3D Printing Innovator Drives Custom Trike to Land Speed Record

Stratasys ^ | 26 Dec. 2013 | Stratasys Staff

[null and void]

Brian Klock, Founder and President of Klock Werks Kustom Cycles, set a new World Land Speed Record while driving a unique trike on the Bonneville Salt Flats in Wendover, Utah.  Klock is well known for his innovative vehicle parts and motorcycle designs.

Brian Klock on his way to setting a world speed record on a Triumph Rocket III

The unique three-wheeler was based on a Triumph Rocket III Touring bike, a Carpenter Racing motor kit, and a Motor Trike conversion. This combination was able to achieve a top speed of 136 MPH at the recent speed trials.

Rear view of the Triumph Rocket III Trike

Since 2006, the Klock Werks team has set over 20 land speed records.  One of their most challenging and publicized victories was in the Discovery Channel’s Biker Build-Off, where they had only 10 days to build a custom bike. After being built, the bike was driven to and displayed at the 66th Annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally – where visitors voted it the best bike at the show. 3D printing with a Fortus 400mc Production System from Stratasys is credited with playing a major role in the successful rapid development of that bike.

Direct digital manufacturing with the Fortus 400mc gave us a major edge in the competition,” says Jesse Hanssen, previously a  mechanical engineer at Klock Werks (currently a Product Line Manager at Stratasys). “The [Fortus] FDM system enabled us to build anything we could imagine.

Klock Werks engineers designed the gauge pod, fork tube covers, headlight bezel, floorboard mounts, floorboard undercovers, and wheel spacer cover in SolidWorks. All of these parts were 3D printed in only five days from polycarbonate plastic. The cost of producing the parts with FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) 3D printing technology of the Fortus 400mc was less than a quarter of what it would cost to injection mold or cast them.

After winning the competition, the Klock Werks team also raced the bike at the Bonneville Salt Flats, where they set an AMA (American Motorcyclist Association) land speed record. According to Brian Klock:

… [this]  proves the durability of polycarbonate parts at 147 MPH.  Thanks to our design team and the team at Stratasys.

For more information on Klock Werks, visit  .

[Billthedrill]

Yep. It’s one o’ them optical delusions. If you hold your hand over the center of the picture both a flag and a bike appear. Dangedest thing I ever saw.

[ETL]

And where do they get off using DISK wheels with hub caps on a motorcycle? Everybody knows mag-type wheels would work much better..

Looks like they just wanted that 1950s street rod look on their trike: white walls and moon hubcaps. I personally like the other 4 trikes I posted pics of much better. Not even close, actually.

[Two Kids' Dad]

I saw the chopper in post #5 and thought “Wow!” then scrolled down to your image and thought “WOW!” Sweet ride!

[Two Kids' Dad]

Flag? Motorcycle?

[Salamander]

“a top speed of 136 MPH”

Seriously?
Hubby would ~love~ a match with this guy.

I can hit 120mph before my nerves give out.

Himself has no such limits.

[Salamander]

“and trikes are not known for their stability.”

Ours are.

[WVNan]

Hi Salamander, after much looking and wishing, I have decided that due to my advanced age I should have a Spider instead of a trike. Still wishing. Everybody just laughs at me.

[Smokin' Joe]

If you review some of the top land speed records by class, they don't seem so very high. But you gotta do it through the traps, otherwise it isn't official... (I don't think tickets count.)

Last time I did 120 on a bike I had a high speed wobble just as I hit the end of the throttle cable on that shovelhead. I kept the bike up but it was. not. fun. powering down through it.

That was many moons ago, and if the same thing happened today, I'd likely dump it 'cause I've lost some upper body strength over the years. I haven't ridden much lately because of the insane semi traffic (one vehicle in three) and the hellacious truck ruts in the pavement up here.

[Salamander]

Screw them.

Make yourself happy.

:)

[Salamander]

Himself dumped a KAW drag bike at 140mph thanks to wobble in FL.

He was wearing polyester 70s pants and no leather.

They clocked *him* skidding past the light at 134mph.

Has some awesome road rash and a gnarly tale to tell.

To top it all off, some nice person stole his helmet as he was waiting for the ambulance to arrive.

Floriduh!

I’ve never had any wobble, possibly because of how he builds trikes.

Don’t want any, either...:D

[on the upside, I can’t fall over]

There’s another article here about a nut gonna break 800+mph.

Aw hell naw!

[Smokin' Joe]

[on the upside, I can’t fall over]

Don't be too sure...I took a '54 Servicar around a corner on two wheels once. (that was enough of that!)

[Salamander]

My very first ride ended up with a two-wheeled unscheduled foray into a state park forest.

Made a sharp right turn at 35mph, panicked, forgot to let off the throttle, couldn’t remember the brakes and away I went into the pine barren.

Once I got stopped, I looked back to see Himself gawping in whiter-shade-of-pale-faced horror.

So I said “Well. I guess it’s good I’ve gotten *that* outta the way.”

On the upside, my ride is pretty good at off-roading.

:)

Servi-cars are narrower and kinda infamous for being squirrely.

[WVNan]

Make yourself happy.

I plan to when my ship comes in.

[Salamander]

Praying for you!

:)

[AwesomePossum]

Back in the day, the Salt Flats were cool, but, E.J. Potter on the drag strip was the dude..........

8:}