Honda unveils CR Electric dirt bike concept

- Shares its design and underpinnings with the CRF250R motocross bike

- Honda didn’t divulge details about its motor and power figures

- It is based on a twin-spar frame and gets Showa suspension and Nissin brakes

Honda has unveiled its electric dirt bike prototype, the CR Electric, at the Tokyo Motor Show in Japan. 

The electric motorcycle shares its design and most of the underpinnings with the Honda CRF250R motocross offering. Although the company didn’t divulge details about its motor and power figures, it utilises high-end components which should make it a capable dirt bike. Based on a twin-spar aluminium frame, the long-travel suspension is sourced by Showa while it features Nissin braking setup. Additionally, the spoke wheels are shod with knobby Dunlop tyres. The electric motor section is designed in a way to make it look like the engine bay of the combustion-based Honda CRF250R.

Although it is a prototype, the Honda CR Electric looks close to a production-ready competition bike. With the global shift towards electrification, many bikemakers might develop electric models for their motorsport division in the near future. While Honda is the first established brand to have come up with an electric dirt bike, Alta Motors was the first start-up which started selling a whole line-up of motocross, enduro and supermoto electric motorcycles. However, owing to lack of funds, the company had to suspend operations in October 2018.

The unveiling of the CR Electric dirt bike signifies that we may witness Honda introducing more such motorcycles for competition as well as for road.

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