Having been involved in large FUN motorcycle development for a long time, I felt that if we were going to do this, I wanted to create an electric FUN motorcycle that would be accepted in Europe, the main market for large FUN motorcycles. I wanted to take on that challenge.

At that time, in Europe, electrification of personal mobility was becoming a trend as one of the solutions toward carbon neutrality. However, in the electric motorcycle market, various issues and malfunctions were occurring. When we spoke directly with local customers, we heard comments such as, “My motorcycle wouldn’t start due to a battery problem, which affected my daily life.”

In response to these voices, we strongly felt that there was a strong need for highly reliable products developed by a manufacturer with a long history of developing motorcycles. With this in mind, the development of Honda’s electric FUN motorcycle began.

The branding and development teams worked closely together, communicating frequently and consciously building the model with the brand promise in mind. I still remember that, right after the electric motorcycle division was established, members from business, design, and development, including the division head and design director, all gathered. To encourage open discussion on the development direction for the WN7, we held a Waigaya^*2 session over lunch.

It was less a formal debate and more a space to bounce ideas off each other. The conclusion we reached was: “No one will take notice of electric motorcycles that are just copies of conventional gasoline motorcycles or replacements for engines with motors. While fully leveraging Honda’s extensive motorcycle know-how cultivated over a long time, we will offer customers a product with entirely new value. We will propose value that only electric technology can deliver.” This vision is reflected in our brand promise and embodied in the WN7.

Developing an electric FUN motorcycle was a first for Honda, so we created the concept from scratch to define the overall direction. That concept became the grand concept, “Be the Wind.”

The quietness unique to electric motorcycles allows riders to hear the rustling of leaves in the trees, people’s conversations and laughter in the city, even while riding. We wanted to convey the desire for riders to experience the joy of riding freely like the wind—feeling the surrounding sounds and sensations, something unattainable with conventional gasoline motorcycles—through smooth, torque-rich performance and agile handling.

Even on a daily commute, the impressions the rider gets from the surrounding sounds and sensations are different each day. No experience is the same. With the WN7, which can add the FUN elements unique to motorcycles, we believe it can create a different kind of everyday life—the joy of free movement and riding.

At the same time, we thoroughly refined the fundamental performance—acceleration, braking, and turning—cultivated through Honda’s gasoline motorcycle development. This means riders can fully enjoy the traditional Honda “Joy of Riding.” The WN7 is an unprecedented electric motorcycle that achieves a deep balance between the “quiet and smooth” ride quality of an electric motorcycle and the riding pleasure of gasoline motorcycles.

Yes. The “W” stands for wind, and the ”N” for naked^*3 [model]. The 7 represents an internal output class designation. The grand concept of “Be the Wind” signifies the ongoing direction for Honda’s electric FUN motorcycles, so the WN7 could be seen as the lead-off hitter for the W Series [world series of baseball].

Personally, I also want this model to bring a fresh breeze to the era of electric motorcycles. In Japan, the west wind blowing in the tenth month is called “Kamiwatashi,” known as the wind heralding the change of seasons. With the unveiling at EICMA 2025, we unveiled the WN7 with the hope that it will create a new wind from the west (Europe) and become a presence that brings change to the world of motorcycles.

Regarding the design, we pursued not only a “slimness” unique to electric motorcycles that makes it instantly recognizable as an EV, but also a stance that feels distinctly like a motorcycle. We also adopted a metallic component structure to evoke a sense of ownership in riders. Every single part, meticulously adjusted down to the millimeter by our design, engineering, and research teams right up to the very end, is packed with this dedication.

When it comes to refining fundamental performance aspects like accelerating, stopping, and turning, the approach doesn’t change significantly whether it is the gasoline or electric motorcycle. I believe the fundamental philosophy behind Honda’s manufacturing is to create something fun to ride, regardless of the type of mobility.

That being said, if I had to single out a point we particularly focused on with the WN7, it would be weight reduction. Weight significantly impacts handling performance, so we were relentless in making it as light as possible while ensuring high levels of safety and durability.

