Honda RN0 2027: e-mountain bike with 100 Nm and carbon frame

Honda's story began in 1946 with the Batabata, an auxiliary engine for bicycles. 80 years later, the brand is once again putting a bicycle in the spotlight: the new RN0 for the 2027 model year is an e-mountain bike developed with ROTWILD and Shimano. Honda has designed it for all-mountain use and quotes a weight of 23.5 kg. The ambition behind it: combining efficient pedalling with control on demanding trails. The development motto is New Terrain, Same Dream. New terrain, but the same desire to make mobility and the joy of new challenges accessible.

The connection to cycling goes back even further. The electrically assisted Raccoon of 1995 was followed in 1996 by the Raccoon CX mountain bike, in 1998 by the folding Raccoon Compo and in 2001 by the Step Compo, designed to be carried in the Honda Step WGN. In the early 2000s, Honda then launched the RN01 downhill project. It competed in national and international races, including the UCI World Cup. In 2005, Team G Cross Honda claimed the overall win in the UCI Downhill World Cup. It is to this very race bike that the RN0 name is dedicated.

Now Honda is setting its sights on Europe, which it describes as the world's largest e-bike market. The RN0 follows the WN7 as another electric model, and its design picks up on the family resemblance to the EM1 e:, CUV e: and WN7. Development is led by Yusuke Muto, who has been active in the mountain bike scene since 1995 and brings experience from cross-country, downhill and BMX. According to Honda, his rider's perspective is reflected in an intuitive, confidence-inspiring bike.

A Honda with pedals is evidently allowed to look like a motorcycle too. The RN0 features a Y-shaped carbon monocoque frame and the distinctive gullwing swingarm. Honda describes a direct structure for load transfer between the head tube and the rear axle. It is meant to combine feedback from the ground, strength and responsiveness. According to the manufacturer, the frame design deliberately relies on lateral compliance for traction and cornering behaviour, as well as increased vertical stiffness for stability and braking performance. Together with the linkage kinematics, the swingarm is meant to ease the trade-off between efficient pedalling and soaking up bumps.

The RN0 comes in S, M and L, each with its own geometry. The head angle is 65 degrees, the seat tube angle 76.5 degrees, and the chainstays measure 442 mm. Reach is listed at 430, 455 and 480 mm, stack at 631, 640 and 649 mm. The wheelbase grows from 1,201 to 1,230 to 1,259 mm. Bottom bracket height is 345 mm, with a BB drop of 20 mm. Honda quotes a maximum payload of 130 kg. An optional Acros MOD66 kit allows the head angle to be adjusted by ±0.6 degrees and reach by ±5 mm on M and L.

Up front there's an air-sprung FOX 36 Float Factory Kashima fork with 160 mm of travel, while out back a FOX Float X Factory Kashima shock delivers 145 mm of rear-wheel travel. According to Honda, both suspension units are tuned to the RN0 and its linkage. For the fork, the body text mentions separate high- and low-speed adjustment for compression and rebound. The preliminary spec sheet lists high- and low-speed compression as well as low-speed rebound. The shock can be adjusted via low-speed compression and rebound. A lever switches between open and firm modes for climbs or flatter sections.

ROTWILD supplies the cockpit with handlebar and S140 stem, complemented by Ergon GDH Team grips and an Acros MOD56 headset. An Ergon SM10 saddle sits on the Crankbrothers Highline 3 dropper post. Depending on frame size, the post offers 125, 150 or 170 mm of travel, with a diameter of 30.9 mm. This allows the saddle height to be adapted to the terrain.

For the wheelset, Honda relies on DT Swiss H1900 in a mullet configuration: 29 inches at the front and 27.5 inches at the rear. According to the manufacturer, the larger front wheel and smaller rear wheel are meant to combine stability, agility and traction. Fitted are Schwalbe Albert Evo Trail TLR Soft tyres in 29 x 2.5 and 27.5 x 2.5 inches respectively. The front axle measures 15 x 110 mm, while at the rear Honda quotes 173.5 x 12 mm with 148 mm Boost hub spacing.

