Light Rider is the First 3D Printed, Topology Optimized Motorcycle

Military designs and the two World Wars are responsible for much of how the modern world is shaped. Leaving aside the obvious firearms developments, plenty of military tech has made its way into civilian hands including GPS and the Internet. The motorcycle wasn’t invented during wartime, only improved, and saw its first big surge in sales following the wars.

The basics of a motorcycle have remained largely the same since the first Harley Davidson rolled off the line. A partnership between Altair and APWorks (an Airbus subsidiary) has provided a look at how those basics might change in the new digital design age. Light Rider is the first 3D printed motorcycle, and it’s ready to hit the road.

Light Rider’s 3D printed frame weighs a mere 13 lbs. Courtesy of APWorks.

Light Rider updates the classic look of a motorcycle with a high tech, almost organic design that is the result of an algorithm. Made of an aluminum-magnesium-scandium alloy called Scalmalloy, the hollow frame provides stability and durability while reducing the weight of the motorcycle by around 30%. Along with the benefit of weight reduction, the hollow frame allows for a cleaner overall look by allowing wiring to be hidden inside the frame.

“The complex and branched hollow structure couldn’t have been produced using conventional production technologies such as milling or welding,” said Joachim Zettler, CEO of Airbus APWorks GmbH. “Advances in additive layer manufacturing have allowed us to realize the bionic design we envisioned for the motorcycle without having to make any major changes. With these technologies, the limitations facing conventional manufacturing disappear.”

No gas guzzler, the new motorcycle is an e-machine with a 6 kW motor. According to APWorks, the Light Rider can go from zero to 45 km/h (