@903lew would be probably heavier than a verseys 1000 but it would be interesting to see. Would also add a fair bit to the price as the verseys has always been a premium over the normal ninja
@@chrishart8548 Aye, we’ll see. I’m just glad to see Kawasaki doing something interesting. And considering the kit on this bike surely there’s some weight savings to be made.
The electric range on a hybrid automobile is also nothing to write home about.
it is in Japan and Europe. I don't think this bike was really aimed at the States
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.
A hybrid makes so much sense for me. I live in a terraced house 'close' in the UK. I leave for work at 0100. I have to roll my bike down the hill onto the main road before firing it up. If I had electric to carry me away from the houses before engaging the engine, it would be soooo good. But I'd want more power than this.
Does it even move with just the motor ? And as far as I know its not a plug in hybrid either
@@chrishart8548 I realise I might be a little late, but yes there's a full electric mode on the bike
The max power for 15 seconds is plenty enough. You only need max power for max acceleration. You don't need it for cruising at different speeds.
I’d love an ADV bike with a front hub motor for tricky off road shenanigans.
As for this Kawasaki…. I do feel like they missed the mark a little bit.
That would be pretty sweet.
That would do wonders for unsprung weight on an off road bike a hub motor. Probably get broken inside by the first bump
It's a commuter bike aimed at the Asian and European markets. It will lead onto some cool bikes and seeing as it's Kawasaki, there will be a superbike version within 5 years. What about an H2 hybrid hyper cruiser to rival the Diavel and Rocket? Having ridden both, and an Energica Eva Ribelle, I am all in for that bike.
Asian markets? Highly doubtful, this would be waaay too expensive for most asian markets as a commuter bike. This is a rich country bike. The average Asian commuter bike has only in the last few years risen from 125 to 150cc
@@chrispekel5709 last time I checked India, Korea and Japan were all in Asia. I clearly stated commuter bike not carry 3 tons of vegetables to market bike
You're over thinking this. No one is going to buy this motorcycle, but Kawasaki made it to spur on a new industry as if to say, here look, it's possible, we made one.
Brand new concept bike and disruptive technology along with it. I’m picking they went with the smaller IC unit to resolutely prove the concept of economy linked with performance. They knew they were up for criticism whatever capacity they initially released and they’ll certainly have more impressive offerings in the pipeline. Could be a bit heavy for general use but in a cruiser or adventure bike this technology could sell in great numbers. If you can’t pass in 15 seconds, you probably shouldn’t. This would still make a decent tourer.
Really impressed with your camera setup - magic having that OTS view! 👍🏻
I do also feel like they’ve missed the mark a little bit. That being said, the ability to quietly get out of the neighborhood in the morning before hearing exhaust notes is appealing.
Exactly, this would be a godsend if someone working night shift wanted to take their bike to work, would get daily use of that aspect of it coming home... 12.5K USD new for this is a bit much, but I personally might get this used in a few year's if the price drops enough.
Im convinced "boost mode" is actually code for "wheelie now"
I don't understand why hybrid cars/bikes etc always try to overcomplicate things with their hybrid drive engines. They should be 100% electric vehicles with a steady state petrol/diesel generator to keep the batteries topped up. Then you can do your daily commute on 100% electric and anything that requires more distance with the generator running.
Maybe because it's oftentimes more efficient to directly couple the ICE to the wheels than to take the losses of conversion and efficiency is the whole game? Just my thought.
This is the prius of motorcycles. It might be underwhelming, but someone had to do it.
First to market carries a lot of advantages that aren't immediately apparent, Team Green playing long game with this move.
I’d love to actually see one of these in person at a dealership. The electric version of being quiet would be amazing when doing early morning rides to work through the city
Will most definitely get an Insta 360 at some point for filming rides as well. Also I think you hit the nail on the head with what Kawasaki is doing.
