Motorcycle specifications MidualType 1 2016 Mechanical haute couture

As luck would have it, there's plenty of room between the Fabergé egg collection, the old Renoir on the wall and the Coisevox bust. Could a motorcycle impeccably complete this gallery, with its very high-end positioning? Yes! What audacity to revive the French motorcycle in a definition close to that of the era of excellence and luxury of our national manufactures (between the wars).
It has a name: Midual, and its Type 1. A luxurious roadster like a Bugatti, with original and/or prestigious technical solutions.

It's no longer a motorcycle, a supercar or a show car; it's refinement at its finest. Is it necessary to have a reasoned opinion when faced with a bike costing the price of a house in the suburbs? The Midual Type 1 makes Norton, Brough Superior, Harley CVO and Ducati 1199 Superleggera look like charms. Competition comes from Avinton, NCR, Lotus or, in the not-too-distant past, the MV-Agusta F4 1080 CC. But why? Because the Midual Type 1 uses only materials and craftsmanship worthy of French haute couture. Just one glance at the tank tells you that you're in another dimension. A true exercise in pageantry: with precious wood veneer (several species available, including a superb Australian oak, or surfaced with metal to great effect), you'd think you were at the helm of a Riva canoe anchored in Monaco, or in a Jaguar convertible from the 50s. An all-analog instrumentation leaves you speechless: multiple dials indicate engine speed, temperature, voltage, time, etc... What class all those hands have! A true Swiss boutique. Only the tachometer stands out from the crowd, sitting in front of the handlebars.

But the back of the tank is just one of Midual's delicacies. Top-of-the-range isn't just about noble and renowned equipment, like the 43 mm Öhlins FGRT inverted fork or Brembo brake calipers. Above all, it's the details, everywhere, that bear witness to a constant concern for beauty, excellence and passion for work. Alloy parts and plates carved from solid, a radiator inspired by design, aluminum commodos, genuine leather knee grips, brake jars worthy of France's finest craftsmen, all in aluminum and topped with knurled, engraved and polished lids. Giving added warmth to this mechanical ode, the hides can be chosen in 45 different colors.
Those who buy a Type 1 won't be buying a motorcycle; they'll be buying a Midual. How many bikes have so many engraved parts? A wheel arch reflecting the settings of the Öhlins TTX36 shock absorber? A concern for finish that led the manufacturer to offer 25 sandblasted foundry shades, applicable right down to the engine parts? Personalizing your Midual Type 1 will be rather like going to a jewelry store.

Engine-wise, the terrain is striking but not unfamiliar to those who follow the adventure of the little marque... or to history buffs. The engine is a flat-twin, with cylinder heads running in the direction of the bike, and a transverse crankshaft. A mechanical arrangement already tried and tested... more than a century ago. Delving into this slice of motorcycling history, we discover that an English manufacturer, Douglas, whose activity spanned from 1907 to 1957, marketed a motorcycle equipped with this type of berlingot. A surprising detail: this engine served as a model for a famous current brand, which turned it 90° on its side. Thus was born an eternal flat-twin, to power a certain BMW R32. The rest is history.

One cylinder slaps you on the back while the other wants to box the road... The mechanical layout is certainly surprising. And yet, without going into the Douglas archives, you get the impression you've seen it before in a crumpled magazine or a souvenir from a Paris salon... Of course, this is not Midual's first try. Back in 1999, the brand presented its 900 prototype with this type of engine. Yesterday, this machine wanted to play in the Voxan category; tomorrow, it will flirt with the art object and luxury craft.
But let's get back to this engine. It follows the broad lines of the 900, but boosts its displacement to 1036 cm3. Tilted at 25°, equipped with a cascade of pinions (VFRists will shed a tear of nostalgia), this block is developed, says Midual, to produce torque at low revs - yet its hyper-square dimensions of 100 mm bore and 66 mm stroke would be more conducive to power at high revs. But no, the figures speak for themselves: this boxer produces 106 hp at 8,000 rpm. A reasonable value, without more, for a block of this displacement. More than 10 mkg are available at 5300 rpm. The engine's curves and character delight the heart as much as the bike flatters the ego.
The nerve center of this type of engine is its layout, which puts a strain on the wheelbase. With its inclination, the total value manages to remain reasonable, at 1505 mm. Closer to a Yamaha 1300 XJR (1500 mm) than a Honda CB 1000 R (1445 mm).

To be different, to be noble, to be above the rest. This philosophy extends from the toe-kick to the frame. An aluminum perimeter? Tubular trellis? No, no, think bigger, more delicate, more upswept! Midual has gone so far as to design a solid aluminum load-bearing shell. Its double skin allows it to act as a fuel tank.
Braking is classic for a bike of this caliber, but would look good on a sports bike. Large 320 mm discs at the front are clamped by 4-piston radial jaws. The rear wheel is fitted with a 245 mm disc surrounded by a 2-piston caliper. ABS? Not desired. Neither is traction control, all-out mapping or "full control update challenge over the top" electronic assistance. The Midual is authentic, full of taste and without a butler to tell you how to eat.

The assistance is elsewhere; human. With its Type 1, Midual doesn't just sell a motorcycle, but also an after-sales service on a scale worthy of English saloons. Lucky customers will have their bikes delivered to their homes by a Midual technician. Each model will bear its date of creation, its number and the name of its owner. The warranty and maintenance contract runs for 4 years, during which time the motorcycle will be treated with the utmost care. There's no question of taking it to the local workshop; maintenance will be carried out at the factory, and someone will collect your Type 1 from your home and bring it back once it's been serviced. A princely service!

Midual has clearly understood that there's no point in going after the general public to make a place for itself in today's motorcycle market. Voxan has cut its teeth there, and in times of crisis, it's the tax and luxury segments that are posting the strongest growth. It's a bold gamble, but what a calling card when you can play alongside names like Cartier, Dior, Vuitton, Mauboussin, Chanel... Tomorrow, Midual on the list?
35 Midual Type 1s are planned for 2016. Monegasques, Qatari and private collections are already in the starting-blocks. I dare not mention the price. When I saw it, it took out one of my molars........ Well, if you insist! The base price, which could easily soar with the options, is 155,000 euros.

M.B
Photos: Attrapeur d'images - Alexis GOURE - Midual