NEW 2024 Kawasaki Z e-1 Fully Electric Motorcycle! Not What I Wanted, But an Interesting First Step!

[@gregm9230]

Good review. For strictly around town, it's a good bike. I wouldn't trade my Z400 for it, but props to Kawasaki for taking their first steps with electric bikes.

[@PeterLoweOne]

Thanks for watching!

[@chewylandlive]

I love it. I don't want it...but I love it.

[@PeterLoweOne]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

[@G-Man01]

Gotta respect kawasaki for being at the forefront, constantly.

[@PeterLoweOne]

They're always pushing the limits of what their brand is. It will be interesting to see how these develop into the future to see if they're able to successfully launch an electric motorcycle that will fit the needs of a more mainstream market.

[@Jinxeii]

They aren't. Modified ebikes go faster than this. Emmo Zones with a high discharge battery go faster than this. They ride better, have faster acceleration, more range and a higher top speed for 1/3rd of the price. This thing is a joke. For reference, you can buy a zone gts without a battery inside for about $1500, everything working fine. You can then get a battery commissioned for about $1500, 72v, 30ah with high discharge cells. You can get a new controller for $600, 8000w hub motor for $800 and poof, suddenly you're going 140kmh with twice the torque the E-1 has. $4400 gets you a way better bike. You don't even need to get a new motor and controller, just get the battery and the bike. $3000 and you're going 85kmh with still the same torque the E-1 has.

[@bradythorson5122]

Best reviews on KZbin. Thanks!

[@PeterLoweOne]

Thanks for your kind words.

[@Faith1981-nq4jw]

I just purchased one today picking it up in the morning,you gave me some good info can't wait to pick it up Florida

[@MotoNinja247]

8:18 that's the hook for the exhaust, since they are reusing parts it's just a leftover from the ICE models

[@PeterLoweOne]

Ah! that makes sense! Great catch!

[@luolin2]

I had a Zero SR. Loved the Ev part of it. It was too heavy for me and sold it but looking again for something EV. Some people hate EVs but have not even ridden one. The EVs are getting better as technology advances. The motorcycle manufacturers are going to be conservative because it has manufacturing costs not associated as in ICE bikes. Overall, most people are resistant to change. I appreciate Kawasaki putting this out at least in a limited production run and you putting yourself out there to review. Looking forward to more major manufactures producing EVs.

[@themrch4oskol206]

We will probably buy one. We have a small and light ICE bike and this will be a wonderful commuter with all the advantages of an electric engine. There is just something about small and light bikes.

[@BlackArroToons]

Cool to learn about electric motorcycles including this lighter Ze1 to check into what it can do. Thanks for the review on this. That's cool you have experience with an electric dirtbike also, from another review.

[@JBean_COCR]

Great for Kawasaki to be a pioneer. Thanks for introducing, don't understand the negative comments.

[@suga4all]

I totally love that concept. Especially with the detachable batteries. Kawasaki just shouldn't have named it after the Z series. It is clearly not even a real motorcycle but more like a stylish scooter. They should have given that categorie a new name. It is perfect for city cruisin' (perhaps with two more extra batteries). I probably will get one!

[@mackattack8627]

Great about time all we needed was the Japanese platform power adding is easy love It I'm 55 been owning and riding all bikes from my 1978 Yamaha GT80 to my Mighty Zx10 ✌

[@Clesarie]

I bought a e1 but I'm fine with paying early adopter tech. My real issue with be if they never offer better battery packs. There's no point to make removable batteries if they don't plan to offer range upgrades. I'd also like to say Ive never rode a bike in my life and was able to instantly able to to ride within seconds. Btw every single e1 or ze1 ive seen in the states has the sear charger throw in for free

[@newbloodink]

I like the idea, especially as a future rider, however, I think if they would've added an "exhaust" / speaker that makes the sound of a real engine which is the best part of owning a bike but also as a safety feature so people could hear you coming. Unless the next version comes with better upgrades i think spending the extra money for the hybrid is better pick

[@advredbikes]

Fabulous steps, not for all, but great for some! Great review Peter.

[@outquick]

Probably the best beginner bike so far. Limited MPH to 10 then 35 in eco mode and the biggest reason why people don’t buy motorcycles is because they are scared of clutch. Good job Kawasaki

[@PeterLoweOne]

I would actually recommend a different bike for beginners. You're right about no clutch, but I think this is for someone who already has a motorcycle, and wants another.

[@asharak84]

Just found out about this bike. I'm kinda torn - in some ways it looks a great commuter but also in some ways it falls a bit short of what I'd hope for. I'm riding a Super Soco TC Max at the moment and it does well for my needs, though I'd rather it was a bit quicker off the line and faster top speed, and would love ABS for peace of mind. Stepping up to 12HP on this sounds perfect - except it's still remarkably slow in sustained top speed. Presumably it's battery temps that are the issue. It sits in an interesting price spot - more than my bike, less than an FXE or similar. Not sure it's enough less than an FXE though, when you can get a previous year model for about the same money as this. That said, having an actual dealer network would be awesome, there are precisely zero Zero dealers in my country so any issues would be a pain. Thanks for the detailed review :)

[@bradv9449]

In the United States this motorcycle qualifies for a 10% federal tax credit. Individual states and local air quality districts have incentive programs. The rebate would cover the sales tax and reg in most states.

[@PeterLoweOne]

Thanks for sharing that information!

[@herrtomas6729]

It’s late here in the UK (23:00) but that was well worth watching.

[@PeterLoweOne]

Thanks for watching! I got this up a little later. Life sometimes gets in the way! 🙂

[@herrtomas6729]

@@PeterLoweOne true, hope things are going ok for you. I’m retired, so have all the time in the world; and enjoy your content

[@PeterLoweOne]

@@herrtomas6729 Things are well. As you know there have been some challenges outside of work, but things are trending well. Thanks for your support!

[@scottsum1319]

Why would anyone hate on it? If its not for you, move on. This e1 is interesting. For those that travel intracity commutes within its range, cad$9k isnt too bad a price. Not for me as for a bit more, I'd be in for a zx4rr but its interesting. If Kawi can 2-3x the range, a lot more peeps might be in

[@PeterLoweOne]

Ooooh there's a LOT of electric hate online! But so far people have been great in the comments on this bike. Thanks for sharing!

[@BeniBen]

my philosophy of use is city/town use I won't not be taking a MC on a major highway I use a car for that nor will I will be zipping around curves being a squid. Yes I would buy one for it being light and no clutch and strictly for city use IF only it has a longer range.

[@avarria5872]

I am honestly excited about this new tech from Kawasaki. This particular bike doesn't work for me at all. It's too slow for my needs and the range wouldn't even get me to work. That being said, things should improve over time. The fact they have included removable batteries is a smart move. It solves the problem of people living in apartments and condos without access to a plug. Though, 25 pounds is a bit heavy to lug around. I would like to see future versions with longer range and higher top speed. I would also like to see a NACS charging port. My Chevy Bolt uses the now outdated CCS plug, but I think the NACS connector would be better once it's more common. Alas, until I can get an electric motorcycle that can get at least 150 miles of range at 70 mph for less than $10,000, I will probably just stick with my gas bike. My Bolt gets 250 miles of range and only cost $25k. Most electric motorcycles that meet my needs are almost the same price as my feature-rich car.

[@PeterLoweOne]

Yeah, I don't see these bikes ever capable of level 3 charging (the batteries will be too small) but I do see level 2 charging being an option which will allow proper road trips without too much hassle. Obviously Kawasaki realizes that range and speed will have to improve. I like that this short range bike has the removable batteries because many riders will need to take them out to charge at work, (as an example) just to make it home again, but I don't expect the higher range, higher power bikes in the future to have removable batteries. As you mentioned, the weight will be an issue. Based on my experience with EV's I would guess that there's room for more energy dense batteries in this bike, but at the end of the day, you're going to need bigger batteries to get to where you and I find this bike useable. I think with Electric Cars leading the way, we'll begin to see a LOT more infrastructure for charging in condos, parking garages, etc. So I don't think removable batteries will be a trend that remains as charging is more available everywhere. Cost is an issue, but I don't expect that to remain a huge barrier for too much longer. In the foreseeable future they'll still be expensive, but I do think we'll see pricing be inline with midline bikes in the near future. Lots to examine and debate about these bikes for sure!! Thanks for watching!

[@charlietom100]

I have been riding a Soco TC Max e motorbike for 2 years. As a new rider it has been perfect as a 100km/hr (63milesper hr) commuter , it has a 5kw motor and a composite drive belt and weighs only 220 pounds. I will sell it and get a gas bike. E bikes not quite there yet. Be interested to see Can Am offering.

