TRANSPORT

Keanu Reeves and the Aluminium KRGT-1

From James Dean to Steve McQueen, there is a long, proud tradition of actors being passionate about their rides.
22 August, 2016
Actors like George Clooney and Brad Pitt are also known for their attachment to their motorcycles.
Matrix star Keanu Reeves has such a passion for motorbikes that, while on location to shoot a film, he will sometimes buy one as a means of transportation and then resell it once he's done. Over time, the actor ha picked up a Moto, a BMW, a Harley Davidson, Kawasakis, Suzukis, and far too many Nortons to count.

That habit also meant that Reeves was destined to meet motorcycle artisan Gard Hollinger in Los Angeles, where the two teamed up to launch Arch Motorcycles. The Arch KRGT-1, the first bike produced as a result of their collaboration, is as much a work of art as it is a clean machine—with a $78,000 price tag to prove it.
Images: Pualtin.org
The KRGT-1 is sleek and agile, and it is thanks to the aluminium components that the KRGT-1's performance is as good as the motorcycle's looks. "The construction of the chassis on the KRGT-1 is second to none and would probably be certified for space flight," writes John Zamora for Hot Bike. "If it looks like metal, there's a good chance it's been CNC'd out of grade-A aluminum with tons of hours of engineering time behind every cut." In fact, the entire motorcycle is made of metal, including a billet aluminium gas tank that alone takes 66 hours to build. That process creates two 9 pound (4.1 kg) fuel cells that are then custom finished and joined, with the right cell designed to integrate with and help balance the entirely breathtaking chassis system.
The swing arm, the headlight housing, the rear cowling – Zamora doesn't exaggerate when he says the Arch is made almost entirely of the billet aluminium. That means that each part is essentially carved from a block of aluminium rather than being cast in a mold, a process that allows for more precision while ensuring that the finished parts are structurally stronger. It's a process that also explains why the individual KRGT-1 parts are fashioned more than fabricated, and why Arch treats the work like sculpting.
The artwork shows in the final product, a reflection of the ethos and environment of innovation at the Arch facility in California. The old warehouse where Hollinger and Reeves work – the actor, far from serving as a celebrity endorsement, is truly a real-deal partner in the company – is full of inspiration, with painting on the walls and antique bike equipment on display. In some ways, Arch like any other startup: 12-hour workdays run six days a week, and an R&D office builds on the Arch vision.
The KRGT-1 is big, weighing in at 538 pounds (244 kg), but the consensus among reviewers is that experienced riders will know how to handle its size and the power of its 124 cubic inch (2,032 cubic cm), fuel-injected V-twin engine, made by S&S Cycle. As the Arch team points out, there's no reason to invest the time or the treasure in all of the other features – the technology, the 122-horsepower performance, the custom fit – unless they support real world performance and handling. With the KRGT-1, the ride meets those expectations with power that pushes speeds up to 130 mph (209 km/h) and an overall package that combines the best of both sport and touring bike worlds.

The KRGT-1 remains in limited production, primarily with collectors in mind. Even so, it is not yet clear what the future holds for the Hollinger-Reeves team. Their Arch collaboration began a decade years ago (when Hollinger built a custom bike for Reeves instead of just fixing a seat), and the business grew from there. If that says anything about the partnership, Arch, like the KRGT-1 itself, is headed for quite a ride.

Banner image: Motorcycle.com