It should be said that it is not the best-looking vehicle on the road, but in this case, function is more important than form. Nera is a completely different kind of motorbike. It is made with a 3D printer, it is electronic, and it aims to introduce a new concept of sustainability to the automotive world. Designed by NowLab, the innovation department of German company BigRep, this futuristic two-wheeler looks like a cross between Tron’s light cycle and a city moped and is presented as one of a kind. According to its creator, it is the first two-wheeled vehicle to combine 3D printing with electric drive systems, and although it is only a prototype, the aim is to show the world that a new form of production is possible.

Another surprising factor is the weight. The Berlin-based company claims that Nera weighs in at around 60 kg, a true featherweight. Furthermore, the motorbike carries a number of futuristic components. Firstly, the tyres are tubeless and have an internal honeycomb structure which means they do not need to be inflated in order to counter the unevenness of the road. There are also a number of programmable LED lights which do not only illuminate but can also communicate messages. Lastly, as it is 3D-printed, components such as the saddle can be personalised according to the physical characteristics of the rider.

 “In building Nera, the engineers have not simply adapted existing motorbike models, but have created a motorbike that uses large-scale FFF (Fused Filament Fabrication) technology”, stated Stephan Beyer, CEO and co-founder of BigRep. He continues: “They have created a new point of reference for a truly creative design which goes beyond the limits of traditional mechanical engineering”. The result can now be seen by everyone and the next step is to see how it performs on the road and therefore how close this prototype is to becoming reality.