Stopping power comes from Shimano Deore XT four-piston brakes and RT-CL700 rotors, each 203 mm in diameter. The press kit lists M8200 in the body text and M8220 in the spec sheet as the caliper designation. What both have in common is the XT classification. Honda promises powerful, consistent braking in changing conditions.

At the heart sits a Shimano drive unit with a magnesium housing and integrated cooling fins. Honda quotes 100 Nm of torque and up to 750 W peak power with a motor weight of 2.3 kg. According to the documents, assistance extends up to 160 crank revolutions per minute, compared with 120 for the predecessor mentioned there. The system is powered by a removable Shimano Swing-In battery with 720 Wh and 43.2 V. The riding modes are called ECO, TRAIL+ and BOOST.

In TRAIL+, AUTO ASSIST continuously adjusts assistance based on rider input and terrain gradient. The progressive power delivery is meant to help prevent a spinning rear wheel and unwanted lifting of the front wheel on steep climbs. Assist Remain is designed to smooth out the drive when pedalling unevenly. Assist Carry Over briefly maintains assistance after you stop pedalling, so that momentum and traction are preserved when clearing roots, rocks or ledges.

The electronic Shimano Deore XT Di2 provides twelve gears. The RD-M8290 rear derailleur works with a CS-M6200-12 cassette with 10 to 51 teeth. Added to this are a 34-tooth SM-CRE80 chainring, an FC-M8200-E crankset with 160 mm crank length on S and 165 mm on M and L, and an e*thirteen TRS chain guide. Honda also lists an SW-M6250-IR shifter, a CN-HG7100-12 chain and a 55 mm chainline. The frame uses ROTWILD MDI IV/SRAM UDH mounts and a SRAM UDH derailleur hanger.

AUTO SHIFT selects gears independently using a motion sensor and revised control logic. The system targets a cadence between 70 and 160 rpm and, together with AUTO ASSIST, is meant to take workload off the rider on changing terrain. FREE SHIFT also allows gear changes while freewheeling. When setting off on a steep slope, Lift and Shift helps: lift the rear wheel and hold down the mode switch, and the system selects a lower gear for restarting.

The Shimano SC-EN700 sits in the top tube as a 2.2-inch colour display. Its USB-C port supplies power to mobile devices and serves as a diagnostic interface. The system is operated via the wireless SW-UT600-LR multifunction switch. The Shimano CONNECT app adds a bike computer, records rides and allows the responsiveness and characteristics of the drive unit to be adjusted. Settings, component updates and automatic software updates are also part of the described feature set.

The smartphone also takes on the role of a smart key: according to Honda, the electronic system locks automatically when switched off. To unlock it, simply switch on the paired smartphone with the app installed nearby. Pearl Moon Ash Gray is planned as the colour for the 2027 RN0. Honda describes all technical specifications as preliminary and reserves the right to make changes.

Is the Honda RN0 the successor to the RN01? The name is a tribute to the former downhill race bike. The RN0 itself is an electrically assisted all-mountain bike that Honda is developing together with ROTWILD and Shimano.

What key data does Honda quote for the drive unit? According to the manufacturer, the Shimano unit delivers 100 Nm and up to 750 W peak power. The removable battery has a capacity of 720 Wh, and the complete bike weighs 23.5 kg according to Honda.

Can the RN0 shift automatically? Yes. AUTO SHIFT handles gear selection, while AUTO ASSIST adjusts assistance in TRAIL+. FREE SHIFT additionally allows gear changes without pedalling.

What sizes and suspension data are available? Honda offers S, M and L. The FOX suspension units provide 160 mm of travel at the front and 145 mm at the rear. The wheels measure 29 inches at the front and 27.5 inches at the rear.