After having seen so many crazy bike concepts that’ll in all likelihood remain a pipedream, Honda has something exciting for motorheads and Pokémon fans alike. Just in time for Pokémon Day, the Japanese automaker has revealed a wild concept bike that’s poised to make headlines at Honda Welcome Plaza Aoyama in Tokyo from March 7th to March 9th, 2025. The dragon-themed ride created in collaboration with the Pokemon Company is poised to capture attention worldwide.
They call it the Koraidon motorcycle, and for a Pokémon fan, it’ll instantly evoke curiosity as to what this dragon-shaped bike will be like in real life. This is not the first time a flashy dragon from the 2022 game Pokémon Scarlet has had an automotive rendition. Last year too around the same time Toyota Engineering Society showed off the Miraidon, a Legendary Pokémon from the Violet game series. Both the iconic Pokémon characters have their fan base, but for us, the prehistoric dragon Koraidon has a slight edge.
Designer: Honda
The unique bike will employ the in-house Honda Riding Assist technology for the ASIMO humanoid robot, introduced first at CES 2017. This will allow the Koraidon-themed bike to balance on its own even if the rider takes the hands off. To keep the Gen 9 Pokémon character’s element going, the ride will have granular details and unique facial features. These include animated hands, feet, neck, face, eyes, and even eyelids that move depending on the speed of the bike. In particular, the movement of the eyes will match with the eyelids for a sense of freaky realism. If that’s not all, it can walk on all four legs and stand on two wheels in the Sprinting Build mode.
Honda claims they have developed this motorcycle to the true dimensions and weight as portrayed in the video game. It is going to be 8 feet 2 inches high and weighs 668 lb. That means users will get to experience the real side of the Pokémon Scarlet game with the Koraidon in full bloom. Turning an animated character into a real-life version comes with its challenges and Honda didn’t shy away from bringing out the best. More than 40 engineers were involved in this offbeat project who come from the strong circles of their Innovative Research Excellence and Motorcycle and Power Products divisions. The tagline, “Honda’s Devotion Makes Children’s Dreams Come True” tells a lot about their design philosophy.
Wishing this thing shows up on the roads in the United States or Europe would be a far cry. For now, the maximum stretch would be to maybe spot it on the Japanese streets for a prototype run post the event. If the Honda Koraidon motorcycle does roll on its own powered wheels that’ll be the coolest thing in 2025.
