Tall bike
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Toledo
Posts: 19
Bikes: all diff kinds
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Tall bike
Does anyone know a way you can make a tall bike with very little to no wleding involved?
#2
Spoked to Death
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Boulder, CO
Posts: 1,335
Bikes: Salsa La Cruz w/ Alfine 8, Specialized Fuse Pro 27.5+, Surly 1x1
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
I've seen it done, but it really isn't safe... The problem is that the entire bike's two halves are connected at only two points, the bottom bracket, and the extended head tube. You have to weld the extended head tube on, and weld an extension on the steer tube. I can't think of how you'd avoid that problem. Then the bottom bracket needs to be welded. I've seen even welded BBs break, so we gusset all our bottom brackets for extra strength.
So basically, I don't think it can be done completely weld free, and even if you had the steer tube welded for you, the rest would be highly questionable.
Just find someone who's got a welder who'll teach you. Its really not hard, and it opens a huge set of doors for mutating bikes. Welding is really par for the course. People keep looking for a 'weldless holy grail', but you aren't going to find it, welding is a basic and fundemental metalworking skill.
peace,
sam
So basically, I don't think it can be done completely weld free, and even if you had the steer tube welded for you, the rest would be highly questionable.
Just find someone who's got a welder who'll teach you. Its really not hard, and it opens a huge set of doors for mutating bikes. Welding is really par for the course. People keep looking for a 'weldless holy grail', but you aren't going to find it, welding is a basic and fundemental metalworking skill.
peace,
sam
#3
arm me, audacity!
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Australia
Posts: 74
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
not up there!
agreed. ive bolted together bikes with zero welding, and i've built tall bikes, but i don't mix the two.
if i was going to try, however, i'd be drilling holes all over the thing and bolting support struts everywhere they'd fit.
also, rather than try to use two bike frames strung together, i'd make a bike out of something wacky, like a door or a bed head or some gym equipment.
the national penny farthing championships in Evandale, Tasmania, Australia have a bike made from an old brass bed head. it's called the Evandale nightmare, and looks like it came from a haunted house. it was built by peter matthews, a tallbike trick rider from Dublin, Ireland. (pictured mounting the bike, and also in evandale with my sister)
if i was going to try, however, i'd be drilling holes all over the thing and bolting support struts everywhere they'd fit.
also, rather than try to use two bike frames strung together, i'd make a bike out of something wacky, like a door or a bed head or some gym equipment.
the national penny farthing championships in Evandale, Tasmania, Australia have a bike made from an old brass bed head. it's called the Evandale nightmare, and looks like it came from a haunted house. it was built by peter matthews, a tallbike trick rider from Dublin, Ireland. (pictured mounting the bike, and also in evandale with my sister)
#6
Rat Patrol Chicago
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Chicago
Posts: 150
Bikes: None, all, it's the same thing
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Other than the classic method pictured above in Popular Mechanics April 1964, bolting methods have always focused on overcoming that bottom bracket connection. The steer tube is easily bolted in the brake mount, which is what people do when they want to collapse their tallbike to take it on a plane (along with a seat post welded to the bottom bracket and inserted into the bottom frame's seat tube with quick release). Build a big rack, basically, then bolt it behind the bottom bracket or at the back dropouts of the top frame- in some versions of this I've seen, the bottom bracket itself is hovering above the bottom frame. Also consider making a bolt-style chopper fork, but one that runs up and down both frames.
Remember that what's "safe" is pretty irrelevant if you're doing something inherently stupid. I wouldn't be crosscountry touring unless my bolted tallchopper was real solid, but then again look at ole Jon Brown up there riding in the snow with a joystick and a "force fit" steer connection. That guy's gotta be 90 by now, you gonna let him show you up?!?!??!
Remember that what's "safe" is pretty irrelevant if you're doing something inherently stupid. I wouldn't be crosscountry touring unless my bolted tallchopper was real solid, but then again look at ole Jon Brown up there riding in the snow with a joystick and a "force fit" steer connection. That guy's gotta be 90 by now, you gonna let him show you up?!?!??!
#7
Rat Patrol Chicago
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Chicago
Posts: 150
Bikes: None, all, it's the same thing
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by garden_lark
the national penny farthing championships in Evandale, Tasmania, Australia have a bike made from an old brass bed head. it's called the Evandale nightmare, and looks like it came from a haunted house. it was built by peter matthews, a tallbike trick rider from Dublin, Ireland.
Chicago 1930:
Rat Patrol UK:
Justin Pogge (?):
#8
Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 6
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Tall Bike answer solved !!!!
I finally found a use for the cheap Wallmart Bike. No welding required but is desired for the front fork.
1-Use a donor fork and pound it into the original. Weld or bolt
2-Extend the shock using a donor frame tube. Pound on then bolt or replace with tubing only no shock.
3-Extend cables off a donor bike.
4-Be carefull
Matt-
1-Use a donor fork and pound it into the original. Weld or bolt
2-Extend the shock using a donor frame tube. Pound on then bolt or replace with tubing only no shock.
3-Extend cables off a donor bike.
4-Be carefull
Matt-
#9
Beach Cruiser
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: California
Posts: 44
Bikes: Makai, Simple (Giant), Gary Fisher
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
does anyone know a good website that sells tall bikes? i have always wanted one but i have no idea where i would buy one locally (LA area)
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: the U.P. of Michigan
Posts: 92
Bikes: a crappy doubletallbike, an atomic zombie spincycle, a homemade swingbike, a chopper, and many unfinished projects
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
the know-how to make a tall bike like simple cutting and welding is easy to pick up if you have a mechanical type mind, do some research and design, find somone with a cheapy-cheep welder and go to town on some frames for an afternoon
#11
:)
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: duluth
Posts: 3,391
Bikes: '07 Pista, '09 Fantom Cross Uno, '8? Miyata, '67 Stingray, '0? Zoo mod trials, Tallbike, Chopper, '73 Schwinn Collegiate, '67 Triumph Chopper, '69 CB350, '58 BSA Spitfire, '73 CB450
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
If you do a little research, and know someone with a hacksaw, file, and basic welding skills, they are super easy to build.
#12
Pedal pusher...
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 7,766
Bikes: I've got a bunch...
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Sniff around places like the Bike Kitchen and Bike Oven Highland Park.
Someone might help you build one...
__________________
May you live long, live strong, and live happy!
May you live long, live strong, and live happy!
#13
DelawareDave
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: New Castle Delaware
Posts: 90
Bikes: 3 mountian bikes 1 recumbent bike 1 racing bike 5 stingrays 1 hybrid 2 beach crusers 1 tandem and at least 6 more that are beyond description
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
I have a tall bike, still a work in progress, did require a little welding. I attached a picture, first time, I hope it works.
Last edited by Dave Armstrong; 09-02-09 at 01:38 PM.