SHORAI battery approved by Moriwaki [Lightweight x Reliability is an important choice to win races].

Moriwaki Engineering is one of the leading racing constructors in Japan. In recent years, the company has also been focusing on event racing, and the victory of the CB1000F CONCEPT in the "Iron Horse with β TITANIUM" held at the HSR is still fresh in our minds. The machines of Moriwaki are equipped with SHORAI's lithium-ion ferrite batteries.

SHORAI batteries are used in the winning machines of the "Iron Horse" series.

Moriwaki Engineering (Moriwaki) is a racing constructor that leads the Japanese racing scene. In addition to the Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race and the All Japan Road Race Championship, the company continues to develop and enter MotoGP and Moto2 machines, taking on "challenges" that go far beyond the realm of private racing. In recent years, he has also been focusing on event racing, and his Z900RS MORIWAKI Kai has been a regular winner in the top category Iron Expert Class at the "Iron Horse with β TITANIUM (hereinafter referred to as "Iron Horse")" held at HSR in Kyushu. At the "Iron Horse" held on September 13 and 14 this year, MORIWAKI raced with Honda's CB1000F CONCEPT, which had not yet been released, and won the race and set a new course record thanks to the riding of Toru Ukawa. All of these Moriwaki racers are powered by SHORAI lithium-ion ferrite batteries (hereafter referred to as "SHORAI batteries"), which Moriwaki calls "partners in victory. We asked Mr. Naogo Moriwaki, Chairman of Moriwaki Engineering, why they use SHORAI batteries.

Naogo Moriwaki, Chairman of MORIWAKI ENGINEERING, has competed in JSB1000 and Suzuka 8 Hours and set a course record (1:04.276) on the Z900RS in the 2021 "Iron Horse".

Z900RS MORIWAKI Kai driven by Naogo Moriwaki (image from "Tekima" in September 2024, winner of both semi-finals and finals).

Why MORIWAKI uses SHORAI batteries

Lithium batteries are attracting attention as a next-generation alternative to conventional lead-acid batteries, but their history is relatively new and is sometimes viewed with skepticism. How did Moriwaki come to adopt the SHORAI battery? We had a history of using lithium batteries in the Suzuka 8 Hours and Moto2 cars, so we were aware that they were an indispensable racing part. I first encountered SHORAI batteries in 2020, when I was looking for a lightweight and reliable battery for the "Iron Horse" race. Since a lightweight vehicle is a great weapon in a race, the SHORAI battery was very attractive because it is overwhelmingly lighter than conventional lead-acid batteries. At first, however, the SHORAI battery had an image of being "expensive" and "difficult to handle," and there were concerns about its safety. However, SHORAI batteries use LiFePO4 (lithium-ion ferrite), and we were able to confirm their durability and reliability through actual races, so we can now use them with confidence," says Naogo Moriwaki.

SHORAI's LiFePO4 Battey (lithium-ion ferrite battery). The company's patented eXtreme-Rate lithium-iron prismatic cell is extremely safe because it does not produce flammable gases that can cause ignition or explosion even if misused. Weighing only 1/3 of a conventional lead-acid battery, the eXtreme-Rate is extremely lightweight.

Lightweight racing machines are the foundation of winning.

Lightness is justice for racing machines. What is MORIWAKI's philosophy on weight reduction? What is MORIWAKI's philosophy on weight reduction and how are they working on weight reduction? We asked them about it. In circuit driving, the characteristics of "good stopping" and "good acceleration" that can be obtained by weight reduction are absolute weapons. This is because they are directly related to braking stability and acceleration out of corners, and are a major factor in reducing lap times. We have thoroughly pursued weight reduction through our racing activities for many years. We actively use lightweight materials such as carbon and titanium in our designs to achieve both strength and lightness. We have been accumulating weight reductions on a gram-by-gram basis by devising not only visually obvious parts, but also internal structures and installation methods. The result is a machine that responds more agilely and delivers the ride the rider desires. Lightweighting is not just a numerical improvement, it is a fundamental element in winning races.

CB1000F CONCEPT MORIWAKI ENGINEERING, powered by SHORAI battery.

Toru Ukawa, who won the Iron Horse Iron Expert Class in September 2025 driving the CB1000F CONCEPT MORIWAKI ENGINEERING, also set a course record (1:03.748). This machine has the potential to aim for the 2-second mark," said Ukawa.

Does a lighter battery change the rider's opinion of the bike?