[@Klooney9mm]

I think the point of needing a Z400 level is bang on. The other bikes are too expensive to justify getting for the heavy majority. These are just too low cc (equiv) to be spending money on where you want more than just a second daily bike. If the price increases to something reasonable for a 400cc equiv then I feel more people will want to justify going for it and be able to use it for everything. Not to mention more countries need more rebate intensives for electric Scooters and motorbikes. I would love this platform to somehow make its way to a platform where you can have storage like a Moped/Scooter to add to the practicality value. I've looked at many of these and the best cheaper brand I've seen is SuperSoco which partners with Ducati stores in Australia. They are priced cheap but still fall short of what most people would need eventually.

[@PeterLoweOne]

Yeah, I was very impressed with the quality of this bike, it has some nice features. The range and speed limitations are going to rule it out for a lot of people, but the bike itself really is a great first step. I'm a little surprised that they released it to North America as it is such a limited market for this type of bike, but I'm glad to have it as a reviewer and it will be interesting to see how this develops into a more mainstream offering.

[@Klooney9mm]

Side note too. I'd also like them to build upon doing Hub style motors too. Would be interesting if they could do a smaller front HUB motor to help boost performance without building a bike with too large of an Electric motor. Wouldn't feel great on the front wheel but it could make sense for power. They partner with Bosch anyways and they make majority of the Hub motors.

[@PeterLoweOne]

@@Klooney9mm I hear what you're saying, I just wonder if that's what Kawasaki will do. Keeping unsprung weight low is a key feature of great handling Kawasaki bikes. So I wonder if Kawasaki will ever consider hub motors. I can see something like that in an ATV or side by side off-road application before I see it in Kawasaki sport bikes.

[@themrch4oskol206]

So we bought it yesterday after a testride for a discounted price. I will leave some impressions of the ride: - Geometry is a bit sportier than most naked bikes. Not in any shape sport bike esc, but not as relaxed as it could be. - The motor and pick up of it is super smooth. Even with the chain it feels similar to an ev car. - Suspension is suprisingly stiff, but I kinda like it. - Eco mode is slow, road is good, and the e boost is fun and great. I will probably start in road and switch to eco, when reaching the maximum legal speed, but I will have to test that. There is also no motor brake, so almost all braking feels like it comes from the brakes, which are - fine, nothing amazing or special. Just fine. - Generally all parts feel solid, but budget. We will see how it does over time. It seems like nobody wants them, so maybe your dealer can give you a good deal after a testride aswell. If you got questions, just post a comment and I will check here from time to time. Have a nice day

[@PeterLoweOne]

Great information! Thanks for sharing!

[@sir.636]

@@PeterLoweOne you stated in the video that there is regenerative breaking below 60% which this comment seems to be at odds with

[@themrch4oskol206]

​@@sir.636 Hey, after some kilometers I would like to clarify. It seems to me, that the bike, as the battery drops charge, increases engine braking and recuperation. This effect is also much stronger in the road opposed to the eco mode. I think it engages before 60%, but the effect is slowly increasing. Hope that clarifies a bit.

[@sir.636]

@@themrch4oskol206 okay thank you. i appreciate the clarification.

[@themrch4oskol206]

@@sir.636 You are welcome

[@joek81981]

Thee most savage bike I've ever ridden was called an Ego+ and it was full electric. Relentless, the acceleration was. There was no top speed, as far as I could tell. It just kept going faster until the road quit. They CAN be great, and when this Kawasaki evolves into its next couple forms, it'll be great.

[@IamBluefire]

Hey Peter, looking forward to the GSX-8R review! This EV will be for a niche audience for sure!

[@PeterLoweOne]

As soon as I see that bike, I'll be getting a review up of it. I'm also looking forward to seeing it!

[@tedwitus]

after following Marc Travels youtube channel i've become intrigued by electric motorcycles..he and his channel (*he rides a Zero) are quite good , currently documenting his travels through India. i'd consider the bike you described Peter 400-500cc equivalent with decent range. Thanks for the review!

[@PeterLoweOne]

Yeah, if this gets to the performance of a Ninja 400 or Ninja 500, it suddenly becomes an around town bike that I would consider. This isn't that, but if it's a glimpse to the future, it's interesting! I like that Kawasaki is letting us see this, use it, and critique it. If they're open to feedback that could make a much better second generation that becomes a market success. Kawasaki has an opportunity to be a leader in the EV motorcycle space if they make the right steps between this and what will be a more mainstream offering. Thanks for watching!

