Custom motorcycle builder makes the world’s first all-titanium Hayabusa
%2Favatars%2FUy0OTzksC7lW.jpg&w=96&q=75)
%2F2023%2F07%2F05%2Fimage%2Fjpeg%2FPArlIgYj5AtikbVPjIB0hkkGeuqoFtnn7382pfVz.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
"The World’s First All Titanium motorcycle is currently being crafted". These words greet you when you visit W. Robert Ransom's webpage about his commissioned work to build an all-titanium motorcycle. Unlike other motorcycles produced en masse, this one is being crafted piece by piece in Ransom's workshop in the US.
Custom build projects are always special and can take months or even years. Interesting Engineering has previously covered some interesting and bizarre builds, and they are all brilliant.
If the world appreciates Elon Musk for breaking the status quo and building an electric car when nobody wanted to. In that case, custom builders do this every day of their lives without getting a fraction of the praise duly deserved.
The all-titanium build is one such example that nobody had attempted before, not because no one thought about it but because it is tough to work with titanium.
Pros and cons of using titanium
Anybody will tell you that titanium is much lighter than steel and has the same strength. It weighs more than aluminum but is twice as strong. These properties make it ideal for aerospace applications, but why isn't it a top choice for ground vehicles?
When you try to weld it together, it all boils down to the material's reactivity. At higher temperatures, titanium will react with elements like oxygen and nitrogen in the air and carbon from the tools to make some brittle compounds that can wreck the tools and the builds.
Even titanium sheets are not very friendly and highly elastic - wanting to return to their original shape. So turning it into bodywork for a motorcycle is a tricky job. But Robert Ransom is braving through all these odds and is closer to the finish line on this project.
The Titanium build
Before we get to the build, here is a little information on what will power this beast. Under the titanium build, one can find a second-generation Suzuki Hayabusa, but Ransom ensures that only the core necessary parts remain, and everything else is built with titanium.
To overcome the oxidation problem mentioned earlier, Ransom works with argon gas and blows it over the welding area to get the desired welds. There are a lot of curvy tubes in the building. These are a testament to the amount of work and time Ransom has put into this project.
With the main structure almost complete, Ransom is now working on the body of the bike and will use the oxidation to his benefit to bring out some intriguing colors on the bike.
Titanium is a costly material to work with, and Ransom has already put 2,000 hours into the project. So the cost of the bike, though not revealed, can be expected to be astronomical.
The bill is being footed by one Mohammed (last name unknown), and we can only say that the man appreciates the craft. We can't wait to see the final product once it is ready, but it will be priceless.
SHOW COMMENT (1)
/2023/09/12/image/jpeg/7ZU03vLOnlFnHbET1pxVv2vlF9S2R5ZekupSiNl0.jpg "From lost wings to ruptured fuselages, 7 times planes refused to die")
/2023/09/04/image/jpeg/crP5g4SmwhoGFiXWL8CXe4FGQ2U9ee2fIMXCpg8d.jpg "The real impact of blue light on eye health and sleep")
/2023/09/04/image/jpeg/UEuPO8vP8YA3PICuhwuvmebK4Pl9Cm1cShTAqGB2.jpg "Chinese researchers create dancing microrobots using lasers")
/2023/09/21/image/jpeg/CBVh8844CyZW0BUmphFlksoDPFxyFFKSmNCRoJFa.jpg "Motagua River: The most trashed river on earth")
/2023/08/25/image/png/5hf1N5LFzyDY4pUpvoJ0BtpujwCPfsL68t1cAIVj.png "Why is anti-piracy software Denuvo stirring controversy?")
/2023/09/21/image/jpeg/J311aOAku7MVx6I8d5F7GWxicqQaf2PHVMHzO5Va.jpg "This implant could free diabetics from insulin injections one day")
/2023/09/21/image/jpeg/9yGfJEn6GlSnUjzawTrh9z6QZMlkjMyvjLQFY9Yc.jpg "Parker Solar Probe safely traverses CME event, touches Sun")
/2023/09/21/image/jpeg/7Xe6g6S1Gw1S2LakvcR1Zc06ZqTnMdJZlaB4na0n.jpg "A rare canine disease is spreading to humans in the UK")
/2023/08/12/image/jpeg/YpIBySMmJsZiGQlarXybqbSBEqLy3heGb8irafUg.jpg "Predictions for what the world will be like in 2100?")
/2023/09/21/image/jpeg/noLW9uHoT66M08SaYrnHQczrj6gY0pqbhYQgBwUl.jpg "This lithium-free e-bike from Pi-Pop needs no batteries")