acampbell - 28-7-2006 at 05:54 AM
Don't laugh but... Has anyone here built a buggy out of PVC pipe? I've seen it elswhere on-line.
We have just moved to a different pat of the country (Coastal Georgia- great buggy sites!), built a new house and I'm struggling with building a new
consulting practice, so $500 out of the household budget for a buggy is probably not a good idea.
But me coming back from Home Depot with a bunch of plumbing parts and some wheel-barrow wheels would be way off the radar screen. By the time my wife
figured what I was up to, it would be way too late.
Or should I just wait here for a good deal on a used buggy?
coreykite - 28-7-2006 at 11:14 AM
Angus,
Wait for a good deal on a real buggy.
Yes, you can build out of pvc, but it's all compromise and make-do.
PVC also deteriorates in UV.
It's your ass out there, inches off the ground...
Anybody care if you hurt yourself?
Can you do your consulting business out of a hospital bed or a wheelchair?
Best bet?
Wait until spring and the NABX event.
Reward yourself for getting your business up and running by coming out to the playa for a week.
Get your buggy legs under you in a venue without boundries (nearly).
But what do I know?
Safen Up! Buggy On!
"Often wrong... Never in doubt"
the coreylama
acampbell - 28-7-2006 at 01:30 PM
Yeah, thanks CoreyLama, I kind of knew that was the answer. I thought of ways that I could reinforce a PVC frame, but in the end when the novelty
wore off, it would still look pretty stupid.
I just got back from the beach where I was flying my foil, great day with good pull. I'm resolved to negotiate through the House Ways and Means
Committee to go for the real buggy.
Be well and winded.
DON321 - 28-7-2006 at 05:09 PM
YEAH PVC DOSENT SOUND LIKE SUCH A GOOD IDEA......
with what you would pay a hospital for getting hurt you could buy 50 buggies and kites to with them.......
Pablo - 28-7-2006 at 09:00 PM
Keep your eyes open and have patience, there was just a smoking deal on a Flexi buggy here not too long ago. Something else will come up.
Some things seem like a good idea, but after a year of hard buggying and seeing what can happen, there's no way I'd put my health in the hands of a
make shift buggy, I built mine out of stainless, had a buddy do the welding, so while it's homebuilt, it's still more than up to the task.
If you really wanna go cheap, find a buddy that can weld mild steel, you're looking at about $200 worth of material between wheels, seat and metal,
may even be able to source some out of a scrap bin for the metal, then paint with 3-4 layers of paint,
Still better off going with a decent used bug though if your on a budget, after riding mine hard for a year, I can keep up to the likes of the reg
production Libra's, but it's not pretty, I've tried the libra's and they feel light years ahead of my homebuilt. My next bug will be bought.
Bucky - 3-9-2006 at 12:19 PM
A good way to think about it is: Buggies take roughly the same amount of torque and abuse as a mountain bike. How many of you want to ride a PVC
mountainbike?!?
Besides I've seen some good used buggies on Ebay for CHEAP!! My friend recently picked up a Peter Lynn classic for $125 bucks!! In this day and age,
you'll probably spend more for the gas it takes to drive to the hardware store!
jonesing4wind - 3-9-2006 at 11:16 PM
I made my first buggy from 2 1/2 inch PVC, SCH 40. the regular white stuff. I used a kids scooter front fork. There was no welding. I also used
plastic rimmed wheelbarrow tires for the rear wheels. Not counting gas, time and labor, I sunk well over $200 into it and only rode it twice!. It is
NOT worth it! I ended up buying a 2nd hand PL comp. While it is fun to tinker with buggy mods, I will ALWAYS recommend a factory made as a first
buggy. And when the time comes to make your own, NEVER out of PVC. It is NOT worth it! This is an opinion, take it as such.
Sean
PS, save the PVC for a spud-gun!
acampbell - 4-9-2006 at 02:11 PM
Thanks Sean.
Anyone know anything about the Kite Trike buggies being sold on e-Bay?
I took y'alls advice and got off the PVC thing and bought a "real" one but this appears to be a realtively new brand. They are selling new for
<$300
kitemaker4 - 4-9-2006 at 07:38 PM
Last year at DBBB on Galveson I saw a kite trike buggy. It looked well put together. I am not sure how they hold up. If I were you I would go to
the race kites forum and see if anyone has writen a review about the buggy.
Susan
jonesing4wind - 4-9-2006 at 08:21 PM
I have seen them up close, but not ridden one. This years NABX a friend had one. He put dozens of miles on it and it seemed fine. It should get you
a solid start in buggying. The only warning I can think of is check all bolts before each session (which should be done regardless of brand) and
watch those foot-peg things, they look a little sharp!
Have a blast!!
Sean
Pablo - 6-9-2006 at 10:23 AM
Just picked up a used flexi bug for a buddy, new seat, new tire, good shape for $250. They're out there, just keep your eyes open.
awindofchange - 6-9-2006 at 10:54 AM
We have been using and selling the Kite Trike buggy for nearly a year now and I have to say that it is a very good quality buggy for the price.
Retail is $399.00 complete. The Kite Trike bolts are all shipped with locktite already put on the bolts and this helps keep them from coming lose.
The foot pegs are totally adjustable and it has a good amount of adjustment on the down tube as well. The rear axle is wider than both the standard
Peter Lynn and the Flexi, which is very nice for higher speeds - it gives the Kite Trike a lot more stability. The seat is very good too with
integrated back rest and rear storage pocket.
Durability has been excellent - the buggy seems to be able to hold up as good or better than the other brands. We have only had one seat fail in all
the buggies that we have sold over the last year - and this was due to being installed wrong - the seat was replaced no problem.
We are very pleased with this buggy and think that it is the best deal on the market.
Hope this helps!
Bucky - 6-9-2006 at 02:18 PM
Kite trike buggies very well made, and are probably one of the best buggies for the money out there. A far better option than the Radsail buggies
being offered on Ebay as well. Radsail even skimps on their tires. They're 14" instead of the standard 16".