What is the most expensive motorcycle in the world? It is a custom Harley-Davidson designed by a Swiss custom workshop, Bündnerbike. The Harley-Davidson Blue Edition was designed for Bucherer Fine Jewellery, a leading Swiss watch retailer.
Bucherer was celebrating their 130th anniversary in 2018. They wanted to go big celebrating. So, they went to one of the top motorcycle brands in the world. And they spent over 1.8 million Swiss francs on a custom rebuilt Softail Slim®.
Not sure how much a Swiss franc is worth? We weren’t either, but it turns out it works out to almost $2 million US dollars! That is $1 million more than it costs to buy a flying motorcycle!
Harley-Davidson says that makes it the most expensive motorcycle ever constructed in the world. Harley explains that the basis for this lavish motorcycle is their “Harley-Davidson Softail Slim from 2017, which was rebuilt in detail.”
The motorcycle took a year to design and manufacture. Over 2,500 hours of expert labor were required to complete the project. It involved a team of expert watchmakers, jewelers, and motorcycle customizing experts.
Previous “Most Expensive” Motorcycle Record Holder
Compare that to what many people claim is the previous record holder. Lots of expensive motorcycles have sold at auction. One stands out above all others.
Peter Fonda’s “Captain America” chopper
Peter Fonda’s “Captain America” chopper sold in 2014. That chopper was from one of the most popular motorcycle movies of all time. That is, of course, the 1969 cult classic Easy Rider. It purportedly sold for $1.35 million at a Profiles in History auction.
However, there has been some ambiguity about the authenticity of the bike. Some, including Hemmings Daily, claim the seller backed out of the deal. If the motorcycle is just a standard replica it’s worth far less. Its value could be as low as around $25,000, like this one that sold at a Bonhams auction in 2015.
Steve McQueen’ 1915 Cyclone
So, the Harley-Davidson Blue Edition likely actually ousted a 1915 Cyclone Board Track Racer. That motorcycle sold in March of 2015 at a Mecum auction for $775,000. The Cyclone is a very rare bike. It was also previously owned by actor and motorcycle enthusiast Steve McQueen.
Harley-Davidson Blue Edition
What this means is the custom Harley-Davidson crushed the previous record. They unseated the previous record holder by a factor of two and a half. Bucherer paid from some serious work to create this multimillion dollar motorcycle.
To make the motorcycle so intensely blue, Bündnerbike used a secret coating method. This gives it a remarkable iridescent blue hue. Each and every metal part is handcrafted from production to welding to polishing.
Since the buyer was a jeweler and watch retailer, it’s not a surprise that the bike features some serious precious gemstones and fine jewelry. A safe was built into the bike, next to the gas tank, that features a Carl F. Bucherer watch.
The safe also features an elaborate holder. The holder prevents vibrations from the motorcycle damaging the watch. It also keeps the watch wound and telling the precise time.
It’s not just a watch either, it also features plenty of diamonds and other gemstones. The top of the tank also incorporated a 5.4 carat diamond solitaire ring and a special Bucherer Patravi TravelTec II watch. The bike also sports diamond encrusted handlebars.
Bucherer describes the motorcycle on their website as “innovative and luxurious.” The CCO, Patrick Graf, from Bucherer said, “the Harley-Davidson Blue Edition complements [their] watch collection perfectly.”
What do you think about the Harley-Davidson Blue Edition? Is it what you expected from the most expensive motorcycle in the world? If not, what do you think would be the most expensive motorcycle? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
