It’s a really cool idea. I hope they sale well enough for Kawasaki to continue improving on it. I’d love to own one of these bikes…but 13k is pretty steep. Though, all prototypes or “first of their kinds” are usually steep in price.
Shame that you didn’t get to ride the bike (although it would need to be fully run in to give it a fair go with full throttle plus E-Boast !) but you certainly gave us a ton of useful information about this bike 🇬🇧
Yea, I wanted to see how it felt, maybe then compare it to the zero sr/s (f). But they only allow a 1 mile ride so it wouldn't have told me all that much! Glad you got something out of it! I love technology and this is just the start.
I've owned 2 electric motorbikes (Zero and Energica), and I think it's cool that a mainstream manufacturer is trying something like this, but it's a bit of a swing and a miss in my view, as much as I like the idea of a hybrid. The gas mileage isn't really any better than Honda's NC750X, which has a more refined automatic, more practicality, and is a lot cheaper, and most people are going to take one look at the price and get a Ninja 650 instead, which looks similar spec-wise on paper. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to have a hybrid someday with the electric motor tuned to give big gobs of low-down torque that can make a 650 launch like a Triumph Rocket but gets 80+ MPG, this just isn't quite it for me.
All fair points, I will admit I don't know the whole range in this space, I'm more in the high performance area. But to me this is a great start, it's 13k, which I don't think is that bad. Considering the zero is over 20k.
@@CaliMotoTV Definitely a better value than the Zero, and easier to live with. Nowhere near the neck-snapping acceleration, of course, but we can't have everything in this life.
Everything needed to distill the riding experience down to pure suck. Besides that, needs more modes and wheelbase. At least they left the greasy-ass drive chain.
@@CaliMotoTV so does the 500 Ninja. I've got one of those and it's getting around 55 mi to the gallon, even with abuse. Lol. I'm sorry but this particular hybrid Kawasaki thing is horrible.
@Shane661 I mean it is the motor from the ninja 500. It's the only bike like this out and it's a first run so they'll improve over time. Not saying this is a killer bike, just that it has potential for future improvement.
EV’s are gay, the future is hybrid. Best fuel economy, awesome range, still have the character and personality of an engine, and they don’t rely on garbage charging infrastructure. Give this bike a 20 hp bump and some sport suspension next model year and I’ll trade my Aprilia.
It’s a really cool idea. I hope they sale well enough for Kawasaki to continue improving on it. I’d love to own one of these bikes…but 13k is pretty steep. Though, all prototypes or “first of their kinds” are usually steep in price.
Ah hybrids in general will be more expensive, if they can get a bit more power to offset that weight it'll be better. But it's a solid start.
Shame that you didn’t get to ride the bike (although it would need to be fully run in to give it a fair go with full throttle plus E-Boast !) but you certainly gave us a ton of useful information about this bike 🇬🇧
Yea, I wanted to see how it felt, maybe then compare it to the zero sr/s (f). But they only allow a 1 mile ride so it wouldn't have told me all that much! Glad you got something out of it! I love technology and this is just the start.
I've owned 2 electric motorbikes (Zero and Energica), and I think it's cool that a mainstream manufacturer is trying something like this, but it's a bit of a swing and a miss in my view, as much as I like the idea of a hybrid. The gas mileage isn't really any better than Honda's NC750X, which has a more refined automatic, more practicality, and is a lot cheaper, and most people are going to take one look at the price and get a Ninja 650 instead, which looks similar spec-wise on paper. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to have a hybrid someday with the electric motor tuned to give big gobs of low-down torque that can make a 650 launch like a Triumph Rocket but gets 80+ MPG, this just isn't quite it for me.
All fair points, I will admit I don't know the whole range in this space, I'm more in the high performance area. But to me this is a great start, it's 13k, which I don't think is that bad. Considering the zero is over 20k.
@@CaliMotoTV Definitely a better value than the Zero, and easier to live with. Nowhere near the neck-snapping acceleration, of course, but we can't have everything in this life.
Whats the max mph for all 3 modes?
No clue
Everything needed to distill the riding experience down to pure suck. Besides that, needs more modes and wheelbase. At least they left the greasy-ass drive chain.
For a commuter bike it'll be fine, it still has a 451cc motor in it.
@@CaliMotoTV so does the 500 Ninja. I've got one of those and it's getting around 55 mi to the gallon, even with abuse. Lol. I'm sorry but this particular hybrid Kawasaki thing is horrible.
@Shane661 I mean it is the motor from the ninja 500. It's the only bike like this out and it's a first run so they'll improve over time. Not saying this is a killer bike, just that it has potential for future improvement.
Meh....
EV’s are gay, the future is hybrid. Best fuel economy, awesome range, still have the character and personality of an engine, and they don’t rely on garbage charging infrastructure. Give this bike a 20 hp bump and some sport suspension next model year and I’ll trade my Aprilia.
Good thing this is a hybrid then
Only shit.
Why do you say that?