Electric motorcycles come in all shapes and sizes these days, but few take the idea of “small format” as literally as the new Icoma Tatamel Bike. Designed by Takamitsu Ikoma – a former toy designer who clearly never lost his taste for Transformers – this little EV doesn’t just shrink.
It folds itself into a tidy rolling suitcase shape that can follow you into elevators, offices, and apartments, where full-sized bikes are a non-starter.
While the original Motocompo-esque prototype was more of a curiosity, the Tatamel Bike is now a real production vehicle with a 2–3 week lead time and a ¥498,000 (about US$3,300) price tag. And believe it or not, it actually works as transportation.
A motorcycle that becomes luggage
In its unfolded “bike mode,” the Tatamel is roughly the footprint of a compact seated scooter. But fold it down and the machine shrinks to just 69 × 69 × 26 cm (27 x 27 x 10 in), small enough to roll around like a piece of carry-on luggage. That’s fortunate, because at 63 kg (139 lb), you won’t be tossing it over your shoulder.
The idea is simple: ride it through the city, fold it in the lobby, and bring it upstairs just like you would a suitcase. For urban apartment dwellers who’ve dealt with “no bikes inside” policies, this solves a major headache. It’s just a suitcase…with big wheels?
Small size, real specs
Despite the toy-inspired vibe, the Tatamel Bike is built like a legitimate (albeit small) scooter. It uses a 600W motor (with an actual 2,000W peak rating), runs on a 51.2V 12Ah LiFePO₄ battery (roughly 600 Wh), and is rated for 18.6 miles (30 km) of real-world range with a top speed of around 25 mph (45 km/h). The 10-inch front wheel, 6.5-inch rear wheel, and dual suspension setup – including a rear monoshock – give it surprising stability for something that can also masquerade as luggage.
Load capacity clocks in at 220 lb (100 kg), and the manufacturer quotes a long 2,000–3,000-cycle battery lifespan thanks to the LiFePO₄ chemistry. There’s even a USB port onboard for topping up devices.
Let your inner toy designer loose
One of the standout features is the customizable side panel system. The flat surfaces are removable and can be swapped or printed with your own graphics, letting riders effectively “skin” the bike however they want.
Think anime art, business branding, or just your favorite color – the idea is to make each Tatamel uniquely yours.
Electrek’s Take
I absolutely love seeing small-format EVs rethink what a motorcycle can be, and the Tatamel Bike might be one of the most creative examples yet due to its customization-encouraging design.
Sure, it’s not fast, and it’s definitely not light. But as a last-mile machine that you can literally roll into an elevator, it nails the task.
Between the compact folding design, the surprising build quality, and those fun customizable panels, this is exactly the kind of quirky micromobility innovation I live for.
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