need info/ schematics/ advice on dutch bakfiets
12-03-20, 08:17 AM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
need info/ schematics/ advice on dutch bakfiets
so first off this is the patient:
it was a bike left abandoned that i will be working on to make it a bit of a summer shenanigans bike.
did some test rides and found out following:
need to somehow either move handlebars forward or saddle, as current riding position can best be described as t rex arms and is exhausting
need to somehow add a second wheel up front preferably side to side with first one to add more stability. adults very likely will be in front "bak" cause we're idiots
front brakes need to be redone as i have zero front brakes but do have back pedal brakes. would prefer to change to regular rim or disc brakes. thinking rim brakes would be easier
i believe all gearing is through internal hub, would like to get faster gears while maintaining the lower ones for climbing cause this thing is heavy
i am momentarily thinking chop frame somewhere in front of pedals and extend a bit to avoid those t rex arms but not entirely sure.
any help with any of the aforementioned observations or any resources on how these various parts work and how to upgrade would be highly appreciated
it was a bike left abandoned that i will be working on to make it a bit of a summer shenanigans bike.
did some test rides and found out following:
need to somehow either move handlebars forward or saddle, as current riding position can best be described as t rex arms and is exhausting
need to somehow add a second wheel up front preferably side to side with first one to add more stability. adults very likely will be in front "bak" cause we're idiots
front brakes need to be redone as i have zero front brakes but do have back pedal brakes. would prefer to change to regular rim or disc brakes. thinking rim brakes would be easier
i believe all gearing is through internal hub, would like to get faster gears while maintaining the lower ones for climbing cause this thing is heavy
i am momentarily thinking chop frame somewhere in front of pedals and extend a bit to avoid those t rex arms but not entirely sure.
any help with any of the aforementioned observations or any resources on how these various parts work and how to upgrade would be highly appreciated
01-13-21, 04:49 PM
#2
Senior Member
Lower the handlebar. These bikes have seriously good ergonomics. Use it as intended and you won’t have a problem.
Front brake is front hub. Find the arm, connect the cable.
When the handlebars return to earth the gear range will be more functional.
Bike was created in Holland where hills are scarce. Riding that up a hill of any size is not going to be easy.
You do know this beast retails for over $3000? Someone abandoned this? You are sure of that?
Front brake is front hub. Find the arm, connect the cable.
When the handlebars return to earth the gear range will be more functional.
Bike was created in Holland where hills are scarce. Riding that up a hill of any size is not going to be easy.
You do know this beast retails for over $3000? Someone abandoned this? You are sure of that?
01-13-21, 06:23 PM
#3
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Join Date: Jan 2021
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That looks like a great bike for hauling the kids or grandkids.
-Replacing the handlebars with flat handlebars will help with the ergonomics.
-Adding a rear derailleur and wheel with cogs will help you get that truck moving.
-Replacing the handlebars with flat handlebars will help with the ergonomics.
-Adding a rear derailleur and wheel with cogs will help you get that truck moving.
02-03-21, 10:56 PM
#5
Uber Goober
"left abandoned" sounds an awful lot like "I stole this bike".
If it was out in a corn field or something, you might want to check with the police and see if it was ever reported stolen prior to that.
Handlebars/saddle- looks like a setup for a very tall person- you can possibly buy a shorter stem to drop the handlebars down a good bit. You can adjust seat fore/aft and there are some set-back seatposts made, I believe.
"Second wheel up front" sounds like a bad idea. One thing to check is if there is excessive slack in the steering mechanism, which would make it pretty wonky. You can get some reverse-tricycles (Worksman makes them, others as well) but they are heavier, geared more poorly than this, etc. And unlike you might imagine, two wheels up front does not help stability unless you are going very slow or stopped; otherwise, it hurts, as you can't lean the bike into turns.
Gearing for climbing with an adult up front is going to be a challenge. My suggestion is, run it by a good bike shop and ask "What can be done?"
Simplest solution is keep the existing gearing and use smaller chain ring or larger rear sprocket for lower gearing.
With a normal bike on a steep hill, you'll get down very near the point where you can't balance anymore. With about 2.5 times the weight, if you do get incredibly low gearing, you may fall over. If your passenger is not incapacitated, have them jump out and push would be the way to go.
Assuming that is a factory-made bakfiets, I would highly recommend against cutting it up and splicing more tube in, etc. If it doesn't fit, sell it and buy or build something that does instead of ruining a good bike.
If it was out in a corn field or something, you might want to check with the police and see if it was ever reported stolen prior to that.
Handlebars/saddle- looks like a setup for a very tall person- you can possibly buy a shorter stem to drop the handlebars down a good bit. You can adjust seat fore/aft and there are some set-back seatposts made, I believe.
"Second wheel up front" sounds like a bad idea. One thing to check is if there is excessive slack in the steering mechanism, which would make it pretty wonky. You can get some reverse-tricycles (Worksman makes them, others as well) but they are heavier, geared more poorly than this, etc. And unlike you might imagine, two wheels up front does not help stability unless you are going very slow or stopped; otherwise, it hurts, as you can't lean the bike into turns.
Gearing for climbing with an adult up front is going to be a challenge. My suggestion is, run it by a good bike shop and ask "What can be done?"
Simplest solution is keep the existing gearing and use smaller chain ring or larger rear sprocket for lower gearing.
