“The bike was, as you would expect from a company such as Mugen, a well-designed and well put together proper race bike,” stated 17 time Isle of Man TT winner John McGuinness shortly after his first ride aboard the Mugen Shinden. “As soon as I got underway it felt natural and I almost forgot it was fully electric while I was also learning the Twin Ring Motegi circuit for the first time.” :continue:
The bike you see here is the Mugen Shinden, a prototype electric race bike that will compete at this summer’s TT Zero, racing bikes like the MotoCzysz E1pc. Mugen is a japanese race team and tuning company that’s long existed as sort of a Skunk Works-like, external R&D company for Honda. There’s no public link between Honda and the Shinden. But, now that we see the bike, it’s evident that it does share some major parts with the Honda RC-E. Like that motor, which comes out of the Honda Insight hybrid car. :continue:
Honda will become the first major manufacturer to enter the electric racing fray when its satellite company, Mugen, enters an all-new electric motorcycle in the Isle of Man TT Zero this summer. With huge historical significance, the company will race alongside electric innovators like MotoCzysz in an effort to set the first-ever 100mph average lap of the 37.7-mile Mountain Course aboard a zero-emissions motorcycle. :continue:
Snapped by Flickr user 246-You at the Tokyo Motor Show, these photos bring us up close and personal with the Honda RC-E. Presenting a new twist on retro futurism that’s neither trad nor hackneyed, the concept presents an idea for an electric sportsbike with 250cc-equivalent performance that looks like 2011 and 1968 got together and had a motorcycle baby. :continue:
Literally the nicest looking sportsbike we’ve seen since the 1960s, this Honda RC-E concept is debuting in Tokyo today. Don’t get your hearts in too much of a flutter, this is definitely a concept and stands very little chance of reaching production. So why should you care about it? :continue:
Honda’s theme at this year’s Tokyo Motor Show? “What makes people feel good?” Well, now that you ask, an electric superbike styled like a ‘70s GP racer would be a good start. Maybe you could follow it up with a 21st century riff on the Motocompo? Awesome, thanks, we’re good now. :continue:
