Actor Keanu Reeves is an experienced motorcyclist. And although he can be seen racing across the screen on high-performance motorcycles in several of his films, it is first and foremost a personal passion that he pursues as the figurehead of the American brand ARCH Motorcycle.
Whether you ride an old East German MZ motorcycle or a top-of-the-range BMW Roadster R1300 R costing almost a quarter of a million Danish kroner, it is passion and the desire to satisfy your inner speed demon that drives you. The same is true of Canadian actor Keanu Reeves, who is the proud owner of an extensive motorcycle collection. He has also invested in the American brand ARCH Motorcycle.
While most motorcycle manufacturers compete to offer more horsepower, larger displays and lower prices, Keanu Reeves has chosen an entirely different path. Together with motorcycle designer Gard Hollinger, he has created a brand of bespoke motorcycles tailored to each individual owner. The latest model, the ARCH 1s, is as much a piece of industrial design as it is a means of transport.
Whether you ride an old East German MZ motorcycle or a top-of-the-range BMW Roadster R1300 R costing almost a quarter of a million Danish kroner, it is passion and the desire to satisfy your inner speed demon that drives you. The same is true of Canadian actor Keanu Reeves, who is the proud owner of an extensive motorcycle collection. He has also invested in the American brand ARCH Motorcycle.
While most motorcycle manufacturers compete to offer more horsepower, larger displays and lower prices, Keanu Reeves has chosen an entirely different path. Together with motorcycle designer Gard Hollinger, he has created a brand of bespoke motorcycles tailored to each individual owner. The latest model, the ARCH 1s, is as much a piece of industrial design as it is a means of transport.
The motorcycle is hand-built in California around a 2,032 cc V-twin engine and constructed using robot-machined aluminium, carbon fibre and other premium components. Every machine is built to order and tailored to its individual owner – from ergonomics to finish.
This is precisely where ARCH differs from mainstream brands such as Harley-Davidson, Ducati and BMW. While the major motorcycle brands produce thousands of identical motorcycles every year, ARCH manufactures only a very limited number. The goal is not volume, but uncompromising craftsmanship and individuality.
And then there is the price. An ARCH 1s starts at around US$128,000 – equivalent to approximately DKK 850,000 before taxes and individual customisation. That puts it in the same financial league as an exclusive sports car rather than a traditional motorcycle.
For Keanu Reeves, however, the project is not about luxury for luxury’s sake. ARCH was created around the idea of building the ultimate “American Performance Cruiser” – a motorcycle that combines the comfort of a cruiser with the precision and handling of a sports bike. The result is a machine that appeals to collectors and enthusiasts rather than the mass market.
