Honda’s electric RTL prototype debuted in the premier class of the 2026 TrialGP World Championship, and the machine did not just show up to make up numbers.
Photo: global.honda
Ridden by Spanish rider Miquel Gelabert, the all-electric trial bike finished 6th on Saturday and improved to 5th on Sunday at Mobility Resort Motegi in Japan.
That marks the first time a battery-powered motorcycle has gone head-to-head with petrol rivals in the sport’s top division.
The opening round ran from May 15 to 17, with Honda using its home soil to put the new platform up against established TrialGP names.
Gelabert, a 28-year-old from Barcelona who finished runner-up in the 2025 Trial2 series, picked up his first championship points of the season on day one.
He came back on Sunday with a cleaner run, accruing just 13 penalty points in Race 1 before securing 5th place overall.
Now for the bike itself. The RTL Electric runs on a lithium-ion battery first developed for the CR ELECTRIC PROTO motocross prototype, then retuned for trial duty.
The motor pairs with an integrated inverter, while Honda kept a clutch, flywheel, and gearbox in the package.
Those parts are non-negotiable for trials, where throttle feel and grip control decide every section.
Trials, if you think about it, is one of the disciplines where electric drivetrains have the cleanest shot at petrol parity.
The sport rewards low-speed balance, precise torque modulation, and zero powerband lag, which is exactly what a battery setup delivers out of the box.
Honda’s own Takahisa Fujinami already swept the MFJ All Japan Trial Championship on this same platform back in 2024, so the Motegi finish did not come out of nowhere.
Honda RTL Electric specs:
Lithium-ion battery (CR ELECTRIC PROTO-derived, optimized for trial use)
AC synchronous motor with integrated inverter
Clutch, flywheel, and multi-speed transmission
Aluminum twin-tube frame, newly developed
RTL-series-based swing arm, weight-optimized
EV component layout tuned for ideal center of gravity
Team manager Carles Barneda said moving the project to TrialGP was the logical next step after the bike showed pace in Trial2.
The 2026 calendar now heads to Andorra, then Italy, the UK, France, the Netherlands, and closes in Spain.
So what do you think? Is the electric trial bike finally ready to take a premier-class title from the petrol guard, or does Toni Bou’s gasoline-powered Montesa still own the top step of the podium?
Tell us your thoughts on the Honda RTL Electric in the comments.
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