EICMA 2026. Honda presents the motorcycle of the future and the new e-MTB RN0
Honda brings two very different electric innovations to EICMA 2026: the futuristic OUTLIER Concept, an all-wheel-drive motorcycle with two motors in the wheel hubs, and the RN0, a premium electric mountain bike developed in collaboration with ROTWILD and Shimano.
At EICMA 2026, Honda presents a wide range of new products, especially in the area of traditional motorcycles. But there is also room for electric mobility. Both of Honda’s offerings are interesting, despite belonging to very different categories.
On one hand is the OUTLIER Concept, an electric motorcycle that explores how design, architecture, and the relationship between rider and machine might evolve. On the other hand is the Honda RN0, an electric mountain bike that allows the Japanese manufacturer to enter the European e-MTB market.
Honda OUTLIER Concept: Two electric motors, one per wheel
The most interesting novelty from a motorcycle perspective is undoubtedly the OUTLIER Concept. Already presented and awarded internationally, this bike makes its European debut at the Milan Motor Show.
The most original aspect is the choice to integrate electric motors directly into both the front and rear wheels. This configuration eliminates the need for a traditional transmission and opens up design possibilities that are hard to imagine in a motorcycle with a thermal engine.
Honda has leveraged this freedom to create a bike with compact proportions and a design that is truly unconventional. It’s not just a stylistic exercise: the placement of the motors represents a different way of conceiving the entire motorcycle’s architecture.
The instrumentation is also looking to the future. Rearview mirrors are being replaced by cameras, while a thin panoramic display appears in front of the driver, designed to provide information without cluttering the driving area visually.
Real-time data displayed includes the steering angle and power output from the two engines. This choice highlights the capabilities of electronics in managing and presenting driving information.
For now, however, Honda does not provide details on total power, battery, range, or performance. And most importantly, it does not indicate whether or when the OUTLIER will become a production model motorcycle.
It remains a laboratory of ideas, but interesting because it shows how electricity can be used not only to replace a gasoline engine, but also to rethink the motorcycle from scratch.
Honda RN0: European debut in electric mountain bikes
The second novelty is much more concrete and relates to a sector in which Honda has decided to enter with a high-end product. It’s called Honda RN0 and is an electric mountain bike developed in collaboration with ROTWILD, a brand specializing in premium e-MTBs, and Shimano, which provides the propulsion system.
The RN0 stands out first and foremost for its carbon fiber monocoque frame and the unique Gullwing fork, a design solution developed to achieve the right balance between structural rigidity and flexibility. In terms of power, it features a Shimano system capable of generating 100 Nm of torque and a maximum power output of 750 W. These are significant figures for an electric mountain bike, confirming the model’s sporty and premium positioning.
Honda, however, did not provide any details in the launch announcement regarding battery capacity, range, or price.
Honda fails to impress
For years, Honda has been announcing an electric future built on investments, new models, and increasingly diverse product lines by 2030. The ambitions are clear, at least on paper. The problem is that, in the meantime, we continue to see mainly concepts, prototypes, and promises. Truly capable electric motorcycles that can replace traditional gasoline bikes are still waiting to be introduced.
Even the models that have hit the market, as interesting and sometimes beautiful as they are, often end up performing essentially the same role as scooters. They have the appearance and performance of a motorcycle, but not always the versatility needed to handle highway trips, mountain rides, or long journeys without having to plan every stop based on charging needs.
THE OUTLIER is yet another example of this contradiction. It makes one wonder whether it wouldn’t be more useful to set aside sci-fi motorcycles for a moment and start doing well what electric bikes can already do today—efficient, affordable urban scooters with good range and competitive prices. An electric SH, to put it simply. A product capable of convincing thousands of car and scooter owners, rather than just impressing visitors at a trade show for a few days. Dreams are the engine of innovation, but two-wheeled electric vehicles seem to have been sleeping for quite some time.
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