Spanish Designers Create Real-Life Replica Of Futuristic Akira Bike
Fans of Katsuhiro Otomo’s cult 1988 cyberpunk anime film Akira can now ride the motorcycle its hero Shotaro Kaneda rides around the city of Neo-Tokyo. That’s because bel & bel, a small workshop studio in Barcelona, has created an amazing replica of the legendary red motorcycle. A fully electric model will eventually be made available to the public in a limited edition. The studio’s founders, Jesús Bel and Carles Bel initially created motorcycles based on the Dragon Ball series. A positive response prompted them to take on one of the most famous anime motorcycles of them all - Akira’s iconic red bike with its light-up wheels. The Akira bike is made from metal for the chassis, fiberglass and carbon, along with electrical components and various LED lights - with the latter providing its amazing light up wheels. Their prototype has a Yamaha 250 cc motor in the rear wheel and a 1000w electric hub motor in the front wheel. But the designers are looking to create new fully electric model with a 5000w 72v motor. Just like the movie version, the bike has 3 speed modes and reverse. It also boasts a digital panel with all lights and controls integrated, rear and front air suspension, perimeter LED lights on both wheels, a front pop-up light, 17" rims, and Moto GP slick tires. If you want your own you will have to order by special request - with each bike costing around €20,000.
