Motorcycle specifications KawasakiZ 7 Hybrid 2025 Walking vers le futur

Kawasaki loves roadster-sports bike duos. You'll find them all over the range: Z 650 / Ninja 650 - Z 500 / Ninja 500 - Z H2 / ex-Ninja H2 - Z e-1 / Ninja e-1 - Z 125 / Ninja 125. Two riding philosophies on the same base. The same applies to the hybrid sector, where Akashi is exploring the first horizons. The Z 7 Hybrid offers high handlebars and two hearts underneath.

This is the first roadster from a major dual-motor manufacturer. While the idea has been around for a long time in cars, developing it on a motorcycle is much more complicated. You don't have a lot of room for two types of engine, an imposing battery and a fuel tank! But between the underbody and the trunk of a car, there's no shortage of dm3. The green team worked hard to achieve this highly technical assembly.

First, they designed a Z500-style tubular steel frame, with additional structural reinforcements around the top of the engine. Then fit in a 451 cm3 twin-cylinder, an electric motor above the (robotized) gearbox, a 13 kg 48V battery, an inverter, a converter to send 12V to the on-board system, a few thick cables and the algorithm to make it all work together. But not all the time: the Z 7 Hybrid can be driven in many different ways.

It's like Driving Modes, except that the bike mixes technologies according to need. - In the Eco configuration, the bike starts out electrically, then automatically switches to internal combustion after 2,000 rpm. The rider can choose between manual or automatic transmission. And to save fuel, the engines go to sleep when the bike is stopped.
- With EV Mode, it's all electric. No noise, no pollution, the best! But limited. Range is just 12 km, and top speed is reduced.
- Walk Mode is designed for short maneuvers. It's a smart idea, allowing you to move along at a leisurely 3 km/h at the touch of a button. Need to reverse? No problem, the Z7 can also do so at 2 km/h.
- Finally, Sport Mode unleashes the power of the bike. The twin-cylinder engine takes care of its 59 hp and is ready to be reinforced by the electric motor at any moment. One press of the thumb on the button next to the gas pedal and the Z will give it all it's got.

The manufacturer claims that, with e-boost, this Z can outperform a ZX-10R on a standing start... under certain conditions. Have they been smoking at Kawa!?! Maybe not. Electrics are known for their immediate torque. Over a few dozen meters, it's possible they'll hold their own. But after..... especially as the e-boost only works for 5 seconds. Very useful for overtaking, but not for playing Fast & Furious.
Let's look at some figures: with this system, maximum power reaches 69 hp at 10,500 rpm and torque peaks at 6.2 mkg.... At just 2,800 rpm.

i don't need to tell you how much work has gone into the electronics, the clutch, the combination of motors and all the rest of it, to achieve a seamless driving experience. You might have guessed it from the styling of this roadster. Its protruding lines punctuate a technicality and complexity that's skin-deep. Its size would make it easy to pass off as a 1000, with an aggressiveness relativized by its architectural genetics. The Z is a hybrid in both form and propulsion.

It's almost astonishing that its chassis is much wiser than its innards. Suspension, wheels and swingarm are in line with those of the Z 400 / Z 500. A standard 41 mm fork, a monoshock connected to a Uni Trak linkage repositioned because of the battery, almost no adjustments (just rear preload), 300 mm discs with double-piston calipers, a 250 mm rear disc - simple solutions. Other data will surprise you. The 1524 mm wheelbase is slightly shorter than that of the Ninja 7 Hybrid sibling. This should make it a little more agile. Agility is relative, as these are the highest values in the Kawasaki range. Even a Versys 1000 has a shorter wheelbase. You'll have to go back to the VN 1700 to find a bigger gap.

The weight is also significant. 226 kg, about half a quintal more than a Z 650. Outch, not easy for a machine in this segment. But there was no choice: we had to fit a lot of gear in the engine room. And when you weigh up the ratio of technology to weight, you realize that Kawasaki has done a pretty good job. Not to mention that it's the first of its kind.

the presence of a color TFT screen blends in perfectly with this machine of the near future. The usual Kawa interface has been adapted for hybridization, with two "fuel" gauges, evolving signage according to Modes, all the necessary information and Bluetooth connectivity for a symbiotic relationship between the smartphone and the Rideology app.

Let's take a look at a few of the Z 7 Hybrid's key features, to get a quick idea of its hp.
- 43.5 kW internal combustion engine and 9 kW electric motor
- Robotized gearbox
- Choice of automatic or manual transmission
- Left-hand gearshift
- Start & Stop system
- Starter-alternator
- Walk mode for low-speed forward or reverse operation
- Fully electric EV mode
- ALPF system for engaging first gear after a stop
- Part-cycle of a 500
- Rechargeable battery on the move
- 4.3" TFT instrumentation

The Kawasaki Z7 Hybrid, and its sporty Ninja 7 alter ego, break new ground. A dual engine, performance of 650, fuel consumption of 250, an unprecedented driving experience - a challenge for everyone. Inevitably, it has to take to the water with a few knuckles to grind: weight, a hefty price tag, and a double-edged curiosity. Obstacles that all pioneers must overcome.

M.B - Manufacturer's photos