The flying motorbike is officially here! Japan’s new US$700,000 hoverbike, the XTurismo Limited Edition, targets supercar drivers – but it’s so loud that bystanders have to wear earplugs

Oct 27 , 2021

Would you take a ride on the XTurismo Limited Edition hoverbike? Photo: xturismo.com

Mitsubishi Electric and millionaire footballer Keisuke Honda are just two backers of Tokyo drone start-up A.L.I. Technologies, who showed off the new bike near Mount Fuji

The hoverbike joins other gadgets like jetpacks and flying taxis – but can it give Japan a technological edge over self-driving and electric cars?

A flying motorbike may sound like something in the far off future, but that’s exactly what 2022 has in store – for those who can afford it.

A Japanese start-up backed by millionaire football player Keisuke Honda hopes to persuade wealthy consumers to swap their supercar for a US$680,000 (77.7 million yen) hoverbike which went on sale on Tuesday, October 26.

The XTurismo Limited Edition hoverbike by Japanese start-up A.L.I. Technologies is pictured during its demonstration at Fuji Speedway in Oyama, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, on October 26. Photo: Handout via Reuters

The XTurismo Limited Edition from Tokyo-based drone start-up A.L.I. Technologies is equipped with a conventional engine and four battery-powered motors and promises to fly for 40 minutes at up to 100kph (62mph).

The company plans to produce a limited run of 200 of the single-rider hoverbikes, each weighing 300kg, for delivery in the first half of 2022.

Japanese start-up A.L.I. Technologies’ XTurismo Limited Edition hoverbike is pictured during its demonstration at Fuji Speedway in Oyama, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, on October 26. Photo: Reuters

“Until now the choice has been to move on the ground or at scale in the sky. We hope to offer a new method of movement,” chief executive Daisuke Katano said.

The black and red hoverbike consists of a motorcycle-like body on top of propellers. The machine rests on landing skids when stationary.