Rapid K-1988 Brings Akira Manga to Life

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The Rapid K-1988 was shown at the Bangkok International Motor Show. (@RapidThai/)

The Kaneda bike from the Akira manga series and the anime movie of the same name has inspired plenty of one-off copies over the last four decades. But relatively recent acceleration in electric-motorcycle technology and manufacturing means something very similar is finally more viable on a larger production scale.

Rapid, an electric scooter brand overseen by Thai company Smartech Motor, has unveiled its K-1988 as a production-intended concept bike at the Bangkok International Motor Show, and while it’s white rather than protagonist Shōtarō Kaneda’s red bike, there’s no doubt as to its inspiration. Called the K-1988 (surely that’s “K” for Kaneda and “1988″ to mark the Akira anime movie’s release date), the bike is essentially a big electric scooter but with a distinctly low seat, feet-forward riding position, and retro-futurist styling.

The K-1988 has a feet-forward riding position. (@RapidThai/)

The electric powertrain includes a 15kW motor (that’s 20 hp in more familiar terms) that allows a top speed of 87 mph, and Rapid’s claim of a 124-mile range seems well within grasp. Although the bike supports a Type 2 charge plug, a standard that’s capable of outputting up to 22kW, there are no outlandish claims as to the recharge speed, with Rapid suggesting a full charge will take two hours. The bike also has ABS and traction control, all pointing toward the prototype being intended as a production model rather than simply an attention-grabber for the show stand.

The K-1988 has single-sided swingarms at each end. (@RapidThai/)

There’s a single-sided swingarm at the back supported by a conventional monoshock rear suspension system, but also a single-sided front swingarm, similar to that of the Italjet Dragster. Unusual, certainly, but still proven technology that’s well within reach of production bikes. Like the original Kaneda bike, the swingarms are largely covered by cowlings that extend out to the wheel rims to hide the mechanical elements.

Front and rear swingarms are nothing new on the Italjet Dragster scooter. (Italjet/)

On board are two TFT screens—with one mounted above the bars, as usual, and another lower down between the rider’s knees—and the headlight is tucked behind the windshield, just as it is on the original Kaneda bike design.

Is it practical? No. There’s no provision for a passenger or any luggage. But from bobbers to superbikes, a lack of practicality has never been something to hold motorcycles back from sales success. The Kaneda bike from Akira is a cultural icon, recognized well beyond Akira’s own fan base, and if Rapid is successful in manufacturing a showroom-ready version of the K-1988 at an affordable price, it’s not hard to imagine plenty of customers coming forward.

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