At the same time, we wrestled with the balance of how far to pursue power output and range for easy comparison with existing motorcycles. To put it simply, while it is possible to create an electric motorcycle with gasoline motorcycle equivalent power or a range exceeding 400km or 500km, achieving that would require massive, heavy batteries due to the limits of current energy density.

To embody the grand concept “Be the Wind,” we prioritized dynamic performance and insisted on a naked-style design that easily conveys the sensation of cutting through the wind. Furthermore, considering the need for lightness and maneuverability for effortless daily use in congested European urban areas—such as Paris with its many traffic jams and narrow, winding streets—the team debated and determined the optimal balance.

Despite its light weight, the WN7 delivers performance comparable to large gasoline motorcycles—600cc-level output and 1000cc-level torque. Depending on the selected riding mode, the rider can experience the smoothness and powerful acceleration unique to electric models. Even just pulling away from a stoplight should give the rider a sense of enjoyment.

There’s also an electric-specific innovation in its braking performance. Regenerative braking^*4 has evolved beyond mere energy recovery to become an element of riding enjoyment. When the throttle is fully closed, regenerative braking allows the rider to control both acceleration and deceleration using only the throttle. The deceleration strength can be adjusted according to the rider’s preference or riding situation, providing a new level of control and enjoyment not possible on conventional gasoline motorcycles. Riders can also choose to turn off regeneration to experience a “gliding riding feel” — another uniquely electric sensation.

This is something gasoline motorcycles struggle to achieve. It presents a new way to ride and enjoy motorcycles, a feature unique to electric motorcycles. In fact, we had developers who had worked exclusively on gasoline motorcycles test ride the WN7, and many commented that it was fun, and even that it was a “Winner.” Moving forward, we want to keep developing more powerful models and models with greater range.

We developed the WN7 targeting Europeans in their 20s and 30s who use motorcycles for commuting. More broadly, we envision people who find riding enjoyable anytime, anywhere, who choose the best option for fun moments regardless of whether it is electric or gasoline, and who enrich their lives by selecting what best fits their situation and environment. We really want such people to ride the WN7.

During development, we also envisioned a “petite woman living in Paris.” Its slim frame offers good footing, and its light weight makes it easy to handle, so we hope many women, not just men, will ride it. “The new low-speed forward/reverse mode,” switchable controlled with a single button, supports forward/backward movement during parking via throttle control, so we believe it will seamlessly integrate into customers’ daily lives. And I would love to see the WN7 zipping nimbly through the streets of Paris.

At the start of development, Honda was not selling electric FUN motorcycles, so Honda was not even on customers’ shopping lists for electric motorcycles. Our first goal was to build one, bring it to market, and make customers aware that Honda makes electric motorcycles too. Creating a brand from scratch was also one of our objectives.

With the WN7 announcement, we have finally reached the starting line. However, across all areas—product planning, development, production, logistics, sales, and service—we could not rely solely on expertise gained from gasoline models. Only by uniting all departments could we tackle and solve the unprecedented challenges that arose. Accumulating this know-how, building the Honda electric motorcycle business brand, and laying the foundation for further product enhancement are also missions of the WN7. Having entered this market, we aim for as many customers as possible to enjoy Honda’s electric motorcycles, just as they do with our gasoline models. Ultimately, we aspire to become the No. 1 in the European electric FUN motorcycle market share.

From a strategic perspective within Honda’s motorcycle business, the development of electric FUN models holds a key position. As part of Honda’s broader commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, the company aims to realize carbon neutrality across all motorcycle products during the 2040s. Electrification of motorcycles plays a pivotal role in this effort. In this context, the introduction of the WN7 represents a significant step forward.

Honda has developed not only electric technologies but also various carbon-neutral technologies such as hydrogen, while continuously improving the fuel efficiency of gasoline motorcycles. To sustain enjoyable motorcycle lifestyles, we believe it is essential to create motorcycles that contribute to carbon neutrality through every possible means.

And, we want many customers to recognize that Honda’s electric motorcycles are FUN. Starting with the WN7, and then developing more models based on it, we want to create a future where electric FUN motorcycles are riding all over the world.