I'm Olivier from www.crab-buggy.com
There's a few pics of the latest prototype of the Crab here : http://www.box.net/shared/v1p66p7vg7
Production and distribution is still work in progress, but I'm really happy with the current design.
The ride is smooth (thanks to Mr. Buggybags !) and steering is precise and stable.
Comments and questions are welcome !
Cheers,Todd - 17-7-2009 at 10:41 AM
Welcome Oliver,
That thing is pretty slick!Drewculous - 17-7-2009 at 11:02 AM
so it steers kinda like a board... tilting the foot plate?
That is pretty crazy stuff! Good work!BeamerBob - 17-7-2009 at 11:04 AM
So I guess to change direction and go back, you just stop and restart going the other way? No powerslides? It does make sense to face the power of
the kite, but I would miss the sliding turns.revpaul - 17-7-2009 at 12:27 PM
i wonder how quick the steering is. inland i quite often jink up/down wind to account for gusts and line slack.Ozzy - 17-7-2009 at 01:34 PM
Check the website of Olivier ,...I did also tried to drive it on La Franqui, France, some years ago.....very funny to drive,
Welcom Olivier, hope to see you again soon,..fyi, I am from the 26th juli to the 14thaug in France, nearby La Franqui.
Just a bit vacation and cruising with the Apexx....
regards,
OzzyCrab-Buggy - 18-7-2009 at 06:12 AM
Hi Ozzy !
Congrats for the NABX dash !
Regarding the question about powersliding, I suggest you guys check out this vid : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUbOJxwSCvA
The music is a bit "old school", but I just picked it from Youtube's "free of rights" tunes, since I was axed by Warner for a copyright infringement.
:embarrased:
The Crab does slide, no problem !Kamikuza - 18-7-2009 at 07:15 AM
Nice one!gilligan - 18-7-2009 at 05:40 PM
Lol I felt like I was looking at an Escher drawing...Crab-Buggy - 19-7-2009 at 08:56 AM
"Lol I felt like I was looking at an Escher drawing..."
That's what kite-surfers, snow-kiters and mountain-boarders may think when looking at a kite buggy :frog:popeyethewelder - 20-7-2009 at 11:46 AM
Hi Oliver, I am so pleased everything is still moving forwards with your Crab Buggy, like the web site tooCrab-Buggy - 20-7-2009 at 02:09 PM
Hi Carl !
I've been working on drastic simplifications to the steering mechanism and went back to an adjustable frame instead of adjustable seat which wasn't a
good idea after all.
Result : 30% less parts and weight gone down almost 8 kg !
I've never been closer to production...
Cheers,WELDNGOD - 22-7-2009 at 05:45 PM
I want to see a 360' or a 180' with that.Crab-Buggy - 24-7-2009 at 02:33 AM
dont get mad if I make me one of those crabs.
Cause I can. And probably will. I promise I won't sell it though. Just add it to the collection.:wee:Crab-Buggy - 25-7-2009 at 03:00 AM
Hi Weldngod,
It is an honnor for me.
There are already "home-made" Crab builders in the folowing countries :
Canada, Mexico, Russia, Czech Republic, Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, France, and probably others that I am not aware of.
Although I'm curious to see how someone would go about and build one from scratch, I can send you documentation about my current design if it can help
you out.Big Earl - 25-7-2009 at 08:13 PM
I want to build one too!Crab-Buggy - 26-7-2009 at 03:02 AM
Ahaa ! My evil plans are starting to work :evil:clintopher - 26-7-2009 at 05:39 AM
That thing is pretty sweet. I hope you do make one Weldngod 'cus I sure want to ride it.
Crab-buggy, could you take a couple of pics of the steering linkage? The pics you have don't show it very well and I'm having a hard time wrapping my
brain around how it works. Great idea. I hope you sell a boat load when it comes time for production.
ClintCrab-Buggy - 26-7-2009 at 09:00 AM
Hi Clintopher,
and thanks for the kind words.
Here's a video of the front wheel kinematics : http://www.box.net/shared/frpn9m7qhq
It is designed to have the same steering logic as a kitesurf board.
More descriptions of how the Crab steers : http://www.crab-buggy.com/crabe-lang-en-groupe-comment.html
Contrary to what one might think, the Crab steers pretty sharp. Up to the last prototype, it was even perhaps a bit too strong.
This is why I replaced the direct universal joints linkage with a lever+rod system that allows to adjust the steering strength.
In short, there is a "freestyle" position and a "racing" position.
Cheers !Crab-Buggy - 31-3-2013 at 10:00 AM
Hi guys,
I decided to post all my Crab-related stuff on my Blog from now on : www.oliviersuire.com
Some might be interested by the "Crab-Fab" page : I placed a link to download a complete set of fabrication drawings for prototype 11.
Awesome!! Would love to see some more videos....Crab-Buggy - 1-4-2013 at 04:48 AM
Hi John,
I wish I had your talent for shooting and editing videos...
The videos that I make hardly convey the fun I have riding the Crab, and it's a bit frustrating.
Would you have any advice for me ?
I have a Gopro 2 camera ; what would be the best point of view on a sideways-riding buggy, at your opinion ?
What resolution to you shoot at ?
Cheers !djinnzfree - 1-4-2013 at 04:57 AM
Hi Olivier,
Sur "mon" spot préféré; à Varennes au Québec y a un rider qui a un buggy crabe.
Mon opinion personnel... pour rider "pépère" ça l'air super. Pour rider "agressif" ça semble fragile.
Parcontre ça semble être la machine parfait pour remonter au vent!Crab-Buggy - 1-4-2013 at 05:09 AM
Je suis sûr qu'on peut envoyer beaucoup plus fort.
C'est aux jeunes pilotes talentueux de le montrer !
Amicalement,John Holgate - 1-4-2013 at 01:35 PM
Quote:
what would be the best point of view on a sideways-riding buggy, at your opinion ? What resolution to you shoot at ?
Thanks, Olivier! I use 720 at 60fps on the gopro. I think I would try to rig the gopro on a short arm near one of the front wheels. I also find
having the gopro on a short hand-held extension pole is very handy - you can strap a tube to your siderails to store it in.
I promise I won't sell it though. Just add it to the collection.:wee: