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View Full Version : Change overseat to underseat steering?

FarHorizon
07-04-06, 04:32 AM
Title says it all. Is this feasible, or not worth the work?
VegasTriker
07-05-06, 08:06 AM
Save yourself some trouble and expense and get a bike designed for USS! My second recumbent, a used 1997 Linear LWB came with ape-hanger handlebars installed. The bike was designed to work with USS or OSS. The original owner had paid the LBS to take off the USS and replace it with Linear's own OSS bars at a fairly high cost. The USS parts came with the bike so I reinastalled them and tried the bike with both on at one time. I liked the USS much better so I transferred the brake levers and shifters and transferred them to the USS after shortening the cables and housing. It was easy on the Linear because all of the parts needed to attach the USS were already on the bike. This bike has a pretty complicated set of pivots and attachment points. I think it would be difficult to duplicate and get a setup that would work well.
jeff-o
07-05-06, 10:45 AM
Title says it all. Is this feasible, or not worth the work?

Depends on the bike. Some models have been designed with both steering setups in mind, others have not. In any case, it may be as simple as mounting a standard bicycle stem (the piece that attaches the handlebars to the steering tube) in place of the long OSS stem, and then attaching a piece of bent tubing to the new stem.

If there is not enough clearance above the main tube, then you'll need to purchase or modify a front fork so that it has a similar "stem" protruding from behind that lets you attach the handlebar.
FarHorizon
07-05-06, 11:29 AM
Thanks folks - I suspect I'd just better live with my OSS for awhile. Next bike, I'll be looking for USS.
bentbaggerlen
07-05-06, 05:55 PM
what bike do you want to convert?
FarHorizon
07-05-06, 06:08 PM
An older, steel Bacchetta Corsa.
hound-dog
07-07-06, 02:55 PM
I just downloaded a recumbent trike plan. I see they have a recumbent with USS (http://www.atomiczombie.com). I don't know if u r looking to buy a USS or build one.

Thanks folks - I suspect I'd just better live with my OSS for awhile. Next bike, I'll be looking for USS.
FarHorizon
07-07-06, 05:31 PM
My "shop" is gone (the wife appropriated the space), so I'll be buying next time. The Bacchetta is my first 'bent, and I'll use it for a while to check out the breed.
bentbaggerlen
07-07-06, 06:37 PM
Looking at photos of the Bacchetta Corsa, I'd have to say yes it can be done. It would have to be an indirect set up using a bar that conects the handlebar to the fork (Ryan, Longbikes, etc.) But your own getting the shop back from the wife.....
John C. Ratliff
07-09-06, 06:27 PM
There are some good deals on EBay. Here's a Vision recumbant:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Vision-recumbent-bicycle-recumbant_W0QQitemZ250005467863QQihZ015QQcategoryZ106949QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

It is currently set up as a short wheelbase, USS recumbant, but can readily be converted to long wheelbase, and I believe to over-seat steering too. The only problem would be getting parts, as Vision went out of business several years ago.

Here's another one up for sale, which also includes the conversion kit, I think:

http://cgi.ebay.com/VISION-R-40-R40-RECUMBENT-RECUMBANT-ROAD-BICYCLE_W0QQitemZ300005254946QQihZ020QQcategoryZ98084QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

John