Kawasaki 7 Hybrid Showcases A Green & Fun Future

Kawasaki has been known to set new benchmarks when it comes to technology. A few years back it shocked bikers by launching the Kawasaki Ninja H2 and H2R, a supercharged superbike which is blisteringly fast. But with changing times, the Japanese giant has shifted its attention towards a carbon neutral future and has revealed the Kawasaki Ninja 7 Hybrid. We have seen hybrid technology in cars for over a decade internationally and we do the same in a lot of mass market cars in India recently, this technology has been alien when it comes to motorcycles. The new Kawasaki 7 Hybrid features a strong hybrid system and it can run on petrol or electric power in isolation or a combination of the two.

The motorcycle unveiled is powered by a 451 cc, parallel-twin engine pumping out 48 bhp. Whereas the electric motor offers an additional 12.1 bhp and features a 48V battery. So the combined power output is 60 bhp but the Ninja 7 Hybrid also gets a special e-boost feature that offers 69 bhp for 15 seconds (something like a NOS boost).

With the e-boost, the 451 cc motor delivers more power than the Kawasaki Ninja 650! Torque figure remains elusive but Kawasaki claims that the acceleration performance of the new Hybrid 7 is equivalent to that of litre-class motorcycles, which is very impressive given its humble displacement. Another interesting claim is that the fuel efficiency of the hybrid motorcycle is on par with a 250 cc motorcycle.

The Kawasaki 7 Hybrid doesn’t get a conventional gearbox and misses out on a clutch lever or a gear lever. Instead the rider can upshift or downshift using a button on the switchgear, this system is similar to the DCT technology that we have seen on the Honda Africa Twin. There’s also a walk mode that will help you park the bike and it also gets reverse mode.

The Kawasaki Kawasaki 7 Hybrid employs a simple steel trellis frame but what’s impressive is the manner in which the engine, electric motor and the 48V lithium-ion battery pack has been packaged seamlessly. In terms of styling, the new hybrid motorcycle is sporty and has the familiar Kawasaki design DNA. The riding posture is on the lines of the Ninja 650, sporty and comfortable.

The 7 Hybrid will go on sale in international markets in 2024 as for India launch it might be introduced by late 2024 based on the response it receives globally.