Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/687402
www.PowersportsBusiness.com AIRBUS UNVEILS 3-D-PRINTED MOTORCYCLE APWorks, a 100-percent subsidiary of Air- bus Group, has worked at the forefront of additive layer manufacturing (ALM) and advanced materials since its launch in 2013. APWorks produces bionically optimized metal parts for a wide range of industries, from aerospace to automotive and robot- ics. Its newest creation? The world's first 3-D-printed motorcycle, made using APWorks' Scalmalloy material, weighing in at a svelte 35 kg. Dubbed the Light Rider, the new APWorks design has truly earned its name as a lightweight in its class. With a 6 kW elec- tric motor powering it from zero to 80 km per hour in just seconds and a frame boast- ing a mere 6 kg, the world's first 3-D-printed electric motorcycle is 30 percent lighter than conventionally manufactured e-motorcycles. Each 3-D-printed part of the Light Rider's frame — produced using a selec- tive 3-D laser printing system that melts millions of aluminum alloy particles together — consists of thousands of thin layers just 60 microns thick. Leveraging the benefits of 3-D-printing technology, APWorks designed frame parts that were hollow instead of solid, which has allowed for integrated cables, pipes and screw-on points in the finalized motorcycle structure — resulting in a dramatic 30 percent weight reduction over motorcycles produced using conventional manufacturing techniques. APWorks is offering a limited production run of 50 Light Riders for sale, which can be pre-ordered at www.lightrider.apworks.de. MORE V-TWIN PARTS THAN EVER AT BIKER'S CHOICE During the past year, Tucker Rocky/Biker's Choice has placed more focus on the V-twin market since acquiring NEMPCO in 1992. The company now has more V-twin prod- ucts in more locations than ever before. The 2014 merger with Motors- port Aftermarket Group significantly expanded the Biker's Choice V-twin portfolio with the addition of Vance & Hines, Performance Machine and Roland Sands Design. Cou- pled with a long-term stocking strategy, this has made more prod- ucts available next- day to more dealers than ever before. This has resulted in significant growth with key brands, including S&S, Arlen Ness, Cobra, Freedom Performance Exhaust and Rush Racing Products, among others. In addition, exclusive access to brands like Lloyd'z Motor Workz has allowed Biker's Choice to meet dealers' growing needs for aftermarket parts for Indian and Victory. And, thanks to its dealer community, Tucker Rocky/Biker's Choice hit record- breaking sales for the first quarter of 2016. The company also hit its highest service numbers to date in Q1, proof that Tucker Rocky is meeting the needs of its more than 10,000 dealer partners. "When you put in the work, it pays off," said CEO Andy Graves. "We've made some investments and business process improve- ments that make us better able to serve the marketplace and our partners. We're deliver- ing for our customers, and their end users, and seeing their response in our growth. It's very satisfying to see the efforts of our TR/BC team, dealers and vendor partners pay off. We'll keep giving our dealer partners the products that make them successful and the excellent service they deserve." PAUL YAFFE CELEBRATES 25 YEARS OF BUILDING CUSTOM MOTORCYCLES Paul Yaffe's Bagger Nation, the motorcycle shop owned and operated by venerated bike builder Paul Yaffe, used the opportunity of the 2016 Arizona Bike Week motorcycle rally to celebrate 25 years of designing and building the best and most sought after cus- tom motorcycles, parts and accessories in the world. Yaffe opened his first custom shop, American Legend Motorcycle Company, in 1991. Today, 25 years later, while not operating out of the same location, Paul Yaffe's Bagger Nation (together with Paul Yaffe Originals) is recognized as one of the preeminent custom motorcycle and parts manufacturers in the world. "It all started with a love of motorcycles and a curiosity and desire to see what could be made of them," Yaffe said. "I never would have guessed, when I first started experi- menting in the mid-'80s, that it would lead to where we are today." Yaffe has enjoyed one of the most storied and influential careers in motorcycle design- ing and building. In the past 25 years he has won many awards, contests and honors, including three "World's Most Beautiful Motor- cycle" awards at the famous Oakland Roadster Show and two "Builder of the Year" and three "Trendsetter of the Year" honors from Easyriders magazine. The subject of more than 300 magazine articles and profiles, Yaffe has also been featured on Discovery Channel's popular show "Biker Build-Off" and the 10-episode docudrama "Biker Bat- tleground" on the History Channel, as well as dozens of other nationally televised shows on networks such as NBC, Travel Channel and Speed TV. Bagger Nation was also the starting point and sponsor of the 6th Annual Hamsters Charity "Dry Heat" Run, rais- ing hundreds of thousands of dollars when combined for Lifescape Children's Care Hospital. Riders joined fellow Hamsters Arlen Ness, Donnie Smith, Nick Trask and Yaffe, among others, as they welcomed a special guest for this year's charity run: NASCAR legend Rusty Wallace, making his first Dry Heat run. PSB DIGEST CONTINUED FROM PAGE 36 Airbus subsidiary APWorks has developed a 3-D-printed motorcycle that weighs 35 kg, or about 77 pounds. ANDY GRAVES