Flight of the bike
Three-dimensional printing has come a long way in the few years of its commercial existence; from making simple boxes, the technology is now capable of creating fully-functional electronics, mechanical works of art and now the world’s first 3D-printed motorcycle – the Light Rider.
Developed by APWorks, a subsidiary of Airbus, the Light Rider is made up Scalmalloy – an aircraft-grade aluminium with the strength of titanium – applied in thin 30 µm layers, giving the entire structure unrivalled toughness. A bionic algorithm was used to model the optimal structure for the bike, given the raw material, resulting in the Light Rider’s unusual, organic frame, looking like an exoskeleton from H. R Giger.
The entire package weighs a remarkably 35kg, feathery light for the power it possesses. A 6 kW emission-free electric motor outputs up to 130 Nm of torque, accelerating to 45 km/h in 3 seconds with a top speed of 80 km/h.
Exceptionally strong and impressively light, the Light Rider is expected to be produced in small quantities – the initial batch of 50 units will cost €50,000 (RM230,000), each requiring a deposit of €2,000 (RM9,200).
