If you like overpriced bikes with automotive connections, you’re in luck as Aston Martin and Lotus both have new offerings.
Starting in alphabetical order, Aston Martin has teamed up with J.Laverack to create the “world’s most bespoke, advanced and meticulously engineered road bicycle.” Dubbed the J.Laverack Aston Martin .1R, the bike features carbon fiber tubes with a herringboned weave.
They’re joined by 3D printed titanium lugs, integrated four piston brake calipers, and a set of tools that comes in a handmade wooden case. The bike also has subtle nods to the DB12 and Valkyrie, but it’s more notable for not having exposed cables.
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The special touches extend beyond the traditional badge job as buyers will be invited to Aston Martin headquarters for a “full fitting” with the founders of J.Laverack. This meeting will also enable them to explore the bike’s extensive customization, which includes the ability to “specify the color of the tubes, lugs, forks, stem, seat post, and handlebar drops.” Customers can get colors that match their Aston Martin and they can examine their options with an automotive-style configurator.
Aston Martin Chief Creative Officer Marek Reichman said “The J.Laverack Aston Martin .1R is essentially a titanium hypercar on two wheels. The simple, clever genius is how we’ve fused the engineering advancements throughout the bike with a purity of performance design to deliver a viscerally exhilarating riding experience. The result is a distinctive form, born through tradition and technology and handcrafted using only the most advanced materials, befitting the pedigrees and forward-thinking natures of our two iconic British companies.”
Lotus Type 136
If you just picked up a new Lotus Eletre, you can check out the Type 136. It’s being billed as an “all-new bike [that] harnesses design and engineering excellence from more than 30 years of road and track cycling success.”
Putting marketing hyperbole aside, the Type 136 draws inspiration from Olympic bikes and features a lightweight carbon fiber frame that enables the model to weigh a mere 21.6 lbs (9.8 kg). That’s not too shabby considering the bike has an electric motor, which is powered by a removable battery pack that is disguised as a water bottle.
The bike is being launched in First Edition trim, which is limited to 136 units that are priced from £20,000 and €25,000. That’s $24,247 and $26,347 at current exchange rates.
While you could get a Ford Maverick for that price, the First Editions are “individually numbered and available in an iconic motorsport livery.” A cheaper variant will eventually follow in the spring of 2024.