Honda WN7: the new electric motorcycle available with an A1 licence

Honda, the global leader in two-wheelers, has finally launched its electric motorcycle, called the WN7, which is available to riders with an A1 licence. Until now, its electric range had consisted solely of scooters, leaving Harley-Davidson's LiveWire, Kawasaki and several specialist brands, including Zero Motorcycles, to occupy the field.

Honda has drawn attention by unveiling its first electric motorcycle, extending a line-up previously made up entirely of scooters. The WN7 represents a significant shift for the Japanese manufacturer, which leads the two-wheeler market with a 40% global market share and is now joining Kawasaki and Harley-Davidson. In Germany, BMW is therefore becoming even more isolated, as the brand has no plans to release electric motorcycles in the near future and is focusing instead on electric scooters.

1/ A single battery option

There are several key points to note about Honda's first electric motorcycle, starting with its continued focus on urban use. Beneath its futuristic styling, the Honda WN7 features a 9.3 kWh battery, a liquid-cooled electric motor and no petrol tank. Although it is intended to handle longer journeys beyond built-up areas with greater comfort than a conventional scooter, a special version remains accessible with an A1 licence, the licence category for 125 cc motorcycles.

2/ A standard version and a restricted version

Electric power brings several benefits to a motorcycle, including the ability to reach 120 to 129 km/h, depending on the version, with this new Honda WN7 - including for A1 licence holders. There are two variants: the first uses a 50 kW (68 hp) motor, while the second is restricted to 11.2 kW (15 hp) for A1 licence riders. In its standard form, the motorcycle claims a 0 to 100 km/h time of just 4.6 seconds. Without providing further details, the A1-restricted version is said to cover 0 to 50 metres in only 5 seconds.

3/ Honda WN7 range is around the market average

While the riding enjoyment offered by Honda's WN7 should be there, its range will nevertheless need to be considered. The new electric motorcycle has a 9.3 kWh battery and offers a range of either 140 or 153 km in its A1 version. In real-world conditions, the 140 km battery should allow roughly 120 km of riding. For charging, a domestic 230 V socket will restore a full charge in between 2.5 and 5.5 hours. It will also be possible to stop at an electric car charging station and recover 90 km of range in 30 minutes using a CCS2 connector.

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4/ A high price

These figures are broadly in line with the market, which includes several established manufacturers such as Harley-Davidson through its LiveWire brand, as well as Kawasaki. However, much of the current competition comes from newer manufacturers that have yet to earn the public's trust but arrive with strong selling points, particularly on price. Honda is launching its new WN7 at €14,999, with no price difference between the standard version and the A1 licence model. Both versions will have four riding modes - Standard, Sport, Rain and Econ - along with four levels of engine braking through regenerative braking.

Including its battery, Honda's WN7 electric motorcycle weighs 217.5 kg and comes with several notable features: ABS, LED lighting, a speed limiter, a 5-inch instrument display, a USB-C port, reverse gear up to 5 km/h and torque control. To connect a smartphone via Bluetooth, the Honda WN7 will offer the RoadSync app, allowing riders to add music, navigation and notifications.