Swiss luxury watchmaker Richard Mille and motorcycle builder Brough Superior debuted a unique co-branded, high-end, track-focused motorbike earlier this month.
Richard Mille (founder of Richard Mille) and Thierry Heriette (CEO of Brough Superior) worked in close collaboration for eighteen months, producing twelve iterations to achieve the ultimate production model, the RMB01 Motorcycle.
“Breaking with convention in every aspect — materials, technical solutions, shapes, and design — this bold construction is the result of a constant creative one-upmanship that succeeds in preserving the aesthetic codes specific to each brand,” according to Richard Mille.
Design
“Inspired by Boardtrackers, the first racing motorbikes to appear in the United States in the 1910s, the RMB01 pays tribute to the raw and radical spirit of these machines. A completely uncluttered engine, a slimline fuel tank finished off by a minimalist seat, and a typical ‘dropper’ racing post. These were the directions Richard Mille provided to steer Brough Superior in the design of this bike. Taut and muscular elliptical lines lend the machine a dynamic, feline silhouette, its lightness enhanced and accentuated by extensive skeletonisation and a design that suspends it from a backbone.”
Dashboard
Speaking to the Richard Mille USA team, they stated, “The dashboard is both mechanical and electronic, and incorporates titanium wheels. It shows a tachometer, speedometer, and indicator lights. It takes visual inspiration from the RM 40-01.”
Wristwatch Inspired
The dashboard theme is derived from the Richard Mille RM40-01, the crankcase draws design inspiration from the RM 022, and the engine casings are inspired by movements found in the RM 003, RM 002, and RM 021.
Powertrain
Boasting 130 hp, the RMB01 features a 997cc water-cooled DOHC 88˚ V-twin four-stroke motor with four valves per cylinder and composite chain/gear cam drive (94 mm x 71.8 mm). The power is controlled by a 6-speed cassette-type gearbox and a multiplate oil-bath clutch with hydraulic operation, APTC slipper clutch. The sculptural 997cc twin-cylinder engine, crafted from solid blocks of high-quality aluminium (5000 series alloy, with a high magnesium content), features casings entirely machined by a 5-axis numerical control machine.
Frame and Suspension
All components were designed and engineered specifically for this ultra-exclusive motorcycle. The RB01 Motocycle features a lightweight forged carbon frame, a self-supporting exoskeleton, combined with a structural engine entirely machined from solid blocks of aircraft-grade alloy. The same goes for the running gear (swing arm and fork). The front suspension consists of a Fior-type CNC-machined aluminum fork with twin articulated triangular links and a preload and rebound adjustable monoshock with 85 mm of travel. The rear suspension is constructed with a CNC-machined aluminum Swing Arm pivoting in engine crankcases, with monoshock adjustment for preload and rebound damping, and a progressive rate link with 113 mm of travel.
Exclusive Availability
The RMB01 is a limited edition of 150 individually numbered bikes. Each motorcycle is manufactured and hand-assembled in France, and tested on a bench to ensure optimal performance. Three versions are available: Pearl of Speed, Selene, and Nocturnal Sapphire. The price is 200,000 Euros, and purchases are made directly with Brough Superior (not Richard Mille).
Final Thoughts
Creating a race bike — not just designing a gauge cluster — from start to finish is impressive. Multiple parallels between watchmaking and motorcycle mechanics were co-developed, such as the visible electronic and mechanical speedometer, the innovative use of materials like forged carbon, and wheels that replicate the layering of gears in watch movements. Watch design elements were added to the crankcase, and the overlapping of hubs and disc rotors with matching designs suggests a mechanical stacking system similar to a Richard Mille tourbillon movement.
The RMB01 Motorcycle is no ordinary brand collaboration.
Learn more at Brough Superior and Richard Mille.
Photos by Richard Mille.
