- This rare C-01 has a John Player Special-inspired black and gold livery.
- The motorcycle is powered by a 1,195 cc engine from a KTM RC8 R with 200 hp.
- RM Sotheby’s says the Lotus has only accrued delivery mileage.
There’s no other motorcycle on the planet quite like the Lotus C-01 and with just 100 examples built, it’s also one of the rarest bikes out there. On June 1, RM Sotheby’s will auction one off.
Built in 2014, this C-01 is located in Toronto, Canada, and is one of just a handful delivered in North America. Adorned with a beautiful black and gold John Player Special-inspired livery, the bike looks so fabulous that we wouldn’t blame its next owner for never riding it and simply having it displayed as a piece of art.
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Group Lotus didn’t manufacture the C-01. Instead, it licensed its name to Lotus Motorcycle, which collaborated with German racecar constructor Kodewa to build the bike. Does that make us want it any less? Absolutely not!
The design was penned by Daniel Simon who created the famous ‘light cycles’ from TRON: Legacy. The proportions are unusual for a motorcycle but somehow, the C-01 looks brilliant from any angle and makes us wish more bikes adopted similar shapes to this.
The front boasts a large headlight cluster, while the front forks are adorned with thick shrouds adorned with Lotus branding. The main body of the bike almost entirely envelops the 1,195 cc 75-degree V-twin engine borrowed from the KTM RC8 R. This engine delivers approximately 200 hp and is paired with a six-speed sequential transmission.
Despite its imposing appearance, the C-01 weighs under 400 lbs (181 kg), making it more than fast enough for most motorcycle enthusiasts.
Canada’s Dare to Dream Collection shelled out nearly $140,000 to acquire this speed bike. With only delivery mileage under its belt, it stands as spectacular as bikes come. Anticipated to fetch between $100,000 and $150,000, if you’re keen on placing a bid, head over to RM Sotheby’s for more details.
