In the past it was forged, today it is printed. Whether it's a saddle, stem, crank or an ergonomically improved brake lever - there is hardly a component that cannot be produced using additive manufacturing. What is particularly exciting about 3D printing is that there are virtually no limits to the design. A high-performance laser melts titanium powder and creates new components for bikers layer by layer. The UK seems to be something of a titanium printing stronghold. Downhill siblings Rachel, Gee and Dan Atherton were involved with 3D-printed titanium lugs for their exclusive Atherton bikes right at the forefront. However, there are many other manufacturers who have exciting and creative products from printers and milling machines in their portfolio.
Sturdy Cycles Crank Arms MTB Titanium - Push tyre
Weight 368 grams; price 1337 euros.
Tom Sturdy combines his academic knowledge of aerospace with his passion for cycling. The result is extraordinary bikes and components made of titanium. The cranks are printed from grade 5 titanium on state-of-the-art machines and are designed to be exceptionally stiff. The special rough surface is a Sturdy trademark.
Mythos Ixo MTB Stem - incomplete
Weight 136 grams; price 300 GBP
The Ixo MTB Stem is made from aerospace-grade titanium and is the first of its kind. Thanks to its organic shape, it is said to be 11 and 16 percent stiffer in bending and torsion than a comparable aluminium stem. The look alone is a delight. The Ixo clamps handlebars with a diameter of 35 millimetres. Length: 40 or 50 millimetres.
Hex Components Top Cap - Celtic clamp
Weight 24 grams; price 60 GBP
Great Britain seems to be something of a stronghold of 3D printing, as perhaps the most beautiful headset caps and handlebar plugs also come from the island. The titanium or steel caps with mystical patterns would also fit well on the hilt of a Celtic sword. There are numerous patterns that are only printed in small series
Posedla Joyseat - Saddle happiness
Weight 150 - 200 grams; price 490 euros
Your bum is almost as individual as your personal fingerprint. An off-the-peg saddle? A no-go for Posedla. The Czechs print the ideal saddle based on the buttock print and various data such as bike type, riding position, age and BMI. Size, shape, padding firmness - all personalised by an algorithm. The goal: happy hours in the saddle - hence the fitting name Joyseat.
You can read more about this saddle from Posedla here: 3D-printed bike saddle - The saddle just for your own bum in the BIKE test
Gravity Components The Leverage - Leverage
Weight from 27 grams (pair); price 189.50 euros
The 3D printers in Ländle are also being diligently fed with data sets for lightweight and technically optimised add-on parts. Laser powder bed fusion, an additive manufacturing process, can be used to create complex geometries. Like The Leverage, for example. An ergonomically improved, lighter yet more stable lever for Shimano brakes.
Additive manufacturing processes enable a completely new design language. Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF), in which a high-performance laser melts titanium powder to create precise, durable parts with complex geometries - lightweight and corrosion-resistant - is particularly exciting. - Stefan Frey, BIKE test editor
Actofive Signature X Crankset - piece goods
Weight 570 grams; price 399 euros
Actofive have already made a name for themselves in the scene with their unique CNC-milled frames. The 7075-T6 aluminium blocks for the new Signature cranks are also machined in Dresden. The 570 gram cranks have passed the ISO tests for downhill category 5 and are available in six different finishes and in lengths of 170, 165 and 145 millimetres.
612 The brake - Clear edge
Weight 599 grams; price 1049 euros
The straightforward industrial design of the luxury stoppers from 612 is as direct as the name. "The brake" is individually hand-assembled to order in Switzerland. The milled parts for the 4-piston brake come from Germany and are turned in Switzerland. The brake is designed to deliver high braking power with particularly good modulation for fans of downhill disciplines.
Ceramicspeed OSPW X 3D Ti Sram AXS XPLR - Off the roll
Weight 74 grams; price 1700 Euro
It all started for the Danes with high-quality bearings for speed skating. Today, Ceramicspeed is known for the fastest derailleur pulleys on the market. The 3D-printed pulleys, which are designed to reduce friction by up to 40 per cent, are brand new. The cage is also printed and is designed to bring more tension to the chain. Currently only for gravel groupsets.
Alugear Stellar AL MTB - fixed star
Weight 556 grams (160 mm); price 386 euros
In Poland, the CNC milling machines are running at full speed, shaping this masterpiece from 7075 T6 aluminium. The name Stellar is no coincidence, as the angular design of the cranks is strongly reminiscent of the look of science fiction classics such as Interstellar or Blade Runner. The Alugear crank is intended to cover a broad spectrum from XC to Enduro and is available in seven lengths between 145 and 172.5 millimetres.
Extralite HyperSpacer - High stacker
Weight from 0.4 grams; price from 8 euros
These spacers already have the superlatives in their names: Extralite and Hyper. It goes without saying that you can expect the lowest possible weight here. The 10-millimetre version weighs just 0.8 grams and is printed from a low-density polyamide.
Stefan Frey
Editor
