New 6.5HP Bicycle Trailer

ZnsaneRyder · #1 03-29-2009, 12:22 PM

Hi Motorbicycling folks!!!

This is my 2nd bicycle trailer build now. The first trailer was great, but I wanted to improve for speed and safety, and lower cost! So far so good.

I'm using the old 6.5HP engine from my first trailer, and went to a new #40 chain drive and a PocketBike wheel.

Here's my first picture, and when I get more time and the rest of my pics, I'll upload them as well.
I have a rollcage/rack on it now, I just didn't get pics yet.

The hitch is special design made from EMT. I originally made a pivot hitch to connect to the rear wheel, but due to handling, I found the seatpost to still be the best place for the hitch.

There's still more to come, and if you folks have any suggestions about concealing the engine, more cargo space, or dressing it up a bit, let me know.

mabman · #2 03-29-2009, 12:30 PM

Aw jeez, now I can't tell people there is some one out there running around with a 6.5 hp motor on a handtruck anymore. Not quite as scary as your first one but you made it through alive with it so perhaps your luck will hold. I doubt that EMT will though.

Motormaker · #3 03-29-2009, 01:45 PM

Looks good. I agree conduit is not the best choice. But it is your bike and only you know how much stress is put on it. Ride on!!

**Dan** · #4 03-29-2009, 04:15 PM

That is very cool Znane! What are your numbers with this set up? probably close to your last build? Going with the HF blue gives it a manufactured look.

commander · #5 03-29-2009, 04:55 PM

My personal opinion is that pusher motor set-ups are not very "pretty" at all. But the few advantages I see with there design is the motor size is pretty much unlimited to the mechanic building it . You could easily mount a 10-30 hp motor and still have a very usable bike, and the reason for maybe a bigger motor would be payload options.

So if I lived in a different country than the USA this design of yours would be very effective way to get small loads thru the country side with minimal effort and cost's, and if your bike wears out it is as simple as removing the hitch to another cheap bike . But being i live in USA I think the pusher motor design is pretty useless and attracts way more attention than I would want on the road .

But just to let you know i like the inventiveness of what you are doing with your motor and the skills it took to make it aall work.

ZnsaneRyder · #6 03-29-2009, 10:50 PM

The "Blue" pole part of the hitch is 1.5 inch regular fence post, and solid steel 1/2 thick bolts as supports, and the frame is 1.5inch heavy-duty fence post, with a steel plate for the engine, so this trailer is very heavy because of the frame and heavy engine. The EMT part is where it's connected on the bike seat, it's bolted to the main bar, so it's replaceable if it gets damaged, but so far, it's still in great shape. It's awesome on roads, or grass, but don't get it in the sand, lol!

The one wheel trailer coasts really far, so I'm not on the throttle as much to stay rolling at low speeds! Gas mileage is a little better than before, and it rides smooth with my clutch lubed slightly with white grease spray. It has a lot of torque, so I can't hit the gas too much until I get up to speed, or it will bounce the tire and chirp it.

It's very stable. I can go around turns twice as fast as a 2-wheel trailer, but I still like the balance of a 2-wheel trailer. However, in comparison, the one-wheel trailer feels more like you are just riding a bike by itself, but just heavier.

**Dan** · #7 03-29-2009, 11:01 PM

Awesome Znane. How did you rig the throttle? Also did you make yor own cables?

ZnsaneRyder · #8 03-30-2009, 12:47 PM

I made a cable sheath coupler for the bike/trailer connection with a bolt and 4 nuts welded on it. Each cable end fits in the pair of nuts, and a mini cable clamp connects the two cables. It makes it so I can disconnect the trailer, and makes adjustment simple. I'm using a bicycle brake lever as a throttle, and it works well.

The main throttle cable is a slightly thicker cable than bike cable, but it fit the cable sheath I bought for it just perfectly. I also used plastic tube to couple two sheathes further up. The throttle works much better than the other trailer. I also have all the old stock engine governor and throttle assembly stuff removed, so my throttle play is minimal, because the throttle lever goes right to the carburetor.

**Dan** · #9 03-30-2009, 12:58 PM

Sounds awesome Znane. Any chance of close up pics?

ZnsaneRyder · #10 03-31-2009, 04:39 AM

Here's some more pics. They were taken at a high resolution, so I had to cut them down to fit for uploading. My newer pics with the rack were too dark, so I'll have to take more pics.

I hope to get more close up soon.