I was just browsing the web for info on the gorgeous Ducati powered NCR, and got sidetracked by some stuff on titanium.
As we all know, titanium is highly desirable with a bling factor that's off the scale. That's because it's pricey stuff, leading to trick parts that the great unwashed can only dream about.
It's also fantastic stuff to make motorcycles from. It has high strength-to-weight ratio, offering weight reduction over conventional steel and aluminum alloys. It is as strong as steel, but 45 percent lighter. It is 60 percent heavier than aluminum, but twice as strong and it has good corrosion resistance. But rare and pricey right?
But apparently, titanium is not rare at all, it's the 4th most abundant structural material on earth. It's only expensive because the process required to turn it into metal is complex and expensive so currently only about 5% of the titanium that could potentially be produced is actually produced today.
I just came across this web link for a company that has found a way to make it much, much cheaper. If this production method takes off it will find it's way into thousands more automotive applications.
So my question is, what will we do for bling when it becomes so common that CG125's are carved from billet titanium?
Link is
HERE