Midual presents its idea of a luxury motorcycle, French style

At the prestigious Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, French brand Midual staged the world premiere of its two Midual Type 1 prototypes. After over a decade of absence, the manufacturer announced that it will produce 35 customizable motorcycles in this range starting in 2016, each priced from €140,000 (around $186,000) for customers throughout Europe.

Intended to represent the brand's vision for a French take on the luxury motorcycle, the two prototypes presented in California have undergone a year of road tests in France.

The Midual Type 1 is based on a 106hp, 1000cc flat-twin engine with a transversal crankshaft tilted downward at a 25° angle. The model stands out in particular for its low level of longitudinal inertia and relatively low center of gravity, which should ensure optimal handling and more exciting rides.

High-end materials are clearly one of the model's defining characteristics: the chassis consists of a solid, handcrafted aluminum alloy frame, the instrument panel is finished with hand-polished soft Australian oak, and the knee grips are covered in rare saddle-stitched leather.

On the whole, the Midual Type 1 is built to be customized, and the frame will be available in a wide range of different finishes (brushed, satin polished, etc.). Midual will also offer over 45 different types of leather, to be paired with the 25 colors available for various details and parts, even down to certain engine components. Finally, each motorcycle will feature its owner's name on a plaque on top of the frame.

Founded in 1992, the French brand Midual has always positioned itself as a manufacturer of ultra high-end motorcycles. The brand's first prototype, the Midual Roadster 900, was presented at the Paris Motorcycle Show in 1999 but never made it to the production stage.

Midual's announcement echoes the recent, high-profile comeback of another French motorcycle maker: Voxan. At the 2013 Paris Motorcycle Show, the brand returned to the scene with the debut of the Wattman, touted as the world's most powerful all-electric motorcycle.

More information can be found at Midual's official website: midual.com