Converting a Diamond Frame to Recumbent?
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Illinois
Posts: 211
Bikes: Kona Hoss Deluxe, Rans Tailwind, KHS Solo One SE
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Is it possible to convert a diamond frame into something like a recumbent?
#2
Veteran, Pacifist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Seattle area
Posts: 13,328
Bikes: Bikes??? Thought this was social media?!?
Mentioned: 284 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3898 Post(s)
Liked 4,834 Times
in
2,229 Posts
Originally Posted by 610
Is it possible to convert a diamond frame into something like a recumbent?
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,268
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 118 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 50 Times
in
25 Posts
A decent bent is going to cost you some $$$. Forget about conversions. If the budget is too tight, watch Ebay and Craigslist. Decent stuff comes up regularly.
#4
Slow But Handsome
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 141
Bikes: Old steel Roadmaster
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by PuttPutt
really?... And just what is your definition of "recumbent" Wildwood?
And does this qualify?
https://www.cruzbike.com/
And does this qualify?
https://www.cruzbike.com/
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Orlando
Posts: 301
Bikes: homebuilt FWD recumbents, Genesis 20" folding bike, 1986 Schwinn Tempo, Cannondale Beast of the East, 70's Peugeot
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Originally Posted by Mild Al
That's a recumbent, but it didn't start out as a regular diamond frame. It's more of a "Y-frame." If I read the Cruzbike site correctly, their kit is really designed for the double-suspension MTB's. I was thinking about converting my DF bike to a Cruzbike, but the straight, level, rigid top tube would interfere with the correct placement of the seat (I think.)
Or, as bbwolfy mentions, you could cut up two old DFs to make a Toureasy clone. But if you're gonna go that far, go all the way:
Last edited by atombikes; 03-04-06 at 01:15 PM.
#7
A1A cyclist
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Ft. Lauderdale
Posts: 255
Bikes: Schwinn, American Bicycle Company, Jamis, Huffy
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I read somewhere that it's bad to have the feet way above the seat. Curculation/gravity or something like that?
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Sin City, Nevada
Posts: 2,886
Bikes: Catrike 700, Greenspeed GTO trike, , Linear LWB recumbent, Haluzak Horizon SWB recumbent, Balance 450 MTB, Cannondale SM800 Beast of the East
Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 523 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 229 Times
in
181 Posts
There is (or maybe was) a company in Washington state selling plans for building your own recumbent from donor bikes. A friend did that and produced a somewhat heavy but nice looking recumbent. He did buy a few new parts and the total cost including painting it himself was around $300. The supplier did provide some of the parts for the recumbent. My friend soon went on to buy a used a used 2-wheeled recumbent and than a really fine used GS GTO trike. He didn't pay all that much more for the used recumbent than for the one he built. You may be able to find some links at the Gaerlan bike shop site - www.gaerlan.com. It is also a good souce of recumbent supplies. Ditto for Power On Cylcing in Florida.
#9
Senior Member
Take a BMX bike, weld a boom on the front for pedals. Make a seat out of two pieces of plywood joined by a piano hinge, and bolt it to the top tube. From there, the more sophisicated you want, the more welding will be required. Starting with a larger upright frame results in a higher seat. Here's a couple of examples:
https://www.recumbents.com/WISIL/junkbike/junkbike.htm
https://www.recumbents.com/WISIL/junk...orrestbike.htm
https://www.recumbents.com/WISIL/junkbike/junkbike.htm
https://www.recumbents.com/WISIL/junk...orrestbike.htm
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Orlando
Posts: 301
Bikes: homebuilt FWD recumbents, Genesis 20" folding bike, 1986 Schwinn Tempo, Cannondale Beast of the East, 70's Peugeot
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
There was an informal survey on BROL awhile ago about what was the easiest recumbent to build. Although there was never really a final answer to that question, the general consensus was that the BMX conversion was probably the quickest way to get a swb homebuilt recumbent.
But if you're going that route, then I think a dual 26" or dual 700c like the JRex/Junkbike would be the way to go. Same number of welds, but you end up with a faster bike.
Every time I see a picture of this bike, it makes me want to go cut up a DF and start brazing. It just looks fast!
But if you're going that route, then I think a dual 26" or dual 700c like the JRex/Junkbike would be the way to go. Same number of welds, but you end up with a faster bike.
Every time I see a picture of this bike, it makes me want to go cut up a DF and start brazing. It just looks fast!
Last edited by atombikes; 03-04-06 at 06:48 PM.
#11
lowracer ninja master
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 912
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by atombikes
There was an informal survey on BROL awhile ago about what was the easiest recumbent to build. Although there was never really a final answer to that question, the general consensus was that the BMX conversion was probably the quickest way to get a swb homebuilt recumbent.
But if you're going that route, then I think a dual 26" or dual 700c like the JRex/Junkbike would be the way to go. Same number of welds, but you end up with a faster bike.
