[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/keanu-reeves-the-internet-and-arch-motorcycles\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/keanu-reeves-the-internet-and-arch-motorcycles\/","headline":"Keanu Reeves, the Internet and Arch Motorcycles","name":"Keanu Reeves, the Internet and Arch Motorcycles","description":"The brotherhood and kinship that motorbike lovers have for one another and their often-beautiful machines is well known; and any perceived threatening image is probably simply hiding a quiet, bike-loving individual. Maybe there is none more famous yet humble than Keanu Reeves, who has become an Internet sensation; he has emerged phoenix-like from the baptism of fire as a young actor criticised for wooden performances, to an actor making big box office movies and incredibly, the subject of many a […]","datePublished":"2019-07-04","dateModified":"2019-07-04","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/#Person","name":"Isabelle Lawrence","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/","identifier":30,"description":"Max Wheeler is a leading motoring journalist and classic car specialist at Smart Motoring, renowned for his sharp insight and infectious passion for all things automotive. With years of experience covering motoring news, supercars, and the enduring legacy of classic cars, Max brings stories to life with style and authority. Whether it\u2019s the roar of a Lamborghini, the elegance of an Aston Martin DB5, or the cultural impact of vintage motoring icons, he delivers expert commentary that inspires enthusiasts and collectors alike. Dedicated to celebrating the heritage and future of driving, Max Wheeler is your trusted voice for classic car news and beyond.","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Smart Motoring","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Kneanu-reeves-motorcycles-feature-1.jpg","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Kneanu-reeves-motorcycles-feature-1.jpg","height":520,"width":1200},"url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/keanu-reeves-the-internet-and-arch-motorcycles\/","about":["BLOG","LATEST CAR NEWS","MOTORCYCLES"],"wordCount":1518,"keywords":["Arch Motorcycle Company","Keanu Reeves","Keanu Reeves motorcycles"],"articleBody":"The brotherhood and kinship that motorbike lovers have forone another and their often-beautiful machines is well known; and any perceivedthreatening image is probably simply hiding a quiet, bike-loving individual. Maybe there is none more famous yet humble than Keanu Reeves, who has become an Internet sensation; he has emerged phoenix-like from the baptism of fire as a young actor criticised for wooden performances, to an actor making big box office movies and incredibly, the subject of many a social media inspirational quote meme, where you can expect to see a cool picture of the actor, surrounded by even cooler philosophical words that you will find hard to disagree with.\u201cI\u2019ve been what!?\u201dwas how Reeves greeted the news recently that he was being \u2018gushed over\u2019 on theInternet. \u201cThat\u2019s wacky.\u201d The actor doesn\u2019t actually have a social mediapresence himself, he has better things to do; like act, exist – and run a motorcyclecompany\u2026The John Wick actor is renowned for his love of motorcycles and yes, he runs his own bike co called Arch Motorcycle Company. Arch Motorcycles came into being when Reeves met Gard Hollinger, a custom motorbike builder whom he had employed to build a customised Harley-Davidson, a bike which ended up more \u2018Trigger\u2019s Broom\u2019 than a Harley, as the final result after 5 years of testing, designing and building, was a motorbike with only the Harley engine remaining. The final result was so good that Reeves asked a reluctant Hollinger to form a bike company with him. That customised Harley-Davidson became the benchmark for the original Arch Motorcycles prototype, leading on to eventually become the Arch KRGT-1 in the autumn of 2014. Arch aim for the Holy Grail; a bike that is true to the American biker dream of comfort and all day cruising, but with the ability and agility of a sports bike.Norton Commando 750 and 850 Mk II RoadsterShortly after the Second World War, during which my uncleGeorge had fought in Burma leading a small crack team of Gurkhas and IndianBritish Army troops scouting behind enemy lines, he took my aunt for a picnic.When a biker gang resplendent in traditional leathers and denim appeared, myaunt became slightly nervous. Unphased, George casually wandered over to have achat with them. Much laughter ensued, and when he came back she asked him whaton earth had gone on. He said they chatted about bikes, and when he told themthat he rode a Norton during the war, the leader of the chapter had told himthat if he still had that bike, he would have had to stand down and let himlead \u2013 hence the amusement.Being a famous actor of course does help with the finances when it comes to starting a company as well as building your very own collection of classic motorcycles to be inspired by. Keanu Reeves\u2019 bike collection is impressive; he even has in his possession that famous Ducati from The Matrix Reloaded. Of course, my eye is drawn to the Norton Commando 750 that Reeves has in his collection. It\u2019s a brand that he seems to like a lot, as the 750 is not the first Norton that he has been spotted with. The Commando 750 hit production in 1968, having beenpremiered at the Earls Court Show the previous year. Despite being initiallyplagued with design issues, the Commando went to become a best seller \u2013 a stonecold case of classic beautiful looks and brand romance overcoming known runningproblems; even though the problems of frame failure, flooded carbs