Riding the Energica Ego around the Snake

We reported earlier that CRP has started a bigger tour in the US, showcasing the Energica Ego machine and offering demo rides to the press and interested potential customers, ahead of the launch date, a date which has been constantly postponed more than once, unfortunately. However, it appears like Energica is finally ready for mass production, and we might even get to see it in production form at the 2014 EICMA “home show” in Milan, Italy, in early November.

The Ego packs an 136 hp direct drive motor which can produce 195Nm (144 b-ft) of torque, and can reach a top speed of just under 150 mph (240 km/h). It also appears like the Energica Ego will be available in two flavors, a basic one whose price is expected to start in the mid-$30k area, and a higher-specced version selling for roughly double that figure.

One of the interesting facts about the Energica Ego is that many of its parts are fabricated using 3D printing technology, making crafting complex-shaped parts much easier and faster, reducing the need to stock large amounts of parts, and making replacements a much easier affair altogether. Even more, 3D printing comes with another huge advantage: customers will be able to easily change the color of certain parts with a simple request to the manufacturer.

Of course, there is still a long way until 3D printing will be able to implement graphic art design, but things seem to be moving really fast. So how about adding an in-depth custom paint job to your new Energica Ego in the future? Sounds cool, doesn’t it? Follow this link for more on the 3D printing technologies used in fabricating Energica Ego superbikes.