New York-based artist Jonathan Brand creates life-size 3D printed 1972 Honda CB500 motorcycle with just two Ultimaker 3D printers.

We’ve all heard stories about how 3D printing is revolutionizing the automotive industry. From custom-made motorcycles to carbon fiber car parts, the possibilities continue to grow alongside the technology.

New York-based artist Jonathan Brand has always wanted a motorcycle, but various “life circumstances” have constantly gotten in his way. And so, he decided to combine his design skills with his motorcycle fandom to build a life-size 3D printed 1972 Honda CB500 motorcycle.

3D Printing Life-Size 1972 Honda CB500 Motorcycle

To create this replica motorcycle, Brand used two Ultimaker 3D printers. After working with the technology for about three years, the artist decided to take on this ambitious project.

The 1972 Honda CB500 model took him 12 months to fully print, using 18 rolls of transparent plastic filament. This choice of material is meant to showcase the engineering beauty of the motorcycle. The final replica weighs just 20kg, while each 3D printed piece is one-millimeter thick. Some of the longer pieces, such as the 24-inch seat, were printed in multiple parts and assembled together.

All of the prints took between four to twelve hours, sometimes even 24 hours. Each part is number and cataloged, enabling Brand to piece everything together after one whole year of 3D printing.

According to Brand, he settled on Ultimaker because of the build volume, print speed, and open source capabilities that the company offered. While the motorcycle itself is obviously not functional, the end-product showcase the incredible design of this classic machine. Still, even though you can’t shred through the streets perched upon this plastic bike, the wheels do allow it to roll around.

While most 3D printing case studies relating to the automotive industry usually focus on functional prototyping or custom parts, this project combines engineering and art to create a kickass motorcycle replica. Not only does it show what’s possible with 3D printing in general, it also displays the grandiose capabilities of desktop 3D printing.

Source: Ultimaker