Harley-Davidson 1800 BLUE EDITION SOFTAIL SLIM S FLSS 2018 — Specifications

When Honda unveiled the NR 750 and its oval pistons, the motorcycle world thought it had reached the ceiling of pricing extravagance. Times have changed. Midual, NCR, and the likes of the Massimo Tamburini T12 have since pushed the boundaries toward heights once thought reserved for collector automobiles. But what Swiss jeweler Bucherer dared to do with a Harley-Davidson Softail Slim S surpasses anything the two-wheeled world had ever imagined. This is no longer a custom bike build. This is motorized goldsmithing, an object flirting with one and a half million euros.

The foundation, however, remains familiar. Beneath the iridescent blue lies the 45-degree V-Twin displacing 1801 cc, producing 93 horsepower at 5010 rpm and 146 Nm of torque available from 4000 rpm. Honest figures for a 321 kg wet-weight custom built for boulevard cruising and long-distance rides, not for attacking the Stelvio Pass. The six-speed gearbox transmits power via belt drive, the seat drops to 650 mm off the ground, and the 18.9-liter tank demands regular fuel stops. In short, a classic Softail Slim S at its core. Except that Bündnerbike, the Swiss customizer partnered with Bucherer, spent 2500 hours transforming every square millimeter of this machine into a jewelry showcase.

The tubular steel frame was reshaped as a single piece, with no welds whatsoever. The wheels are one-off custom-machined pieces. Every bolt is gold-plated. 360 diamonds stud the bodywork. A window cut into the crankcase allows you to observe the camshaft rotation and the gold-plated throttle valve, all illuminated by heat-resistant LEDs integrated directly into the engine. A world first. The paint itself is an industrial secret: the motorcycle was first entirely silver-coated before receiving six successive layers of that deep blue through a process kept strictly confidential. The cowhide leather seat, hand-stitched in Switzerland, caps off a level of finish that would put certain prestigious car manufacturers to shame.

But the most extravagant feature hides inside the tank. Two safes are embedded within it. The first houses a Heaven solitaire ring set with a 5.40-carat diamond, protected by a curved armored glass dial. The second conceals a unique Carl F. Bucherer watch, derived from the Patravi TravelTec II model, whose dial features patterns inspired by the Harley twin-cylinder engine. To protect the mechanical movement from V-Twin vibrations, the watchmakers engineered a suspension system using silicone rings. The mount also doubles as an automatic winder: the watch keeps running even when the motorcycle sits in the garage. On the handlebars, Dizzler diamond spinning rings have been adapted using an exclusive mounting process. Others adorn the 41.3 mm telescopic fork.

The price? 1,888,000 Swiss francs. Convert it — that won't make you feel any better. This Harley-Davidson 1800 Blue Edition holds the title of the most expensive motorcycle ever produced. It obviously isn't aimed at anyone looking for a means of transportation. Its buyer wants to own a cross between a rolling safe, a jewelry gallery, and an American custom bike. You can call the whole endeavor absurd, even obscene. You can also tip your hat to the insane craftsmanship hidden behind every detail. One thing is certain: with a top speed of 170 km/h, single 300 mm front disc brakes, and rear suspension limited to 80 mm of travel, nobody will be riding this one hard. That's not the point. The Blue Edition is a manifesto, proof that motorcycles can rival haute horlogerie and haute joaillerie on their own turf. Excessive, fascinating, perfectly useless.