The ’80s Sci-Fi Motorcycle Of Your Dreams Comes To Life
Die-hard fans of 1988’s Akira now have a chance to purchase an aesthetically accurate and fully functional replica of Kaneda’s Shotaro bike depicted in the movie. While the current working prototype comprises a healthy number of used and heavily modified parts, future iterations will be mostly custom-built now that the concept has been proven. Functional prototype replicas aside, new models will be for sale sometime this year and will cost roughly $30,000.
The Akira Bike project is the brainchild of Bel & Bel Creative Studios and currently has some pretty impressive specifications. Boasting a hybrid design, the current prototype has a Yamaha engine that works concurrently with an electric motor. Additionally, the Shotaro bike has incredibly sleek carbon fiber fairings and a 78.74′ wheelbase between the front and rear tires.
But what’s most impressive about the final prototype is its relatively low weight of 375 lbs. For context, most bikes that have dimensions similar to the Akira bike weigh up to 500 lbs and, in some instances, up to 700 lbs.
In their efforts to faithfully recreate the Akira bike, Carles and Jesús Bel wanted to recreate the visual aesthetics witnessed in the 1988 dystopian sci-fi masterpiece but achieve a level of functionality as they looked to create a limited edition production model.
Production models of the Akira bike will feature a 5000w and 72v rear hub motor that’s fully electric. If all goes according to plan, the Shotaro bike will reach a top speed of 75 mph. With a 64-mile range on a standard 60AH battery, the sleek and futuristic-looking bike will be ideal for city driving, cruising the countryside, or, in extreme cases, joining a vigilante biker gang to thwart secret military projects that are threatening humanity as we know it.
What An Akira Will Cost You
But as most sci-fi collectors (and bike enthusiasts) know, such intimidating levels of customization come with a hefty price tag. The Akira bike is no exception, as each bike will come with a $26,287 price tag. What’s more, a deposit of $5,475 will be required to secure your order.
After all is said and done, the Akira bike has a total cost of $31,762.
If you have disposable income and want to live out your Akira fantasy, procuring the bike will probably be the best way to do it. Since the events that took place in the film happened in 2019, it’s safe to say that the singularity is finally at bay, and you probably won’t have any violent run-ins with the Clown gang any time soon. But that doesn’t mean you can’t whip down the highway in style on your way to work.
Akira is a ground-breaking anime classic
Akira is widely considered the film that set the standard for modern anime. Its lush production, stunning animation, and frenetic energy make it a remarkable feat of filmmaking, even by today’s standards. Now that the Akira bike that we’ve all drooled over is finally becoming a reality, now’s as good a time as any to throw down a deposit and own an iconic piece of sci-fi history.
But you’ll have to be patient because each Akira bike will take about a year to be fully built and road-ready.
Source: RideApart
