All black, electric and completely 3D-printed: BigRep’s Nera Motorcycle is here, and ready to change the game. The electronic components of this brand new, futuristic-looking motorbike are the only elements that weren’t created on large-scale 3D printers. Flexible bumpers replace traditional suspension systems, and those custom tires are as cool as they are intriguing.

BigRep is a leader in industrial large-scale additive manufacturing, and the Nera was created by the company’s NowLab innovation consultancy.

“The Nera combines several innovations developed by Nowlab, such as the airless tire, functional integration and embedded sensor technology,” says Nowlab’s Daniel Büning. “This bike and our other prototypes push the limits of engineering creativity and will reshape AM technology as we know it.”

The Near E-bike is preternaturally sleek, its small electric motor hidden within the rear wheel and the batteries embedded into its bodywork to eliminate the bulk of an engine. 15 different parts were printed to assemble the bike, and it weighs a total of just 132 pounds. But no performance statistics are available just yet – probably because the bike is just proof of concept to show off the possibilities of 3D printing.

What happens to the aesthetics of motorcycles when we let go of our nostalgic love for retro silhouettes and whole-heartedly embrace the future? Sleek and seamless unibody construction, lightweight 3D-printed components, unexpected silhouettes and hover bike concepts optimistically designed around technology that doesn’t yet exist. Some of these motorcycles are already in production (or one-off prototypes) while others will remain no more than renderings, but all of them take two-wheeled transportation to exciting new places, with the potential to inspire manufacturers to do the same.

BMW Motorrad Vision Next 100

BMW set out to move beyond retro silhouettes with a zero-emissions, self-driving smart bike with active digital support displayed through the visor headset. The company is so confident that this system will keep the driver safe, they emphasize that no protective clothing is needed, not even a helmet.

BMW Titan Concept Motorcycle

Looking like something that would come roaring out of the Bat Cave, the BMW Titan concept envisioned by Istanbul-based designer Mehmet Erdem encloses the front wheel within the body for an unusual silhouette inspired by the shape of a shark.

BMW K75 Typhoon

Another wild motorcycle idea by Mehmet Erdem, which most people might expect to forever remain no more than a rendering, actually came to life in the hands of motorcycle expert Mark Atkinson. The machinist, who has years of experience in the Bonneville Salt Flats racing, built a real functional model of the design.

Renard GT Luxury Carbon Fiber Motorcycle

The sleek body of Renard’s GT features lightweight hardened aluminum components that were designed in 3D and then CNC-milled from a solid block.

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Batman’s motorcycle in The Dark Knight Rises was cool and all, but the BMW Titan concept actually looks like a better fit for the caped crusader (albeit lacking in weaponry.) Turkish designer Mehmet Erdem actually took inspiration for the Titan from the sleek profile of a shark, with fins along the sides, a front wheel hidden within the body, and an exposed back wheel echoing the shape of a tail.

The design is envisioned as a competitive vehicle for ‘Speed Week’ at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, in which land speed racers show off just how fast their racing vehicles of all shapes and sizes can go. The pale, glittering natural surfaces of the flats offer a dramatic setting for annual races and has seen a number of records set, with some vehicles reaching top speeds of over 600 miles per hour.

The Titan is one of seven BMW motorcycle concepts created by the Istanbul-based designer in addition to creations inspired by Alpha Romeo, Mercedes Benz, Maserati and other automotive brands. Each one reflects the aesthetics of the brand, but elevating them to a place that’s bolder and more futuristic.

The very same evolution-driven characteristics that enable birds to glide effortlessly through the air can be applied to everything from drones to bullet trains to make them faster, lighter, more nimble and all around cooler looking. Avian-inspired aircraft with nature’s most aerodynamic silhouettes, cars with frames modeled on bird skeletons, gull wing fighter jets and even the U.S. military’s current B2 Spirit Bomber look to the skies for design and performance improvements.

Yamaha with Swan Wing-Shaped Paneling

With an overall design inspired by flowing garments on a high fashion runway, the Yamaha 04GEN scooter concept has an elegant birdlike frame and two transparent body panels modeled on the wings of the swan. The likeness is especially evident when the panels are flipped up. The experimental concept model was unveiled at the first Vietnam Motorcycle Show in Ho Chi Minh City, and there’s no word as to whether it will actually go into production.

Lockheed Stratoliner

Designer William Black created the Lockheed Stratoliner in tribute to the bar-tailed Godwit, a bird that holds the record for traveling the farthest without a single stop (7,258 miles.) Designed for long distances, it uses four cryogenic hydrogen turbofans as its engines, emitting zero pollution. The oversized wings and swooping body come straight from the Australian wading bird, as well. Considering that hydrogen-powered flight is still far off from being a reality on such a large scale, this is destined to remain a concept for the indefinite future.

Kingfisher-Inspired Shinkansen Bullet Train

Engineer Eiji Nakatsu, a general manager of the technical development department for Japan’s high-speed bullet trains, also happens to be a birdwatcher, and not just by coincidence. He realized studying the flight of birds could help make trains faster and lighter, pushing the boundaries of innovation in his field. The typical train nose design was creating incredibly loud sonic booms as it emerged from tunnels, and needed some tweaking. Nakatsu recalled the way a kingfisher’s scoop-like beak enables it to dive into water at high speed with barely a splash, and applied the same shape to the train, eliminating the noise problem and enabling it to run at higher speeds.

Swan Plane, Chicken Aircraft & Seagull Jets by Alex Brady

An odd swan-shaped plane, seagull-inspired fighter jets and an aircraft that combines the forms of chickens and dragons are among the fantastical aircraft concepts by British artist Alex Brady. Admitting that they’re 100 percent whimsical, Brady isn’t too concerned about the opinions of experts, who have noted that these creations couldn’t fly without the invention of new propulsion systems. His other designs take inspiration from manta rays, warthogs, wood lice, porpoises and even a pterodactyl.

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With their streamlined silhouettes, exposed mechanical parts, high-end detailing and powerful motors, these 15 modern motorcycle designs represent a new era of aesthetics in the industry, even when they’re customs built on the bases of classic bikes.

Akrapovic Full Moon

Looking unlike any motorcycle we’ve ever seen on the streets, the Akrapovic Full Moon motorcycle concept features a massive 30-inch aluminum and carbon front wheel and a sculpted, aerodynamic metal sheet frame that envelops the rear wheel. Hydraulic suspension keeps the bike upright when it’s parked, and automated steering keeps the handlebars looking sleek.

BMW Apollo Streamliner

A combination of traditional styling and futuristic looks keeps this concept by industrial designer Mehmet Doruk Erdem firmly rooted within the BMW brand, while bringing it into this century and beyond. Designed for speed rather than everyday use, the Apollo Streamliner features a pointed front end to reduce wind drag on the rider.

Rectilinear T005 Cross

In contrast to the sleeker curvilinear designs, the Thrive Motorcycle T005 Cross goes for a chunky rectilinear look. The whole thing is actually a modified 1984 Yamaha – the designers stripped it down, fitted it with off-road tires and added a custom body made of sheet aluminum, updated for the modern era with a smartphone slot.

Bandit9 Bishop

Another custom modification takes a Honda Supersport and transforms it into a minimalist design enthusiast’s dream, with wood burl side panels contrasting with the steel unibody. Bandit9 released only nine models of this bike, with a 90cc or 125cc engine.

Bandit9 Eve

Bandit9 also used a 1967 Honda SS bike as the basis of a custom design, pairing it with fashions from Konstantin Kofta in this editorial for a futuristic effect. The bullet-like chrome-finished unibody puts the focus on the exposed mechanical parts.

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