Powertrain: 50 kW Peak / 18 kW Continuous, 100 Nm From 0 rpm, Belt Drive—Like a 600, but Instantly Available

A liquid-cooled electric motor is integrated into a compact Power Drive Unit, PDU, together with the inverter and cooling circuit. The A2 version produces 50 kW / 68 hp of peak power, available for short periods, and 18 kW / 25 hp of continuous power, measured over 30 minutes according to UNECE R85. Maximum torque is 100 Nm—and it is fully available from the first revolution. The A1/B196 version produces 11.4 kW / 15 hp peak power, 11 kW continuous power, and the same 100 Nm, with a top speed of 120 km/h. The A2 version reaches 129 km/h. Honda compares the A2 model’s performance with that of a 600 cc combustion-engine motorcycle, and testing confirms the claim: no other A2 motorcycle accelerates faster.

Belt final drive is maintenance-free and quiet, requiring no chain oil or lubrication. It is the logical choice for an electric motorcycle: there is no transmission and therefore no transmission losses, while mechanical noise remains minimal. Riding is quiet and pleasant, with no whining or buzzing and no fairing-generated helmet turbulence. Instead of engine noise, you hear only wind and tires.

There are four riding modes: Sport, Standard, Rain, and Eco. Regenerative braking can be adjusted through three levels, allowing stronger engine braking through corners and additional deceleration when the throttle is closed. Selectable Speed Limit Assist offers settings of 30, 50, 70, 90, and 120 km/h and automatically maintains the selected speed through motor control and regenerative braking, uphill as well as downhill.

Battery & Charging: 9.3 kWh, 140 km WMTC, Approx. 100 km Real-World—30 Minutes to 80 Percent via CCS2

The permanently installed lithium-ion battery has a capacity of 9.3 kWh, operates at 349.44 volts, and contains 576 cells. It is not merely a passive power bank—it performs a structural function. The steering head, rear subframe, and swingarm mounting points are connected to the central battery unit. This saves frame weight, increases rigidity, and lowers the center of gravity. There is no conventional frame in the traditional sense.

CCS2 fast charging comes standard and takes the battery from 20 to 80 percent in approximately 30 minutes. Using an AC Type 2 wallbox, charging from zero to 100 percent takes approximately 2.4 hours. From a conventional 230-volt household outlet, a full charge takes approximately 5.5 hours.

WMTC range is 140 km. According to an ADAC test, real-world range with sporty, motorcycle-style riding is approximately 100 km, equivalent to roughly 10 percent of battery capacity per 10 km. Riders commuting at a more relaxed pace can achieve the stated 140 km WMTC figure. The WN7 is not a motorcycle for a full-day Alpine tour. It is designed for commuting, city riding, and recreational rides of around 100 to 140 km.

Chassis & Suspension: Structural Battery, Single-Sided Swingarm, Cornering ABS, Walking Mode—Unconventional and Consistent

The WN7 uses a frameless chassis. There is no separate aluminum frame in the conventional sense. The battery pack forms the structural heart of the motorcycle. This concept is not new among electric motorcycles, but Honda uses it to full effect.

Up front is a 43 mm upside-down fork with 120 mm of travel. At the rear is a monoshock combined with a Pro-Arm single-sided swingarm, also providing 120 mm of travel. The single-sided swingarm is the visual highlight: the rear wheel and rim are completely exposed on one side, there is no exhaust in the way, and the rear of the motorcycle looks clean and modern. Tire sizes are 120/70 R17 front and 150/60 R17 rear, fitted to 17-inch cast-aluminum wheels.

Cornering ABS comes standard, as does lean-angle-sensitive HSTC traction control. There is also a Walking Mode that moves the motorcycle forward or backward at speeds of up to 5 km/h using button controls. With a weight of 217 kg, this is genuinely useful for maneuvering in tight garages or parking spaces.