With a normal bike on a steep hill, you'll get down very near the point where you can't balance anymore. With about 2.5 times the weight, if you do get incredibly low gearing, you may fall over. If your passenger is not incapacitated, have them jump out and push would be the way to go.
Assuming that is a factory-made bakfiets, I would highly recommend against cutting it up and splicing more tube in, etc. If it doesn't fit, sell it and buy or build something that does instead of ruining a good bike.
__________________
"be careful this rando stuff is addictive and dan's the 'pusher'."
"be careful this rando stuff is addictive and dan's the 'pusher'."
04-13-21, 06:26 AM
#6
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by 63rickert
Lower the handlebar. These bikes have seriously good ergonomics. Use it as intended and you won’t have a problem.
Front brake is front hub. Find the arm, connect the cable.
When the handlebars return to earth the gear range will be more functional.
Bike was created in Holland where hills are scarce. Riding that up a hill of any size is not going to be easy.
You do know this beast retails for over $3000? Someone abandoned this? You are sure of that?
Front brake is front hub. Find the arm, connect the cable.
When the handlebars return to earth the gear range will be more functional.
Bike was created in Holland where hills are scarce. Riding that up a hill of any size is not going to be easy.
You do know this beast retails for over $3000? Someone abandoned this? You are sure of that?
it had red sticker and the front wooden "bak" was broken which i jerry rigged into semi working shape
04-13-21, 06:29 AM
#7
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by StephenH
"left abandoned" sounds an awful lot like "I stole this bike".
If it was out in a corn field or something, you might want to check with the police and see if it was ever reported stolen prior to that.
Handlebars/saddle- looks like a setup for a very tall person- you can possibly buy a shorter stem to drop the handlebars down a good bit. You can adjust seat fore/aft and there are some set-back seatposts made, I believe.
"Second wheel up front" sounds like a bad idea. One thing to check is if there is excessive slack in the steering mechanism, which would make it pretty wonky. You can get some reverse-tricycles (Worksman makes them, others as well) but they are heavier, geared more poorly than this, etc. And unlike you might imagine, two wheels up front does not help stability unless you are going very slow or stopped; otherwise, it hurts, as you can't lean the bike into turns.
Gearing for climbing with an adult up front is going to be a challenge. My suggestion is, run it by a good bike shop and ask "What can be done?"
Simplest solution is keep the existing gearing and use smaller chain ring or larger rear sprocket for lower gearing.
With a normal bike on a steep hill, you'll get down very near the point where you can't balance anymore. With about 2.5 times the weight, if you do get incredibly low gearing, you may fall over. If your passenger is not incapacitated, have them jump out and push would be the way to go.
Assuming that is a factory-made bakfiets, I would highly recommend against cutting it up and splicing more tube in, etc. If it doesn't fit, sell it and buy or build something that does instead of ruining a good bike.
If it was out in a corn field or something, you might want to check with the police and see if it was ever reported stolen prior to that.
Handlebars/saddle- looks like a setup for a very tall person- you can possibly buy a shorter stem to drop the handlebars down a good bit. You can adjust seat fore/aft and there are some set-back seatposts made, I believe.
"Second wheel up front" sounds like a bad idea. One thing to check is if there is excessive slack in the steering mechanism, which would make it pretty wonky. You can get some reverse-tricycles (Worksman makes them, others as well) but they are heavier, geared more poorly than this, etc. And unlike you might imagine, two wheels up front does not help stability unless you are going very slow or stopped; otherwise, it hurts, as you can't lean the bike into turns.
Gearing for climbing with an adult up front is going to be a challenge. My suggestion is, run it by a good bike shop and ask "What can be done?"
Simplest solution is keep the existing gearing and use smaller chain ring or larger rear sprocket for lower gearing.
With a normal bike on a steep hill, you'll get down very near the point where you can't balance anymore. With about 2.5 times the weight, if you do get incredibly low gearing, you may fall over. If your passenger is not incapacitated, have them jump out and push would be the way to go.
Assuming that is a factory-made bakfiets, I would highly recommend against cutting it up and splicing more tube in, etc. If it doesn't fit, sell it and buy or build something that does instead of ruining a good bike.
i am currently waiting on my bike shop to give me a budget on changing gears etc since i wanna know just how expensive its gonna be. that said since this post all gears have died and it is currently a single speed bakfiets
04-18-21, 12:42 PM
#8
Full Member
Originally Posted by phile
need to somehow either move handlebars forward or saddle, as current riding position can best be described as t rex arms and is exhausting
Search "verstelbare stuurpen" of gewoon stuurpen op Marktplaats, Bol, enz.
Wish, Alibaba has adjustable quill stem too but might not fit Dutch spec bike so measure the original with a caliper to make sure what you have.
Good luck removing old stem from abandoned bakfiets. RJ the bike guy has a good video on how to do this. You can ruin the fork if you're not careful.
Originally Posted by phile
need to somehow add a second wheel up front preferably side to side with first one to add more stability. adults very likely will be in front "bak" cause we're idiots
If you're going for speed you can adjust the steering response by moving the steering rod further/nearer the column.
Originally Posted by phile
would prefer to change to regular rim or disc brakes. thinking rim brakes would be easier
i believe all gearing is through internal hub, would like to get faster gears while maintaining the lower ones for climbing cause this thing is heavy
i believe all gearing is through internal hub, would like to get faster gears while maintaining the lower ones for climbing cause this thing is heavy
