I need more wheels in the snow

GoldenMotor.com

hiker472

Member
Nov 6, 2008
653
3
18
Ontonagon County,Upper Michigan
I've been toying in my mind about a possible build for winter use and was thinking of a trike, until I saw the ad for Rhoades bikes. They are pretty cool, but wow.....the price on them things!

I ran a search on google for quadricycles and came up with this website:

Small Car Plans

A lot of plans are available for free download. I wonder if anyone has put a HT on a horseless carriage before.

They claim to put 5hp + lawnmower motors on these things, yet only get 15-18mph. I wonder if its the way they set them up......I'm clueless. I would think that with a horizontal shaft driving a sprocket would result in higher speeds.

Also, couldn't it be possible to mount up a number of different sized sprockets together (like a multi-speed bike) and with the use of a derailer, be able to "shift" thru the gears?

You know, thinking of this scenerio,(for a regular bike) what if I took a multi-speed wheel and turned it around, thereby having the HT sproket (or one similar to handle the bike chain) on the other side and then taking the derailer system off the one side to put it on the other side? This would allow the HT to shift thru the various gears. Would this work?
 

Dan

Staff
May 25, 2008
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Moosylvania
Hiker, that is awesome!! Wow thanks! Carol and I were talking about kit cars tonight. (I wanted to do a Martin like "Ducky" on NCIS, but these would be way better, easy and with in means)

Truly, thanks!
 
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2door

Moderator
Staff member
Sep 15, 2008
16,302
175
63
Littleton, Colorado
That Streetfighter thing is just too cool. Man, I'd like to build one with an engine and maybe some coilover suspension and...and...!
Wait, I'm semi-retired. Where's the money going to come from?
"Honey, you've got to see this...and can I borrow a couple hundred till my S S checks start coming?
Why didn't I discover all this neat stuff a year ago when I was burning money on junk like computers, video cameras and new carburators for the hot rod? Now I can't afford shoe laces and I'm finding all kinds of great things to build. Just the wheels on this quad would cost me more than I make in a month.
Rats!
 

jasonh

New Member
Jun 23, 2008
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Longmont, CO
yeah me too. Too bad it's like 2 grand.

If I had a lot of money I'd get one and put a Morini on it + an SBP kit (probably the only way to get power to that wheel). That would be some fun offroad and in the snow.
 

xPosTech

The Old Master Motorized Bicycle Builder
Oct 23, 2008
209
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SETexas
You know that frame is an excellent candidate for an inframe 4 cycle. W i d e crankset, asymmetric rear triangle, available with suspension fork. Lots of room in the frame for the engine.

Could the standard fork be the basis for a SBP shifter/over front wheel drive? A MTB cassette will fit on that fork! Braze-ons for mounting the package. 1 1/8" threadless headset.

$575.95.

Wow. :eek:

Ted
 

jasonh

New Member
Jun 23, 2008
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Longmont, CO

hiker472

Member
Nov 6, 2008
653
3
18
Ontonagon County,Upper Michigan
Great links Jason....thanks! I would think that a 24" wheel set up would easily fit a 26" bike.

Alright next question.....what does anyone know concerning 144 spoke wheels? I'm thinking that by having more spokes that the wheel will be able to handle a higher torque ratio, thereby being able to deliver any desired hp from a bigger engine, without ripping the spokes out of the wheel.

Is this theory right or wrong?
 

Dan

Staff
May 25, 2008
12,765
115
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Moosylvania
Great links Jason....thanks! I would think that a 24" wheel set up would easily fit a 26" bike.

Alright next question.....what does anyone know concerning 144 spoke wheels? I'm thinking that by having more spokes that the wheel will be able to handle a higher torque ratio, thereby being able to deliver any desired hp from a bigger engine, without ripping the spokes out of the wheel.

Is this theory right or wrong?
Wow Hiker, hadn't even considered that part. Sounds right though. Now I am worried about bolting patern, rotfl. Side thought, looks like it would line up on a 4 stroke! (I have to get the wheel motor thing to work. That beautiful wheel is screaming for it!)

You guys come up with great stuff!!!!
Keep it coming!!
 

hiker472

Member
Nov 6, 2008
653
3
18
Ontonagon County,Upper Michigan
I know how to fix my dilema of more wheels for the snow. My options are somewhat limited at this time, so I can't build a trike or a four wheeled bike, but what I can do is to build a side car.

I'm thinking of a removable frame with a free spinning wheel attached that can easily be put on and removed from the MB itself. Next the side car itself, somewhat boat like, yet light weight, and able to float, that can be strapped onto the frame. I picture a kayak with the ends snubbed off for areo dynamics.....and a cool look.

This way, if I can do this, I will gain a multi purpose vehicle. For one thing it'll be easier to travel down a two-track road, unlike a three wheeled bike. The side car can be used to haul things. It will give me the stability I need for winter riding and in the summer when I go to the lake, I can use the side car and do some fishing out in the lake.

What do you guys think about this? Think it can be done?
 

Dan

Staff
May 25, 2008
12,765
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Moosylvania
Very cool Hiker. With out a doubt can be done. With added cargo and ability, just makes it even more worth doing. The great part of thinking and typing out loud here is some one will have a thought or link to move your idea along. Go for it. even the utter and completely failed tries leave parts and lessons that help the next crazy thought ahead.

Can't wait to see what you build!