Kawasaki Z7 Hybrid: the Ninja hybrid goes naked

Less than a month on from the international press launch of Kawasaki’s Ninja 7 petrol electric sportsbike, the Japanese firm have doubled down on the planet conscious concept and revealed a second naked derivative, called the Z7.   

Showcased at the Eicma show in Milan, the Z7 Hybrid (to give it its full name) shares the same 451cc parallel twin engine as the sporty, sophisticated faired tourer – plus the 9kW electric motor. This unit is said to be able to provide 7.5 miles of range on its own, before the petrol power steps in again for a recharge. 

Essentially a stripped back version of the Ninja model that came before it, the Zed also uses the same trellis frame, with the bike providing a choice of three rider modes.  

First, there’s a city-friendly, electric-only mode with an automatic transmission. Next, riders can switch to an Eco-Hybrid mode (in which the internal combustion and electric motor work together) although riders can choose between full auto and a six-speed paddle-triggered gears.  

Finally, a Sport mode squeezes as much performance as possible out of the 7 Hybrid’s two power sources – and there’s an additional e-Boost function (triggered by a paddle switch on the right handlebar) which gives all the power possible in a five second burst.

The Z 7 Hybrid will be available in two colours, and is expected to arrive on sale in May 2024.