PREVIEW

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.