[CrAzY dRiVeR]

In a short video released by Kawasaki, Ninja electric bike concept has been teased with some details revealed -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyA5jVUCBbU&t=11s

Some points noticed -

• Has a conventional gearbox and shifter. Seems to be showing 4th gear on the console (marked as GP) when entering the corner at 92kmph.
• Revvs are marked till 9000rpm.
• Range indicated seems to be approx 110 kms on the test bike. Indicated 114 kms with 97% charge.
• Power is sent to the rear wheels via chain drive.
• Has thumb levers for brake energy regeneration.

Kawasaki ends the video saying that the elements from this concept motorcycle will evolve and appear on the next generation models they are working on and that we can look forward to seeing them in the near future.

After Harley Davidson's LiveWire, looks like Kawasaki might be the second mainstream player to get into the electric superbike game.

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

More details from the exhibit at EICMA -

The machine is different to other electric projects we’ve seen from other manufacturers in that it uses a chain for final drive and a four-speed traditional gearbox. Because of the incredible torque you get from an electric motor, many electric bikes just use one long gear and do away with the gear shifter altogether.

"We didn’t just want to make an EV for electric bike customers," Lambert told MCN. "We started by thinking what existing Kawasaki customers would want from an electric bike and the feeling of involvement you get from changing gear is important to a lot of motorcyclists."

Read the full article here

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

A short insight into the Ninja EV concept -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k60gMCDeULU

[mail4ajo]

I don't see a need for a transmission in an electric vehicle unless of course you are trying to appeal to a specific group of hard core motorcyclist. They will be significant transmission losses considering electric vehicles need the last drop of attainable efficiency to maximize range.

Again will a hard core motorcyclist even consider this? Looking at patent drawings, this is similar in size to a Ninja 400. Even if they create a torque monster, will the transmission be able to handle it which could make them to over engineer the unit.

Brammo released geared Empluse circa 2013. Not sure what happened to that tech after Polaris brought it. Even the 200HP Lightning LS-218 didn't have one.

Kawasaki basically wanted to stay relevant with the times but wanted to portray some difference.

[roy_libran]

A couple of points -

1. I am not sure that a strategy to carry on with a traditional (mechanical) gear shifter and transmission is the right thing for Kawasaki at this point in time. If at all they want to retain the 'involvement factor' they can by all means integrate a gear shifter which varies the supply to the motor thereby mimicking the required effects. This will help save unnecessary weight, reduce complexity and increase range. Chain drives are simply unnecessary when hub motors exist.

2. Because of the decision to pursue with a transmission and shifter, the battery packs are sitting much higher than really needed and it looks like quite a top heavy design, which is so un-Ninja-esque!


The current crop of riders will grow old or pass on, by the time this and most other EV motorcycles become mainstream products. I am not sure that pinning architectural decisions on the driving/riding preferences of the current crop is the right way to go. They need to be designing for those who are in their teens right now and by the time they come of age, those kids can get on to an EV with no preconceptions of what a Fossil Fuel motorcycle used to be like!

[Venkatesh]

2020 Kawasaki EV Endeavour 05 Manual Transmission. Manual transmission not only allows a greater speed range, it also allows the rider to have greater input when operating the bike.

https://youtu.be/g0DgUyLRWrM