Kawasaki Hybrid Adventure Bike Soon To Be Reality!

In recent revelations, leaked patent designs have shed light on Kawasaki's upcoming Versys Hybrid. Following the trail of the Z 7 Hybrid, these blueprints suggest a shared hybrid powertrain. Featuring a 9 kW motor, a 1.4 kWh battery, and a 451 cc parallel-twin internal combustion engine.

The hybrid configuration aims to enhance the Versys Hybrid's touring capacity, allowing riders to seamlessly switch between fully electric and internal combustion engine (ICE) modes when the battery requires replenishment. The 451cc parallel-twin engine, with 69 bhp is the highlight here. This same 451cc engine makes 45 bhp and 42 Nm of torque on the Kawasaki Eliminator that was recently launched. (more about it here). Presently, Kawasaki presents the Versys 650, equipped with a 649cc parallel-twin liquid-cooled engine paired with a six-speed gearbox. This powertrain delivers 65 bhp and 69 Nm of peak torque.

The patent also shows a cooling system similar to the one employed in the Ninja Z7 prototype. The Kawasaki Versys Hybrid is expected to offer manual or automatic gear shift options. This could be a game-changer for touring, but the maintenance aspect and the costs of maintaining it raises questions for us. As more technology is added to motorcycles, they do become complex on the maintenance end which is a road block while traveling to remote locations which most of these adventure motorcycles are expected to do.

It is quite early to pinpoint what the bike will use in terms of suspension, frame, and cycle parts but we expect it to be similar to that of the Versys 650 or the 450 cc platform. . As Kawasaki progresses with the Versys Hybrid, further updates will unfold, providing insights into the manufacturer's approach to hybrid motorcycles.