[@sunsinger970]

My question: is the Ze-1 298 pounds with the battery removed or is it 298 pounds ready to ride?

[@PeterLoweOne]

Ready to ride.

[@pmguy9403]

When you say regenerative braking is limited to 60% what exactly do you mean by that?

[@PeterLoweOne]

The brakes don't regenerate power back to the battery until the battery is at 60 percent or below. Electric cars will do the same thing to an extent. If a battery is 100 percent full, there's no room to put more charge back into the battery. So electric cars will often not put that power back into the battery until the vehicle is below 95 or 90 percent. It's a software decision, made by the manufacturer, that determines when the battery pack will allow charging through braking or coasting. 60 percent is an interesting choice by Kawasaki, but that's the information that I had at the time I filmed.

[@GI.Jared1984]

The Maeving RM1s Is a Better bike. They are very Simil on price, but the RM1S Has a better range and speed. It also has removable batteries which you can charge inside, and I think it looks better

[@g3ner1c]

I watch a couple people on YT who have a Surron or Talaria as a secondary/fun bike. I'm curious what their views on this would be.

[@PeterLoweOne]

I have a Surron Ultra Bee as my dirt bike. It's a secondary bike for me as I prefer road riding most of the time and I have my Z900RS SE for that. I'll be making more videos on the Ultra Bee this year. I'd be happy to answer as many questions as I can on it. I've really enjoyed it so far.

[@lloydhamilton5304]

How much the electric bike going for

[@obeii1805]

7k plus

[@PeterLoweOne]

Up to date pricing can always be found at www.kawasaki.ca

[@michaelnelson7240]

That storage box should have hinged on the other side so you could be sitting on it

[@TheSamaell]

What Americans forget to do in these reviews is talk about the context. In Europe you are allowed to ride a bike under 15hp and with automatic transmission with a normal car licence. Currently your only option is a scooter (Yamaha Nmax 125, Honda PCX 125 etc). Also there are places in Europe where combustion engines are banned period. That being said an electric motorcycle fills a gap in the market. Americans that can take a closed course and jump on a turbo busa at 16yo are NOT the main target here. This is the no gas, no scooter and no special license, free EV parking option for the EU.

[@PeterLoweOne]

So, I hear you, but a couple points worth mentioning. First of all, I'm not American, I'm Canadian 🇨🇦 and separately, I think the European reviewers do a great job with reviewing these bikes, but Kawasaki brought these bikes to Canada (and the USA) there are plenty of low displacement, low horsepower bikes that Kawasaki never brings to North America, so I think it's worth reviewing what these bikes are in the context of the market that I'm reviewing them in. These may very well be popular in Europe, but they're very much a niche market vehicle here, and from my perspective, that is very worth covering.

[@paulstanley3265]

Nice bike I like the ninja better . I’m wanting to get the ninja 7 would be better for my driving just wish it was more affordable.

[@PeterLoweOne]

I'm very much looking forward to seeing the hybrid! It looks much more ready to tackle the mainstream market and although it's not inexpensive, it's priced similarly to my Z900RS SE and that makes it pretty interesting to me.

[@olegknowsbest4971]

yea, you great..

[@alexmachine570]

MSRP $7,599 in the US

[@marcuscoleman5234]

Pls do the ninja 500

[@PeterLoweOne]

As soon as I see the Ninja 500, I'll get a video up on it. In the meantime, check out my Z500 SE review that I just made. kzbin.info/www/bejne/iJ6qe4aHhsiLZqsfeature=shared

[@notyourtipicaltechguy6438]

It's pretty cool, but for the price you can buy a used zero...

[@timdeleij7105]

For the range being that low I would rather buy a bitrix electric mountain bike with double the range. Price is not competitive. If you bring out an electric motorcycle it needs to be better then an electric bicycle

[@PeterLoweOne]

Range and speed are too low to be mainstream. Take those factors out and this is miles better than an electric bicycle, but you're right, there are other options for mobility when you look at the overall range of this. As I say in the video, this isn't meant to be a mainstream bike. It's almost like a prototype that we can buy, evaluate, and discuss. A more mainstream bike with more range and speed will come, but in the meantime, Kawasaki has this bike for early adopters and can see what people have to say about it. It's almost like we get to have a say in what future Kawasaki Electric motorcycles can be.

