Interview: Keanu Reeves and Gard Holinger, ARCH Motorcycles

Testing the ARCH KRGT-1 was a special experience, revealing an impressive machine. What's even more impressive is the enthusiasm and passion of the two creators of the bike, Keanu Reeves and Gard Hollinger... Interview: Adam 'Chad' Child Photography: Alessio Barbanti/Arnaud Puig/ARCH motorcycles

ARCH Motorcycles is the brainchild of co-founders and business partners, actor Keanu Reeves and celebrated custom bike builder Gard Hollinger. Adam ‘Chad’ Child caught up with Keanu and Gard to chat about the KRGT-1 for BikeReview, after spending an afternoon tearing up the tarmac of LA with them… The bikes are super high-end, exclusive and built with no expense spared as you can read in our ARCH KRGT-1 review.

Keanu approached Gard in 2007 to customise his Dyna. He ended up convincing Gard to start ARCH Motorcycles…

How did the ARCH Motorcycle Company come about?

Gard – It came about from a wish, a discussion with Keanu, who wanted an American cruiser, but wanted something different and unique.

Keanu – Yeah, I wanted one that handled!

Gard – We built the prototype, based on a Harley, and when we got close to the finished product Keanu was, “Hey we should build more of these”. I said no at first, but ultimately when the bike was fully finished, when we both rode it, it was a very different riding experience than we’d had before, so then we considered the idea and we started ARCH.

Over 200 parts are made in-house for the ARCH KRGT-1. Reeves and Hollinger are completely hands-on and make all design and development decisions together.

Keanu – The KRGT-1 was the first bike. Since then we’ve been looking at updates based on customer feedback, our feedback internally and over the past year the bikes have been evolving. Then two things happened, we had design ambitions, like re-designing the swingarm and we embarked on making the bike Euro-4, which brought many challenges. We had to make the bike legal in Europe. An example is the rear tyre envelope, we had to make that larger, we couldn’t have the hugger close to the tyre. But we also saw that as an opportunity to re-design the rear fender. We had a technical goal to meet, for Euro-4 but we also saw that as a design opportunity, a chance to be creative, and you’ll see many examples of this across the bike. We refined and updated the bike at the same time meeting Euro-4.

Reeves originally wanted a cruiser that handled. He’d been riding a Harley Dyna and rather than let that break his spirit every time he arrived at a corner, he just went ‘screw it’ and built the bike that didn’t exist. As you do!

What were those upgrades?

Keanu – We created lots of cool elements on the new 2020 bike, like ABS, but with that we needed new reservoirs and brakes. We needed a new, more informative dash, but for that we need a new cowl, wiring for the turn signals. We changed the front-end, changed the chassis position, the new swingarm, it’s an evolution of the old bike, it now turns a little quicker.

Mmm nice billet. Or.. Chad dropped the last of his free donut on the ground. He is pretending to check out the chassis, waiting for a chance to munch the treat up off the floor while nobody is looking… Keanu would be so ashamed…

When you’re re-designing a bike are you looking at handling, performance, or aesthetics?

Gard – I think we must look at them all and me and Keanu work well together. The initial drive was for a re-style and we wanted to remove some weight and unsprung mass. Then we wanted Euro-4. Like Keanu was saying, we took Euro-4 opportunity into design. We’re small enough to make our own changes, we don’t have marketing, logistics, legal etc departments, it’s just us creating a motorcycle…

Keanu – The flexibility comes from the fact we produce our own parts, over 200 items, so we can try different designs.

Development happens quickly with ARCH, the Company doesn’t have the red tape a large manufacturer has to go through, it’s just Reeves and Hollinger at the helm, so they can get the job done and get testing.

How far is this bike from the original bike Keanu brought into Gard’s shop to be modified back in 2007?

Keanu – Basically I had a Harley Dyna. I was a little, er, you know. It was an amazing motorcycle, but I wanted a big V-Twin, a big rear tyre, like a cruiser, but I wanted it to handle, I didn’t want to have to force it onto its side with loads of effort to get it to turn. I didn’t want to push the front into a corner, I wanted a bike which handled. I also wanted to go long distances, but when I got in the canyons, when I got in the curves, I wanted it to work. This is what I wanted and we’re close to that original idea now.

540kg of aluminium is used to produce one bike. All machining is in-house.

When you’re re-designing parts, the swingarm for example, do you have a ‘mule’ bike and how does the testing work?

Gard – We always have a few bikes that we ride and test parts on, the new bike you’re riding has 3000 miles on it, or more. We’ve tested parts on that bike.

Keanu – I’ve done around 2500 miles on the blue bike you’re riding and a little less on the red bike. On my other bike, I’ve got 28,000 miles on that bike.

Gard – We must have done over 100,000 test miles, and Keanu is on the bikes all the time, since 2014, he must be close to 50,000 test miles (80,000km), at least over 40,000. Keanu is the biggest logger of test miles on the road, he’s our test rider in many ways.

Reeves is the main test rider, or logger of road miles, with approximately 80,000km on the ARCH development bikes to date. Impressive stuff from the Hollywood Superstar.

Keanu – Haha yeah man I’m the test rider, sometimes, kind of…

Gard – Keanu can make sh#t happen that nobody else makes happen, he’s so good at breaking things!

Keanu – If something is going to break, in the early stages something electrical, it will be with me. I don’t try to break them it’s just a natural talent I have! Part of the experience and enjoyment for me, the opportunity is to ask questions… Why are we doing it that way? Then test ride it. For example, in our tyre selection process we had to go through a wide range of tyres to work out which worked the best. We had one company that wanted to be involved but it didn’t ride as good as these. Gard would put a set on the bike and say, “Tell me which you prefer”.

Meeting Euro-4 has been a huge task. Hollinger says they integrated a design element into reaching the regulations during the 2020 model update.

So, decisions are based on what works best and not commercial gains?

Gard – We want the best for the bike, we don’t test every exhaust for example, but we know from previous experience Yoshimura would produce the best exhaust for this bike. Many vendors that are usually driven by volume have taken an interest in the bike, and have supported us, created a bespoke part for us, even if the end volume is low, Ohlins for example. The forks are unique just for ARCH, even the switch housings are unique. 

“I don’t want to sound pushy but would it be OK if I grab another donut when we get back? It’s just that I dropped mine…”

Thanks for your time with BikeReview guys and for a fantastic ride today, the bike is great and congratulations on what you have achieved with ARCH. It truly is impressive.. 

Keanu, Gard – Thanks and see you next time!

Chad carving up Angles Crest, LA, on the KRGT-1. Wear a black lid next time Chad!

2020 ARCH KRGT-1 Gallery

BST carbon wheels.

CNC billet footpegs.

LED lighting.

Magura levers.

BST, pure eye candy.

Amazing style and finish.

BST carbon wheels.

Slim, streetfighter styled tail.

Big power, big cubes.

Billet CNC swingarm.

Unbelievable craftsmanship.

Massive torque from 2032cc…

Billet CNC fuel tank.

ARCH KRGT-1

Every part is high end. The best.

Yoshi/ARCH exhaust.