Munich, Germany—A light body and the addition of suspension parts are high priorities in the development of new motorcycles. These goals are pursued, as part of the cost-effective production of individual bodies, by design and construction and through the implementation of new methods of production and welding. Laser welding contributes to future motorcycle generations because of its advantages in production technology: light construction and cost effective production.
The new generation's shaft and crown wheel are produced using 16MnCr5S steel. Hard gears and grinding gears in the bearing beds and the rack-and-pinion systems are used in pre-fabrication components before welding. Both parts are welded with a 4mm-deep weld seam, at the corrugated and rack edges, with high precision using a 6kW Trumpf CO2. The required strength of 200 n/mm2, under a dynamic weight resulting from maximum revolution of a 3000 nm axle and radial run-out characteristics of the motor components are achieved without additional weld processing.