Electric mobility in the Philippines is finally getting its act together. Sure, government perks and a slowly expanding charging network help, but let’s be honest: nothing gets people thinking about EVs faster than another painful fuel price hike. Every time gas prices jump, more Filipinos start eyeing hybrids, full-on EVs, or even electric two-wheelers.
Tiny electric scooters have quietly invaded city streets, zipping around with delivery riders and short-hop commuters. But when it comes to big bikes, gasoline still rules the roost.
Honda Philippines wants to shake things up. At a recent event showing off its latest tech and motorcycles, Honda pulled the wraps off the WN7 – an all-electric naked bike that’s way closer to a real-deal big bike than the usual electric scooters most Filipinos know.
The WN7 absolutely looks the part. It’s got the stance, the proportions, and the attitude of a proper middleweight naked bike. This isn’t just an electric commuter in a sporty costume.
Big-bike specs without the engine noise
Forget pistons and exhaust notes – the WN7 packs an electric motor good for 18 kW, peaking at 50.4 kW and 100 Nm of torque. Honda claims it’ll rocket from zero to 50 km/h in just 3.9 seconds, eventually topping out at an electronically limited speed of 129 km/h.
Juice comes from a 9.3-kWh lithium-ion battery running at 349.44 volts. Honda says you’ll get about 140 kilometers of range per charge, at least according to WMTC2-2 standards.
Charging? Take your pick. A regular Type 2 AC charger will fill the battery in about 2.5 hours, but if you find a CCS2 DC fast charger, you can juice up from 20 to 80 percent in just half an hour.
Underneath, the WN7 sits on a frameless chassis, with an 800-mm seat height and a 217-kg curb weight. You get 17-inch wheels, upside-down front forks, and a preload-adjustable rear monoshock. Stopping power comes from dual front discs and a rear disc, all managed by dual-channel ABS with an IMU.
Modern touches include a five-inch TFT display, full LED lighting, Honda RoadSync smartphone pairing, regenerative braking, and a smart key to top it all off.
A motorcycle that was easier than expected
I’ll admit, I was a little nervous before throwing a leg over the WN7. It looks beefy, and knowing it packs torque on par with a 1,000cc gas bike had me thinking this thing demands a lot of respect.
Thankfully, Honda had us hop on the CB650R e-clutch first. That bike is textbook middleweight naked: punchy acceleration, loads of character, and enough grunt that you don’t really crave more. My only nitpick? The wide front tire made low-speed handling a bit heavier than I’d like. Still, it gave me a solid baseline for what to expect.
The WN7, though, was nothing like I expected. The lower seat height made it easy to flat-foot, and the slimmer profile meant it felt way less intimidating, even with all that heft.
No clutch, no gear shifter – just twist and go. Regenerative braking kicks in when you roll off the throttle, so you’re not constantly grabbing for the brakes.
On Honda’s safety course, the WN7 was a breeze to thread through tight corners. I can totally see it making city traffic feel like less of a chore compared to a regular big bike.
Acceleration, though, is no joke. Electric torque hits you right away. Newbies might find it a handful, but anyone used to bigger bikes should settle in just fine.
Its biggest problem isn’t the motorcycle itself
Here’s the kicker: the WN7’s biggest hurdle isn’t how it rides. Philippine rules only let 400cc-and-up bikes on the expressway, and electric motorcycles like the WN7 don’t fit into those old-school, engine-size rules. So even though it can keep up with (or even outgun) gas-powered big bikes, it’s stuck off the expressways.
For someone like me who’s always using expressways, that’s a dealbreaker. Yes, the WN7 is comfortable enough for city runs, but with its girth and available power on tap, I wouldn’t want to be stuck crawling along dreaded service roads all day.
And then, there’s the range. About 140 kilometers is decent for daily commutes and weekend coffee rides, but it’s tight if you’re planning longer trips and leisure rides. Sure, it can use DC fast charging with the same CCS2 plugs as most car chargers, but that also means hoping there’s a free charger when you need one. For city errands, weekend tambikes, or the odd Tagaytay run, the WN7 fits the bill.
Unfortunately, Honda hasn’t dropped the local price yet, but don’t expect it to be a bargain. The CB650R already hovers in the mid-P500,000s, so I expect the WN7 to go higher with new battery tech.
The bike itself is easy to like. If Philippine rules ever catch up and let electric big bikes on the expressway – and maybe future versions squeeze out a bit more range – the WN7 could be a seriously tempting option for riders looking to make the jump.