They challenge themselves and put awesome stuff out. Like the H2 and all other models like the ZX6, KLR, Versys and my Z750 as well in the naked segment in the 00's and the legacy of that continues to this day with the Z800 and 900. So now with this Hybrid motorcycle I find that really awesome.
It could be like a nitrous hit if they gave it real power.
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😂😂😂
this is a gen 1 product, this is a wait and see type of situation
I really like the side/over the shoulder camera angle!
Kawai and others really need to get feedback from their base and could easily sell a brand new product. Also love the front and shoulder view
Spite, the 360 camera is a travesty 🙁 So many m/cycle UA-camrs are using. They're all going to look back soon at the content they filmed with it and be embarrassed. You could save yr money and just film through a goldfish bowl ! Please ditch that distorting crap 🙏
Up until March1st of 2023 I was the owner of a '94 buttercup yellow Yamaha V-Max. Without riding it aggressively it got 22.5 MPG I can only imagine how bad it would be if I got rough with it on the road. Since I have three other Honda motorcycles, I traded it in on a '23 black Honda Grom which when ridden at 26MPH in third gear will deliver 155MPG
Honestly i think the ninja 7 is gonna turn out to be like the "holy trinity" supercars. Its groundbreaking for the theory of fast cars being hybrids and not just extending range and in 5 years or so if companies put in enough time high performance hybrids could be a thing but as it stands its a unique breakout. The only thing that scares me is how much time and effort kawi put into it and there not being any competition. The competition and 3 companies doing the holy trinity is why it caught on. As a singular item the ninja 7 doesn't appear to make a big stir and there isn't a push to improve. Hoping it starts SOMETHING cause seeing an R2E and a GSX-E400 would be cool and again competition brings improvement
$7,599 and $7,299 is the cost
in germany its 12.000€
Guys most of us will drive under 30 miles a day, charge at home and use an electric motor to be completely silent! Then you need to make a long trip to another town, use your damn gas, what's not to get about this bike? U can't stall, you can drive at night like an actual ninja. It's real innovation, not just crazy power no one actually needs like all new bikes. Oh yes, the redundancy of riding on electric mode if there is something wrong with the engine is cool too.
I’d bet 50-60 H/P ICE bikes get incredibly mileage already
My 2020 SV650 was averaging 60mpg and was still fun to ride.
"gas mileage doesn't matter" - lmao no. A factor for why I bought my RS660 because it does great MPG to its power in comparison to most other bikes.
Smelly Euro detected haha
@chrispekel5709 or maybe I line 77mpg
It's the price that kills me on this
Would make sense in your central Euro Capital cities where they are banning or super taxing ICE engines
It costs me $37 to fill the tank on my R3 here in New Zealand, so yeah we get taxed through the roof on our fuel.
This motorcycle might just be what we need.
Or a new government.
Wait till u replace new battery
It might have something to do with New Zealand being an island in the middle of nowhere.
Since it was stretched six inches, I don't understand why they could not use the motor from the Ninja 650 But still be a hybrid
Good point. With a longer wheel base they could put a bigger engine or maybe a bigger battery/motor combo
@@spitescorner exactly.. Now it's a Ninja 7 for only 15 seconds at a time 😂 and truthfully that name doesn't fit it as a lot of people would assume it is going to be in the same class as an MT07, When clearly it's not..
Good Prophecy! Equally good motorcycle. Kawasaki always has knack to surprise everyway.
Where is the Kawasaki that made the H2 bikes? This committed to all electric by 2035 is what turned me from Kawasaki simp to no Kawasaki ever.
Van Driessen raises some good points, as usual. It's also nice to see Kawasaki push the boundaries, like Yamaha. Shame we don't see the same from Honda and Suzuki. I'd never buy one, but I'm excited to see where hybrid technology might lead in the motorcycle market, much as I am for hydrogen combustion, ammonia combustion, and synthetic fuels.
A hybrid should be launched on a sport tourer, a full dresser or an adventure/adv tourer. These numbers are kLR like, put them in a KLR. KLR riders have been salivating over the hope of a diesel powered klr for decades specifically for range and milage.