We don't often get direct comments from riders when we reduce the weight of the battery. For example, weight reduction of rotating parts, such as wheels and brake discs, is easily expressed in the rider's feeling, and is a part that is easily commented on, both positively and negatively. On the other hand, the battery is a part where the weight reduction ratio is large, but it is difficult to feel any change in the rider's feeling. However, this does not mean that there is no effect in a bad way. Rather, it is an advantage that the weight of the entire machine can be reduced while the rider can drive without feeling any discomfort. As a result, the phenomenon of "running with the same sensation as usual but with an improved average time" can occur. In other words, we believe that this is one of the few parts that can raise the base performance of a machine by one level just by replacing the battery. Considering this effect, the SHORAI battery is well worth the cost, and we consider it to be a very cost-effective solution.

The Z900RS MORIWAKI Kai is equipped with SHORAI's LFX19A-BS12 battery, which is standard compatible with the stock vehicle battery.

On the right is the Z900RS's stock GS Yuasa YTX9-BS battery, measuring 151 x 88 x 106 mm (2.9 kg in weight). On the left is the standard compatible SHORAI battery, LFX19A4-BS12, measuring 148 x 86 x 88 mm (1.12 kg in weight). It is extremely lightweight at 38.6% of the normal weight.

Z900RS MORIWAKI Kai

Z900RS MORIWAKI Kai

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Incidentally, MORIWAKI entered the GB350 class (currently Neo-Classic 350 class), which was newly established in 2022, with "Iron Horse" and achieved four consecutive wins with Misuzu Kaneko riding!　Of course, it is equipped with SHORAI batteries.

The rider is Misuzu Kaneko, who was selected from the public in 2022 for the "Moriwaki GB350 Iron Horse Project" and won the GB350/Neo-Classic 350 class four years in a row from 2010 to 2013!

GB350S MORIWAKI Kai. In order to lower the threshold for race participation, the GB350/Neo-Classic 350 class engine internals are standard. Many of the parts developed for racing are available on the market.

The GB350S MORIWAKI Kai is equipped with SHORAI's LFX14L2-BS12. It weighs 0.663 kg, much lighter than the stock lead-acid battery (GS YUASA YTZ7S: 2.1 kg).

The SHORAI battery is more compact than a stock lead-acid battery. For this reason, the battery package includes a large number of urethane boards (with double-sided tape) as packaging material, allowing for easy sizing and mounting.

The SHORAI battery is "Moriwaki's winning partner.

The SHORAI battery boasts overwhelming lightness and contributes to the improvement of the machine's base performance and average time. However, did MORIWAKI have any problems when using them in races? And how do they handle and manage the batteries, which was a concern at the beginning? This is something that ordinary riders should be concerned about when they use SHORAI batteries in their cars. In all the races we have participated in, we have never had any problems caused by SHORAI batteries. They have been installed in high-output racing machines and have demonstrated stable performance even in harsh environments such as extreme heat and rain. As for management, basically, no special measures are required other than inspections in accordance with the race schedule (after the race, remove the battery from the vehicle to check its condition and replenish power as needed). In terms of life, they can be used for 5 to 6 years, and even for racing, they have been used stably for several seasons, and their life does not vary greatly from one machine model to another. The low self-discharge rate makes management very easy, even in the off-season. The high reliability is second to none. Finally, we asked Moriwaki what SHORAI batteries mean to him. The selection criteria for parts used in races are 'reliability' and 'performance in actual races. In a race, equipment trouble can lead to an immediate retirement, so the first thing to consider is reliability. The most important thing is that the rider can give his/her best performance with peace of mind. Furthermore, we place importance on feeding back the know-how gained in races to our commercial parts as well. In this sense, a product like the SHORAI battery, which combines reliability and high performance, perfectly meets our standards. The lightweight and highly reliable SHORAI batteries were behind many of our victories in the Iron Horse. For us, SHORAI batteries are truly "partners in victory. We are convinced that SHORAI batteries are a strong ally not only for racing, but also for riders who enjoy riding for pleasure. We invite you to experience the power of SHORAI batteries in your own car.

SHORAI battery approved by Moriwaki [Lightweight x Reliability is an important choice to win races]Go to  (13)

SHORAI battery approved by Moriwaki [Lightweight x Reliability is an important choice to win races].

2025.10.30

Moriwaki Engineering is one of the leading racing constructors in Japan. In recent years, the company has also been focusing on event racing, and the ...