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Home built xtracycle...

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Home built xtracycle...

Old 06-15-10, 03:15 PM
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ChrisM - you build an XtraTrailer!
SyxtyFiver - why don't you try one of these?
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Old 06-15-10, 03:20 PM
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I make some upgrades on my xtracycle. I buy a pair of Ortlieb Back Roller, and I want to mount them on my rear rack.
I cut 4 slots in the board, and my Ortliebs fits perfectly. And I change my sadle with a very old Brooks. Oldie but goodie, it's very soft and comfortable.


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Old 06-15-10, 04:39 PM
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Originally Posted by LucianTheOne
ChrisM - you build an XtraTrailer!]
Xtratrailer! I like that. I'm hoping to build an xtracycle out of the tandem once I find the parts.

Last edited by ChrisM; 06-28-10 at 10:47 AM.
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Old 06-30-10, 07:40 AM
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Here my attempt at an xtratandem. It's still a work in progress. I need to add a seat in front of the rack and recable the brakes and derailleur.

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Old 07-13-10, 08:12 PM
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I've loved ALL of the posts here and was inspired myself.

My humble attempt at a DIY Xtracycle:
Initial construction:

Rack completed:

Rack in "up" position:

The maiden voyage today!


The bike is a combo of a donor KHS Wedgewood (with 7-speed Shimano Nexus hub) and a Next POS full suspension bike I found in my ally with a tacoed front wheel and bent forks. The (temporary) connector is some schedule 40 PVC - good stuff, that. The handlebars come from yet another bike found in my ally... strange how many junk bikes show up around my house.

As you can see in the photos of the rack, I don't know how to weld. I am pretty handy with a nut, bolt and a wrench, however! The rack is parted from an aluminum army cot I got at a second hand store (the cot material will become the cover/pannier). The white crossbars come from a broken baby gate. The black tubes bolted to the brake posts and rear of the rack are from a salvaged lawnmower handle. I DID have to actually buy the bolts and new, longer cable, but the rest was F-R-E-E

Cheers!
MD

Last edited by mountaindave; 07-13-10 at 08:23 PM.
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Old 07-13-10, 09:38 PM
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Originally Posted by mountaindave
I've loved ALL of the posts here and was inspired myself.

My humble attempt at a DIY Xtracycle:
Initial construction:

Rack completed:

Rack in "up" position:

The maiden voyage today!


The bike is a combo of a donor KHS Wedgewood (with 7-speed Shimano Nexus hub) and a Next POS full suspension bike I found in my ally with a tacoed front wheel and bent forks. The (temporary) connector is some schedule 40 PVC - good stuff, that. The handlebars come from yet another bike found in my ally... strange how many junk bikes show up around my house.

As you can see in the photos of the rack, I don't know how to weld. I am pretty handy with a nut, bolt and a wrench, however! The rack is parted from an aluminum army cot I got at a second hand store (the cot material will become the cover/pannier). The white crossbars come from a broken baby gate. The black tubes bolted to the brake posts and rear of the rack are from a salvaged lawnmower handle. I DID have to actually buy the bolts and new, longer cable, but the rest was F-R-E-E

Cheers!
MD
I don't know if I remember seeing an cruiser based XTRA before. I like it. Rather nice piece of redneck engineering (that is a compliment BTW) using the army cot. I think I will file that idea away.
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Old 07-15-10, 07:51 PM
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Does anyone know how much weight can these awesome bikes carry on the rack?

Thanks
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Old 07-16-10, 03:16 PM
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When is need, more than 150 kg
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Old 07-16-10, 07:02 PM
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Exactly
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Old 07-16-10, 07:07 PM
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Originally Posted by jtong77
Does anyone know how much weight can these awesome bikes carry on the rack?

Thanks
I've carried 150 pounds with no issues and pulled an 8 foot trailer with close to 300 pounds on it with my extrabike... when I get around to firing up the torch will me fabricating a custom rack that should handle much more weight.
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Old 07-19-10, 08:22 AM
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!
Originally Posted by LucianTheOne
When is need, more than 150 kg
Did you really drove all of them around? Impressive!
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Old 07-19-10, 08:32 AM
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Just a little bit. They were scared... Many people belive that my xtracycle will colapse, if someone seat on the rack.
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Old 07-19-10, 09:08 AM
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So what if it collapses! Takin three girls for a ride, is a good story for the grandkids : )
Looks like a centipede pedaling the bike : )
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Old 08-07-10, 05:10 PM
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Talking big thank you

This is my first post at this forum.

But I've been reading, staring at pictures, and studying this thread for several weeks.

