Honda Debuts Its First Premium Electric Mountain Bike

Honda has entered the premium electric mountain bike arena with the RN0, unveiled at EICMA 2026 in Milan. The bike is a joint effort with German high‑end e‑MTB maker ROTWILD and features a proprietary carbon monocoque frame and a gull‑arm swingarm that draws on Honda’s motorcycle chassis expertise. The RN0 follows Honda’s earlier RN01 downhill racing bike, which won the 2005 UCI Mountain Bike Downhill World Cup but never reached the consumer market.

Weighing roughly 24 kg (53 lb), the RN0 is built as a versatile e‑MTB. It uses a 160 mm FOX 36 FLOAT Factory Kashima front suspension and a FOX FLOAT X Factory Kashima rear shock. The drivetrain is a Shimano 2.3 kg unit capable of 100 Nm of torque and 750 W of maximum output, paired with a 720 Wh battery. Shimano’s AUTO ASSIST automatically adjusts motor help based on terrain and rider input, while AUTO SHIFT keeps cadence smooth; an Assist Carryover feature keeps power on briefly after pedaling stops.

Wheelset: DT Swiss H1900 SPLINE with a 29‑inch front and 27.5‑inch rear wheel. Braking: Shimano DEORE XT four‑piston calipers. A 2.2‑inch color display sits on the top tube, and the bike offers USB‑C charging and connectivity to the Shimano app for motor settings and electronic locking.

Honda has not yet announced a price. With a carbon chassis, factory‑level FOX suspension, XT brakes, and premium Shimano electronics, the RN0 is positioned far above the mass‑market e‑bike segment and is likely to carry a premium price tag.