Honda’s been quietly building its electric two-wheeler portfolio since literally inventing the category back in 1994 with the world’s first commercial electric motorcycle. Three decades later, after launching its EV Fun and EV Urban Concepts at EICMA 2024, the Japanese giant just dropped the EV Outlier Concept at Japan Mobility Show 2025, making you forget everything you thought you knew about electric motorcycles.
A New Riding Philosophy
Honda’s design team, led by Yuya Tsutsumi, built the Outlier around three core driving “experiences”: Gliding, Ecstasy, and Low. The first speaks to that eerily smooth power delivery only electric motors can really produce, with silent transitions between acceleration and deceleration that can feel more like hovering than riding. Ecstasy captures the visceral thrill of instant torque from dual in-wheel motors at both ends, putting power directly to the road without the mechanical losses of a traditional drivetrain. But it’s the third element that defines the bike’s striking silhouette.
Honda deliberately added volume to the front section, creating that semi-translucent hooded panel to emphasize how close you sit to the ground. The bucket-style backrest does double duty by helping you absorb the motor’s aggressive acceleration while letting you pivot through corners using your hips as an axis. It’s a riding position that would be impossible with a conventional combustion engine sitting where the battery pack now lives.
Form Meets Future
The transparent bodywork reveals Honda’s “Precision of Intrinsic Design” philosophy, where every surface serves a purpose. The central black section houses the main battery while other components stay visibly separated — almost like an architectural drawing brought to life. Horizontal suspension sits lower in the chassis than you’d find on traditional bikes, contributing to its ground-hugging stance.
Up front, camera-based mirrors feed into a slim, wide TFT display that tracks everything from lean angle to real-time torque distribution between the front and rear motors. When you switch riding modes, the lower screen shows you exactly how the dual in-wheel motors adjust their output, attempting to turn electrification into something you can see.
The modular frame construction also signals Honda’s practical approach to its electric future. With no established playbook for EV motorcycle proportions, the company tested wheelbase, seat height, and overall dimensions repeatedly before landing on the Outlier’s unconventional geometry.
Spec Sheet
Model: EV Outlier Concept
Drivetrain: Dual in-wheel motors (front and rear) Design
Key Features: Gliding, Ecstasy, Low riding experience
Display: Dual-screen TFT with camera-based mirrors
Construction: Modular frame with lightweight metals and plastics
Suspension: Horizontal positioning
Designer: Yuya Tsutsumi
Pricing & Availability
Honda hasn’t announced production plans for the Outlier yet — it remains a concept showcasing the brand’s vision for electric motorcycles. But given the company’s commitment to hitting one million EV motorcycle sales by 2030, don’t be surprised if elements from this radical prototype find their way into showrooms sooner than you’d expect.
Recap
Honda EV Outlier Concept Motorcycle
Honda just unveiled the EV Outlier Concept at Japan Mobility Show 2025, and it’s a radical rethinking of what an electric motorcycle can be, featuring dual in-wheel motors, an ultra-low riding position, and a transparent design that shows off the brand’s “Precision of Intrinsic Design” philosophy.
