Up until this point, the electric motorcycle industry has been largely dominated by a brace of brave startups, keen on proving that battery packs and electric motors make the perfect powertrain for a two-wheeler. Maeving has been plowing ahead with its retro-inspired range of excellent city bikes, while Zero has been refining its line of adventure and performance machines for more than 20 years. Harley-Davidson bucked the trend and was arguably the first big-name brand to put its reputation on the line, but sales haven’t exactly been going swimmingly. There are more names to mention, but the sector hasn’t yet experienced anywhere near the sort of sales figures that electrified passenger vehicles have. Perhaps it is crying out for a more recognizable brand to get involved? (Image credit: Ed Hill Photography) Now in steps Honda… one of the world’s most recognized automotive brands. After impressing with its CUV e electric scooter , it has decided to take things to the next level and release its first series-production, full-size electric motorcycle in the WN7. This could be just what the market needed. Big bike, big specs

(Image credit: Ed Hill Photography) Let’s deal with the name first, because it is, by far, one of the worst things about this machine. The ‘W’ apparently stands for ‘Wind,’ while the ‘N’ represents ‘Naked,’ as in it doesn’t have a fairing. The seven? Well, that’s an indication of where it sits in the lineup, a bit like Kia’s EV naming strategy . As is the way with many electric motorcycles, the WN7 can be specified in two power outputs: an 11kW A1-license-friendly version and an altogether more powerful 18kW version for those with a full A2 license. Of course, licensing regulations differ throughout the world (apologies if you’re reading this from the US), but you get the idea. It can be purchased and ridden by people with a range of experience levels. (Image credit: Ed Hill Photography) Even those with a more basic motorcycle license can experience some serious acceleration

But the quirk of electric motorcycling is that both models have a peak power output of 50kW, or around 67bhp, and a hefty 100Nm of torque. In other words, even those with a more basic motorcycle license can experience some serious acceleration. The 9. 3kWh lithium-ion battery is a ‘stressed member’, so the big block at the front essentially acts as part of the chassis. For this reason, the batteries aren’t removable, but it looks cool and makes the WN7 handle like a real sport bike. In typical electric motorcycle fashion, there’s no clutch or gear lever to contend with. It’s just a case of twisting the throttle and hanging on. The brakes, thankfully, are laid out like those on a traditional combustion motorcycle, with a lever mounted on the handlebar and a pedal by the right foot that controls the rear brake. (Image credit: Ed Hill Photography) There’s a ‘tank,’ but it’s not filled with fuel. Instead, it houses the charging port, which can handle low-speed home charging as well as DC fast charging at public stations. Honda says that using one of these, a 20% to 80% charge takes around 30 minutes. That’s enough for another 50 miles of riding in the time it takes to stretch the legs and an improvement on what Zero Motorcycles currently offers — although DC fast charging is promised for 2027. Overall, Honda’s claimed maximum range is 87 miles on a single charge, but, as you’ll see later, this is a tad unrealistic. A mature ride

(Image credit: Ed Hill Photography) Firing up the WN7 is an interesting process. A remote key fob stays in your pocket, while a small ignition button on the frame turns everything on. From there, you pull in the brake lever, press a thumb switch on the handlebar, and it’s ready to go. Cleverly, Honda has added forward and reverse assist, so it’s much easier to maneuver the 217kg machine at low speeds. Holding one of the corresponding buttons and gently twisting the throttle moves the bike backward or forward…