The concept is nothing new the internet is full of diy short wheel base recumbents that use this design. A few things I did and why:
-Used a 26 inch Huffy MTB frame so that the I have plenty of room for engine install.
-Used 20 inch wheels because they are cheap and abundant when your source of parts is freecycle and craigslist.
-Small cranks to minimize 'knee clearance' for handlebars and they serve more as foot pegs anyway.
-I am staying with the stock 44t sprocket on the 20 inch wheel, I weigh in at around 300 so I will have plenty of torque for where ever I go, and according to the gear calculator I should be able to do 20 mph at 6000 rpms, plenty of fast for what I want.
I still have to get the motor installed, but I did take the thing for a spin around the block. I think the design has promise for motorized applications, simple and easy to build. It sucks for regular bike riding. For obvious reason pedaling makes handling a little strange, but easy to get used to, but "power" pedaling is out of the question with my current seat, and it is makes staying straight near impossible. However when not pedaling it handles great, real comfortable to ride and just plain fun, so when I get the motor on it should be wicked fun. The front pedal design also makes crank width and muffler clearance a non issue, and I can see jack shaft and shift kits an easy task as chain ring freewheels become a non issue. Wider non china doll motors could be easily installed in frame with this idea as well
I'll post more info after I get the motor on it, but the frame and drive train concept is solid and promising. Sorry the pictures are a little rough, the sun went down before I could finish.
-Used a 26 inch Huffy MTB frame so that the I have plenty of room for engine install.
-Used 20 inch wheels because they are cheap and abundant when your source of parts is freecycle and craigslist.
-Small cranks to minimize 'knee clearance' for handlebars and they serve more as foot pegs anyway.
-I am staying with the stock 44t sprocket on the 20 inch wheel, I weigh in at around 300 so I will have plenty of torque for where ever I go, and according to the gear calculator I should be able to do 20 mph at 6000 rpms, plenty of fast for what I want.
I still have to get the motor installed, but I did take the thing for a spin around the block. I think the design has promise for motorized applications, simple and easy to build. It sucks for regular bike riding. For obvious reason pedaling makes handling a little strange, but easy to get used to, but "power" pedaling is out of the question with my current seat, and it is makes staying straight near impossible. However when not pedaling it handles great, real comfortable to ride and just plain fun, so when I get the motor on it should be wicked fun. The front pedal design also makes crank width and muffler clearance a non issue, and I can see jack shaft and shift kits an easy task as chain ring freewheels become a non issue. Wider non china doll motors could be easily installed in frame with this idea as well
I'll post more info after I get the motor on it, but the frame and drive train concept is solid and promising. Sorry the pictures are a little rough, the sun went down before I could finish.
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