AWD Bikes
Has anyone heard of this before.All Wheel Drive on bikes?
I saw one on sale on CL tonight and looked up the website. http://christinibicycles.com/bikes-fullsus.php Seems to me they would weigh a lot and not real sure it would help all that much. I dunno. |
Seems to me they would weigh a lot and not real sure it would help all that much. I dunno.[/QUOTE]
You've got it. |
I've given some thought to AWD bikes and have come to the conclusion that they would only be useful in winter, on snow-covered roads. The best way, IMHO, to implement AWD is to replace the front wheel with one of those electric hubs so that it's basically a front-wheel-drive e-bike but with rear wheel driven by the cranks. I have never tried this, but I think it might provide some advantage in slippery conditions.
Luis |
pretty slick idea, I don't know that it would help much though. I'd like to demo one.
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i saw a setup like this in the mid 90s or so. it was weird seeing the front wheel turn with the cranks.
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Originally Posted by lhbernhardt
(Post 11049982)
but I think it might provide some advantage in slippery conditions.
Luis Still heavy not to mention all the extra stuff that could break. |
Unicycle
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Originally Posted by kr32
(Post 11050649)
When I saw this my first thought was on dry single track being a mtb and all. I now could see it working in mud though. Snow too but who rides in the snow? :innocent:
Still heavy not to mention all the extra stuff that could break. The higher CG means that bikes have a LOT more for and aft weight transfer than cars do. For example, when I'm going up the steep hill to my house, a little tug on the handlebars is enough to lift the front wheel. If I have 95% of my weight on the back wheel, why do I need AWD? It seems the main thing that front wheel drive would do in snow is to cause the front wheel to skid, dumping the bike. Looks like those big, exposed gears would get lots of snow, ice, and mud in them, too. Paul |
I would like to try one as well. It may work very well for those short muddy 30% climbs in my area.
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You would lose more power to friction in the bevel gears, than you would gain in traction transfer to the tront wheel. You could gain more traction by fitting a banana seat, so you could slide back over the rear wheel.
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Originally Posted by AndrewP
(Post 11052971)
You would lose more power to friction in the bevel gears, than you would gain in traction transfer to the tront wheel. You could gain more traction by fitting a banana seat, so you could slide back over the rear wheel.
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Studded tires on both wheels . I have a 12 year old pair of Nokian Mount and Ground Winter tires .
But where I am it only does the Black Ice on the roads every once in a while , so when they are useful I put them on have wheels with drum brakes , which is a combo near perfect. grabby brakes is not what you want then, and drum brakes are smooth and weather shielded. |
Originally Posted by AndrewP
(Post 11052595)
Unicycle
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Originally Posted by AndrewP
(Post 11052595)
Unicycle
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A solution in search of a problem. The big problem with bicycles is it's wimpy motor. The 2 wheel drive bicycle uses power robbing components to solve a traction problem that seldom arises.
There was a fellow in the St Louis area producing 2 wheel drive bicycles around 15 years ago. His used a pair of bevel gearsets and a flexible shaft to connect the front and rear hubs. Ultimately some fellow bought up his stock and tried to find a market for them. I owned a shop at that time and told him I wasn't interested so he waited until I was out to drop off a boxed bike. After multiple failed attempts to contact him I eventually dumpstered the bicycle. About 6 months later he came in to ask about it. He got real mad. That's when I found out he was an attorney. I must have been on pretty sound ground legally because I never heard from him again. |
Originally Posted by Retro Grouch
(Post 11054226)
A solution in search of a problem. The big problem with bicycles is it's wimpy motor. The 2 wheel drive bicycle uses power robbing components to solve a traction problem that seldom arises.
