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| DIY FWD 'Bent |
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| Pine molded with a $10 filing kit, finished with linseed oil to prevent weathering |
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| Plumber's Tape wrapped around a reversed saddle makes for a surprisingly sturdy backing |
Dual-Suspension MTB (front and rear shocks) from Craigslist = $7.50
Donor: Dyno GT BMX Bike = Free, Family Relic
Misc. Hardware & 6'x9" Pine Board= ~$17
New Chain= $15
Brake Pads=$15 (could easily be reduced to $5/free if you took the time to search for a deal)
Total = $55
Tools:
Power Drill/Bit Set
4 in 1 Metal File
Adjustable Wrench
Hacksaw
& Various Bike Repair Tools as Needed:
Hook Spanner
Cotterless Crank Puller
Steel Wool
Allen Key Set
Light Lubricant
etc.
Essentially I just took a hacksaw to the rear triangle pf the bmx and made it fit in the front fork of the MTB, then used wire rated at 350lbs to attach the BMX seat post to the MTB stem, wrapping multiple times to take pressure off the ferrule stop I used to secure the wire. The seat was cut from a cheap Pine board filed to fit the MTB top tube, and coated with linseed oil for a finish. Honestly, it's a simple as it looks. I'm looking into adding high density foam to the seat and a waterproof/cordura cover, well as an underseat rack & rear rack for panniers.
Lessons Learned: For a donor bike, you want not only dual-suspension & the angled top tube that comes with it, but also a threadless stem as opposed to a quill. Quill stems just aren't strong enough take the force required to balance the FWD. A front fork disc brake, obviously, will not work with this set up. Lastly, certain MTB donor bikes have multiple adjustment points to which you can screw in the rear suspension- these are excellent spots to secure the seat.
You can buy a Dax friction drive and engine kit for $450, put them on a $100 garage sale bike, and cover all that ground in no time, on a couple gallons of gas a week.
ReplyDeleteA sporty road racing bicycle has been created, with intent to produce commercially, that incorporates a front wheel drive steerer with multispeeds. See cruzbike com for their homepage. Also on Youtube, if you google Front Wheel Drive Recumbent, you will see many home-built bikes, including "rear steering" (hinge steering) DIY bikes with multi gears.
ReplyDelete