A keyless system comes standard, as does a USB-C port. The 5-inch TFT uses Optical Bonding anti-glare technology for good readability even in direct sunlight, Honda RoadSync connectivity, and a dedicated WN7 EV user interface. LED lighting is standard.

Ergonomics: 800 mm Seat Height, 217 kg, Classic Naked-Bike Feel—Familiar From the First Meter

Seat height is 800 mm, a moderate figure that provides good ground contact for riders from approximately 1.70 meters tall. Despite its 217 kg weight, the WN7 feels lighter than it is thanks to the low seat, low center of gravity created by the centrally and low-mounted battery, and narrow construction. Walking Mode compensates for the weight while maneuvering.

The seating position and handlebar layout feel like those of a conventional naked bike. Anyone familiar with a traditional Honda motorcycle will immediately feel at home on the WN7.

Colors are Matte Pearl Morion Black, Pearl Deep Mud Gray, and Graphite Black—all three dark, subdued finishes emphasizing the motorcycle’s functional, technical character. Optional gold accents provide a visual contrast. The exposed battery pack as the visual center of the motorcycle will polarize opinion: future cool or gaming tower, depending on your perspective. The LED front end, with separately mounted twin headlights and a separate daytime running light, has its own identity but remains visually close to the EV FUN Concept shown at EICMA 2024.

Handling: 100 Nm, Instantly, Silky Smooth—No A2 Motorcycle Accelerates Faster

One hundred Newton-meters from the first revolution, without gear changes, without revving the engine, without clutch work: the riding experience is fundamentally different from that of a combustion-engine motorcycle. Acceleration is immediate, seamless, silky smooth, and predictable. No other A2-class motorcycle accelerates this quickly.

The 50 kW peak output is available for short periods, after which the 18 kW A2 continuous-power rating limits sustained output. In city riding, you are constantly operating within the peak-power range and never feel the limitation. On the highway or during longer full-throttle sections, however, the continuous-power limit becomes noticeable. That is fundamentally different from a combustion engine.

For riders switching from a combustion-engine motorcycle, the biggest adjustments are regenerative braking when closing the throttle, which can be set from mild to strong, the absence of a clutch, and the motorcycle’s silence. For riders entering motorcycling for the first time, the WN7’s immediate, linear thrust and uncomplicated operation make it an accessible introduction to riding.

The target audience is clear: early adopters, technically minded urban and suburban riders, and anyone comfortable with a daily operating range of up to 130–140 km.

Costs: From €15,379—Upper End of the Electric-Motorcycle Market

Prices start at €15,379 including destination charges. Competitors in the electric-motorcycle segment include the Zero S, with a larger battery and greater range but less peak power and a smaller dealer network, and the LiveWire One, following a substantial price reduction to €14,790, with greater range and more power.

The WN7 is Honda’s entry point into the premium electric-motorcycle segment, with the advantage of Honda’s dense authorized-dealer network and the level of quality buyers expect from the brand.

Honda publishes separate warranty terms for the battery pack, so buyers should confirm those details with their dealer. The standard vehicle warranty is two years.

Running costs are significantly lower than on a combustion-engine motorcycle: no engine oil, no chain maintenance thanks to the low-maintenance belt drive, and no clutch hydraulics. Charging from household electricity costs approximately €3–4 for a full 9.3 kWh charge.

Verdict

The Honda WN7 is a serious motorcycle—not an urban scooter and not an experiment. One hundred Newton-meters instantly, 50 kW peak power, Cornering ABS, belt drive, structural battery, CCS2 fast charging: Honda has built its first full-size electric motorcycle with the same attention to detail expected from its combustion-engine machines.

The 140 km WMTC range, approximately 100 km in sporty real-world riding, clearly limits its operating radius. Stay within those limits and you get a familiar, quiet motorcycle with instant acceleration—from €15,379.

For everyone else, a combustion-engine motorcycle remains the better choice.

