This ‘Akira’-Inspired Motorcycle Has a ‘Godzilla Mode’ if You’re Gutsy Enough

By Danial Martinus  •  10 Feb 2025 in Futurism

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The design wizards at Ichiban Motorcycles have unveiled a sleek, Cyberpunk-esque electric motorcycle that draws heavy inspiration from the legendary and influential anime adaptation, Akira.

More specifically, the bike pays homage to Shotaro Kaneda’s (the protagonist) ride, which has since gone on to influence other futuristic designs and countless real-world recreations.

Comes with ‘Godzilla Mode’

Yep, the name itself already conjures images of a super-fast (and perhaps dangerous) ride.

In all seriousness, the bike’s ‘Godzilla Mode’ boosts torque and power to the maximum for up to 10 seconds. It’s basically like hitting the NOS button, except you’d have to activate it by twisting the throttle handle.

The bike’s 45kW power dual-motor system lets you accelerate from 0 to 100km/h in just 3.5 seconds. Maybe we shouldn’t trust Malaysians with this, considering our lack of road etiquette. But hey, the power’s there if you want to use it, I guess.

While Ichiban Motorcycles isn’t shy about admitting where they got their inspiration from, they also say the bike was inspired by ’80s motorcycle design in general. This is especially evident with the eye-catching colour-blocking of red and white, as well as the bike’s general stance and silhouette.

The bike’s design supposedly embodies the Japanese principle of ‘Kanso’, which emphasises simplicity and minimalism. Instead of form following function (or vice versa), they complement each other, working in tandem to deliver peak performance while preserving a beautiful design.

Because of this, you’ll also see a tasteful balance of geometric shapes fused into the bike’s appearance. You’ve got sharp, assertive lines on the main body of the bike with rounded-off encasements for the engine. The large, all-black wheels—and their solid hubcaps—complete its bold, sleek, and aerodynamic stance.

The same ‘Kanso’ principle is honoured in the bike’s dashboard, which features a small digital panel that makes good use of ’80s-inspired graphics in neon green (and red accents) for easy visibility.

Of course, while the bike’s design does seem exciting for motorcycle enthusiasts, it’s important to note that it’s still a concept and hasn’t gone into production, though the Ichiban team assures people the bike will come to fruition. Plus, there aren’t any other details about the bike (regarding price or release date) at the time of writing.

What we do know so far is its range: 250km on a single charge (which takes 30 minutes to reach 70%). Not bad at all. Additionally, Ichiban Motorcycles will reportedly be adding ABS and traction control for a safe ride in all weather conditions.

For now, all we can do is wait and see if the bike really does hit the streets in the future.

To keep up to date with Ichiban Motorcycles, click here.

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