Swing and miss
not a sportbike
It really seems like Kawi is obligating themselves to making any new tech go in a ninja. I guess they think their brand wouldn't exist unless ninjas were the most equipped bikes in their classes.
@@Ramonatho You're right. I still think ADV ergos are superior, my old KLR is the most comfortable bike I've ever had
The diesel exists 😅
@@rienkhoek4169 Vaporware 😂
I really, really don’t hate this bike. It looks great, the tech is cool as hell. But I wish they gave us like 80-90 hp, and kept the wheelbase short…. Or, don’t call it a ninja and market it as a standard/commuter bike, which it is. I really hope they keep developing this technology.
As an expat Brit living in the US, I can tell you that most Americans don’t really believe in the rest of the world, even though they buy so many products from China especially. For a small percentage, the rest of the world has “cute” places to “do”.
I agree with the comments on this being a platform for touring. I had a chance to try out an Energica for a short tour around the Olympic Peninsula. The entire trip became about where can I charge. Not having to worry about running out of electrons while still having that off the line torque or for passing and sipping fuel the rest of the way does fill that niche of a week on the road type of riding. That said, this is still one for the early adopters, but they gotta set the starting line somewhere. This is also going to help encourage other manufacturers to spend more on R&D to catch up and compete.
2:35 Drag racers. 15 seconds is a lifetime
I love the idea of going stealth occasionally and having the gas engine most of the time with the boost for traffic light take offs! The only downside is going to be the price. It will be more expensive than 2024 zx6r.
That helmet does look cool
I thought it was cool until I found out it was 450cc. I already have a 400cc my next step is a 600
Hearing you say Kawasaki as cow-uh-sack-ee is like an ice pick to the brain. Your'e a well respected YT motorcycle content creator and a learned man. Please pronounce Kawasaki properly cow-uh-sock-ee. After all you don't Yamaha as Yea-may-hay or Honda as Hoon-day!
He lives in Texas lol it’s not that deep that’s how a lot of people say it
Kah-wah-sah-kee. There is no "uh" anywhere in it. It's Japanese.
SOUNDS LIKE F1 tech... ERS are an F1 car's Energy Recovery Systems. These harvest electrical energy over the course of a lap, giving drivers a power boost that can be used to attack or defend during a grand prix. The ERS can generate an extra 160hp for around half a minute per lap.
Two components form the ERS: the Motor Generator Unit - Heat (MGU-H) and Motor Generator Unit - Kinetic (MGU-K). The MGU-H recycles waste heat from the turbocharger, while the MGU-K recovers lost energy from the braking system. The electricity produced is kept in the Energy Store (ES); usually a battery made up of lithium-ion cells.
Quick suggestion if this is a good idea. Then what if they make a 125 hybrid?
That's basically what the Piaggio MP3 scooter was
Ask Honda to make a hybrid Monkey maybe
I feel like that even if the bike isn´t gonna be the best it will still be important for the developement of hybrid motorcycles. A bit like the early toyota prius I reckon.
I could see a beginner on this bike, in first gear, fullish throttle, push the boost button, and dumping the clutch, where the extra 6 inches give them enough reaction time to hopefully slam the throttle close before they take the main loop to pain town.
There is no clutch lever... has paddle shift, but the clutch is automatic
Exactly, no clutch. So in reality, the flow goes like 1. Press boost button 2. Open throttle
The only thing I'm disappointed with is they went for 450cc instead of the original 300cc spec which was significantly lighters and less expensive overall, slapped into existing Ninja 400 frame. Sad.
Finally saw these in the showroom. They have a nice aesthetic, but they won't pull a greasy string out of a cat's butt. Kawasaki Ninja used to mean something. It used to instill fear or apprehension in brand x riders, especially the Italic brand riders.
This is lame, even if it is a first step into a new market segment.
Sick, you got the Ghosthorse just casually hanging around.
I can't Accept a Motorcycle without Clutch Lever.
$7599 in email straight from Kawasaki today..
Looked again $7599 for EV ninja not hybrid..
Bro!!! Surprised to see an agile hanging on the wall!!!!
servicing and maintenance costs are gonna be huge
I had a Jimmy Dean breakfast sandwich this morning. Yes, I am a man of culture.
Props to Kawasaki for realising Honda had out-nerd biked the Versys 650 with the NC750 and putting a load of R&D into this heavy hybrid thing. It would have been pretty sweet if the electric motor powered the front wheel separately from the rear and you could use it to creep about at low speed in traffic or reverse the bike. As it stands it's sort of like a bike version of the Honda CR-Z if anyone remembers that thing.
The CRZ was a kind of cool looking total embarrassment as a successor to the CRX which was a good car
@@chrispekel5709 tbh it's not a bad choice if you want a sort of unique and compact economy car but it's actually slower than a base Civic without really being more economical...weird one.
I suspect you're being optimistic on price. The problem with a hybrid is that you have the cost of a gas engine and its 1000 parts plus the cost of an electric drivetrain and its expensive battery. They'd have to be willing to take a pretty serious loss to make it a loss leader
I don't understand why they cheeped out so much on the swing arm. That is just a steel box section.
Longer wheelbase so that the higher torque doesn't pull the front up too easily
1) Both are motors but one of ‘em is an engine (ICE).
2) It maybe utilizing a KERS system with super-capacitors instead of batteries … such as F1 cars … to lower weight, decrease packaging dimensions, and enhance performance (despite super-caps having a shortened usable duration).
3) It will be a legend for decades ,whether you approve or not, because it beat Honda at it’s own game (fyi Honda innovated hybrid technology). However, Honda displayed their e-Wing trike couple years back and I bet they’re waiting for other manufactures to risk the perils of an uncertain market segment before offering their jewels!
5) Still confused and bewildered as to why there’s not a brake lever under the LT hand, like bicycles and scooters. It ain’t natural … and probably unsafe!
Camera angles, good. Breakfast, breakfast Crunchwrap. The hybrid bike, itself meh, but it’s also the first one. But look at the gen 1 Prius and how far it has come in 20+ years.
Heavy batteries means brick-like handling. Battery tech ain't there yet.
You’ve already hit the nail on the head “Who Cares” Bikes are about enjoyment not fuel economy
A good coffee will do for breakfast thanks
It’s a bottle of nitrous.
We all wish it lasted..
it’s fun until it done.
Its a dumb idea.... the gas-engine should be the generator, the electric-engine should be the drive motor. Maybe they tried that and couldn't get it balanced out but that is what Trains and Ships now use.
Ngl ima prolly get this bike to go to and from work. Seems like the perfect bike
At first glance I thought (it)… he was sheeting around computer screen.
I swapped video with another more pleasant person.
Make this 125 cc and ppl who care for gas mileage r gonna buy it. For a tech experimenter its great to test their theory in real world.
The fact is that technology just isn't there tbh. Ev poses a unique challenge in terms of weight, size and power output for motorcycles. Someone has to put some serious time and money into developing something comprehensive for a motorcycle that isn't super heavy and still meets the normal range on a charge that a full tank of gas would, while still remaining true to what a motorcycle is. Cars are the norm and that's what all the innovation and technology research is going into because naturally that's square one from a population stance. I still believe we are far away from a practical EV motorcycle, thus largely gutted and restricted bikes will be the norm moving forward. With the way things are trending, you would think this would be priority number 1 for all motorcycle manufacturers but from the outside looking in, that doesn't appear to be the case. The next decade will be very interesting to say the least. Long live inline 4s and Cp's💪
Actually it has different problems which were not mentioned in this video....
- in sport mode transmission is not automatic (like on DCT), but only manual with ability to change gear only with buttons on handlebar (Kawasaki engineers were surprised during tests that someone may want it.....)
