In the world of luxury collaborations, few partnerships capture the imagination quite like the union between Richard Mille and Brough Superior. The new RMB01 motorcycle stands as a testament to what happens when two masters of their respective crafts—each obsessed with precision, innovation, and uncompromising excellence—join forces to create something entirely unprecedented.
A Meeting of Legendary Minds
The story begins with Brough Superior, founded in 1919 by George Brough in Nottingham. From its earliest days, the brand earned the prestigious nickname "Rolls-Royce of Motorcycles," a title that spoke to its unrivaled quality and avant-garde approach. These weren't just motorcycles; they were mechanical poetry in motion, ridden by adventurers and record holders who understood that true excellence demands no compromise.
Perhaps no figure better embodies this spirit than Thomas Edward Lawrence—Lawrence of Arabia—whose choice of Brough Superior as his trusted companion speaks volumes about the brand's legendary status. When production ceased in 1939, it seemed an era had ended. However, the brand's revival in 2013 under the visionary leadership of Thierry Henriette and Albert Castaigne marked not just a return, but a renaissance.
The Richard Mille X Brough Superior RMB01 motorcycle represents something far more significant than a simple collaboration—it's a philosophical fusion. Richard Mille's approach to watchmaking has always been about pushing boundaries, about creating timepieces that don't just tell time but redefine what's possible within the constraints of precision engineering. This same DNA courses through every line of the RMB01.
Drawing inspiration from the Board Trackers—the first racing motorcycles in history that thundered across wooden tracks at the dawn of the last century—the RMB01 captures the quintessence of motorcycling: lightness and performance. Those early machines were stripped down to their essence, expressing pure speed through simplicity.
The RMB01 modernizes this concept with sophisticated elegance. Its elliptical, muscular, and taut lines create a dynamic feline silhouette that seems to move even when stationary. The design language speaks to both brands' shared obsession with form following function, where every curve serves a purpose and every line tells a story.
What sets the RMB01 apart is its uncompromising approach to engineering. The lightness is emphasized through numerous visible openings throughout the motorcycle, each one carefully calculated not just for weight reduction but for aerodynamic efficiency. These aren't mere styling exercises—they're functional elements that use air for downforce and stability.
At the heart of this machine lies a sculptural 997cc water-cooled DOHC 88° V-twin four-stroke engine with four valves per cylinder, crafted from solid blocks of high-quality aluminum—5000 series alloy with high magnesium content. The engineering precision is staggering: 160 kilograms of raw material is transformed into just 23 kilograms of finished parts through meticulous CNC machining with 5-axis numerical control. This process optimizes weight through precise internal contouring and numerous recesses, achieving the kind of material efficiency that would make any watchmaker proud.
The frame itself represents a masterpiece of modern engineering—a forged carbon exoskeleton that serves as a self-supporting structure, combined with a structural engine entirely machined from solid blocks of aircraft-grade alloy. The same precision extends to the running gear, including the swing arm and fork, all designed to minimize weight while maximizing performance.
Perhaps most intriguingly, the RMB01 features numerous parallels between watchmaking and motorcycle mechanics. The visible mechanical speedometer, innovative materials, and assembled rims replicate the layering of gears in watch movements. The custom wheels themselves are inspired by watch movement gears, featuring lightweight alloy hoops for enhanced maneuverability and a bolted hub for stiffness. The overlapping hubs and disc rotors with matching designs suggest a mechanical stacking system reminiscent of a tourbillon's complexity.
The signature Fior-type fork with a double wishbone represents Brough Superior's engineering DNA at its finest. This sophisticated geometry separates steering and braking functions, providing stability during rapid turns while incorporating an anti-dive effect that improves braking performance. Like a watch movement, it showcases moving mechanical parts, axles, and pivots in a beautiful display of functional artistry.
The attention to detail is unmatched in the world of motorcycles. From design to manufacturing, every finish is meticulously thought out to awaken emotion. This philosophy of perfectionism creates a strong and unbreakable bond between Richard Mille and Brough Superior, two brands that refuse to accept anything less than extraordinary.
The Future of Luxury Collaboration
Limited to just 150 units, each Richard Mille X Brough Superior RMB01 is hand-assembled and bench-tested in France to ensure optimal performance. This exclusivity underscores the bespoke nature of the collaboration, where every machine represents a true work of art paying tribute to speed and craftsmanship.
The trilogy of available versions each tells its own story of aesthetic sophistication. The Pearl of Speed features a matte pearl-white finish that offers pure, sophisticated refinement, complemented by a matt forged carbon aerodynamic kit with a resolutely modern racing aesthetic. Red accents on the cylinder head cover, clutch master cylinder, alternator cap, and shock absorber springs provide the perfect sporty punctuation.
The Selene variant embraces a bolder approach with matte anthracite grey bodywork that blends seamlessly with the all-carbon forged exoskeleton frame. This creates a dynamic silhouette that reveals an ultra-modern design and lightweight structure perfectly suited to performance. Orange detail points provide striking and refined contrast touches.
Finally, the Nocturnal Sapphire showcases a glossy nocturnal sapphire blue finish that glows in the light, highlighting the fluidity of the sculpted lines. The frosted anthracite grey aerodynamic kit adds an aggressive touch, while blue accents on key components create a sophisticated finish that speaks to both brands' attention to chromatic detail.
In an age where true collaboration often means little more than co-branding, the RMB01 stands as a reminder that when masters of their craft unite with a genuine shared vision, the results can be nothing short of transformative. This isn't just a motorcycle with a watch company's name on it—it's a completely new expression of what luxury engineering can achieve when precision meets passion.
Sticker Price €200,000—approx USD 235,000. For more info on Brough Motorcycles here and Richard Mille here.