There was a fellow in the St Louis area producing 2 wheel drive bicycles around 15 years ago. His used a pair of bevel gearsets and a flexible shaft to connect the front and rear hubs. Ultimately some fellow bought up his stock and tried to find a market for them. I owned a shop at that time and told him I wasn't interested so he waited until I was out to drop off a boxed bike. After multiple failed attempts to contact him I eventually dumpstered the bicycle. About 6 months later he came in to ask about it. He got real mad. That's when I found out he was an attorney. I must have been on pretty sound ground legally because I never heard from him again. |
Hmmm..... traction.
I don't see how they would be practical. They would have to be considerably more mechanically complex and even worse heavier. The other thing is this a solution to a non problem? Think about it. Bicycles have large wheels. Generally, large wheels offer good traction. Have you ever even heard of an all wheel drive tractor? Tractors have such big honking drive wheels that they don't need all wheel drive and tractors do pretty well in rough terrain and muddy fields. |
Originally Posted by Retro Grouch
(Post 11054226)
A solution in search of a problem. The big problem with bicycles is it's wimpy motor. The 2 wheel drive bicycle uses power robbing components to solve a traction problem that seldom arises.
There was a fellow in the St Louis area producing 2 wheel drive bicycles around 15 years ago. His used a pair of bevel gearsets and a flexible shaft to connect the front and rear hubs. Ultimately some fellow bought up his stock and tried to find a market for them. I owned a shop at that time and told him I wasn't interested so he waited until I was out to drop off a boxed bike. After multiple failed attempts to contact him I eventually dumpstered the bicycle. About 6 months later he came in to ask about it. He got real mad. That's when I found out he was an attorney. I must have been on pretty sound ground legally because I never heard from him again. |
Originally Posted by Pat
(Post 11055675)
Hmmm..... traction.
I don't see how they would be practical. They would have to be considerably more mechanically complex and even worse heavier. The other thing is this a solution to a non problem? Think about it. Bicycles have large wheels. Generally, large wheels offer good traction. Have you ever even heard of an all wheel drive tractor? Tractors have such big honking drive wheels that they don't need all wheel drive and tractors do pretty well in rough terrain and muddy fields. people were installing "front wheel assist" systems in tractors in the 50s, and manufactures started in the 60s: http://www.tractorshed.com/gallery/uptest/a3756.jpg in the 80s it became popular. in the 90s it became the "norm" for large tractors now even small tractors feature "front wheel assist" http://www.johnworr.net/wp-content/u...bota2small.jpg |
You call those little toys tractors? *This* was a tractor...
http://i49.tinypic.com/2njcco.jpg :thumb::thumb: |
Originally Posted by lhbernhardt
(Post 11049982)
I've given some thought to AWD bikes and have come to the conclusion that they would only be useful in winter, on snow-covered roads. The best way, IMHO, to implement AWD is to replace the front wheel with one of those electric hubs so that it's basically a front-wheel-drive e-bike but with rear wheel driven by the cranks. I have never tried this, but I think it might provide some advantage in slippery conditions.
Luis I was making a hard left on the dirt trail, going too fast, front wheel started to wash out, hit the throttle, it pulled through, no harm, no foul. |
Originally Posted by Pat
(Post 11055675)
Hmmm..... traction.
Have you ever even heard of an all wheel drive tractor? Tractors have such big honking drive wheels that they don't need all wheel drive and tractors do pretty well in rough terrain and muddy fields. |
1 Attachment(s)
AWD on a bike- Work this one out
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Originally Posted by Pat
(Post 11055675)
Hmmm..... traction.
I don't see how they would be practical. They would have to be considerably more mechanically complex and even worse heavier. The other thing is this a solution to a non problem? Think about it. Bicycles have large wheels. Generally, large wheels offer good traction. Have you ever even heard of an all wheel drive tractor? Tractors have such big honking drive wheels that they don't need all wheel drive and tractors do pretty well in rough terrain and muddy fields. I am not saying this is a great idea for bikes, but I am always happy to see people trying to build a better wheel. |
Originally Posted by kbbpll
(Post 11077011)
All Wheel Drive versus All Wheel All Extremities Drive
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=158822 |
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