Photo: Midual
We sort of expected to see a breathtaking new creation form the French maker Midual, as the all-new Type 1 bike was recently announced, but the reality surpasses the wildest expectation beyond the power of words. The Midual Type 1 was unveiled at the Pebble Beach, California Concours d’Elegance last weekend and honestly, it’s rather hard to describe it.
From the scarce photos and details we had ahead of the official unwrapping, it was obvious that the company founded by Olivier and Francois Midy was about to deliver a stellar machine. Polished, lacquered wood, machined metal parts, a monocoque frame and exquisite leatherwork were nice hints, but again, the final product is truly jaw-dropping.
An unique presence in the two-wheeled world, the Midual Type 1 is powered by an unique engine: an 1.036cc flat-twin tor boxer mill with a transverse crankshaft. Yep, that’s right, a longitudinally-mounted BMW R-like power plant you just don’t see every day, but still, a classic solution for Midual. The engine produces 106 hp (crankshaft) at 8,000 rpm and 100 Nm (74 lb-ft) @ 5,300, and is liquid- and oil-cooled, with 2 oil coolers. It is fed through dual 54mm throttle bodies with butterfly valves, and breathes out through dual catalytic silencers.
The frame is a one-piece double-wall monocoque design incorporating the 14-liter (3.7 US gal) fuel tank. The chassis uses an Ohlins FGRT 43mm fork, while the cantilever rear suspension is loaded with an Ohlins TTX 36 damper for the one-piece aluminium swingarm. The rake is adjustable, to offer impeccable handling and stability… reminding me of high-performance racing bikes such as the recent DR Moto MotoGP-spec machine.
In the brake department, things are premium-class, also: dual 320mm rotors and 2-pot Brembo radial calipers in the front, a single 245mm rotor and a 2-pot caliper in the rear. The 17” wheels are shod with Michelin tires and the 810mm-tall (31.8”) bike tips the scales at 239 kg (527 lb) wet.
On the aesthetics side, things are getting more complex. The instrument panel is located atop the fuel tank area and comprises analog gauges and a tiny LCD. The dashboard is polished wood, with color-matching stitched leather knee grips on the sides and seat. Personalization options reach far beyond the photos we can show you, and Midual will build each machine to the owner’s specs.
By the way, only 35 such jewels will be manufactured, with each sporting a plate with the owner’s name engraved. Midual has already received reservations, so if you feel you’re in for such a beauty, you should get in touch with them. Expect a price that’s nothing short of stellar, as well, rumored to be around the €140,000 ($186,000) mark, but again: take a good look at the pics and try to find any faults…
After seeing the Midual Type 1, the limited edition Horex VR6 Cafe-Racer looks a bit dull.
An unique presence in the two-wheeled world, the Midual Type 1 is powered by an unique engine: an 1.036cc flat-twin tor boxer mill with a transverse crankshaft. Yep, that’s right, a longitudinally-mounted BMW R-like power plant you just don’t see every day, but still, a classic solution for Midual. The engine produces 106 hp (crankshaft) at 8,000 rpm and 100 Nm (74 lb-ft) @ 5,300, and is liquid- and oil-cooled, with 2 oil coolers. It is fed through dual 54mm throttle bodies with butterfly valves, and breathes out through dual catalytic silencers.
The frame is a one-piece double-wall monocoque design incorporating the 14-liter (3.7 US gal) fuel tank. The chassis uses an Ohlins FGRT 43mm fork, while the cantilever rear suspension is loaded with an Ohlins TTX 36 damper for the one-piece aluminium swingarm. The rake is adjustable, to offer impeccable handling and stability… reminding me of high-performance racing bikes such as the recent DR Moto MotoGP-spec machine.
In the brake department, things are premium-class, also: dual 320mm rotors and 2-pot Brembo radial calipers in the front, a single 245mm rotor and a 2-pot caliper in the rear. The 17” wheels are shod with Michelin tires and the 810mm-tall (31.8”) bike tips the scales at 239 kg (527 lb) wet.
On the aesthetics side, things are getting more complex. The instrument panel is located atop the fuel tank area and comprises analog gauges and a tiny LCD. The dashboard is polished wood, with color-matching stitched leather knee grips on the sides and seat. Personalization options reach far beyond the photos we can show you, and Midual will build each machine to the owner’s specs.
By the way, only 35 such jewels will be manufactured, with each sporting a plate with the owner’s name engraved. Midual has already received reservations, so if you feel you’re in for such a beauty, you should get in touch with them. Expect a price that’s nothing short of stellar, as well, rumored to be around the €140,000 ($186,000) mark, but again: take a good look at the pics and try to find any faults…
After seeing the Midual Type 1, the limited edition Horex VR6 Cafe-Racer looks a bit dull.
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