The 3D Print Revolution

We all know what it is, and it is coming. 3D printing isn't new, its actually been around for decades now however has been mainly used from medical to industrial purposes. But now slowly bike brands are beginning to EMBRACE 3D printing to produce one-off concept and components. You may recall that the time trial bars on the track bike Sir Bradley Wiggins used for his hour record attempt were 3D printed, or the 3D printed titanium lugs used in the German VRZ 1 frame.

3D Printed Handlebar for Hour Attempt

So what makes 3D printing so useful to the bike market? Put simply we're able to bring a concept or design, created or scanned and process it into a three-dimensional object. 3D printing has yielded some fantastic designs that usually would only be possible through handmade molds and casts. 

DFM01

So why has it only been the past 5 years were 3D printing has started to be used in this industry? Put simply COST. It was very expensive to use a 3D printer. Thanks to technology the process is cheaper and able to produce objects at a higher quality. 


The DFM01 is the world's first 3D printed titanium bike that can be commercially viable. The whole bike weighs a solid 6.8kg with a frame cost of $4800 - $5000 which isn't bad value considering some frames in the market will set you back up to $8000. However it's not all about cost, the genius of Triple Bottom Inc the creators of this bike is that they say "it can be customized for each individual cyclist, taking in account their weight and height as well personal preferences". I can't help but go back to a previous post of mine Your Next Bike Could Be A Custom Build. I change my view on the future. Now I say your next bike will be a custom build and will most likely be 3D printed. 

dfm01 dETAIL