Can you do a wheelie with a Hybrid Kawasaki? Answer from Sarah Lezito
Innovation is what makes Kawasaki strong, right? We all know their racing bikes and street motorcycles, but with their hybrid model, it’s a bit of a futuristic twist. The question that motorcyclists ponder: can you do a good wheelie on a Kawasaki hybrid? It’s a somewhat strange challenge, but they wonder about it anyway. Can this fusion of combustion and electric power propel a bike like a true stunt machine? Sarah Lezito has tested this. And honestly, her verdict is something you need to know.
Kawasaki and the Hybrid: A Global Milestone
Kawasaki has taken a big step by becoming the first manufacturer to launch hybrid bikes. Yes, you heard that right: combustion and electric in one machine. A world premiere! One might think it could be the bike of the future, but in the end, isn’t it still just a bike like any other? They have launched two hybrid models: the Z7 Hybrid and the Ninja 7 Hybrid. So why this hybrid technology? It seems that Kawasaki aims to anticipate a greener future, continuing with their promise of performance. But of course, all of this comes at a cost…
A Machine Not So Accessible
Ah, the famous Z7 Hybrid, you’ve probably heard of it. But at a price of €13,159, it’s worth thinking about. Well, for the price, you get a 451 cc two-cylinder engine with a boost mode that combines combustion and electric. The issue is that, at that price, the bike isn’t as appealing as expected. The design is decent, but the size of the hybrid engine somewhat disrupts the profile’s harmony. Not to mention the transmission, which is far from smooth. The result: despite the technological appeal, sales have not exploded: 98 Ninja 7 and 32 Z7 sold in 2024. In summary, Kawasaki may have paved the way, but their first attempt leaves much to be desired.
Sarah Lezito: The Wheelie Test on the Z7 Hybrid
Sarah Lezito is practically a reference in the world of stunt and wheelies. She’s a professional, you know, one of those who accomplishes impressive stunts with unsettling ease. So, when she tested the Z7 Hybrid to do a wheelie, we thought, “If Sarah can’t do it, let’s forget about it.” And well, even she had problems. Despite its boost mode that offers 69 horsepower and 6.2 mkg of torque, it seemed like it might work. But after several attempts in her video “Can I lift all the KAWA?”, the disappointment: the Z7 doesn’t lift. It’s a failure. Sarah, the queen of wheelie, can’t even lift this hybrid. And that’s already a sign. If she can’t do it, who could?
Why Can’t the Kawasaki Hybrid Lift?
So, why can’t this Kawasaki Z7 Hybrid lift like a true stunt machine? To answer this question, we must look at a few technical details. The Z7 Hybrid is not designed for that. Even if the hybrid engine has good performance, the bike is still a bit heavy at the front with its bulky engine. It’s not a lightweight roadster like the Z500, nor a sporty one like the ZX-10R, which are much more agile for this type of stunt.
And then, shall we talk about the transmission? It’s not exactly what we’d call a super pleasant manual transmission. So, even if you lock the first gear, you wouldn’t have the necessary smoothness to chain a good wheelie. In fact, it’s more of a general design issue than a lack of power or torque. To do a wheelie, you need more than a hybrid bike with technology; you also need a design thought for that.
