This Bike Costs More Than a Rolls-Royce Because Half Its Weight Is Pure Gold

The bicycle has been around for more than two centuries, which speaks volumes for this perfect human-propelled two-wheel vehicle: nimble, efficient, fun, and convenient. Like they say, there's no sense in reinventing the wheel. But that's not to say that the bicycle can't be further upgraded or diversified, and adding about 9 lbs (4 kg) of gold to it seems one way of doing it.

That's exactly what a local jeweler has done, adding yet another item to the relatively short list of solid gold two-wheelers. Yes, there are more gold bicycles in the world than fingers on one hand.

Humankind's fascination with the precious metal goes all the way back to the early days, as it's been considered the ultimate symbol of superiority and – of course – wealth. In recent years, we've seen various everyday objects plated or molded out of solid gold, from watches and cutlery to toilet seats (and entire toilets!), video game consoles, supercars, and bicycles.

Covering some of these items in gold might seem strange to the regular Joe and Jane, but that's only because Joe and Jane are not the target customers for them. After all, if Joe or Jane decides to switch up their daily commute to go from public transport to a traditional bicycle, their budget is going to be one of the decisive factors upon placing an order.

Not for whoever buys this golden bike, though. This is the latest, fully functional two-wheeler to feature an all-gold frame, which elevates it from a purely practical means of crossing the city to the state of objet d'art. An object of art you could ride into the sunset and blind everyone else in the process, but art nonetheless.

This is the creation of Al Romaizan Gold and Jewelry, a UAE-based shop that specializes in quite traditional-looking gold jewelry, and it was unveiled at the end of last month at the 52nd edition of the Watch and Jewelry Middle East Show, held at the Expo Center Sharjah. It featured in the shop's central display, and while it was created mostly as a promotional item, it might have already secured a buyer.

The bike is a British racing cycle wearing 24K gold sheets on the frame, wheels, and handlebars. Even the wheel stays and the gear chain ridges are decked in gold, though certain components like the brakes, the tires, and the saddle are not, for the obvious reasons. The result is an eye-catching, shimmering, quite ostentatious bicycle that would feel at home in a museum or private collection display but would admittedly feel just as good riding on city streets. If you dare.

Mohammad Abbasi, Chief Digital Officer of Al Romaizan, told the local media that it took a team of 20 people about six months to complete the project, which remains a one-off as of the time of press. That said, more units could be made should the right people – with the right money – come along. Variants in 18K, 21K, and 22K gold are possible, and we assume you could throw a diamond or a dozen in there too, if you wanted.

"Anyone can buy this," Abbasi said. The first showcase unit generated five solid offers right after it went public, proving that there was solid interest in this new type of luxury personal transportation. Seeing how similar bikes made of the same precious metal failed repeatedly to secure buyers, let alone launch limited-edition series, this might be the exception.

As of the time of press, details on the unit remain scarce, either because the quantity of gold used renders other details trivial, or because it's already off the market.

We do know that the entire machine tips the scales at 15.4 lbs (7 kg), of which more than 8.8 lbs (4 kg) are pure gold. The price tag reads the equivalent of $408,000, so you're paying more for a pedal-powered bicycle than you would on a standard Rolls-Royce, with the caveat that you might not even get to take the former out for a single ride due to its value and its quite-obvious shine.

Granted, under all this gold probably hides a high-performance machine, but that too would be wasted on the owner, who will buy it first and foremost because of its gold frame.

In the end, gold bicycles – while far from a rarity – remain objects of art whose existence is spurred on by the desire for publicity and to show off, both by the artisan behind the idea and whoever buys the product, and much less by an actual market for them.