Answers About Honda’s Electric MX Bike

Honda unveiled its CR Electric prototype machine at last weekend’s Tokyo Motorcycle Show.

Answers About Honda’s New Electric Motocross Bike

When we woke up Saturday morning, our Instagram DMs and e-mail inbox were jam-packed with photos of a new Honda electric motocross bike that was unveiled at the Tokyo Motorcycle Show that same day, on the other side of the world.

Two years ago, Mugen unveiled a crazy looking concept bike dubbed the E-REX in 2017 at the same show, but it was so futuristic looking that the bike becoming a reality seemed almost out of the question.

Mugen debuted the wild-looking E-Rex concept bike in 2017.

The new electric motorcycle unveiled by Honda at this year’s show, however, looks like it could almost be an early production model. Decked out with plenty of works parts (suspension, hubs, etc.) and based on a CRF aluminum chassis and bodywork, the E-CR looks like it could be raced as is! Here is a video that surfaced on a Japanese vlog…

Anxious to learn more about the Honda, we sent a list of questions over to our friend Jason Abbott, Honda’s media relations manager in the United States, and he had them answered for us. Though some of the answers are vague and downright evasive, it seems as if the bike is indeed a test bed for an eventual product that’s slated for production in the future.

How long has the CR Electric bike been in the works? 

Honda cannot comment.

Has it been ridden? What feedback has been given?

 Yes, the display model has been tested on one of Honda’s test courses. Honda cannot comment on feedback. Through researching on/off road sports electric motorcycle performance, Honda plans on applying control and usability technologies.

Assuming the Alta Redshift was the baseline, is the performance of the Honda Electric MX Bike equal to or above the Alta? 

Honda cannot comment.

Any plans for the bike to be raced in the All Japan Nationals? 

No plans at this time.

Is this a concept project, or a true prototype for a production machine? 

The prototype was jointly developed at Honda R&D in Japan. Honda was in charge of building to prototype and M-TEC produced the battery power unit.

What future does Honda see in the electric motorcycle arena? 

This model was developed as an electric motorcycle that endures motocross riding over severe terrain. Honda will use technical knowhow gain from the CR Electric Prototype to continue development of on/off road electric motorcycle sports performance. Honda aims to tackle EV’s unique characteristics and issues and apply knowledge gained in future development of retail EV motorcycles.

If the Alta was equivalent to a 250cc four-stroke, what is the Honda equivalent to? 

Honda aims for 250cc equivalent performance.

What do the buttons on the handlebars do? Does the bike have gears? 

Honda cannot comment.

Any word on battery life? 

Detailed specs are not available for prototype models.

How much does it weigh? 

Detailed specs are not available for prototype models.

We were sad to hear that Honda has no plans of fielding the bike at the All Japan National Championship opener in April…that would have made the trip to this year’s race 100Z% worthwhile! As it stands, our insider reports have no new machines making their debut at this year’s season kickoff.

Elsewhere in the show, Mugen had an updated, more-realistic version of the E-Rex on display. As noted in the answers from Honda, Mugen is playing a lead role in the battery development.

What do you think of the Honda CR Electric? Are e-bikes the wave of the future? Before you scoff at the idea, remember how we all felt about four-strokes only a decade or so ago! Comment below!