Honda WN7: the electric motorcycle accessible with an A1 licence

Honda, the global leader in two-wheelers, has finally unveiled its electric motorcycle, the WN7, which is available to A1 licence holders. Until now, its electric line-up had been limited to scooters, leaving the electric motorcycle market to Harley-Davidson’s LiveWire, Kawasaki and specialist brands such as Zero Motorcycles.

Honda has drawn attention with the launch of its first electric motorcycle, expanding a range that had previously consisted solely of scooters. The WN7 represents a significant shift for the Japanese manufacturer, which holds 40% of the global two-wheeler market and is now joining Kawasaki and Harley-Davidson in this segment. BMW is therefore increasingly isolated in Germany, 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 for the Honda WN7

There are several key points to note about Honda’s first electric motorcycle. First, it remains primarily designed for urban riding. Beneath its futuristic styling, the Honda WN7 features a 9.3 kWh battery, a liquid-cooled electric motor and no petrol tank. While it is intended to offer greater comfort than a conventional scooter on longer journeys and rides beyond town and city limits, a dedicated version can still be ridden with an A1 licence, the licence category for 125cc motorcycles.

2/ Standard and restricted versions

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

3/ Average range

Although riding Honda’s WN7 should be enjoyable, its range will need to be considered. The new electric motorcycle is fitted with a 9.3 kWh battery and offers a range of 140 or 153 km in A1 form. In real-world conditions, the 140 km battery is expected to provide around 120 km of riding. Using a domestic 230 V socket, a full recharge will take between 2.5 and 5.5 hours. Alternatively, stopping at an electric car charging station with a CCS2 connector can restore 90 km of range in 30 minutes.

4/ A high price

These figures are broadly in line with the current market, which includes established manufacturers such as Harley-Davidson through its LiveWire brand, as well as Kawasaki. However, much of today’s competition comes from newer manufacturers that have yet to earn the public’s trust but offer compelling arguments, particularly on price. Honda has set the price of its new WN7 at €14,999, with no difference between the standard model and the A1 licence version. Both variants have four riding modes - Standard, Sport, Rain and Econ - along with four levels of engine braking via 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 instrumentation display, a USB-C port, reverse gear up to 5 km/h and torque control. Bluetooth smartphone connectivity is handled by the RoadSync app, which can add music, navigation and notifications.