Paris Motor Show 2022: when Ludovic Lazareth brings Batman’s motorcycle from the video game Gotham Nights to life

The Batcycle, or Batmoto, really exists and it rolls. It is the work of Frenchman Ludovic Lazareth, a slightly crazy French tuner based in Annecy-le-Vieux (Haute-Savoie). His passion is to (re)-invent motorcycles, quads and cars with a personal touch. We remember its Mini convertible series equipped with a V8 engine or the Suzuki Hayabusa Roadster, from which the Japanese brand was inspired to give the B-King, the E-Wazuma tricycle and especially the LM496, the first flying motorcycle equipped removable wheels, each incorporating a quick-release parachute and mini-turbines. The Frenchman has also designed rolling machines for films such as Babylon AD, Taxi 4 and Deep.

The Batcycle holds a special place in the heart of the Frenchman. Indeed, until now, all the motorcycles leaving his workshop were qualified as “looks like Batman’s motorcycle”, when not at all. But that was before his meeting with Warner Bros Games, the video game studio that created gotham nights, who asked him to make the motorcycle of the horned vigilante according to his own inspiration. The only condition is that the Batcycle be black.

Using a 3D model, Ludovic Lazareth and his team used a torch on an existing motorcycle frame, to which many parts machined in-house were attached. Some were, however, ordered from mainly French suppliers with the watchwords being requirement and technicality.

On the engine side, the creator of Annecy chose a 1000 cm³ V-twin, whose provenance was not mentioned. Ludovic Lazareth explains this choice to us by the hoarse and dull noise that the Batcycle must have had, rather than a strident sound signature. This engine has been completely dismantled, modified and adjusted according to the desired of the French Geo Trouvetout. Installed in its frame, the engine was subsequently dressed in a fiberglass body.

We notice the huge front axle, a real gas plant, but “simple design” according to its creator, specially designed to support the braking of the 300 kg of this Batcycle, which is completely rolling, yes!

In the end, the manufacture of this Batmoto will have taken a little more than a year to Ludovic Lazareth and his team. When we ask its creator about its cost, he just says he didn’t count his hours. O rage, if you were planning to ask Lazareth for the same motorcycle for Christmas, it won’t be possible. Indeed, the Haut-Savoyard has signed an exclusive agreement with Warner Bros Games, making the Batcycle the one and only Batman motorcycle. Only way to have one, to get the game. Itou, it would not be surprising to see this Batcycle appear in an upcoming film Batman…

A virtual Batcycle that plays

The game gotham nights features new vigilantes of the night: Batgirl, Robin, Red Hood and Nightwing, following the death of Bruc… sorry Batman. They will face the Court of Owls, a secret society of villains trying to impose its authority on Gotham City. Previously only the Batmobile could be driven in the game, now players will have the option to ride the Batcycle.