Maintaining their enviable position of being the only mass-produced Strong Hybrid motorcycles available globally*, the Kawasaki Z7 Hybrid and Ninja 7 Hybrid now benefit from two rider focused upgrades that are set to take these innovative machines to the next level.

Through extensive research into the onboard control systems of the machines – and in particular, the Electronic Control Unit (ECU) – each model now has enhancements to an aspect of the drive function selection and the operation of the sports mode of the gearbox.

These groundbreaking and award winning** hybrid machines feature a vast range of new technologies and operating systems within the motorcycle arena. Among these is the facility to manually change from full EV mode to Hybrid mode on the move.

This feature is especially relevant when approaching a zero emissions zone and being able to seamlessly switch from the gasoline engine to full EV or, conversely, when transitioning from a zero emissions zone in a city centre and crossing the “virtual boundary” into an area where gasoline engines are permitted. In the case of each machine, the speed up to which the rider could manually select between full- electric and hybrid was previously 25 km/h .

Now, thanks to consumer feedback and extensive Kawasaki research and development, the upper figure at which this selection can be made has now been raised to 60 km/h thus increasing the real world usability of the Ninja 7 Hybrid and Z7 Hybrid.

In respect of the Sport Mode, whereas this was previously only operable in manual transmission mode (MT) changing up and down the gearbox using the shift paddles located on the left handlebar instrument cluster; the latest updates mean that the rider can now select a new automatic transmission mode” (AT) configured for Sport Mode. Again, this refinement has been brought about through valuable customer, media and dealer feedback.

Clean and ecologically green, the updated 2026 machines are available to test ride now at selected Kawasaki dealerships.

Note: *The motorcycle definition excludes scooters, quadricycles, and tricycles  

** Winner of the Motor Cycle News “Innovation of the Year” award in 2024