LWB full suspension
- Thread starter Hugh
- Start date
Hi Hugh,
Did you ever get this up and running? How'd it handle, now that spring is here?
I'm starting research on a similar lwb fat bike, and this picture is definitely an inspiration. A lot of the winter trails here are too narrow once the snow mounts up, so I am looking to transition to a 2-wheeler of some sort for the winter (without going to an upright bike).
Hope your projects have been going well!
Did you ever get this up and running? How'd it handle, now that spring is here?
I'm starting research on a similar lwb fat bike, and this picture is definitely an inspiration. A lot of the winter trails here are too narrow once the snow mounts up, so I am looking to transition to a 2-wheeler of some sort for the winter (without going to an upright bike).
Hope your projects have been going well!
Hugh
0
I did get it up and running. It definitely has a learning curve required to ride it which honestly I have not mastered yet. This due to factors partially beyond my control, just basic family things, home maintenance, etc, the things we all go through. I have learned a couple things though. The side stand used was from an old road bike that needed to be extended and it's way to flimsy so a stronger unit is being considered and will be built soon. If possible it will be relocated closer to the middle of the bike so it can be deployed when I need to dismount. While the under seat steering is very nice on a trike, on a 2 wheeler it's a bit problematic since you need to lift a leg over the frame to dismount which makes it hard to keep the bike balanced. 2 things about that, there is a Canadian made 2 wheeler called the electrom which uses a front mounted center stand the rider deploys anywhere ie a red light or a stop along the way. It can be reached by simply taking your foot off the pedals, pushing the stand down and rolling a bit backwards. In the videos the rider simply rides away and the stand folds up. Not useful for a bike used on any type of trails.
I was in contact with a LWB recumbent rider on the bent rider online site. He rides on singletrack trails with friends who have dedicated mountain diamond frame bikes and is able to do quite well. One takeaway from him was not to use underseat steering. He tried it and found he kept getting his knuckles hit while cornering in the woods. The longer type of handlebar normally used on a LWB would also provide leverage which would be very useful when getting on or off the bike. I may have to try that next.
The rear shock needed it's adjuster tightened up a lot to stop it from pogoing. Handlebars - mine has underseat steering, nice for comfort while riding in the city but not ideal for any technical stuff. Thats about it for now.
I was in contact with a LWB recumbent rider on the bent rider online site. He rides on singletrack trails with friends who have dedicated mountain diamond frame bikes and is able to do quite well. One takeaway from him was not to use underseat steering. He tried it and found he kept getting his knuckles hit while cornering in the woods. The longer type of handlebar normally used on a LWB would also provide leverage which would be very useful when getting on or off the bike. I may have to try that next.
The rear shock needed it's adjuster tightened up a lot to stop it from pogoing. Handlebars - mine has underseat steering, nice for comfort while riding in the city but not ideal for any technical stuff. Thats about it for now.
Hugh
0
I just could not get the hang of riding it so in true DIY fashion it,s been repurposed. I'll give a short explanation and in a day or so post up a picture. So the frame from the front head tube to the rear rack was saved. The 26" wheels were removed, the rear suspension as well. I found a CCM childs mountain bike with a telescopic front fork, disc brakes and 20 by 3" wheels. And it was decided to turn it into a trike.
A 20" 48 spoke front wheel from a BMX bike was placed into the front head tube. It has a 2" tire on it. For rear the CCM mtn bike was cut up and the rear triangle used for the left rear wheel. For the right rear I took another 20" fork from a BMX bike and converted it into a rear triangle. Some flat plate was used to build a disc mount. The two rear wheels are joined by conduit which has some triangulation to strengthen it. As stated the rear wheels are 20 by 3". A jackshaft from a previous project consisting of a 5/8th" slotted axle and 2 freewheels routes power from the center over to left rear.
I just happened to have a spare Bafang BBSO2 750 watt motor available so it is being used. I am trying out for me a different type of steering. 2 flange bearings cradling the steering tube which only moves backwards and forwards. Push forward to turn right, pull back to turn left. Riding it I had to keep telling myself, forward for right, backward for left turn. My intuition tells me turn the bars but that does not work, the old brain needs to learn some new pathways. Anyway it works but it needs a steering damper, one meant for a motorcycle should be here in a few days.
If anyone here knows what a Hase delta trike looks like, this one has similar lines. The main beam starts atop the front steering and angles down to the seat and rear wheels. That corrects an issue with my other delta by increasing the ground clearance under the pedals.
A 20" 48 spoke front wheel from a BMX bike was placed into the front head tube. It has a 2" tire on it. For rear the CCM mtn bike was cut up and the rear triangle used for the left rear wheel. For the right rear I took another 20" fork from a BMX bike and converted it into a rear triangle. Some flat plate was used to build a disc mount. The two rear wheels are joined by conduit which has some triangulation to strengthen it. As stated the rear wheels are 20 by 3". A jackshaft from a previous project consisting of a 5/8th" slotted axle and 2 freewheels routes power from the center over to left rear.
I just happened to have a spare Bafang BBSO2 750 watt motor available so it is being used. I am trying out for me a different type of steering. 2 flange bearings cradling the steering tube which only moves backwards and forwards. Push forward to turn right, pull back to turn left. Riding it I had to keep telling myself, forward for right, backward for left turn. My intuition tells me turn the bars but that does not work, the old brain needs to learn some new pathways. Anyway it works but it needs a steering damper, one meant for a motorcycle should be here in a few days.
If anyone here knows what a Hase delta trike looks like, this one has similar lines. The main beam starts atop the front steering and angles down to the seat and rear wheels. That corrects an issue with my other delta by increasing the ground clearance under the pedals.
DannyC
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Hugh
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The first picture shows the back and forth steering with a motorcycle steering damper installed. The second shows the outer end of the jackshaft. Originally I used a double chainring thru the bottom brkt with 1 chain to the derailleur and a shorter chain to the jackshaft. It did not work, the 2 chains kept binding up so the flat bracket you can see was added along with a 5/8" flange bearing for added support. The jackshaft now has 2 pillow block block bearings plus the 1 flange bearing. A little overkill but should be strong.
The steering damper is a defective one a friend gave me for mock up usage, amazon will deliver a new one hopefully by May 25th. The front forks are from the childs bike and are suspension forks, they might be replaced with solid forks if necessary.
The steering damper is a defective one a friend gave me for mock up usage, amazon will deliver a new one hopefully by May 25th. The front forks are from the childs bike and are suspension forks, they might be replaced with solid forks if necessary.
Hugh
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The new damper arrived and was installed. Note - it wasn't used due to wobbly steering but to slow the response when I was steering the trike. It was taken for a many test rides on my testing site, known as a back lane before venturing out around the local area on a combination of bike paths and roads. It took quite a while to get the old brain to be familiar with push to turn right and pull back for left. One issue was ease of getting on and off. It required standing up and was awkward due to the "joystick" really limiting the space needed to dismount in particular. This a problem because it is slated to get a roof for those very rainy days also the super hot and sunny days, ie sunburn. So the trike is getting underseat steering, albeit with an unusual twist. A fellow builder gave me a used steering stem from a company called zoom. He installed 2 bearings from a wheelbarrow I believe, each with a shoulder to keep them in place and an internal diameter to accept a 1/2" bolt.
This allows for a very compact underseat steering mount and takes the steering back to familiar territory. Over the next few days the linkage will be built from the bars to the forks and a couple pictures posted after a test ride to make sure it's a good system.
This allows for a very compact underseat steering mount and takes the steering back to familiar territory. Over the next few days the linkage will be built from the bars to the forks and a couple pictures posted after a test ride to make sure it's a good system.
