Utility Cycling - home built xtracycle...

here is my first attempt . I,m going to build a better one in the near future.

WOW ! Looks good.

How about some closeups of the attachment points and such.

=)

Thanks.

Sorry I didn,t get the attachment point of the seatpost /rear triangle very well, but it is welded. This came together in like an hour with pleasant results , but i prefer a little better frame components .

Thanks for bearing with me I,m not to adept to posting pics, but here is a second pic. It is hard to see, but the bottom bracket of donor bike( susp mtn bike) is bolted in the rear dropouts of the main bike. A little persuading was all it need to come together , then the crankarm nuts were tightened up. A little something I picked up from building a recumbent is the rear triangle needs to angle downward about 10-15 degrees so the chain don,t interfere in the "joined "area when in the small gears. Last but not least the pipe was held in place and cut,notched then welded ,although this could have been bolted. IMO I like the top tube to face the seat post it completes the d/f triangulation, like i said just my opinion. Cyclaholic, Fordfasterer and Roughrider504, keep up the great work I really like your guys projects.

Nice job, can I have one more pic showing the welding job to the back of the seat post ?

=)

Here is my latest build. I,m really liking this one, it is lighter and has better brakes . The plan is to strip it and paint it black wrinkle .I will also be adding sides' made out of conduit, and a top deck with an unwanted skateboard.

Here is the final update for my XtraSomething. It rides so great! The handling of a long bike is slightly different than a regular bicycle and very fun at the same time.

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i247/roughrider504/DSCF0124.jpg

Can we see multiple close ups of how the thing is mounted to the rear dropouts and the main bikes BB?

Thanks.

You guys are making some really lovely longbikes. :)

I think I want to just stick in a little post to say how much I like you guys' long bikes. It is interesting to see how you have went about it differently from each other. Great work!

I think I have "long bike" envy! ;)

Here it is ready for tear down and paint .I,m workin on either gettin some bags made ,or checking out the local Army surplus. The sides are made out of 1/2in. conduit the top rack is part of a rear rack and some brake tubing added to the front of it.

Hello
Just to say I am working on my bike, new pix soon. Last night I made one of the big black "bags" Lots of work but looking good :D

Love the work you've done on your bike bbwolfy it's all come together really nicely. This is an amazing thread and I'm sure it's just going to keep on growing :)
I've got an old Giant 'Boulder' that I started to convert into a long wheelbase cargo bike before I got myself distracted with something else. Perhaps I should haul it out and blow the dust off it and have another look at it.

This was a first try that I setup a while ago using parts from dumped bikes, but I wasn't entirely happy with it.
http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/4358/prototypetruck2vp7.jpg

Here it is ready for tear down and paint .I,m workin on either gettin some bags made ,or checking out the local Army surplus. The sides are made out of 1/2in. conduit the top rack is part of a rear rack and some brake tubing added to the front of it.

Careful welding that conduit. It's galvanized. Welding that stuff can make you pretty sick and mess you up for years to come. People have died from zinc poisoning.

Love the work you've done on your bike bbwolfy it's all come together really nicely. This is an amazing thread and I'm sure it's just going to keep on growing :)
I've got an old Giant 'Boulder' that I started to convert into a long wheelbase cargo bike before I got myself distracted with something else. Perhaps I should haul it out and blow the dust off it and have another look at it.

This was a first try that I setup a while ago using parts from dumped bikes, but I wasn't entirely happy with it.
http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/4358/prototypetruck2vp7.jpg

Nice idea. A smaller rear wheel brings your load closer to the ground and this means more stability. Now, can you please post a picture of this bicycle on a flat ground ?

Nice idea. A smaller rear wheel brings your load closer to the ground and this means more stability. Now, can you please post a picture of this bicycle on a flat ground ?

Um....... I'd have to find all the parts and put it back together again first :o

http://www.flickr.com/photos/23770381@N03/2263917806/

Trying again.

Cool! Very nicely done Badmother. I like the way you've used the two standard bicycle racks.

ChiapasFixed's new beauty (http://www.bikeforums.net/showpost.php?p=6458301&postcount=115) should be noted here.
It's a cool bike.

Agree! Just found it earlyer today. Wish I could find the bamboo here:D

Oh my word, - that bamboo bike is seriously beautiful. Superb workmanship :D

I just posted some thoughts and questions in "fordfasterr"`s thread about his longtail: http://bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=379537

This is my posting: So I am planning to make another one. After alot of thinking I`we decided that at least in theory I like your way of joining the two pieces together (the long threaded rod) better than mine (using the axel of the donor). Terefor I would like to know if it is working ok? Acctually I am asking, Is the threaded rod bending in use?

I think the pix of your bike should be found in the "home built" sticky, becouse it is a sticky. This way it is kind of disappearing as time goes..

Hoping for more pics of homemade longtails, a lot of peopel was making them but then stopped posting. Is the longbike of "diff lock2" on the road yet? Is "Sianelle`s" on the road?

Did you see the Bamboo one? I guess it is light compared to what we are making.

I`we spent some time in the folder bike forum, and has restored a folder. Therefor thinking alot about wheelsize and wheel strenght. What about making a 24" longtail and just use a long seatpost and stem? Smaller wheels is stronger and weight should go down. Lower center of gravity.

Next is, what about a Bmx based longtail? Would be strong, made to take a beating. Short tubing= strong. Small wheels= strong and light, low c.o.g.

