Kawasaki’s z7 Hybrid Motorcycle
Some will say Kawasaki has always been green, but the Japanese brand can now push its environmentally green credentials. Their Z7 Hybrid is a conventionally powered motorcycle with the added benefits of an electric motor to boost power output and economy and reduce emissions.
The push by governments and world organisations to cull internal combustion engine-powered vehicles is forcing manufacturers to produce electric motorcycles, hybrids and even hydrogen-powered bikes.
These manufacturers can't understand that motorcyclists don't want electric, Hybrid or hydrogen machines; they want petrol-powered bikes that sound great and have fabulous economies. However, as the brands make these greener bikes, they must be tested, and the findings must be reported to you, the reader.
Riding the Kawasaki Z7 Hybrid away from my home, the bike immediately feels heavy, and I ride a BMW R1250 RT daily. The weight comes from the electric motor and battery surrounding the petrol tank, and to add to the uneasy handling, the bike has a long wheelbase. I did not have a good first impression of how the bike handled.
The Kawasaki Z7 Hybrid is top-heavy at low speed and has a poor turning circle, so changing direction is difficult. It is heavy and awkward, and when you start to increase speed out of town, you find the rear shock doesn't suppress the bumps you find along B-roads.
One positive about the Kawasaki z7 Hybrid is the power, which provides plenty of speed, and you get an exhilarating ride when you engage e-boost. The addition of electric power combined with the petrol engine is incredible. You get three riding modes to play around with, but I bet you will stick with Sport-Hybrid rather than Eco-Hybrid or full electric. You must change gears through the buttons mounted on the handlebar when in Sport-Hybrid, as the Z7 Hybrid only has automatic gear change in Eco-Hybrid.
The e-boost I mentioned is only available when you are in Sport mode, and it increases output by 9.9bhp from the electric motor for five seconds, perfect for assisting overtakes. You will also find it a blast when using it away from starting lines on track days and traffic lights, which will be more frequent.
Using Eco reduces the engine power and assistance from the electric motor, improving the economy and allowing 80mpg through mixed riding. The Kawasaki Z7 Hybrid has start/stop and pulls away using electric power, then the petrol engine takes over, but in Eco, it is bland compared to Sport mode. The bike is happy cruising along, but you get frustrated with the gearbox, particularly the auto mode, where the gear changes are too fast, and the top gear is held too long, impacting engine braking and acceleration.
If you override the auto gearbox using the push button selectors, the bike won't return to auto unless you select it. The bike lacks a drop gear function for overtaking, and the e-boost is disabled when you would benefit from it in the manoeuvre.
The Kawasaki Z7 Hybrid becomes fully electric in EV mode, and you can still use the gears to reach a maximum of 40mph in fourth gear, giving you 5-8 miles of range. After this, the petrol engine cuts in, and you must ride about 25 miles at 60mph to charge the bike fully.
You get a four-year warranty included, and the parallel twin is a basic engine that should be solid, so you should not get any issues with the bike. The hybrid system is well-constructed and has tested technology, so reliability will not be a problem.
In this era, we are expecting more from our motorbikes than we are with cars as technology improves and hybrid systems develop. We are told that hybrids are better for the environment and are meant to be better for your finances, with mpg figures growing constantly.
The Kawasaki Z7 Hybrid gets you, on average, 70mpg with combined use, which is good for a bike of this capacity. The drawback is that it is £12k, and you can get quite a few other bikes for half the price, which will give you 60mpg.
The Z7 Hybrid doesn't look great and only has limited technology. You do get a TFT display, which can connect to the Kawasaki Rideology App, but it is basic compared to rivals.
£12k is the starting price of the Kawasaki Z7 Hybrid, which is steep, and you don't get many specifications for that money. There isn't any traction control, adjustable forks or angle-responsive electronics, so it doesn't make it that appealing.
The Kawasaki Z7 Hybrid has some impressive points, such as its ability to run as a full EV machine, and the Eco-Hybrid enables you to get 80mpg. The technology is smart, but the bike is not appealing because of its poor gearbox, heavy handling, and hefty price.
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