The Mugen Shinden is an all‑electric Isle of Man TT conqueror

One of the most exciting pieces of battery-powered kit on display was the 2019 Mugen Shinden Hachi, fresh from a 2^nd place finished at the 2019 TT Zero.

Michael Rutter was the man who clinched the seventh win of his TT career by taking victory in the one-lap TT Zero format for all-electric bikes on a Hachi. Rutter recorded the fastest ever lap in the class with an average speed of 121.909mph, finishing 8.5 seconds ahead of Bathams Mugen team-mate John McGuinness, also on a Hachi.

It’s a lovely looking thing at closer inspection, and the all-carbon body, forks and swing arms look seriously trick. The aerodynamics, too, have been improved since earlier models in the programme, which add to the beautiful lines and form of the machine, said to be inspired by cues from nature. Those well-versed in Japanese will have noticed that ‘Hachi’ means ‘eight’, this being the eighth iteration of the superbike.

The secret sauce of the technology hidden behind the fairings is reasonably hush-hush, but spec sheets put the total weight at 248kg, with the CFRP monocoque frame powered by an oil-cooled, three-phase, brushless motor and a laminate-type lithium-ion battery, with an output voltage of 370V or more.

As we stand ogling, we’re joined by Ed Ashton, an Engine Test & Development Technician from Mugen Euro, who helps shed some light on the zero-emission bike’s performance, and its recent outing at the Zero TT.

“The battery will charge from zero to 100% in about an hour and a half. When we started the project, it took eight hours to charge. We've developed the battery along with the charger over the product’s lifecycle. We think the battery as a rough estimate would deliver around 120 miles of road range if driven at road speeds.”

That should be exciting news for bikers with an interest in electric technology. Especially so when you consider its increasingly impressive performance.

“It averaged 121mph over the flying TT Zero lap. It did 176mph through the speed trap, which was 3mph hour quicker than the 600cc SuperSport bikes. The performance is up there. You take a little bit of a weight penalty with the electric powertrain, but with continued development, we'd think that would come down over the years.”

“This time out, we didn't get a chance to do much practice because of the weather disruption, so we ran on a reserved level of power. We know the bike is still capable of more.”

That’s a tantalising prospect, and if Mugen Shinden go on to produce a ninth model, expect increased range and power, along with a reduction in overall weight. For the Hachi though, the future is less clear.

“After a 19-minute flying race lap, the bike is potentially obsolete now.” So quick is the development within the electric technology arms race, it is genuinely hard to predict what manufactures are going to do next.

But before we completely write off this magnificent bike, what’s it like to ride? John McGuinness – who has been involved in the Mugen Shinden all-electric offering from day dot and whose name was on the Shinden for the Festival of weekend –  has gone on record to say he enjoys the purity of the riding experience. He believes the bike brings the best out of riders, forcing them to make perfect laps, hitting every apex with precision in order to keep speeds and momentum high. The bikes have no clutch and no gears, meaning it’s a twist and go experience, and not at all comparable to combustion powered superbikes.

Sadly, despite our pestering, we’re not allowed to have a go. But if the future of motorcycling looks this good, then show us where to sign. We want one.

Photography by Pete Summers.