[@abdullahalmamun-lc1it]

Love it ev❤

[@32bootzie]

You call it , just like you see it. 👍

[@PeterLoweOne]

The only perspective that I can give is my own. 👍

[@oldcowbb]

I hope they don't stop here, getting an ev bike is definitely my long term hope

[@mdmonmila]

How much

[@PeterLoweOne]

Up to date pricing can always be found using the link in the description. You can also find the price on www.kawasaki.ca Since pricing can change (and incentives can change) I rarely share the pricing at the time that I film because it can change by the time someone watches.

[@AdolfMauchenheimer-ii4ct]

So it will go 41 miles and top speed is 52mph . You probably can't get 41 miles while driving 52 mph

[@herrtomas6729]

Hi Peter.

[@odea8505]

Great review. Just need more rage.

[@True_Draconian]

Do you know for Kawasaki vulcan900 custom New color?

[@PeterLoweOne]

In Canada, You can see everything at www.kawasaki.ca

[@True_Draconian]

Ok thanks I see now

[@bigdc7172]

The hybrid is pretty cool but that one sux

[@PeterLoweOne]

This doesn't suck. Range and Speed aren't enough for the average motorcyclist, and Kawasaki obviously knows that. But take out those two factors and you have a pretty good bike. The next generations will need more range, and more power, but this isn't designed to be the mainstream bike that you and I had hoped for. That will be coming in the future, so when you can take out the fact that the range and speed aren't what you and I need, you end up with a well built bike with decent technology, in a well thought out package. This isn't for you and me, but it's impressive still. But yeah, that Hybrid is a real bike that can legitimately replace a current day motorcycle for many riders. I'm looking forward to seeing that one.

[@EvendimataE]

good thing about that is no need to be on 1st gear at stop lights...LOL

[@PeterLoweOne]

Haha. Can't stall it either! 👍

[@MiguelBorgesphotography]

Not ready yet in my opinion

[@PeterLoweOne]

I think you're right, and I think Kawasaki in North America knows that too. This isn't for the mainstream, it's for the early adopters. It's an interesting look into what future EV's from Kawasaki may be like, and I think it's worth understanding for that reason. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

[@sidekick96734]

They lost me on speed and range. There are hooligans on homemade electric bicycles going farther or faster than that!

[@PeterLoweOne]

Speed and range are not up to mainstream buyer's needs in North America, for sure. That's fair. I think even Kawasaki knows that.

[@sidekick96734]

@@PeterLoweOne well, the speed and range wouldn't bug me as much if its price would match its performance. There's no doubt that it would be fun to ride and its range can still be very useful to someone. So, I guess my real issue isn't really with the bike, it's the asking price that I find unreasonable.

[@Aerodynamicz1]

It's cool but it's impractical. Needs more power, needs more range. All these electric bikes are either way to expensive compared to their combustion engine competitors or they're the same price as a practical combustion engine with no practicality. Zero motorcycles has it right they're just way too expensive.

[@PeterLoweOne]

Zero is the leader, but with a minuscule dealer network, and a much smaller company, I'm interested to see what Kawasaki can do with this. You're absolutely right in saying that the range and power isn't enough to be mainstream, but Kawasaki is giving us a glimpse into what their mainstream EV motorcycles could look like, and it's gutsy to release this to the North American market, but it will be interesting to see how things evolve from this to a more mainstream bike. From a tech and features perspective, this is a good start. Range and speed will come in time. Pricing on EV's in general is still trending downwards, so don't be surprised to see pricing come inline in the coming years.

[@avarria5872]

@@PeterLoweOneThis is a great point about Zero. I wanted one for a while, but while I found some good used ones for a decent price, I did not buy one. The dealership network is non-existent where I live. If I had an issue, I would have to drive to another state to get it fixed.

[@AyaWetts]

its cool to see what they are thinking for EVs, but that thing is just too slow

[@PeterLoweOne]

Yeah, it's not going to be for everyone. I was hoping this would be a little quicker with a little more range, but this bike has already sold, and the next generations will be coming at some point, so I'll continue to follow the progress.

[@sir.636]

I dont want an electric motorcycle.

[@PeterLoweOne]

Then you shouldn't buy this one. 🙂👍

[@silverstar4289]

I bought a Zero patrol cycle for my agency. The law enforcement rep brought both models to test. I had all my guys who ride come check them. They all enjoyed the features, quiet ride, and acceleration. It is used on our walking trails and sneaking about neighbors at night when vehicle break ins rise up in an area.

[@danzusername]

Ithis bike is crap