Tall Bike Plans...
Thread started by
Thatslife711 at 05.18.10 - 10:08 pm
Im planning on building a tall bike but I have no idea where to start.....
I already have a couple of junk frames but I dont know whats the best way to stack them.... Are there some kind of blueprints/tips/things to watch out for when building a tall bike.....
any advice will be appreciated!
Or send me some pics of tall bikes close ups
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I'm going to be helpful but brief.
Basically:
1 - align two similar-size frames so that you dont ride so far back over the rear tire. smaller frame up top.
2 - tack weld the bottom of the BB of the top bike to the toptube of bottom bike.
3 - very carefully align the headtubes to create a single steering tube.
4 - weld like a maniac.
5 - install a long chain in the best suitable way depending on your rear dropouts. The arrangement of your should be so that you have the most play when making your chain. There's a few ways to do your chain - straight down, with a derailleur, a triangular setup, etc..
6 - Ride it, break it, fix it, learn it, build a new one that really suits you, break it, fix it, ride with Los Angelopes, break your ankle, fix it, ride down Hollywood and find a heina, marry her, stop riding tall bikes, get divorced, repeat step 1.
SKIDMARCUS05.18.10 - 10:53 pm
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"break your ankle, fix it, ride down Hollywood and find a heina"
hhahahahahaha
KiMS1 responding to a
comment by SKIDMARCUS
05.19.10 - 8:40 am
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Thanks for the advice Skidmarcus! I'm make sure I follow step number 6 to the bone Haha
Thatslife71105.19.10 - 9:48 am
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There are so many different ways to configure a tall bike. No two are the same. There are no standardized plans.
Go to rides where you know there will be tall bikes. When you see the tall bikes, examine them and talk to the bikes owners. After you've armed yourself with a little knowledge, decide what route you want to go.
Some things to think about:
Are you going to build it fixed, single-speed freewheel, multiple gears, coaster brake?
Is your chain routing going to be triangular? Are you going to route the chain to the upper frame directly or are you going to turn the bottom crankset into a slave?
One thing to keep an eye out for is to make sure that your seat doesn't fall behind the balance point of the rear axle or else you will be wheelie bound.
petr0lb0mb05.19.10 - 10:09 am
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easiest way to line them up that i found is to find a long straight pole that fits snugly into the headtubes.
larsenf05.19.10 - 11:49 am
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really its amazing how much eyeballing you can do and still have a bike that steers straight.
larsenf05.19.10 - 11:50 am
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now for the obligatory
"that's what she said"
but in all reality, i would listen to anything larsen has to say about tall bikery.
TheDude responding to a
comment by larsenf
05.19.10 - 11:50 am
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If you ride a Tall Bike like I do, get insurance.
Joe Borfo05.19.10 - 11:52 am
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Or carry morphine and take EMT or Paramedic classes for your own enrichment.
Give 'em the bird if they get suspicious as to why you're not in it for "career" reasons.
bentstrider responding to a
comment by Joe Borfo
05.19.10 - 1:47 pm
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What everyone has said is pretty much it. Line up the steer-tubes, tack in place, and hope that everything else lines up ok. Ride it, then break yourself, fix yourself, ride again, break the bike, fix it, wash off the blood, repeat.
the reverend dak05.19.10 - 1:55 pm
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Money money money moneeeeeeeeeeey, MOOOOOOOOOOOOONNNAAAAAY
bentstrider responding to a
comment by coldcut
05.19.10 - 3:31 pm
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Just wait till Walmart starts selling them....I'd say for under $200.00.
Foldie05.19.10 - 4:01 pm
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i hear you joined the club, when do i get to see it?
larsenf responding to a
comment by the reverend dak
05.20.10 - 1:43 am
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ohhh i just saw it in your profile. wonderful design, thats how im doing them now. you can take it apart yes?
larsenf responding to a
comment by the reverend dak
05.20.10 - 1:53 am
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Here's mine as of this morning. I just changed over to a two-chain setup. I was previously running a long chain triangularly but I found that due to the extreme length the derailleur was not able to keep enough tension on the chain. So far, I like this setup a lot. I got the idea of using a dummy chainring to keep the chain tensioned from a really awesomly freaky tall bike I saw parked at Bike Night at The Hammer.