leading tofires, and a clutch that wasn\u2019t built to withstand the engine torque werepretty serious issues to contend with.Despite the problems, the Commando remained in productionfrom 1968 until 1977 and achieved \u2018Machine of the Year\u2019 in Motor Cycle News 5 years on the trot from \u201868-\u201872. Following the demise of Norton and the expiration of patentsand a dispute over name rights, several new \u2018Norton\u2019 companies emerged from therubble finally resulting in Norton Racing Ltd acquiring the rights to theCommando and producing a new Commando 961 model in 2010. The new Commando hasreceived favourable reviews too, being described as a neutral handling bike bothtame and manageable when riding in traffic.Another Norton that Reeves has in his collection is a 1973Commando 850 Mk II Roadster, which he bought back in 1987, two years before hisname went stratospheric with the release of Billand Ted\u2019s Excellent Adventure. Legend has it that Reeves rode this Commando850 across America to go and visit River Phoenix in person to convince him toco-star with him in My Own Private Idahoin 1991.Harley-Davidson Dyna Wide GlideThe original Harley FX Super Glide was introduced in 1971and helped to cement the company into the annals of motorbike history \u2013 surelyevery bike rider wants a go on a Harley. The Glide variations have proved to behugely successful for Harley over the years, but the one many movie buffs willremember is the Electra Glide, following the release of Electra Glide in Blue in 1973 starring Robert Blake as aHarley-riding traffic cop in Arizona. File alongside Two Lane Blacktop in the seventies section of cult motorbike andcar movies. The Dyna Wide Glide was in production for 25 years or sofrom 1991. The cruiser offers a more laid back vision of the world compared tothe more upright Norton 750 style and it\u2019s maybe this stark difference thatmakes this another of Reeves\u2019 favourites. It\u2019s said that no one knows theirmotorcycle customer base better than Harley-Davidson, and the company surely leadthe way in providing what even the layman on the street might recognise as aHarley above all other bike manufacturers.The Wide Glide originally ran from 1980-1986 as asolid-engine-mount bike, re-emerging as a rubber-engine-mount bike in 1993until 2008 and then reappearing again in 2010. Fork angle is important when itcomes to either desiring a sharp, skittish handling bike or something a littlemore laid back, and the Wide Glide\u2019s relaxed 36-degree fork angle certainlywon\u2019t give too many heart-stopping moments. The later model even replicates thecooler-than-anything-you\u2019ve-seen-before petrol tank flames.West Coast Choppers El DiabloSeeing as the actor resides in California, it would beremiss of him not to own a motorbike from the stable of Jesse James-owned (yes,really) West Coast Choppers. Reeves\u2019 choice is the made-to-order El Diablo inblack – with a profile that looks like everybody\u2019s idea of what a Harley lookslike. It\u2019s probably far easier to get hold of the famous \u2018IronCross\u2019 logo printed T-shirt than it is a West Coast Choppers\u2019 bike, as thecompany seems to make very few bikes a year, and mostly as custom orders forcelebrities. Arch Motorcycle CompanyKeanu Reeves\u2019 love of motorcycles emerged when he wasfilming Babes in Toyland in Munich asa 22-year old. It was here that a young girl taught him how to ride, and itwasn\u2019t too long after this experience that the Canadian actor bought theCommando 850. From this learning-moment on, the actor\u2019s love of motorcyclesjust grew and grew and ultimately led to the birth of Arch Motorcycles withHollinger. Despite Reeves\u2019 love for his Harley-Davidson Wide Glide and his Norton motorbikes, there is surely a big place reserved in his heart for the KRGT-1, which signalled the beginning of his new career as a motorcycle company part-owner.It\u2019s easy to see how this performance cruiser was developed after looking at just a few of Reeves\u2019 favourite bikes.The setup is built for comfort, but not too laid back as to not be able to get you out of a tricky situation with ease. With the intended combo of cruiser and sport, Arch say that the 2032cc KRGT-1 is designed to be a comfortable all-day cruiser but with added toughness thrown in. It\u2019s easy to see how this performance cruiser was developed after looking at just a few of Reeves\u2019 favourite bikes. The setup is built for comfort, but not too laid back as to not be able to get you out of a tricky situation with ease. With the intended combo of cruiser and sport, Arch say that the 2032cc KRGT-1 is designed to be a comfortable all-day cruiser but with added toughness thrown in. You don\u2019t just walk into Arch and buy a KRGT-1 though, aseach bike is customised to fit each new rider, much like the originalcustomised Harley that inspired the company around 2008. But all this personalfit stuff from a bike company owned by a Hollywood actor comes with a mightyprice tag as you might imagine: The KRGT-1 will set you back a cool $90,000\u2026Perhaps a 300-mile range and 120bhp might soften the blow a little. What is perhaps most surprising though, is that you will be hard pressed to find a serious motorcycle review that pronounces the KRGT-1 as over-priced. Yes, it really does seem that Keanu Reeves can do no wrong.Images: bennetts.co.uk, hotcars.com, networthcelebrities.com, cycleworld.com, cheatsheet.com"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Latest News","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Keanu Reeves, the Internet and Arch Motorcycles","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/keanu-reeves-the-internet-and-arch-motorcycles\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]