What do you do when you want a certain kind of motorcycle that isn't available from any of the current manufacturers? Why, you build it or have it built, of course. That's exactly what Keanu Reeves did about a decade ago. What do you do when the result is pure awesome-sauce? You build a company around it. What's next? Well according to Arch Motorcycle, you head to the Esposizione Internazionale Ciclo Motociclo e Accessori -- more commonly known as the EICMA or simply the "Milan show" -- to display your wares, and that's exactly what the company did. Ambitious? Maybe so, but if I built rides like that I'd be pretty full of myself too.
Continue reading for more on Arch Motorcycle at EICMA.
Arch At EICMA
(Arch 1S)
From The Man, Mr. Reeves himself; “It’s international. It’s all the journalists and enthusiasts. For us, it’s let’s plant our flag. Let’s go to EICMA with three models, and hopefully people will really love what we make.” And here we are 10 years after Keanu Reeves teamed up with builder Gard Hollinger to start this California-based company.
The Cruis-o-licious KRGT-1
Arch brought three models with it to Italy. The KRGT-1 was already a known machine, but in its quest to make a mark on the industry, the builders revised the bodywork with an eye toward improving comfort. The rest of the improvements are also arguably comfort-related, because let's face it, beefed up brakes and (optional) ABS protection can be very comforting.
The front end got buffed with Öhlins FGRT forks with BST carbon-fiber rims. Add to that the 124 cubic-inch (2,032 cc) V-twin powerplant that's larger than many four-wheel vehicles on the road today and you've got something special. Well, come mid-2018 you could have something special, if you can foot the $78 K-plus price tag that is.
Based on the Original Recipe KRGT-1, the “1S” carries itself with a more sport-tastic air with short bars and jockey-mount foot controls that decidedly move it away from the (marginally) more cruiser-like posture of the KRGT-1. The same 124-inch monster drives the 1S, and it comes with the much the same equipment as it's older sibling, just arranged for a superman riding position. Pricing and availability are still unknown quantities, not that it matters, cause if you need to know the price, you probably can't afford it anyway.
As bespoke as the above models are, the limited-edition run “Method 142” raises the bar-- and I'm sure the price, as well, even further. Arch stuffed a 143 cubic-inch (2,343 cc) V-twin into a carbon-fiber monocell frame that rolls on more carbon-fiber in the “turbine” wheels with even more resin-and-cloth adorning the machine here and there. Öhlins buoys the front on its FGRT-series stems that come complete with carbon airfoils to smooth out the slipstream at the entry. The factory only plans to build 23 of these little gems, and while price and availability is still a mystery, I expect the limited run to be a large factor in the final tally.
As with all the showbikes, I'll be taking a much more in-depth look at these rides soon, and I genuinely can't wait. On a side note; unlike like so many Hollywood “toughguys,” Keanu is a true badass. He rides more than many who identify as bikers, and I've seen footage of him at the shooting range. Not the guy with whom to mess about, and one with obviously stellar taste in motorcycles.
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The Limited Edition Method 143
More To Come