Ever since motorcycles have existed, Hollywood has been making them cool. The world is filled with celebrities that ride motorcycles. Despite their status and wealth, they're regular people with similar time and money-wasting hobbies. The list is huge and varied, from the likes of Steve McQueen and Katie Sackoff to Bob Dylan, Pink, Tom Cruise, Ryan Reynolds and even Zach Braff!
But no one in Hollywood epitomizes a life-long obsession with motorcycles more than Keanu Reeves. And it was this love of riding that eventually brought him into the orbit of motorcycle customizer Gard Hollinger. After working with the Gard for several years on customizing one of his Harley-Davidson bikes, Keanu enjoyed the process so much that he hounded the builder to start a motorcycle company with him. Eventually, Gard relented, and the rest is history. Now, Arch has been around for several years, producing bespoke, premium, performance cruisers, for those that can afford the exclusive price tag. They produce three different models, the KRGT-1, METHOD 143 and the 1s, though it is the last one that has piqued our interest the most.
A Bespoke Design Process
There are a handful of motorcycle companies that understand that not every rider is the same. Kawasaki, for example, has the Vulcan S, which allows the rider to modify the ergonomics to best fit their body size. Most of the time, however, a motorcycle is manufactured to fit an average human being. But what is deemed 'average' will often change from company to company.
In the case of the 1s, and Arch as a whole, the design process of the motorcycle begins and ends with the end user. And even though majority of the motorcycle remains unchanged, Gard Hollinger and his team take the time to discuss the motorcycle with the client. Since the motorcycles are assembled in California, built to order, it makes it easier for the client to be involved directly in the esthetic and ergonomic design processes. The end result is a motorcycle that is uniquely built for one person's sensibilities and comfort levels.
Next Level Fit And Finish
Because the rider gets to choose what the final bike will look like, there's really no visual standard for the 1s. However, there are some design elements that will always be a part of this model. Carbon fiber is featured extensively throughout the bike, giving it a premium look as well as cutting down on the weight. There's also the striking, single sided swingarm, which the motorcycle takes its name from.
There's also a heavy reliance on billet aluminum components - CNC routed from a single block of metal - giving stronger properties for the chassis as well as other parts of the motorcycle. A gorgeous gas cap system sits on top of the tank, with the company logo acting as a lever that lifts the whole thing up whenever you need to gas up. The seat is also something to behold. Its styling is reminiscent of European brands, with different color accent stitching available, as well as perforations in the cover to allow for better airflow. Suffice it to say, even if the motorcycle was left unchanged from its original production form, it still gives off an arresting, unique and highly-customized vibe that's part motorcycle part fighter jet.
Unobtrusive Premium Technology
Though the Arch 1s is considered a premium motorcycle, it is not due to any sort of high-tech gadgetry. The conceit of the bike is that it is a sport-based cruiser made specifically for one person. What it's not, is a competitor to the likes of Ducati or BMW, with their futuristic, top-of-the-line halo bikes. You could say that those machines may have too much technology. And though the 1s is not a bare-bones experience, it's definitely tuned more for the overall riding experience, versus various track modes, heated grips, electronically adjustable windscreens and other features that you don't really need to have fun.
With the 1s you do get a brand new TFT screen that is well integrated with the rest of the motorcycle. You also get top of the line Bosch braking system and a fully adjustable Öhlins front and rear suspension.
A Cruiser For The Racing Crowd
The idea behind the 1s was to differentiate it from the other model Arch was producing at the time, the KRGT-1, which has the same engine but a more traditional cruiser look. The Arch design team took inspiration from sport bikes, by making the wheelbase shorter, moving the foot pegs back and giving it a more race-oriented stance and feel. Arch produces the majority of the bike's components in-house, including that fancy single sided swingarm, but there are a few bits and pieces they have to outsource, like the TFT display and the lights. The other important part that's not build by the team is that V-twin engine. And like so many custom shops that deal with V-twins, the 1s has the heart of a Harley-Davidson. Sort of.
Sourced from S&S Cycles, which have a long and proud history of delivering engines, exhaust kits and other motorcycle parts to the HD-customizing world, this 'crate engine' was originally made for the Harley-Davidson Dyna models, circa 2006-2017. It comes sans fuel or ignition systems, which allows Arch to design and build their own. The 2032-cc monster produces 115 lb-ft of torque, though exact horsepower figures are unknown. But if you have enough change in your pocket, and the KRGT-1's forward controls don't work for you, then the 1s, with its airplane inspired design cues, may be the ultimate bespoke bike to have in your garage.