Here’s the racetrack-ready RMB01 motorbike that is as exceptional as high horology

This time of the year in Singapore means one thing for discerning motorsport and luxury aficionados alike: Formula One returns, igniting Marina Bay in a spectacle of speed, engineering, and opulence.

And as the roar of F1 engines fills the air, another kind of mechanical symphony makes its debut: the RMB01, a groundbreaking collaboration between Swiss luxury watchmaker Richard Mille and storied British motorcycle legend Brough Superior.

Described as the “Rolls-Royce of motorcycles”, Brough Superior earned its renown in the early 20th century for making the fastest and most advanced bikes of their time. Models such as the SS100 were guaranteed to reach 100 mph — a staggering feat in the 1920s.

Although the company closed in 1940, it has been revived in 2013 to continue crafting ultra-exclusive, technologically advanced machines fusing heritage design with modern materials like titanium and carbon fibre.

This is the first time a luxury watchmaker has teamed up with a motorcycle manufacturer to forge a racetrack‑ready superbike, which is something entirely unprecedented but not unexpected of Richard Mille, a massive patron of thrilling sports like tennis, yachting, and vintage car rallies.

And both parties did it over 18 months and through 12 joint design iterations.

Inspired by the stripped‑back Boardtrack racers of the 1910s, the RMB01 distils that raw aesthetic into a sculptural marvel. Imagine a slither of fuel tank, a minimalist seat, and an exposed engine — all rendered with elliptical, muscular lines that suggest a leaping cat.

Inside, a 997cc V‑twin engine, machined from solid blocks of high‑grade aluminium, sheds over 85 per cent of its mass in pursuit of performance and artistry, delivering 130 bhp tightly calibrated for track dominance without the ostentation. 

True to Richard Mille’s DNA, the RMB01 is rich in watchmaking motifs. Divided rims echo gear trains, casings recall tourbillon architecture, and the mechanical speedometer displays its inner workings with deliberate elegance. The carbon exoskeleton chassis acts like a timepiece bridge, suspending the entire structure with both function and form in mind.

This mind-blowing machine emerges not as a mere concept, but as a limited-edition reality: Only 150 RMB01 motorbikes will be hand-assembled in France, each individually numbered and available in three captivating finishes. They are, namely, Pearl of Speed (pearlescent white with red accents), Selene (matte grey with orange details), and Nocturnal Sapphire (deep midnight blue with blue finishes).