Honda gets into e-bikes
Honda RN0 combines motorcycle know-how with electric mountain biking into one high-tech package
New terrain, same dream
Honda may be known for its motorcycles, including its recently launched fully-electric WN7. But its bicycle connections go back to the motor-assisted ‘Batabata’ of 1946. The RN0 name also references the RN01 downhill racing bike project, which competed successfully in the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup in the early 2000s but was never developed into a product consumers could actually buy. The brand has also coined the phrase, “new terrain, same dream” for the launch, marking Honda’s move into a new category.
To realise this dream it has teamed up with Rotwild on a carbon-fibre monocoque frame with motorcycle-inspired styling and a distinctive ‘Gullarm’ rear end. Honda is offering three frame sizes with specific geometry for each, although not size-specific chain stays. The RN0 will come in one colour, Pearl Moon Ash Gray.
Motor, battery and automatic shifting
Brace yourself for some numbers, the headline figures comprising 100Nm of torque and up to 750W of peak power from Shimano’s new 2.3kg drive unit, which ironically, we can’t talk about just yet. It also uses a removable 720Wh battery. Riders can choose between Eco, Trail+ or Boost assistance modes, and in Trail+, Shimano’s Auto Assist adjusts support according to rider input and gradient.
Honda says the system is intended to deliver progressively stronger assistance as climbs get steeper. Shimano’s 12-speed Deore XT Di2 electronic drivetrain adds Auto Shift, which selects gears automatically to maintain pedalling cadence. Free Shift allows gear changes while coasting, and Assist Carry Over briefly maintains motor support after pedalling stops to help negotiate obstacles. The aim is for riders to spend less time managing gears and assistance and more time looking ahead at the trail.
A 2.2-inch colour screen built into the top tube displays ride information, and a USB-C port can charge devices. Shimano’s Connect app offers ride tracking, motor adjustment and electronic system locking and unlocking via a paired phone.
Components and geometry
Price and availability