 

Quick Check

+ 50 kW / 68 hp peak power; 100 Nm instantly from 0 rpm—no A2 motorcycle accelerates faster

+ CCS2 fast charging standard: 20 to 80 percent in approximately 30 minutes

+ Structural battery as chassis element: low center of gravity, high rigidity, lower weight

+ Belt drive: maintenance-free, quiet, no chain oil

+ Pro-Arm single-sided swingarm: visual highlight, clean rear end without an exhaust

+ Walking Mode, ±5 km/h: makes maneuvering the 217 kg motorcycle considerably easier

+ Cornering ABS and lean-angle-sensitive HSTC standard

+ Four riding modes + three-level regenerative braking; Selectable Speed Limit Assist at 30/50/70/90/120 km/h

+ 5-inch TFT with Optical Bonding anti-glare technology + Honda RoadSync standard

+ Keyless system, USB-C, full LED lighting standard

+ Riding position like a conventional Honda naked bike: easy transition

+ Dense Honda authorized-dealer network—an advantage over smaller electric brands

 

– 140 km WMTC / approx. 100 km real-world range when ridden sportily: not suitable for day trips over 100 km without a charging stop

– 217 kg: noticeable while maneuvering; Walking Mode helps but does not eliminate the weight

– Battery styling polarizes opinion: exposed battery block as the visual centerpiece is a matter of taste

– €15,379: high price for limited range; combustion-engine motorcycles with comparable performance cost less

– Household outlet: 5.5-hour charging time; CCS2 infrastructure recommended

– Battery warranty terms: confirm with dealer

 

Technical Specifications: Honda WN7 (2026)

Country of Manufacture: Japan

Powertrain: Liquid-cooled permanent-magnet electric motor; integrated Power Drive Unit, PDU: motor + inverter + cooling circuit

Peak Power: 50 kW / 68 hp, short-term; A1/B196 version: 11.4 kW / 15 hp

Continuous Power, 30 min: 18 kW / 25 hp A2 version; 11 kW / 15 hp A1/B196 version

Torque: 100 Nm, both versions, from 0 rpm

Top Speed: 129 km/h, A2 version; 120 km/h, A1/B196 version

License Class: A2, 18 kW continuous power; A1 / B196, 11 kW

Transmission / Final Drive: No transmission. Belt Drive, maintenance-free

Chassis: Frameless: lithium-ion battery pack performs a structural function, no conventional frame; front structure + rear subframe + swingarm mounting connected to battery unit

Battery: 9.3 kWh; 349.44 V; lithium-ion; 576 cells; permanently installed, non-removable; structural function

AC Charging, Type 2: 0 to 100 percent in approximately 2.4 hours, wallbox

AC Charging, 230 V: 0 to 100 percent in approximately 5.5 hours, household outlet

DC Charging, CCS2: 20 to 80 percent in approximately 30 minutes, fast charger

WMTC Range: 140 km. Real-world range approximately 100 km with sporty riding

Riding Modes / Electronics: Four riding modes—Sport, Standard, Rain, Eco; three-level adjustable regenerative braking; Selectable Speed Limit Assist, 30/50/70/90/120 km/h; Cornering ABS; lean-angle-sensitive HSTC; Walking Mode, ±5 km/h

Front Suspension: 43 mm USD fork; 120 mm travel

Rear Suspension: Monoshock; Pro-Arm single-sided swingarm; 120 mm travel

Brakes: Cornering ABS standard

Wheels: Cast-aluminum wheels; 17-inch front and rear

Front Tire: 120/70 R17

Rear Tire: 150/60 R17

Display: 5-inch TFT with Optical Bonding anti-glare technology, dedicated WN7 EV user interface, Honda RoadSync

Equipment: Keyless system, USB-C, LED lighting, Pro-Arm single-sided swingarm

Weight: 217 kg

Seat Height: 800 mm

Colors: Mat Pearl Morion Black, Pearl Deep Mud Gray, Graphite Black

Price in Germany: €15,379 including destination charges

Warranty: 2-year vehicle warranty. Battery warranty terms available separately from dealer