The bike’s design is based on the lauded 1980s anime Akira. While the connection to Shotaro Kaneda’s bike in the movie is clear, the Ichiban is much more toned-down and realistic. Yet, it’s still unique and eye-catching — a boon for modern riders.
That’s probably because one of the other sources of influence is the minimalist concept of kanso, which is Japanese for “simplicity” or “purity” and is one of the seven principles of wabi-sabi. Even for an electric bike, the Ichiban is unusually sleek and cops some of the same retrofuturism we’ve seen in the car market recently.
A gorgeous, inspired design is one thing. However, a rideable bike with real specs is another. Thankfully, the brand has also unveiled some of that information.
Kaiju power
The brand is currently manufacturing the prototype, so much can change before a true production run, but Ichiban has unveiled some vital tidbits of information about its specifications.
The all-electric performance bike is said to have a 45kW power dual-motor system that can push it from 0-100 km (roughly 62 mph) in 3.5 seconds. It also has a battery that’s good for 250 km (a little over 155 miles) per charge and can juice up to 70 percent in only 30 minutes.