After years of electric scooters and prototype teases, Honda finally dropped its full-size electric motorcycle. The WN7 arrived in Europe with minimal fanfare, no grand reveal event, just a quiet launch that belies how significant this bike actually is. Honda’s first real attempt to challenge the likes of Zero, Energica, and LiveWire has been paying attention to what works and what doesn’t. The WN7 doesn’t try to be revolutionary; instead, it aims for something arguably harder: making electric motorcycles feel normal, desirable, and ready for everyday riders.
Look, Honda has been infuriatingly cautious about electrification. While Harley went full drama with LiveWire and Zero built an entire brand around electric performance, Honda kept churning out perfectly competent petrol bikes and the occasional electric scooter concept that never seemed to materialize. The WN7 feels like Honda finally admitting that yes, electric motorcycles are happening, and no, they can’t sit this one out any longer. The timing makes sense too. Battery tech has matured, charging infrastructure is actually usable now, and younger riders care less about engine noise and more about not having to visit petrol pumps.
Designer: Honda
Most electric motorcycles either look like someone bolted plastic over a battery pack or go full cyberpunk aesthetic that feels like cosplay. Honda went angular and minimalist, with a mass-forward stance that makes the battery pack feel intentional rather than apologetic. The bronze accent on the black variant adds visual interest without screaming “look at me, I’m electric,” while the silver option gives off practical commuter vibes. The front end is aggressive, almost brutalist, with horizontal LED lighting that reads immediately as modern without being weird for the sake of weird. The cockpit features a proper TFT display, Showa suspension, Nissin radial brakes, and details that remind you Honda actually knows how to build motorcycles.
With the WN7, you get 18 kW continuous power (that’s about 24 horsepower for the old-school crowd), with peak output hitting 50 kW when you twist the throttle hard. Honda claims the torque figure of 100 Nm matches a 1000cc petrol bike, which is the kind of marketing speak that makes me roll my eyes, but electric torque delivery does hit differently. The motor is water-cooled, mid-mounted, and sends power through a belt drive because chains and electric motors make even less sense than they do on petrol bikes. Weight sits at 217 kg, which is competitive but not groundbreaking for an electric. The real number that matters is range: 130 km on a full charge. That’s fine for city work and weekend rides but eliminates any touring pretensions immediately. Honda knows this. They’re targeting urban riders and short-haul enthusiasts, which is the only sensible market for electric motorcycles right now anyway.
However, the wait to electrification hasn’t been for nought – Honda’s been working on interesting features in the mean time. The WN7 supports CCS2 fast charging, the same standard used by electric cars. This means you can roll up to a car charging station and go from 20% to 80% in under 30 minutes. That’s genuinely game-changing for electric motorcycles because you’re no longer tied to proprietary charging networks or waiting hours for a full charge at home. The bike also charges fully in three hours on a standard 6 kW home setup, which slots neatly into overnight charging routines. Honda’s betting that infrastructure compatibility matters more than absolute range, and honestly, they’re probably right.
Pricing lands at £12,999 in the UK, which slots the WN7 right between the more boutique electric options and bargain-basement commuters, but it’s not a global one-size-fits-all story. For U.S. riders who have been waiting for Honda’s electric moment, it’s complicated: official U.S. availability hasn’t been announced yet, and as of the latest launch cycle, Honda has not committed to a North American release date or MSRP. The company’s focus is clearly Europe for the initial rollout, leveraging the continent’s denser charging infrastructure and more aggressive emissions regulations. Globally, the plan is to expand availability to key Asian markets – expect Japan and possibly Thailand to get early access, with local pricing adjusted for currency and taxes. Honda appears to be watching how the European launch plays out before making any promises elsewhere. So, for now, if you want a WN7 and you’re not in Europe, you’re stuck on the sidelines, forced to watch from afar as Honda’s first proper electric motorcycle finally hits the streets.
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