Also, you may notice the the head tubes aren't inline on my bike as they usually are on tall bikes. The steering is connected by a steering knuckle (U-joints). I did this to shift the rider's weight forward and help ensure the bike is not wheelie prone. I can't say that I would recommend going this route because it's complicated, costly and disappointing because the pin and block style U-joints inherently have a little play in them which makes the steering feel a little bit loose.
petr0lb0mb05.20.10 - 10:32 am
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Aww, thanks!
The next step is to fit it with a sound system.
petr0lb0mb responding to a
comment by Joe Borfo
05.20.10 - 10:40 am
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Thanks Larson, and yes, you can take it apart.
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It'll be at Choppercabras, for sure. I hope to take it to Angelopes soon. I only finished it a couple weeks ago.
the reverend dak responding to a
comment by larsenf
05.20.10 - 11:43 am
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There is an unwritten law about selling Tall-bikes, all freak bikes for that matter.
But we live in America, and it's a CAPITALIST country, so yeah - grain-o-salt.
For you, my friend, $5 million dollars. Each. Verified Paypal accepted.
the reverend dak responding to a
comment by coldcut
05.20.10 - 12:04 pm
reply
Damn, that is awesome! I wish I could take mine apart. Transporting it would be so much easier. Nice easy chain tension adjustment, too I guess.
petr0lb0mb responding to a
comment by the reverend dak
05.20.10 - 1:54 pm
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that sure is one clusterfuck of a tallbike. i always follow one key rule; K.I.S.S. Keep It Simple, Stupid. it usually makes everything much easier.
larsenf responding to a
comment by petr0lb0mb
05.20.10 - 2:28 pm
reply
dak, amazing bike, the only thing is that chain tension, kind of weird set up. i always figured it wouldnt work because the head tube and seat tube angles aren't usually the same. which is true on my bike since i used a bent bottom frame. i just welded upside down dropouts from a kids bike so i could get perfect tension.
larsenf responding to a
comment by the reverend dak
05.20.10 - 2:31 pm
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for those wanting to keep good chain tension on a SS tallbike. cut out dropouts, bolt them to your wheel, have someone hold the wheel up to the bike and tack the dropouts in place.
larsenf05.20.10 - 2:33 pm
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I agree. I would have preferred a simpler design. If nothing else, for aesthetic reasons. However, with the resources I had at the time, the route I took was the most feasible. In the end, I have no regrets as it functions really well mechanically, it's comfortable to ride, it's sturdy and it has a nice range of gearing.
In building it, I've learned a few things. The next one I build will be as simple as possible.
petr0lb0mb responding to a
comment by larsenf
05.20.10 - 2:53 pm
reply
man, i need to do something with all these frames i have.
coldcut05.20.10 - 3:55 pm
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Here's one design--for sale on CL now. Not sure I'd duplicate that one though.
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sgv/bik/1752598415.html
dudeonabike05.21.10 - 12:34 pm
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Whatever, tallbikes are so passe.
It's all about spin bikes now.
FuzzBeast05.22.10 - 4:23 am
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Soo far this is what I have going
What is the best way to make sure the chain will align straight....
Any suggestions tips???
Thatslife71106.3.10 - 8:23 pm
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looks like it's lacking in structural support. (needs another triangle)
but quite a freak bike.
Joe Borfo responding to a
comment by Thatslife711
06.3.10 - 8:33 pm
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Did you read the 2nd post on this thread from Marcus?
Does the chainring align with the rear wheel?
Joe Borfo06.3.10 - 8:55 pm
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Looks like you need some more pieces before you need to start worrying about your chainline. If the final result looks anything like the mock up you have so far, you will have one sick ass tall bike. But, yeah, structurally you're going to have some engineering to do if you expect that thing to support the weight of a rider. Run with it and make it happen, dude.
Make sure your rear axle is positioned far enough behind the seat so that the bike doesn't want to wheelie. Try to make sure the seat tube angle ends up being as close to 73° as possible, or else you will not be in a comfortable riding position.
petr0lb0mb responding to a
comment by Thatslife711
06.3.10 - 9:49 pm
reply
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