I've googled around a lot about DYI xtracycles; I believe nothing in the whole web compares to this one thread; so many renderings of the original idea, so many inspiring pictures.

I'd like to thank you all very very much for sharing this.

Thanks to you (and a little bit of sweat, trial and error, and patience), I've finally build
a longtail myself. Main purpose is to serve as a family bike, or, as I call it, a "school bus bike".
I have 2 kids and felt very frustrated because of not being able to ride with both simultaneously.

I've posted the whole story and some pictures at my cycling blog:

www.pespracima.blogspot.com

It's written in Portuguese, but you can probably get most of it with some web translator if you're interested.

Brazil is a big place so it's hard to pretend this is the first home build Brazilian xtracycle. Many cyclists and tinkerers don't care to put their stuff online anyway. It's getting the atention of people, though, so I'm considering puting a tutorial together for non-English speakers.

This picture was taken during the 'testing period' by my eldest (almost 5 year old). The mother should be made to believe the bike was strong enough for her kids...







Attached Images
File Type: jpg
SDC10843..jpg (102.6 KB, 294 views)

Last edited by artur elias; 08-07-10 at 05:16 PM. Reason: photo attachment
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Old 08-07-10, 06:41 PM
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Wow nice job! Should put some pegs for her at he last juncture on the bottom. Just a long piece of rod or threaded rod with rubber on the end. Or make it so it hangs down like stirrups.
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Old 08-08-10, 10:37 AM
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I havn't been so active on here lately, i've built many utility bikes but none really sticked on me and I always dissasembled them, however this may be a winner. just removed all the crappy plastic componets this poor nice bike had on it and made it pretty, still need a rear rim though, thats the winter rim, I'll have three sets, one for my studded tires and one for these fat ones and one for road tires, it currently has some nice racks on the back, I carryed about 80Lbs of junk bike frames the other day as a test, was great.

Still to come is the rack and under rack, I feel that theres to much to see in the underside of bike so since my dad installs windows i'm gonna get him to bend me alumunum to hide half the rear wheel and all the way to seat tube. chain will still be shown though. and a lovely hitch will come from the rear end of bike.

As for a rack, I have a big choice. I have a big steel heavy duti hockey net I can cut up. Or i'll use the leg from tables I offten see in the garbage or other things. It may be heavy but it will be strong! rack will come after winter though. might assenble it before but not install it, i'd rather get my rear end panels on since they are free and easy to get done.

Heres what it looks like right now.
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Old 08-08-10, 02:22 PM
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Well... I have decided that I need a new extrabike and will be selling my old one to fund the new build as I am going to start from scratch with a ground up design and will need things like frame tubes, fittings, etc.

I could strip my extra bike down and use the parts but it is a great bike and sure someone will appreciate it as it is.

Will be drawing a lot of ideas from my bike and the bikes I have seen here... I really like the drop down racks dave used so will have to look at doing that.

Will essentially be building a tandemesque frame with no second drive or stoker seating but some massive cargo carrying capacity.
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Old 08-08-10, 10:46 PM
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post lots of pictures for us to drool and envy over
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Old 08-09-10, 08:18 PM
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Elias, congrats on your "bike bus" - looks great - love the pink child seat!

Sixty fiver, I'm sure you can weld up something MUCH prettier! Be sure to share!
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Old 08-18-10, 11:48 AM
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Originally Posted by ChrisM
I need to add a seat in front of the rack
I cut a section from road bars , added a banana seat and pegs.

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Old 08-18-10, 12:09 PM
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Originally Posted by michael k
I cut a section from road bars , added a banana seat and pegs.

The only thing that is missing is a pair of ape hangers mounted to the front seat.

Nice Muscle bike longtail.
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Old 08-23-10, 11:02 AM
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OMG that's awesome! Who'dathunkit - banana seat!
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Old 08-23-10, 11:49 AM
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Originally Posted by michael k
I cut a section from road bars , added a banana seat and pegs.

You should remove the front seatpost and get some extra long ape hanger handlebars and drive the bike from the back seat.
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Old 08-23-10, 01:45 PM
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Originally Posted by kingfish254
You should remove the front seatpost and get some extra long ape hanger handlebars and drive the bike from the back seat.


You and I think alike.
Though at 6'2" and sitting on the rear I can bearly reach the pedals at full extension when pedaling.
The girls have been riding this all over town during the summer (as many as 3 of them at once) They get quite a few comments.
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Old 08-27-10, 12:58 PM
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Originally Posted by kingfish254
You should remove the front seatpost and get some extra long ape hanger handlebars and drive the bike from the back seat.
Like this?

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