Soon to celebrate three years since it was first introduced on the market, the Kawasaki Ninja e-1 ABS is making a comeback in the Japanese manufacturer’s lineup in the U.S. for the 2027 model year. Without boasting spectacular changes, Kawasaki’s first-ever electric motorcycle remains a solid contender for customer attention thanks to its low price – and that’s what is betting on in the coming months.
The e-1 ABS continues to look like a member of the Ninja family in the fullest sense of the word, thanks to the full-fairing bodywork that delivers little clues about what powers it. Underneath it all, a trellis frame that’s quite similar to that on the flagship Ninja models holds everything together, including the electric drivetrain.
This is comprised of a couple of removable 50.4V lithium-ion battery packs arranged in a parallel fashion so that if one of them is not operational for one reason or another, the bike continues to run.
The packs can be recharged where they stand, using the pre-installed off-board charging adapter, or they can be removed to be charged at home or in the office. Getting them back to capacity (meaning capable of traveling up to 41 miles/67 km) requires almost four hours per battery. A regenerative braking system is on deck to help with that when a charger is not available.
The packs feed electricity to a brushless electric motor that’s not particularly potent, at just almost seven horsepower. Thanks to an included e-boost function, that can grow to almost double that, but for just 15 seconds, in order to maximize range and manage battery temperature.
Despite the low power levels, this electric Ninja can hit 52 mph (84 kph) in Road mode and 37 mph (60 mph) in Eco mode, with slight bumps in top speed owed to the same e-boost function. For good measure, to help with maneuvering the bike in parking lots and driveways, a Walk function is also offered.
The frame and electric drivetrain are supported by 17-inch wheels, with the one at the front tied to 41 mm telescopic forks and the one at the rear to an Uni-Trak setup. The Ninja has been designed in such a way as to allow an upright riding position and accommodate different types of riders.
In front of the rider, there is a 4.3-inch TFT screen and an instrument panel with built-in Bluetooth, so that the bike can be connected to Kawasaki’s Rideology The App, which comes with several useful features for the electric two-wheeler.
For one reason or another, the Japanese bike maker says those interested in the 2027 Kawasaki Ninja e-1 ABS should contact their local dealer and reserve theirs by October 23, 2026. There are two color schemes on the table, Metallic Bright Silver and Metallic Matte Lime Green, and a sticker that reads $7,599.