UWTSD Motorcycle Engineering Student Builds Custom Racing Part for a Honda motorbike
Second-year Motorcycle Engineering student Harry Rogers is already making his mark at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) with a project that blends precision engineering, motorsport performance, and collaborative learning.
Working alongside Ian Henshaw, a motorcycle technical demonstrator and Lee Pratt’s teams from the Advanced Manufacturing Skills Academy, Harry has designed and manufactured a custom steering head assembly for a Honda NSF250R racing motorcycle – an innovation that transforms the machine’s handling potential.
The original Honda part is a cast, non-adjustable component. Harry’s redesigned version, however, enables the bike’s geometry to be fine-tuned for racing performance. This allows riders and engineers to adapt the machine’s responsiveness for different tracks and conditions – a major advantage in competitive motorsport.
The project has been a complete end-to-end engineering build:
- Triple clamps milled from 6082 aluminium
- Steering stem turned from 7075 aluminium
- Precision-engineered entirely in-house at UWTSD
Harry said: “Working on this project has been a brilliant experience. Taking an idea from design through to machining and assembly has given me real insight into what it’s like to work as a design engineer in motorsport. Throughout the project, I’ve gained experience across many areas of engineering, including the use of CAD/CAM software, finite element analysis, and machining principles, to name a few. I’ve learned so much from the MADE+ team, and it’s incredibly exciting to see my work being used on the MotoEng NSF250R race bike.”
Harry’s work exemplifies the ethos of the University’s MADE+ team, which champions collaboration and cross-disciplinary learning. Students, academics, and industry experts worked together to combine advanced design with practical workshop skills, ensuring the final product meets the high standards of racing applications.
Reflecting on the achievement, staff praised Harry’s professionalism and attention to detail, noting that his contribution has already attracted recognition within the university community.
Ian Henshaw said: “An ongoing collaboration between the engineering students and the production facilities based at the IQ campus is essential. For the students to see their ideas go from digital designs and software simulations to 3D printed items is good, but to then have finished parts manufactured to tolerance and tested within the UWTSD Motorsport teams is crucial to the development of our future engineers. It helps our graduates to have something that distinguishes them when moving into industry.”
Dr Mark Cocks, Dean of the University’s Institute of Science and Art said:
“Harry’s project is a brilliant example of the kind of real-world innovation our students are capable of. By taking an existing racing component and re-engineering it for adjustability and performance, he has demonstrated not just technical skill, but also the creativity and problem-solving ability that motorsport demands.”
With specialist facilities, industry-focused teaching, and opportunities for students to work on live engineering challenges, UWTSD’s Motorcycle Engineering degree continues to provide the perfect platform for aspiring engineers like Harry to turn passion into practice.
Further Information
Rebecca Davies
Executive Press and Media Relations Officer
Corporate Communications and PR
Email: rebecca.davies@uwtsd.ac.uk
Phone: 07384 467071