Kawasaki Ninja e-1 2024 — Specifications

A new Ninja is entering the Kawasaki catalog, with specifications of a new kind for the brand. For most motorcyclists, this designation suggests a certain violence and vigor of performance for green motorcycles. For the Ninja e-1, the dimension is quite different. This is truly a green motorcycle (in an ecological sense) that is not going to make any noise, without a play on words and literally. Because this model is electric!

Accompanied by the Z e-1 roadster, the little Ninja has the honor but also the heavy responsibility of inaugurating electric power within the Akashi range. The market is booming in the car sector but excursions are much more timid in motorcycles. Can Kawasaki give the impetus that will unlock the market? Will this e-sportive shake up the sector?

It already wants to start by pleasing it. The Ninja vein is well present, with sportiness in the lines – perfectly aligned with those of the 400 Ninja. Face, fairing, trim, it’s a true copy-paste but it’s not the same sauce at the level of the gearing, which are subject to the rules of voltage. But 50 volts won’t teach us much, let’s talk about watts instead. This electric machine distributes... 5 kW of traction power.

There’s no typo. This Ninja is not in line with its name. The rider will have only 6.8 horsepower at their disposal. Sometimes 12 horsepower with the boost for 15 seconds. But all those who thought they would have their arms extended on the handlebars of a Kawasaki electric motorcycle will not get their money’s worth. There’s nothing startling about the engine, whatever mode is selected. Because there are several ways to move with this E-1. Kawasaki has combined several laws into the system in order to “give several faces” to its e-moto: - In ECO mode, the Ninja E-1 is limited to 62 km/h / with e-boost: 72 km/h - In ROAD mode, the maximum speed is pushed to 85 km/h / with e-boost: 99 km/h. - With the WALK function, the speed is 5 km/h in forward and 3 km/h in reverse. It’s better not to use the e-boost too much, otherwise the 72-kilometer range will melt like snow in the sun.

These are the same performances as the Z e-1. Logical because the two machines share the same platform. But while one could understand this kind of performance on an urban roadster, the frustration will be bitter on a machine with a dynamic and engaged silhouette. Nevertheless, an electric motor is more consistent at “low and mid-range” than its thermal counterpart. But still... this model is the least powerful in the Ninja range; while being announced at a price higher than that of the 650.

By recovering the base of the 400 Ninja, the e-1 “sport” relies on a steel trellis frame, which holds a 41 mm fork, a preload-adjustable shock absorber, small 100 and 130 mm tires on 17-inch rims, a disc brake per wheel and a bonus in the back: in place of the engine and the airbox, two (removable) 30Ah batteries each take place and free up a little space to offer 5 liters of storage. With a less exhaust line and a much simpler and compact engine, the motorcycle loses a lot in weight. Too bad the batteries bring the needle back to the side of the scale. The Ninja e-1 can still announce that it is the lightest of the family at 140 kg. That’s a gain of 28 kg from the 400. But ultimately, it is only 8 kg lighter than a 125. Which it will not be able to outrun.

With the Ninja e-1, curious people in the sector can discover a new way to combine motorcycle, ecology, silence and frustration. The gently sporty riding position and the more marked design will give a twitch in the left hand.... which will have to be satisfied with very modest performance. Note that the machine is equipped with a beautiful color TFT screen with Bluetooth communication, a regenerative braking system, that it takes a little less than 7 hours to fully charge the batteries and that the e-1 offer what no Kawasaki had offered before: no pollution, no fuel on the fingers, no clutch, no selector, no gears. A cocktail nonetheless difficult to pass for a price of 8,763 euros; brought to 8,999 euros with the charger.

Except for a few weeks at the beginning of spring 2025. Kawasaki has brought the price back to 5,599 euros during the period of 01/03 to 31/04. A good way to clear stocks.

M.B - Photos manufacturer

* 99 km/h? Why not more? Because the Kawasaki e-1 are limited to this speed for the European market.