Over the last few years, each winter I have started a project to get a vintage motorbike back on the road. The first year the project was a 1974 Honda CB550 that I’ve owned for years, but was put away badly.

As I gained experience the projects became a bit more involved. I am now to the point where certain parts are either unavailable, or priced out of my range. With that in mind, I decided to try and make the parts I need using a 3D printer.

As of January 2026, I have no experience with either CAD software or 3D printers, but I’ve always been a quick learner so the adventure begins.

After looking at the available CAD software, I picked FreeCAD. It’s Open Source, and free to use with no restrictions on items you design. As for the 3D printer, I picked an Elegoo Centauri Carbon. It will print most engineering grade materials and didn’t break the bank to purchase.

I am still a long way from printing any meaningful parts, but the wheels are now in motion!