The dash is clearer than before though not the full-colour display you might expect on a high-end cruiser. The clutch is lighter and easier to use too. The bike’s melody is unique and soulful without being offensive, popping on the overrun too, but you can certainly leave home without waking your neighbours.Īs I ride through LA I notice that the gearbox is far smoother than anticipated, a far cry from the agricultural American gearboxes of old. The two-into-one Yoshi’ exhaust has a charismatic bark, while on open throttle openings you can hear the K&N air-filter gasp for air. The ride isn’t overly harsh though, and the seat is comfortable but the lack of rear sag certainly takes me by surprise.Įven in LA, where celebrities and supercars are around every corner, the ARCH turns heads at every intersection. Öhlins have been heavily engaged in the KRGT-1’s development and, like so much on the bike, the rear shock and forks are not off-the-shelf items. Arse perched on the comfortable seat, bar-end mirrors positioned correctly, into a surprisingly slick first gear on the forward-set controls – and we’re away.Īs we leave the hotel car park I’m immediately aware of the taught Öhlins-suspended chassis which is on the firm and sporty side for a cruiser. The vibrations are as apparent as Donald Trump’s wig and the new clocks shake charismatically as I blip the throttle. One press of the starter button and that huge 2032cc air-cooled V-twin wobbles and barks into life, along with a bespoke exhaust designed in partnership with Yoshimura. The fresh, digital and slightly retro dash illuminates with a turn of the rather large central mounted key. This is no ordinary bike on no ordinary day. Oh, and let’s not forget its power-plant: a tweaked S&S 2032cc V-twin delivering drive to a colossal rear carbon wheel wrapped in 240-section Michelin Commander 2 rubber. I am one of the first test riders to try the new KRGT-1 and to add to the pressure, co-founder and designers Gard Hollinger and Keanu Reeves are observing and will be joining us on the test ride. The tail section, which is also billet, is all-new, as are the seat, suspension, ABS… the list goes on. New digital clocks, for example, with more information updated bodywork a re-designed billet aluminium fuel tank – yes, I did say billet aluminium fuel tank – that is truly extraordinary. There are visible changes throughout the bike. Examine the lovely five-spoke carbon wheels and new ‘race-inspired’ billet aluminium swing-arm, which increases rigidity and reduces weight compared to the old arm. Other components have been changed or tweaked to improve the handling and performance or simply to add aesthetic value. Some of the changes – like the re-designed rear mudguard, or fender as they say in California – have been forced upon the team to meet Euro4 homologation. And everything is CNC machined in-house, with some items requiring more than 15 hours of machine time alone. From the tailored seat to the Magura levers, which are $1000 per lever, every detail has been thought about to a Rolex level of detail and precision. The in-house machined side plates are beautiful, equally so are the fork bottoms that accommodate the six-piston ISR monobloc calipers ($1500 per side). There is billet aluminium everywhere – 1200lb of aluminium is used to produce one bike. The lengthier you gaze at the ARCH the more you notice the changes and appreciate the craftsmanship behind it. What is the £89,995 exclusive performance cruiser like to ride? The new version receives 20 major changes showcasing 150 newly designed components and we travelled to Los Angeles to test the new 2032cc powered, bespoke, handmade machine. Now for 2020 the small but dedicated team based in California have created the new 2020 Euro-4 KRGT-1. They launched their first bike, the KRGT-1. ARCH was created back in 2011, set up by co-founders, bike builder Gard Hollinger and Hollywood star Keanu Reeves.
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