Every time I see a picture of this bike, it makes me want to go cut up a DF and start brazing. It just looks fast!
But if you're going that route, then I think a dual 26" or dual 700c like the JRex/Junkbike would be the way to go. Same number of welds, but you end up with a faster bike.
Every time I see a picture of this bike, it makes me want to go cut up a DF and start brazing. It just looks fast!
Hey, that looks just like John's junkbike. hmmm maybe it is? I thought there was a carbon fork on johns junkbike though.
#12
Senior Member
Originally Posted by lowracer1
Hey, that looks just like John's junkbike. hmmm maybe it is? I thought there was a carbon fork on johns junkbike though.
If you could find a 13" mixte frame or a sloping top-tube, then you wouldn't even have to do any cutting to make one like this, just weld a boom on the front and a few fittings for idlers. A 15" frame might work, depending on how long your legs are.
#13
Newbie
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Menlo Park, CA
Posts: 1
Bikes: Bike E, Specialized Epic, a dozen home built wooden bikes
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
You can see several bents ("or something like a recumbent") made from other bikes, scooters, lawnmowers, bedposts, lumber, driftwood, skis etc at: www.woodenbikes.com
Its a site about trying out your own ideas.
The world hour bike speed record was held recently by an ameture rider on a home made bike using a Washing Machine bearing as its BB.
Its a site about trying out your own ideas.
The world hour bike speed record was held recently by an ameture rider on a home made bike using a Washing Machine bearing as its BB.
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Orlando
Posts: 301
Bikes: homebuilt FWD recumbents, Genesis 20" folding bike, 1986 Schwinn Tempo, Cannondale Beast of the East, 70's Peugeot
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Originally Posted by World Tour
I read somewhere that it's bad to have the feet way above the seat. Curculation/gravity or something like that?
I think I have seen stated that the max distance you would want the bottom bracket about the seat is approx. 9 inches, and my bike falls within that range.
#15
bobkat
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Bismarck, ND
Posts: 746
Bikes: Modified Burley Koosah, Trek Navigater folding, downtube folding
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Great ideas folks! I'm planning on converting an old Raleigh 20 folder to a SWB bent, similar to the BMX conversion above. I thought I'd Tig a boom out front for a bottom bracket, use a front derailler and chain to the existing crank, then put an 8 speed internal hub on the rear. Don't know if it will work or not but the 4130 steel just came today. Thanks for the above web sites - very informative.
#16
A1A cyclist
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Ft. Lauderdale
Posts: 255
Bikes: Schwinn, American Bicycle Company, Jamis, Huffy
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
YOu guys are great, thanks for all the great ideas. I'm buying my own welder soon.
I took a 20" bmx and a 16" barbie kiddie bike and plan on making a SWB out of them. I plan on using a 20" fork for the rear and the center part of the Barbie bike upside down for the front boom. But the pedals look like they may be too close to the front wheel, I'm experimenting. I want to use a 3-speed Sturmey Archer rear wheel, rather than rig all the chain for a derailer. This isn't a time trials bike, just something to play with and experiment with. I think 3-speeds are underrated personally.
I took a 20" bmx and a 16" barbie kiddie bike and plan on making a SWB out of them. I plan on using a 20" fork for the rear and the center part of the Barbie bike upside down for the front boom. But the pedals look like they may be too close to the front wheel, I'm experimenting. I want to use a 3-speed Sturmey Archer rear wheel, rather than rig all the chain for a derailer. This isn't a time trials bike, just something to play with and experiment with. I think 3-speeds are underrated personally.
#17
Out fishing with Annie on his lap, a cigar in one hand and a ginger ale in the other, watching the sunset.
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: South Florida
Posts: 16,056
Bikes: Techna Wheelchair and a Sun EZ 3 Recumbent Trike
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 9 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 22 Times
in
17 Posts
Originally Posted by World Tour
YOu guys are great, thanks for all the great ideas. I'm buying my own welder soon.
I took a 20" bmx and a 16" barbie kiddie bike and plan on making a SWB out of them. I plan on using a 20" fork for the rear and the center part of the Barbie bike upside down for the front boom. But the pedals look like they may be too close to the front wheel, I'm experimenting. I want to use a 3-speed Sturmey Archer rear wheel, rather than rig all the chain for a derailer. This isn't a time trials bike, just something to play with and experiment with. I think 3-speeds are underrated personally.
I took a 20" bmx and a 16" barbie kiddie bike and plan on making a SWB out of them. I plan on using a 20" fork for the rear and the center part of the Barbie bike upside down for the front boom. But the pedals look like they may be too close to the front wheel, I'm experimenting. I want to use a 3-speed Sturmey Archer rear wheel, rather than rig all the chain for a derailer. This isn't a time trials bike, just something to play with and experiment with. I think 3-speeds are underrated personally.
__________________
. “He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.”- Fredrick Nietzsche
"We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals." - Immanuel Kant
. “He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.”- Fredrick Nietzsche
"We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals." - Immanuel Kant