This paper is a case study conducted to present an approach to the process of designing
new products using virtual prototyping. During the first stage of research a digital geometric
model of the vehicle was created. Secondly it underwent a series of tests utilising the
multibody system method in order to determine the forces and displacements in selected
construction nodes of the vehicle during its movement on an uneven surface. In consequence
the most dangerous case of loads was identified. The obtained results were used to conduct
detailed strength testing of the bicycle frame and changes its geometry. For the purposes
of this case study two FEA software environments (Inventor and SolidWorks) were used. It
has been confirmed that using method allows to implement the process of creating a new
product more effectively as well as to assess the influence of the conditions of its usage more
efficiently. It was stated that using of different software environments increases the complexity
of the technical process of production preparation but at the same time increases the
certainty of prototype testing. The presented example of simulation calculations made for
the bicycle can be considered as a useful method for calculating other prototypes with high
complexity of construction due to its systematized character of chosen conditions and testing
procedure. It allows to verify the correctness of construction, functionality and perform
many analyses, which can contribute to the elimination of possible errors as early as at the
construction stage.