IT IS SPRING LONGTAIL BUILDERS, YOU SHOULD WAKE UP!!:D:D

I need one of those rear triangles!

edit:
ChiapasFixed's new beauty (http://www.bikeforums.net/showpost.php?p=6458301&postcount=115) should be noted here.
It's a cool bike.

Oh my god, that thing is stunning! I am in awe.

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i247/roughrider504/DSCF0124.jpg


This is the way to do it. (Instead of running the tibe to the top of the seat tube) Triangles. They are the strongest shape. It may not seem like it, but this way if done properly, will be strongest.

Im planing on building one nekt month. I think Ive got most of the parts lined up and I'm really excited. I also plan on welding it once I get it all working properly. (Sometime in the fall mare then likely)

O hai! Can I play too?

http://i30.tinypic.com/315bd5w.jpg


Built it up in an afternoon, single speed though I could shift rings manually. One brake, up front. There's still a brake lever on the handlebar I used for the brace thing... But who cares? Long bike is loooooong!

Yes! You can play. Much too quiet here. :D:D

I made two so far, need to post the last one, pix taken yesterday.

I use the first one quite alot for riding with my dog, but also other loads.

Thinking of making a 20" folder version. Easyer to transport plus lower. Riding with my 26 kg dog on one side and nothing on the other is a bit difficult.Thinking that since I am planning to do thids alot carrying the load on top is maybe better for my use than on the sides. I`we got access to strong older folders for free.

In 2003 I went to Ghana, Africa, to establish a school for cargo bike design. My first step was to build and test each kind of cargo bike that I could think of, about 25 in all. Then after testing them in the bush we found that the xtra-cycle style could maximize load given the single-track jungle terrain. So now the school makes them for the government, which is trying to aid farmers in getting Ghana's rich natural resources to market:

http://www.johnnypayphone.net/ghana/xtraratty02.jpg

^^^
That deserves a thread of its own, seriously.

Wow, Johnny, sounds amazing, I would love to hear and see some details.

Anyone thought of using a tandem bike frame?

My latest build. For my son.

maybe a dumb question.....but are Xtracycles typically SS?

maybe a dumb question.....but are Xtracycles typically SS?

No. People don't like singlespeed bikes for carrying 500 pounds of stuff up a hill.

xtracycle what a cool idea, by what I see a xtracycle is for big loads and so on yes? I want one lol I have this to work with, and a three speed ballon tire bike

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v309/demonic_inu/100_0109.jpg

That should be enough for a start. Sooo good to have plenty of space. I use this bike all the time.


http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk51/badmother-bikes/Roypsykkel2.jpg

they are mounted by bottom bracket right? the bike i'm using, the red one has broken bottom bracket, so it might be no good, but i'll just weld it lol

My first one (dog bike) is a BB mounted one. Not the best solution. My yellow one (you find it in this thread) is made this way: http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=379537 Much better. Make your own tread about your build and let us have the details!

This is my first, mind you both bottom bracket are broken and stuck in there but i'm gonna remove them, I might use other frame, classic possibly

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v309/demonic_inu/100_0111.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v309/demonic_inu/100_0112.jpg

Hmm different:D:D. Is it ok to ride?

with two bad bottom brackets it rides very bad, but the rear one will be fixed and the norco one is stuck busted so i'll have to use another bike for the front

Well... I've collected my donor bikes and went through this thread for the nth time to see what everyone else has done before I start building mine.

This will be fun.

And we are waiting for pix of it in front of the pond..:D:D

My pond is getting famous... :D

BUM BUM BUM! my working extracycle jut need long wires lol




http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v309/demonic_inu/100_0118.jpg

Well... I put the frames together tonight and now need to set the ride height and brace things before my friend tacks in a few welds to make things really solid.

I took a few pics and will post them when I get home from the shop to see what people think.

The adventure begins...

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/longbike2.jpg

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/longbike1.jpg

Nice, I like mines colors, looks kinda neat, well how it is now, i'll post a pic, you used a Norco, another poor norco will have a Xtra life, mines made of three of them lol

It's a truly Canadian ride being that the bikes are a Norco Katmandu (straight gauge chromo) and a CCM... I have a rear wheel built up with a 4 speed cassette and think that will serve me well as it has a wide range and the cog position is very central which should reduce chain deflection.

The grey and black looks good together and I have a mountain of steel and a huge parts stock at the bike shop from which to draw any materials I need to finish things up.

I am pondering running a 24 inch wheel too althouhg I would really like to have dual brakes as it will be a hauler.

I hope to be riding it at the critical mass this Friday although I may not have it racked up.

If you do your gears like mine, mines a 21 speed, and use both shifters, it runs just like a normal bike, infact, they pick up speed pretty fast, my scrap steel is inocent bike frames lol, both breaks is a need, mine really needs them, if it was front the forks would proberly break, , i'm making a trailer for it to with breaks on it to

Pictures of a pretty intresting bike, MINE! lol I love it.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v309/demonic_inu/100_0122.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v309/demonic_inu/100_0123.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v309/demonic_inu/100_0124.jpg

My rear wheel is a Shimano 105 laced to a WTB dw hub and has an 8 speed block... I have 2 Sachs Huret half ratchet shifters that will go on tomorrow after I pick up a tandem cable for the rear d and a friend is dropping off a few decks for me to play with.

It will also get a mount for my trailer so I can max out the utility of the bike... :)

More pics in a bit...