Why Are Arch Motorcycles So Expensive?

Since its founding in 2011, Arch Motorcycle has become one of the biggest names in luxury riding, thanks in no small part to its co-ownership by beloved Hollywood star Keanu Reeves. The "luxury" part of that designation is important to note, because Arch bikes are not cheap, to put the matter lightly.

Generally speaking, a regular motorcycle can cost anywhere from $4,000 to $20,000, with around $10,000 being the average. The cheapest Arch motorcycle, on the other hand, has an approximate MSRP of $85,000, and that's at the bare minimum. Arch is not a brand you just buy and casually drive off the lot – these bikes are a major, long-term investment in the height of riding style, and only the most committed could dare to ride one. Besides the aforementioned Keanu association, how can Arch justify charging nearly four times what even a high-quality motorcycle would cost if not exponentially more than that?

The primary reason that Arch motorcycles are so much more expensive than most other bikes is that unlike generic motorcycles you can buy anywhere, all Arch motorcycles are one hundred percent bespoke. When you order an Arch motorcycle, you don't just sit back and wait for it to be delivered to you, you need to put in the work alongside all of the designers and craftspeople.

According to Arch's website, every new Arch bike owner is involved in the creative process from the very beginning, consulting with the designers on how they want their new ride to look and feel. This includes sitting on model bikes to tailor the ergonomics to your personal frame and silhouette, selecting custom colors, graphics, engravings, and other fine details, and sitting in on the creation of a 3D virtual mockup of the finished product.

Once the consultation process is finished, Arch's craftspeople get to work on bringing your vision to life. Because your bike is bespoke, they need to both source specific, occasionally obscure parts from suppliers around the world, as well as modify existing parts and frames, all to bring it precisely in line with your vision. Obviously, sourcing the finest parts in the most minute dimensions is an extraordinarily expensive and time-consuming process.

So, Arch bikes are so expensive because they're less like bikes and more like rolling works of art. Nobody ever said commissioning fine art was cheap, but the results surely speak for themselves.