full power mode will see your kid
whizzing past you at 13 mph.
The Elektrode can carry
a rider who weighs up to 99
pounds with a height of 37-55
in. (3.08-4.58 ft), but the bigger
news is the adjustable ergonom-
ics, which has been a bone of
contention for Stacyc parents.
The seat height is adjust-
able between 16.1-21.5 in., and
the upswept handlebar is also
height- and angle-adjustable
without the need for an aftermar-
ket headstock, meaning a wider
range of riders can fit on the
Elektrode than even the highest-
speed Stacyc.
These ergo improvements
mate to 16-inch cast aluminum
wheels and pneumatic tires,
which will stand up to plenty of
toddler punishment. Braking is
taken care of by a cable-actuated
single rear wheel-mounted cali-
per and disc
As you'd expect, there's
no suspension, just a regular
bicycle-style 1.13-in. rigid fork.
Kawasaki claims 31.9 pounds
ready to ride
weight (it's not
like there's a
tank of fuel
you need to fill
up…), which
shouldn't be
too intimidating
for new rid-
ers while still providing enough
weight and overall size to keep
more experienced riders inter-
ested.
CN Road Test Editor, Rennie,
and his little boy, Harvey, attend-
ed the national launch for the
Kawasaki Elektrode last month
in California. Harvey has had
two years of experience on a
KTM-branded Stacyc and came
away suitably impressed by the
Kawasaki, noting that its high-
speed stability and smoother
throttle response in the full-
power mode were vastly superior
to his Stacyc. Ha! Just kidding,
he's five. If he'd was that good at
figuring out how a bike worked at
his age, Rennie would be out of
a job quick.
But Harvey did comment that
the Kawasaki was more comfort-
able for longer periods, espe-
cially given the extra room given
to him by the handlebar shape
and distance to the seat. That he
did say, we promise.
The 2023 Kawasaki Elektrode
comes in at an impressive $1099
and is available now from your
local Kawasaki dealer.
CN
VOLUME 58 ISSUE 50 DECEMBER 13, 2021 P55
(Above) Like the Stacyc, there's no front brake,
only the rear wheel-mounted disc brake setup.
(Right) Believe it or not, the Kawasaki Elektrode is
Team Green's first-ever electric motorcycle. There
will be a lot more in the coming years.
Kawasaki's Mike
Chavez gets the
maps dialed in
for Harvey as dad
Rennie looks on.
