Bell & Ross BR 01 & BR 03 B-ROCKET

B-ROCKET: THE DYNAMIC DUO THAT IS BUCKING THE TREND

Inspired by aeronautical design, watchmaker Bell & Ross has once again commissioned Shaw Harley-Davidson to design a concept bike with a sleek and powerful look evoking the extreme modernity of the 1960s and the very first American jet aircraft. More than a motorcycle, a legend. More than a legendary engine, a dream airplane-motorcycle.

REVIVAL OF THE HEYDAY OF AERONAUTICS: A MOTORCYCLE REMINISCENT OF THE FUTURE
A passion for pioneering aeronautics, a quest for aerodynamic lines, a fascination with cockpit instrumentation… Since its cre- ation, Bell & Ross has constantly strived to perfect the look of tools dedicated to aviation and featuring amazing functional mechanics. In 2011, the watchmaker successfully switched from the air to the ground by designing an exclusive motorcycle in collaboration with the British team at Shaw Harley Davidson Speed & Custom – the Nascafe Racer. At the time, this prestigious looking motorcycle travelled the world winning a series of prizes in London, Dublin (Ireland) and Stur- gis (United States), before being named the planet’s «most famous custom motorcycle». In 2014, leading aeronautical watchmaker Bell & Ross went even further, presenting a totally exclusive motor- cycle, again constructed with the engineers at Shaw Harley Davidson, who share the brand’s values of innovation, performance and pre- cision. A unique motorcycle, inspired by the iconic world of the first jet planes secretly designed in the United States in the 1960s and evoking this heyday in aeronautics when anything seemed possible.

The B-Rocket is a concept bike with a neo-retro look with lines encapsulating the essential principles of aeronautical design. An airplane-motorcycle with a unique style whose extremely aerody- namic lines evoke the experimental aviation of the 1960s, Nevada’s speed bikes and the records they set on the salt lake at Bonneville, the genius of Utah’s pioneering engineers in white coats, as well as the bravery of the test riders. The B-Rocket is all that and much more: an airplane-motorcycle which cuts through the air with its striking conical jet nose, its cabin, its fin and its propulsion turbines. This exceptional motorcycle – a unique model epitomizing the union between performance and precision, design and power – could have been ridden by a classic super- hero, a NASA test pilot or a young gun thirsty for glory. Above all, it represents a watchmaking firm that believes in the authenticity of its designs and functions and most importantly aims to perfect the modernity of the past.

For optimum aerodynamics, Shaw Harley Davidson’s engineers and Bell & Ross’s designers chose a low driving position, ensuring that the motorcycle and rider are as one. At each stage in its design, this amalgamation of man and machine was created in the image of a rocket.

For the rider’s comfort, strips of padded leather are placed on the center of the fuel tank and turbines where the knees rest. A conical nose resembling that of a jet plane is attached at the front to improve air intake. A matte black strip crosses the glossy paintwork for an anti-reflective effect and a glass windscreen enables the rider to see his route. Meanwhile, two adjustable fins on either side of the fork, designed to resemble small wings, can be used to increase or reduce contact with the ground.

The generously curved rear section required many hours of crafts- manship. Inspired by an aircraft cabin, this hand-worked aerody- namic area was manufactured using more than 30 different sections of steel. Reflecting an advanced study of functionalist design, this is probably where the Bell & Ross concept bike most effectively incor- porates the codes of 1960s experimental aeronautics – an impres- sion reinforced by the stabilizing lines of its tail fin.

The almost invisible Plexiglas sections around the rear wheel reveal the pinion, chain and brake caliper. Finally, the wheel rims add an ultra-aerodynamic touch to the B-Rocket, while the solid, fixed aluminum wheel covers conceal the 10-inch brake disks. These are cooled via impressive brass grills which allow hot air to escape and reinforce the overall impression of «floating» and controlled speed. The stylistic and technical originality of the B-Rocket can also be seen in its two impressive side-mounted turbines, instantly evoc- ative of two jet engines that help to rapidly dis- charge air to achieve higher speeds. Two new types of filters have been incorporated into these turbines: the first, on the right, for the intake of air; the second, on the left, to cool the oil. These two «jet engines» are united by a hand-crafted stain- less steel grille protecting the hydraulic tanks during activation of the clutch and the brakes. The symmetry of these two high-performance engines strengthens the symbolic appeal of this unique airplane-motorcycle, whose exceptional power-weight ratio is unrivalled.

Finally, a tachometer designed by Bell & Ross has been incorpo- rated into the front fairing to allow the rider to remain attuned to his machine’s heartbeat. Here again, esthetics merge with functionality; the canopy and the tachome- ter combine extreme legibility with the rapid display of information regarding speed.

The circular power-reserve counter at 6 o’clock is reminiscent of the fuel gage seen on racing motorcycles or cars. With their sophisticated finishes, the BR 01 and BR 03 B-Rocket can communicate, making dimmed headlights within easy reach. In terms of colors and materials, nothing has been overlooked in the detail of the finish of these models: red, black, steel and padded leather are there to prove it. Their satin-brushed steel cases, worthy of the most superb fuselage, are powered by a self-winding Swiss mechanical movement. The azure counters with their guilloché finish are the mark of a qual- ity finish. Each model is finished using techniques in keeping with the finest watch-making traditions. The matte black dial, the graphic display of which is reminiscent of a motorcycle tachometer or a road vehicle or airplane instrumentation panel, emphasizes the color contrast. To accentuate the emphasis on readability, the skeletonized hours and minutes hands are also coated with a photo-luminescent material. To stress their association with the world of driving, a red trian- gle marks 12 o’clock echoing the triangle visible on the B-Rocket’s tachometer and turbines. Finally, both watches are fitted with a padded leather strap, lined and edged in red, modeled on the seat of the B-Rocket. Naturally, to meet the requirements of Bell & Ross in terms of reliabil- ity, resistance and readability, both the BR 01 and BR 03 B-Rocket are water resistant to a depth of 100 meters and fitted with anti-glare treated sapphire crystal.

INNOVATION IS THE ONE THING THAT DRIVES BELL & ROSS
It would not be pretentious to claim that creating a link between its neo-retro B-Rocket motorcycle and its classically elegant BR 01 and BR 03 B-Rocket watches was no mean feat for Bell & Ross. In both instances, the brand has complied with a rule it holds dear: uncompromising design, strict criteria in terms of the materials and resis- tance of the components, sophisticated engineering, pure aesthetic quality, accurate information and lastly the non-negotiable requirement for high-performance, even under what may be considered extreme conditions. With this totally new motorcycle-instrument concept, the brand has written an incredible ode to mastering speed and delivering mechanical power.

Unique and fascinating, the B-Rocket is inspired by the speed bikes and experimental aviation of the 1960s. This concept bike was designed to awaken dreams, to arouse the passion of fans of fabulous machines and to travel through time. It comes from the past but heralds the future, assuring Bell & Ross’s place in the history of mechanical ingenuity.