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32 | WheelsOfGrace.com | Issue 43 The Harley-Davidson BLUE EDITION is a handmade motorbike par excellence, which took over 2,500 hours of work to produce and cost over 1.8 million. Nothing else embodies the feeling of freedom quite as sensually and powerfully as a Harley-Davidson or… some would say in our days, an Indian! But there is something about Harley and the nostalgia that comes with it. Inspired by the idea of measuring not only time, but also space, with style – and attitude – Bucherer, together with Bündnerbike, the Swiss custom Harley-Davidson workshop, has developed a new member of the Bucherer BLUE EDITIONS family: the Harley Davidson BLUE EDITION. This motorcycle, which is customized by hand in Maienfeld, is the ultimate in self-expression. But it is not only the 360 diamonds, gold-plated screws, two safes that are integrated into the tank and contain a one-of- a-kind watch from Carl F. Bucherer as well as rings from Bucherer Fine Jewelry, or the thrilling design of the engine that make this iridescent blue bike – the only one of its kind in the world – a true work of art. At CHF 1.888 million, it is also the most expensive motorcycle in the world. Cool style – customized The Harley-Davidson BLUE EDITION is based on a Harley-Davidson Softail Slim S. However, there is not a great deal left that is reminiscent of the initial model with its cool vintage style. Every metal element found on this one-of-a-kind motorcycle has been produced, welded, beaten, grounded and polished by hand. The complete frame of the motorcycle is welded seamlessly, and even the rims, of course are custom-made. The rotating camshaft is visible through a window in the camshaft housing, as are the valve control and the gold-plated throttle valves. Heat-resistant LED lights illuminate the scene. The Harley-Davidson BLUE EDITION is thus the world's first motorcycle to have a motor that is lit up from the inside. Various parts of the motorcycle are also gold-plated. The cowhide saddle has been sewn by hand in Switzerland. A special detail: the iridescent color. A specific technique had to be employed to illuminate the Harley-Davidson in this intense blue. In a first step, the entire motorcycle was silver-plated, before six color coatings were then applied using a secret coating method. The combination of custom motorcycle design and the art of jewelry making. This unique piece is perfected by the incorporation of the arts of watchmaking and jewelry making. This is also a world first: never before has a watch manufacturer and jewels been integrated in a motorcycle. The Dizzler rotating ring from the Bucherer Fine Jewelry collection was adapted for the Harley-Davidson BLUE EDITION to allow it to be mounted on the handgrips. "That was a technical challenge," says Jürg Ludwig Jr. Managing Director of Bündnerbike. "To ensure that the rings really stay in place, a special method was applied that guarantees a very strong hold. How this works remains a secret of the Bündnerbike blacksmith," explains Ludwig. A further pair of Dizzler diamond rings can be found on the forks, while a large version of the Dizzler ring is located in the left half of the tank. Underneath a glass dome made from armored glass, another piece of jewelry of special value can be found in a retractable safe: a six-prong BUCHERER BLUE EDITION BUCHERER BLUE EDITION 32 WheelsOfGrace.com Issue 43