The two-wheeled world has been waiting for the big players to truly jump into the electric motorcycle pool for what felt like forever. Not just dip a toe in with a scooter that looks like a space-age toaster, but a proper, full-sized, two-wheeled machine. So when Honda, the company that basically put the entire world on reliable motorcycles, announced its new WN7, my heart did a little electric whir. The moment we’ve been waiting for! A real, grown-up electric bike from Honda!
I imagined myself gliding silently through city streets, feeling smug about my carbon footprint and enjoying that smooth, instant torque. I pictured a bike that was smart, practical, and, knowing Honda, would probably outlast civilization itself. They unveiled the details, I leaned in closer to my screen, and then I saw the price. And folks, I had to clean my glasses. Twelve thousand, nine hundred and ninety-nine British pounds. That’s nearly $18,000 in good old American dollars. For a commuter bike. My electric whirring heart suddenly sounded more like a cash register, Cha-Ching… going in the wrong direction.
Before we all faint from sticker shock, let’s talk about the good stuff, because there is good stuff. Honda knows how to make a practical vehicle, and they haven’t forgotten that here. The WN7 has a 20-liter underseat storage compartment. That’s just over five gallons – fantastic! You can fit a helmet in there, or your groceries, or perhaps a small, well-behaved dog. I’m kidding, please don’t put your dog in there. But seriously, for a commuter bike, having a built-in trunk is a big thing. No more awkward backpacks or precariously balanced bags of kale.
Blake Kinsman
Automoto TV
Harsh VermaUp front, you get a 5-inch color screen that connects to your phone via a new Honda RoadSync app. This gives you navigation and all the modern bells and whistles you’d expect. It’s clean, it’s techy, and it’s exactly what you want on a modern electric vehicle. It’s like getting a new smartphone, but this one can do 0-60. Well, probably. Honda hasn’t actually told us how fast it is yet, which is… a choice.
So, let’s talk performance, or at least what we know of it. The WN7 is powered by a permanent magnet motor with a chain drive, which will feel familiar and comfortable to anyone coming from a traditional gas-powered bike. Honda claims a range of over 83 miles on a single charge. Is that revolutionary? Not really. But is it enough to get you to work, to the gym, and back home via the coffee shop? Perfectly adequate for city life.
The charging story is pretty good, too. You can plug it into a regular wall outlet and get a full charge in under three hours. If you’re in a hurry, a proper CCS2 rapid charger will juice you up from 20% to 80% in just 30 minutes. That’s just enough time to grab a half-decent latte and question your choice of spending nearly $18,000 on a commuter motorcycle. See? It all comes back to the price.
And that, my friends, is the giant, sparkly elephant in the room. Who is this bike for? Honda says it’s targeting younger, urban riders. I must have missed the memo that “younger, urban riders” suddenly have eighteen grand lying around for a bike to get to their unpaid internship. For that kind of money, you could buy a very nice gas-powered motorcycle and a used car for rainy days. You could buy a lifetime supply of avocado toast. You could probably buy an actual avocado farm.
Other companies are offering electric commuter bikes with similar, and sometimes better, specs for half – yes, half – the price. So what is Honda thinking? Are they banking on their legendary reputation for reliability and build quality? Sure, a Honda is built to last, and that’s worth a premium. But is it worth a double premium? That’s a tough sell, even for the most loyal fans. It has the vibes of bringing a Fabergé egg to a picnic. It’s beautiful, but is it really what you need?
What’s even more baffling is what Honda isn’t telling us. Key details like the motor’s power output, the battery’s capacity in kilowatt-hours, and the top speed are all still under wraps. Why the secrecy? Is it hiding some magical, industry-shattering performance? For this price, I expect it to have a button that dispenses hot towels and another that files my taxes. Maybe it has a secret warp drive they’re waiting to reveal at the last minute.
Look, I’m genuinely excited that the Honda WN7 exists. It’s a real, production-ready electric motorcycle from a brand we all trust. It’s a huge step forward for their electric dreams, and for that, I applaud them. But a milestone for a company and a smart purchase for a rider are two very different things.
I truly hope that when the full specs are revealed, there’s a secret ingredient that makes the price make sense. Until that unspecified moment arrives, the WN7 will very much feel like a well-thought-out electric commuter bike that’s wearing a price tag from a different, way more expensive, universe. Look, Honda – we are really rooting for you, OK? But, just in case, you might wanna check the batteries in your calculator.