Mugen Shinden, the dominant force in the annual TT Zero held at the Isle of Man TT, has unveiled its 2017 electric-powered TT contender.
Looking leaner and meaner than the firm’s outgoing Go (which translates to five from Japanese), the updated Roku (yep, meaning six) is visibly narrower than its predecessor despite only tipping the scales one kilogram lighter.
According to the firm, the 370-volt laminate-type lithium-ion battery is capable of 119kW and 210Nm. That’s impressive performance, but it will be needed to propel a 248kg machine around the punishing 37.74-mile Mountain Course.
The bike will be ridden by Mugen Shinden’s regular rider John McGuinness, whose factory Honda teammate Guy Martin has been named to replace 2016 race-winner Bruce Anstey for the 2017 event.
Expectation is high that either the Team Mugen duo, or one of their rivals, will crack the yet-to-be reached 120mph lap on electric machinery this year. It is McGuinness who has come the closest so far, posting a 119.279mph lap in the 2015 event. In 2016 a mechanical (or should we say electrical?) issue thwarted his chances of breaking the elusive lap time barrier, with teammate Anstey going on to win.
