Honda’s Futuristic, Anime-Esque Motorcycle Is Actually an Unexpected Callback to the ’80s

Rolling out at Japan Mobility Show, it’s a jaw-dropping glimpse at what two-wheeled transport could look like in the next decade.

Rear view of a car's illuminated red LED taillight with a distinctive angular design.

Add Gear Patrol as a Preferred Source on Google

By Steve Mazzucchi

Published October 30, 2025

·

Updated October 30, 2025

If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more

Running today through November 9th, the Japan Mobility Show is a fascinating biennial peek at the future of transport.

It is not exclusive to Japanese brands, but they do tend to bring the vast majority of concepts and prototypes to Tokyo Big Sight (aka Tokyo International Exhibition Center.)

Could the motorcycle of the future be a cruiser? Outlier design lead Yuya Tsutsumi and his team sure seem to think so.

Honda

And while four-wheeled vehicles tend to dominate, there are always a few two-wheelers turning heads for one reason or another.

As Honda continues its push into electric motos, the EV Outlier Concept absolutely fits that bill, with a look that channels the biggest anime flick of the 1980s.

Time warp tango

Seriously though, with some mods — and a coat of red paint — this bike could slide right into the forever-delayed live-action version of Akira, the groundbreaking 1988 anime now regarded as one of the greatest animated films of all time. (Shoutout to Cycle World‘s Ben Purvis for this astute observation.)

But wait, how could a concept derived from a late ’80s silhouette possibly be futuristic?

Top image: Sleek silver and black Honda futuristic motorcycle with large, enclosed wheels and aerodynamic design. Bottom image: Red futuristic motorcycle with angular design and large rear tire, shown in an animated style with a person in front. — Viewed from this angle, the Outlier gives off major *Akira* vibes.

It’s important to note that Akira is set in a dystopian 2019, so it’s actually much closer to modern times.

Brought to life by multihyphenate visionary Katsuhiro Otomo — who both directed the film and created the manga on which it is based — it’s a stunner even now.

Glossy black Honda electric motorcycle front with integrated mirrors and handlebars against a dark blue background. — No joke, I had to examine this image for at least a minute before I realized I was looking at the front of the bike.

Its shape also seems wildly impractical, part of why no one has managed to truly replicate it as a functioning motorcycle.

Now, Honda has basically done so without even really trying.

Behind the design

Following last year’s EV Fun Concept, and led by motorcycle and power products modeler Yuya Tsutsumi, the Outlier seeks to demonstrate Honda’s wide-open vision for electric motorcycles, allegiant not to any gas bike heritage but only the brand’s EV theme: “Precision of Intrinsic Design.”

“We aimed to realize ‘electric-specific value’ distinct from existing motorcycles and a new riding experience,” says Tsutsumi. “To achieve this, we established three elements: Gliding, Ecstasy and Low.”

Sleek black and silver Honda electric motorcycle with futuristic design and illuminated red rear frame. — The Outlier is stunning from almost any angle, perhaps only more so in real life.

Without getting too hippy-trippy, the first quality is evident in the bike’s smooth, quiet power, intended to evoke a feeling of, you know, gliding rather than riding, which you can experience second-hand via this goosebump-inducing promo video.

Ecstasy, meanwhile, emerges from the over-the-top torque only an electric drive can produce, with this one boasting front and rear in-wheel motors, transmitting energy directly into the road as the rider and the machine become one.

Digital dashboard and center console display showing speed, navigation, and vehicle status on a Honda motorcycle. — In addition to all the design language, the Outlier also boasts this dynamic, data-packed dual-screen display.

The last quality is perhaps the most tangible. The design team pulled out all the stops to lower the seat height — and even the feeling of height — adding volume to the front of the bike to a create “a sense of mass to emphasize the rider’s low seat position and achieve a distinctive proportion,” Tsutsumi says. “This Dynamic and Low Position is made possible only because it is electric.”

Complementing this orientation is the bucket-type backrest, a very Akira-like element, as in the anime, protagonist Shōtarō Kaneda often appears to be sitting more in the bike than on it.

Person wearing a helmet riding a black Honda motorcycle at sunset on a road. — This screen shot from the promo video shows the riding position is actually much more natural than you might think.

This feature is intended to help the rider absorb the insane acceleration and also let them use their hips in a new way, as an axis when leaning into turns and pivoting through corners.

The only question now is, which will come first: the Akira live-action film that Sony and then Warner Brothers failed to bring to life over the past 30 years — or this bike actually rolling off an assembly line? May we live to see at least one or the other someday.

Availability and pricing

You’re kidding, right? Well, one can always daydream…

Futuristic black and silver Honda motorcycle with transparent front fairing and sleek aerodynamic design.

Honda EV Outlier Concept

Learn More

About the Author:

Now managing editor, Steve has served in a variety of roles with GP since 2019. Having previously written and edited for such publications as Men’s Health, Men’s Journal, Esquire and ESPN, he enjoys covering a range of topics — but mostly those pertaining to cycling, snow sports, pocket knives and motos — and dreams of a utopian world in which everyone’s bike seat is at the proper height.

Want to stay up to date on the latest product news and releases? Add Gear Patrol as a preferred source to ensure our independent journalism makes it to the top of your Google search results.