America’s electric Ninja E-1 costs $7,899 yet is limited to 12 hp by European regulations. New US riders face no EU A1-style power restrictions, making gas alternatives tempting. Removable batteries and easy controls could still make E-1 appealing to urban commuters. Kawasaki’s electric Ninja is back for 2027, but American riders might struggle to work out why. The Ninja E-1 ABS costs $7,899 and makes just 12 hp (12 PS / 9 kW) at maximum attack. In Europe, its modest performance makes sense. In America it looks like a joke. That’s because European riders face strict motorcycle license categories that limit younger or newer riders to lower-powered machinery. The E-1 is designed to fit the lowly A-1 license tier. America generally doesn’t impose an equivalent graduated power restriction, leaving someone shopping for a first motorcycle free to choose considerably more performance. And $7,899 buys plenty of it. Related: Honda’s First Electr...