Image Credit: Captain Electro.
If you've been following my column, you know I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with electric motorcycles. At best, they look like something a confused alien would ride to a disco. But today, I am practically beaming because I get to talk about the Honda WN7 again. Honda's first full-size electric motorcycle snagged a prestigious Gold iF Design Award. It turns out the judges agree with me: making a motorbike look like an actual motorbike is a winning strategy!
Legacy manufacturers have been acting as if "electric" means "must look like a prop from a cheap sci-fi flick." We've seen fake gas tanks, glowing blue lights, and shapes that defy the laws of comfort. Honda finally sat down and decided to build an honest good motorcycle that happens to run on electrons. The WN7 is a proper "naked bike." It has that classic, aggressive silhouette similar to the CB-series streetfighters we already love. It's familiar, balanced, and - praise the heavens - it doesn't look like a kitchen appliance.
Image Credit: Honda.
The engineering that went into the WN7 is really quite clever. Instead of shoving a battery into a traditional frame like a square peg in a round hole, Honda went "frameless." The battery itself is a structural element. It's the spine of the bike, reducing weight and making the whole thing look incredibly clean. It's honest engineering. There are no plastic bits trying to hide the "scary" electric parts. It's a beautiful machine showing off its high-tech heart.
In terms of "oomph," the WN7 is sitting pretty in the middleweight class. It pumps out about 67 horsepower and roughly 74 pound-feet of torque. That is plenty enough to get your heart racing during a Sunday morning ride without accidentally launching yourself into orbit. It's approachable. It's the kind of power that makes you feel like a cool biker chick (or dude) without the vibration of a gas engine trying to rattle your teeth out of your head.
Image Credit: Honda.
What about the juice? The WN7 comes with a 9.3 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. If you're riding around the city, you can expect a range of about 80 to 87 miles. Is it enough to ride across the Sahara? No chance. Is it enough to get to work, grab a latte, and hit the gym? Absolutely. And when you do run low, it has CCS fast charging. You can go from 20% to 80% charge in about 30 minutes - enough time to scroll through your phone and realize you've spent too much money on online shopping.
Of course, we have to talk about the price… In Europe, it's hitting the market at the equivalent of about $17,000. Yikes! That is a lot of organic kale and yoga classes. It's definitely on the pricey side for a middleweight bike. But seeing a major Japanese giant like Honda produce something this non-futuristic is a huge win for the industry. It signals that the big "legacy" brands are finally taking us electric fans seriously. If this is the future of motorcycles - functional, gorgeous, and award-winning - then I am totally in.
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