- in ECO mode engine is going only up to 3500 rpm to reduce fuel consumption (meaning engine will get carbon buildup)
- in EV and ECO mode it does not work like regular automatic gearbox or DCT meaning if you need power you will not have any no matter how much you turn gas because there is nothing similar to kickdown and in ECO SW does not allow pass 3500 rpm for engine
- I was expecting way higher torque when running in hybrid mode when electric engine with high torque runs together with gas engine. Instead that increase is really low
- cheap components which does not deserve Ninja trademark (is worse then Ninja 650 vs ZX-6R)
+ on EV it is capable to run about 7 miles with that small battery
+ fully charged battery is in about 12 miles
+ e-boost works from standstill and on the move
+ big wheelbase (something very positive compared to 90% of modern production made - excuse me - for asian torso)
+ price supposed to be slightly over ZX-4RR, but still under ZX-6R
A hybrid version is going to do a lot better than the E-1 fully electric bikes that only have a 41mi max range.
Like, wtf are you going to do with that? Take a long trip across country?
Nope, not even a short trip to the mountains.
A hybrid is at least not an instant fail.
The hybrid system isn't needed, motorcycles have inherently good mileage and it's just not worth the weight budget or cost.
Someone should make a 21" electric wheel conversion for ADVs that can give regenerative braking and toggle AWD mode incase your stuck in sand/mud.
this is an awesome bike but paying double price for a 500 is not cool. 10k is the right price, not 12.5k...
I want it. I'd sell my current to support it and hope for better things in the future.
It’s a start. The Corvette E-Ray has some or the same issues. The battery only option last for 3 miles. But I agree with the 500lbs weight on the 451. I picked up the Eliminator and which has a wet weight of 388. It’s truly a gem in this set up and hope you can review it. It will be interesting if it sells at 12k and hopefully the they offer a warranty longer than 12 months. The entire MC industry will be watching closely.
Now they need to train a whole bunch of technicians on hybrid systems and the dangers. Also they’ll need the necessary safety tools built into their shops. I imagine not many dealers are going to get these in. Let alone work on them.
how about some forced induction around the battery so you can use it the whole time? use fans or something. actually a liquid cooling system would be cool af
My guess is this bike was developed to meet manufacturer average emissions requirements.
Never getting caught dead around that😅
I like it though. It’s not too bad. Really amazing for beginners(new riders).
It's all just talk, guesses and conversations. Aren't we asking for too much from a new emerging technology. It's a whole bunch of pretty unchartered territory for even Kawasaki. You can't blame them for playing it safe. I understand that you view motorcycle life mostly from an American standpoint. Nothing wrong with that. I'm sure you also know that other parts of the world are completely different.
It's always great to hear your side of the story though. A 400cc Ninja is literally more bike than you'll ever realistically need in my country of Singapore. Our legal highway speeds are 60mp/h.
You have to be earnestly forgiving about hybrid motorcycle tech. It's just really starting up. Let's enjoy our ICE for as long as they last
If it's a quiet engine then I would love this engine on the KLR 650. Wasting it on a sports bike is kind of a bummer. That's a very niche market with nothing but whiny riders that cry over a few pounds on their bike.
This technology is the future for Electric Motorcycles. Not that pure EV bs that is still 50 years away from something as simple as logistics.
Nice concept, for someone else. I already drive a Prius, this is not the bike for me.
I kinda like this bike. At least it looks really cool, just like other Ninjas.
Biggest thing for me is not being able to control the gear shifting. The more I think about it, the more jarring it sounds to have a bike shift on its own. I'd hate for it to shift halfway through a turn or something.
Please correct me if I'm wrong about that. I pretty sure it's auto
We'd have to see the reviews. so far I heard that the auto gear changes are a bit clunky, but it's basically a first generation of a huge potential range of bikes
That helmet you’re testing is an absolute knockoff of the icon airflite
Who cares, it looks better. And Icon isn't exactly top tier.