Culture

Racing bike coated in 24-karat gold (pictures)

British luxury company Goldgenie has moved from gold-plating gadgets into gold-plating an entire Giant road bike.

Amanda Kooser

Freelance writer Amanda C. Kooser covers gadgets and tech news with a twist for CNET. When not wallowing in weird gear and iPad apps for cats, she can be found tinkering with her 1956 DeSoto.

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Amanda Kooser

Dec. 9, 2014 10:56 a.m. PT

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Gold bike glimmers

British luxury company Goldgenie has made a name for itself by gold-plating high-end gadgets like iPhones. The company recently branched out into larger projects with the elaborate effort of gold-plating a Giant racing bike. The £250,000 bike (about $392,000, AU$470,000) bike will have diamonds added. Goldgenie says the company expects it to be the first in a line of custom-embellished luxury bikes.

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Even the spokes are covered in gold

Goldgenie's 24-karat gold-covered racing bike may be an ode to luxury excess, but as such it features some stunning work, such as these gold-coated spokes on the wheels. The bike is fully functional, though it may not be the best choice for casual rides around the neighborhood.

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Shift gears in gold style

This bicycle costs £250,000 thanks to the amount of gold slathered over it and the amount of time it took to create it. Every ridge of the gear chain is also covered in 24-karat gold. Goldgenie, the company that created it, is planning to offer more bespoke bikes customized to meet clients' wishes.

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Gold bike with racing tires

Goldgenie's customized Giant racing bike may be covered in 24-karat gold, but it can still be ridden like a normal bicycle. It comes with a high-end suede saddle and racing tires should the owner wish to take it for a fast spin.

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Shift with luxury

The attention to detail is obvious on this £250,000 British racing bike covered in 24-karat gold by luxury company Goldgenie. The company specializes in plating high-end gadgets, but more recently went to the effort to completely cover this Giant bicycle with gold.

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A $392,000 gold bike

You can own this 24-karat gold-plated British racing bike for a mere £250,000 ($392,000, AU$470,000). Goldgenie company director Frank Fernando says, "This men’s bike is not only a work of art to admire, but also to enjoy riding if you dare and are brave enough to face the stares of astonishment. The setup and design [are] that of a high-end racing bike and while it may not reach the speed of light, the artisans at Goldgenie believe in catching the light as you travel!"

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Rose-gold iPhone speaker

Goldgenie, the British company behind the gold-plated racing bike, has already tackled some unusual objects. This luxury megaphone iPhone speaker is coated in rose gold and costs £1,249 (around $2,000, AU$2343). No power or batteries required, this megaphone amplifies the sound from a smartphone. It is also available in yellow gold or platinum.

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James Bond's gun gets the gold treatment

This gold-plated replica Walther PPK gun is modeled after James Bond's favorite weapon. The gun is one of many unusual luxury items offered by Goldgenie, maker of the £250,000 British racing bike covered in 24-karat gold.

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Gold iPhone 6 glitters

British luxury company Goldgenie first came to prominence thanks to its painstaking process of applying gold to high-end gadgets. It currently offers many different takes on the iPhone 6, including this gold-plated version with a Swarovski crystal Apple logo that adds an extra layer of bling to an already shiny object.

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High-end gold tablet stand

This gold- and Swarovski crystal-encrusted tablet stand will hold your portable computer in luxury style. This is one of Goldgenie's unusual offerings. The company recently gold-plated an entire racing bicycle to create a £250,000 luxury ride.