Harley-Davidson and Bell & Ross
A combination of expertise: a cult watch for a cult motorcycle
Bell & Ross Watches and Shaw Harley-Davidson - current world champion of custom Harley-Davidson® motorcycles - have collaborated to create a unique motorcycle: the Bell & Ross-inspired Nescafe Racer.
Shaw Harley-Davidson is the leading dealer in the UK and has been awarded Best Dealer in the UK for the sixth time. Shaw Harley-Davidson approached Bell & Ross with a motorcycle design project inspired by the watchmaker's vision of performance, precision and engineering. The same engineering precision that Bell & Ross has mastered has been applied to the construction of this unique motorcycle.
The way in which the watch brand Bell & Ross develops and manufactures its watches is reflected in the work of Shaw Harley-Davidson's top technicians in the construction of the project motorcycle, which is based on the Harley-Davidson® FXSTB Softail® Nightrain. One of the most radical Softails - long, low and naked and named after Willie G. Davidson.
The bike was completely stripped down to the last bolt in the dealer's Speed & Custom workshop in East Sussex, England, and every detail was taken care of during the rebuild.
The Shaw Speed & Custom team has mounted the BR 01 Carbon - the iconic instrument from Bell & Ross - in a handmade aluminum console in the middle. The clock is in a perfect place for its actual function as a professional instrument for the rider. A combination of anodized blue, carbon and a special matt black lacquer reflects the color of the clock.
„We wanted to showcase the Bell & Ross watch on the bike in this way, while ensuring that the important instrument is never compromised by superfluous design or objects.“, says Steve Willis, Shaw Harley-Davidson Sales Director and Head of Speed & Custom Design.
“We were immediately enthusiastic about this project,“ explains Bruno Belamich, designer and co-founder of Bell & Ross. „We identified with the values that Harley-Davidson represents - shared values such as the search for the extreme, adventure and precision”
The Bell & Ross brand statement is that every detail has its purpose and function. This technical precision is expressed through clean lines and timeless elegance, which inspired the Shaw Harley-Davidson team to build this custom motorcycle.
The bike was a big hit with the public when it was presented at the American Motorcycle Dealer (AMD) World Championship - in the Harley-Davidson custom class - at the London International Custom Bike Show in Alexandra. The motorcycle was also shown at other events:
- The Dublin International Motorcycle Show
- Custom Chrome European Show Mainz
- St Tropez Harley-Davidson Euro Festival
- Bournemouth International Custom Motorcycle Show
Bell & Ross now hopes that this partnership will allow Shaw Harley-Davidson to qualify for and retain the World Title in Sturgis USA in August 2011.
Text & pictures: PINK + PURPLE Public Relations
