There are expensive motorcycles, and then there’s the Midual Type 1 Quintessence, because apparently, €170,000 (about $183,000) for a “regular” Midual wasn’t ludicrous enough.
But let’s take a step back for a second. Most people already consider motorcycles a luxury, even when we’re talking about mid-tier bikes that cost as much as a used car. Heck, if you push your budget even further, a top-tier Ducati, MV Agusta, or Harley-Davidson is already pushing the boundaries of financial sanity for the average rider.
And then there’s this. A motorcycle so absurdly high-end that it makes even those seem like budget options. To achieve such an astronomical price tag, the boutique French brand went full-send on this ultra-limited, three-unit run of a rolling sculpture. The end result? A price tag of €300,000 (about $322,000).
Three. Hundred. Thousand. Euros. For a motorcycle. Let that sink in for a second.
But let’s be real, the Midual Type 1 Quintessence isn’t just any motorcycle. This is a meticulously crafted, hand-built, French-engineered fever dream. A bike I think was created for the sole purpose of being expensive.
It takes a thousand hours to make each one. Every curve, every polished surface, every screw is the result of someone, somewhere, spending an unreasonable amount of time making sure it’s just perfect. The frame consists of a hollow, sand-cast aluminum monocoque that also doubles as the fuel tank. Meanwhile, the engine is a flat twin—but one installed transversely, and not longitudinally because Midual wanted the sound and feel of a boxer motor but didn’t want it to look like a BMW.
Naturally, everything on here is analog, and the dials are inspired by luxury Swiss watches, because of course they are.
This thing is so extravagant, so meticulously crafted, that it makes a Ducati Superleggera look mass-produced. The materials list reads like a billionaire’s shopping cart: French and European-sourced aluminum, steel, Swedish suspension, Italian brakes, French tires, and even the electronics (which they tried to make locally) are reluctantly sourced from Japan because, well, France isn’t exactly known for its cutting-edge electronics.
And then there’s the finish. Every piece of metal is polished to perfection. Every leather accent is stitched with the precision of a couture handbag.
Of course, the real question here is: who the heck even buys something like this? Well, apparently, half of Midual’s buyers actually ride their bikes, while the other half just park them in their living rooms like prized sculptures. And really, I get it. If I owned something that cost as much as a brand-new Ferrari, I wouldn’t be risking it on a pothole-filled road, or letting some strangers’ grubby hands all over it, either.
Olivier Midy, the mastermind behind Midual, knows this thing is expensive. He also knows that making something more “affordable” would completely destroy what makes a Midual special. So no, there will not be a more attainable version for us mere mortals.
As for me? Well, I wouldn’t touch this thing with a ten-foot pole—let alone ride it—even if you paid me to do so. It’s too perfect. Too polished. Too… expensive.
And frankly, that’s what makes it kind of amazing. It’s a masterpiece on two wheels. A testament to craftsmanship, ludicrous excess, and the absurdity of wealth. And while it could be an object of admiration—or even lust, for some, it’s also sure to make a lot of people angry.
Nevertheless, while I’ll never own one, I’m sort of glad it exists. If only to remind us that somewhere out there, someone is crazy enough to spend supercar money on a motorcycle that’s simply too nice to ride.
Sources: Midual, Moto-Station
