- The Honda WN7 has landed in European dealers from €14,780 ($16,879).
- Power comes from a 9.3 kWh lithium-ion battery and a single motor.
- The WN7 delivers 67 hp and a respectable 74 lb-ft (100 Nm) of torque.
The era of electric motorcycles has arrived, and while it hasn’t matured as fast as the electric car world, more brands keep rolling out two-wheelers that run on volts. Honda has now shown its first, the WN7, an all-electric bike headed for European roads alongside a pair of electric scooters. It marks the point where one of the biggest names in motorcycling stops watching the segment and starts building in it.
Read: Honda Builds An Electric Bike For Grown Ups But The Charge Feels Wrong
The WN7 was unveiled in September of last year, premiering as a production version of the EV Fun concept that Honda had debuted the year prior. Honda has since confirmed it started arriving in European dealerships last month. Importantly for traditional motorcycle enthusiasts, Honda notes the WN7 has not been designed to replace one of its existing petrol-powered bikes.
Visually, the WN7 has a funky, retro-inspired theme going on and looks rather suave. It includes stacked, square headlights and, being a naked bike, lacks a wind deflector. Obviously, the big battery pack sitting in the frame immediately distinguishes it from a typical gas bike, but it certainly looks purposeful. Perhaps the highlight is the Ducati-inspired single-sided rear swing arm.
The WN7 is driven by a 9.3 kWh lithium-ion battery pack and a single electric motor delivering 67 hp and 74 lb-ft (100 Nm) of torque. While those figures are strong, it does tip the scales at a rather portly 478 lbs or 217 kg, which is a lot for a motorcycle of this size. Nevertheless, the immediate torque offered up by the electric motor should ensure it’s plenty of fun to ride.
Regen For Added Efficiency
Using an electric powertrain also brings with it other perks. For example, the WN7 features configurable regenerative braking to help recoup energy and reduce strain on the mechanical brakes. To ensure riders don’t accidentally spin the throttle and fire forward while parking, Honda has added a ‘walking speed mode’ that allows for precise throttle adjustments at low speeds.
A €10 Gap With Honda’s Fingerprints On It
Prices for the WN7 vary by market. It opens at £12,999 (equal to $17,300 at current rates) in the UK, while in mainland Europe it starts at €14,780 ($16,879), just enough to undercut the updated LiveWire One by €10 ($11). That last figure comes from the electric brand Harley-Davidson spun off years ago, and the gap wasn’t pulled out of a hat. The One once wore a sticker well north of €30,000 (about $34,300) in Europe, then slid to around €25,000 ($28,500), and LiveWire has since taken it down to €14,790 ($16,890).
The WN7 reaches buyers alongside the EM1 e: and CUV e: electric scooters, which fill out the lower end of Honda’s new electric lineup.
