ARCH Motorcycle Company: Keanu Reeves Embarks on Another Journey

Celebrated actor and a keen motorcycle enthusiast, Keanu Reeves is the co-founder of the ARCH Motorcycle Company. Alongside the Hollywood heartthrob is designer, engineer and fabricator, Gard Hollinger, on this endeavour.

ARCH Motorcycle Company has given birth to the magnificent KRGT-1. Do not think of it as another barn door custom hotrod, this pretty looking thing has a massive V-Twin at its heart and a beautiful hand-built body.

The Leadership

Keanu Reeves has been munching around several hundred miles on motorcycles across the world. He used to own motorcycles like a Kawasaki 600 Enduro, followed by the beginning of his Norton affair and the first of many he’d own over the years.

Often away from home and his Norton’s, he got in the habit of buying a bike when filming on location and selling when the shoot was done. He’s owned a Suzuki GS1100E, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1974 BMW 750, a Kawasaki KZ 900, an ‘84 Harley Shovelhead, and a Moto Guzzi.

Gard Hollinger is a self-taught designer, engineer and fabricator who draws his inspiration from things more than people. His creations are based on art and architecture and classic creations from the past. His signature styling exposes the machinery of the motorcycle.

Riding around on motorcycles has brought a lot of interest in Keanu about real world performance, engine note, the ride feel, the design, and all the essential components that make riding a motorcycle an everlasting experience. For Reeves the search for that experience has led his desire to customise motorcycles with Gard.

Both these men share a clear common vision, ‘equal parts form and function’. With their vision becoming stronger, their discussions ended up in sketches and 3D models. The KRGT-1 came into view. The passion fuelled duo moulded the retro and modern design elements on their creation.

The Machine

This motorcycle is all about exclusivity and immaculate attention to detail. The centre stage is taken by the big V-Twin featuring an all-original design built 2,032cc engine developed with S&S Cycle.

The engine develops about 122bhp of maximum power and a beefy 165Nm of peak torque. Power is delivered via a chain drive through a 6-speed Baker Drivetrains transmission. A downdraft induction system channels air from intakes which are placed next to the headlamps. Considering its credentials of having a 2.0 litre engine, the motorcycle itself weighs as 244 kilograms.

It might sound heavy, but with that huge V-Twin sitting it is fairly light, thanks to a set of carbon fibre wheels. A LED lighting system at the front and rear gels very well with the retro appeal of the KRGT-1, as expressed by the company as ‘retro-futuristic’.

True attention lies in the detail, with the multi-functional oil pan/transmission mount and crossmember/battery tray being meticulously designed and crafted. The compact ARCH Unitized Powertrain unit is a strong and serviceable system that streamlines and balances the KRGT-1.

The ARCH billet aluminium swing arm has been crafted with over 17 hours of machining spent on it. If you do wish to own one, and you do, cut a deal with the devil (or Al Pacino if he is handy) to buy one, the price is striking $78,000 (Rs 49.41 lakh excluding customs).