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Kawasaki Z7 Hybrid Review (Baujahr 2024)

The first hybrid motorcycle from Kawasaki in the test

30.06.2024

Photos: Motorradtest.de

The new Kawasaki Z7 Hybrid is the first production hybrid motorcycle to have made it from experimental status to a mature model. Volker and Dietmar have tried out what it means to ride a motorcycle with a combustion engine and electric motor and how much fun you can have with it.

The uncanny encounter of a new kind

Do you remember the movie "The Close Encounters of the Third Kind" by Steven Spielberg? Volker and Dietmar looked about the same way as after this film when Ingo Heller from Heller & Soltau pushed the Z7 Hybrid out of the showroom in St. Michaelisdonn. What is that?! Well, it's the first hybrid motorcycle ready for series production and of course comes from Japan.

Visually, the Z7 Hybrid is reminiscent of - a Kawasaki Z model. Oh no! So no real surprise and fortunately no over-the-top tec design, although the long swingarm brings a little dragster look to the naked bike. The battery sits under the seat and the electric motor on the combustion engine, both nicely packaged under the side panel. If it weren't for the lettering "Hybrid", you wouldn't even see that it is such a motorcycle. By the way, there is also a fully faired sister model called "Ninja 7 Hybrid", which is technically built in the same way as the Z7 Hybrid tested here, which is available for 12,995 euros.

Colors: Gray-Black and White-Green.

Dimensions and seat test

Then go up on the box and see how it sits. The machine looks very grown-up, you notice the long wheelbase even when stationary. The seat height of just under 80 centimeters is okay even for smaller people, but even taller people will find enough space for a comfortable, upright seat. The handlebars are not too low and not too far away from the rider and the footrests are also mounted "normally in the middle" for a naked bike. The pillion rider sits elevated and can easily look over the rider. Unfortunately, there are no grab handles as standard, but there is the usual retaining strap. All in all, typical seat ergonomics for a naked bike.

The higher weight of 227 kg due to the battery and the additional electric motor is not really noticeable when maneuvering and there is also a "walk mode" for this, but we'll get to that later.

Abmessungen und Sitzprobe Kawasaki Z7 Hybrid

That's what it's like to sit on the Kawasaki Z7 Hybrid.

360-degree tour of the Z7 Hybrid

Technology of the Z7 Hybrid

The Kawasaki Z7 Hybrid has the typical Kawa TFT color display, which can be read perfectly. In addition to the normal displays for speed, gear, revs, fuel level, etc., there is a lot of additional information for the electric and hybrid modes, but it still doesn't overload the display.

To operate the four color modes and the automatic, there are five switches on the left, which may be a little overwhelming for the driver at first, but they all make sense and whose function can be memorized quite quickly. We describe details about the functions and riding modes and how that feels below.

We find the fact that the machine has no traction control and no parking brake somewhat surprising. This would make sense insofar as the Z7 Hybrid automatically switches to neutral when switched off. Of course, the light is fully LED, but there is no cornering light or tilt sensors. So there is no cornering ABS either - but you can pair the Z7 with your smartphone.

This is how it drives

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