Power Kite Forum

weight limits on buggies

chadvicki - 28-7-2006 at 08:23 PM

Hello,

I was wondering what the weight limits on buggies are. Any have any information???

Chad

Pablo - 28-7-2006 at 09:02 PM

Freestyle I think is around 45lbs, race usually end up somewhere around 80lbs, Not sure what the legal race limit is though.

chadvicki - 29-7-2006 at 07:00 AM

I'm sorry. I meant what weight can the buggies handle. What is the largest rider that go in a buggy and which buggies are made for larger riders?

thanks,

Chad

KYTE SLINGER - 30-7-2006 at 12:09 PM

the Flintstone buggy is about as big as they get and can handle the biggest of BIG rider or riders........see{ SBBB 2003 }photos

The Peter Lynn NABX buggies are pretty stout

now if your looking in length...Buggys can be fitted with extra long side rails.

Chip Brown { see nabx photos }

and I don't want to say big as in weight but he's about 6'4 and I think he said 240pounds???? has #1 pimped buggy of 2006 and is fitted with extra long side rails and beefed up rear axle and a down tube that's stretched out too ....All dressed up in leather

??

chadvicki - 30-7-2006 at 04:26 PM

What does this mean? Sorry I don't know.

{ SBBB 2003 }photos

Is it a link?

Chad

KYTE SLINGER - 31-7-2006 at 05:23 AM

http://www.nabx.net/gallery.php

Pablo - 1-8-2006 at 11:04 PM

I know that the Libra Truck buggy is good for 300+ lbs, don't know if you'd wanna be jumping at that weight, but it's been holding up for the rider fine.

Tigger - 1-8-2006 at 11:32 PM

I am 210 lbs. 6'1/2" tall. I dont have any problem with either of my buggies which happen to be a Kite Trike and a Peter Lynn. Both have 12mm axle bolts. I don't do any air time, I like it fine on the ground.

popeyethewelder - 5-10-2006 at 09:58 AM

I know a 308lb guy that has had no problem with his flexi.....can't say he has been airborne in it though:)

Pablo - 5-10-2006 at 05:24 PM

Well, at 245lbs, I've pounded a couple bugs and not had a problem, Mostly Libra, beat on a old mk1 flexi, no jumping on that one though. And gotten some good jumping on my homebuilt. Haven't bent anything yet.........

jonesing4wind - 5-10-2006 at 07:08 PM

I am at 220 and I had an older PL comp st that held up well for 3 years till I upgraded to a PL XR+ and a Libre, which hold me just fine.

Pablo - 6-10-2006 at 08:33 AM

Thought the pl's would do pretty well, I've ridden one on a couple occasions and while they're not quite as stable as the Libra's on the top end, they're sure priced better and a lot lighter to transport.

DON321 - 13-10-2006 at 03:49 PM

Im 6'4 220lbs and my PL Comp takes the beating, the libre holds up well but not good for jumping, the buggy is to heavy but for just cruising i havent had any problems.....

jantie - 6-12-2006 at 01:10 PM

don't forget weight-balance of the buggyer/buggy.

my expirience is that the weight of the bug should be aproxx. half the
weight of the person that's on it... fully geared up.

but than again, i've a need For Speed..!!
no tricks for me, i want to stay firmly on the ground.

for tricks i guess as light and as strong as possible..


just my thought..

popeyethewelder - 11-12-2006 at 01:00 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by jantie
don't forget weight-balance of the buggyer/buggy.

my expirience is that the weight of the bug should be aproxx. half the
weight of the person that's on it... fully geared up.

but than again, i've a need For Speed..!!
no tricks for me, i want to stay firmly on the ground.

for tricks i guess as light and as strong as possible..


just my thought..



Hmm interesting, I weigh around 77kg and my new buggy will end up over 50kg

jantie - 11-12-2006 at 02:53 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by popeyethewelder
Quote:
Originally posted by jantie
don't forget weight-balance of the buggyer/buggy.

my expirience is that the weight of the bug should be aproxx. half the
weight of the person that's on it... fully geared up.

but than again, i've a need For Speed..!!
no tricks for me, i want to stay firmly on the ground.

for tricks i guess as light and as strong as possible..


just my thought..



Hmm interesting, I weigh around 77kg and my new buggy will end up over 50kg



then (in my opinion) you'll run the risk of getting launched out of your buggy sooner than you want to..
because of the relativly high weight of the bug you'll want to
use a bigger kite for more/better acceleration.
wich brings more risk of an eject..
i know some of the Master- and Open Class drivers here in Holland, and by guessing/asked their weight and pretty much knowing the weight of their buggy's they al have about the same person/ buggy weight ratio of 1/½. (give or take a few.)
but not that big of a difference that you have Carl..
it will probably work fine, but i think you should try
making your buggy max. 55-60% of your weight
(fully geared up that is..) if you want the max performance.!!

my weight ratio is (winter-time extra clothing..) almost exactly
1/½.
wicht for me is a good balance between high speed performance an offroad terrain-expirience...:cool:


again just my thought..

Pablo - 11-12-2006 at 06:06 PM

Ouch, anyone know where I can get an extra 100lbs of weight to add to my buggy:rolleyes:

My bug only weighs about 20% of my weight, maybe a little less, probably explains why I spend so much time going sideways eh

popeyethewelder - 11-12-2006 at 11:39 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by jantie
Quote:
Originally posted by popeyethewelder
Quote:
Originally posted by jantie
don't forget weight-balance of the buggyer/buggy.

my expirience is that the weight of the bug should be aproxx. half the
weight of the person that's on it... fully geared up.

but than again, i've a need For Speed..!!
no tricks for me, i want to stay firmly on the ground.

for tricks i guess as light and as strong as possible..


just my thought..



Hmm interesting, I weigh around 77kg and my new buggy will end up over 50kg



then (in my opinion) you'll run the risk of getting launched out of your buggy sooner than you want to..
because of the relativly high weight of the bug you'll want to
use a bigger kite for more/better acceleration.
wich brings more risk of an eject..
i know some of the Master- and Open Class drivers here in Holland, and by guessing/asked their weight and pretty much knowing the weight of their buggy's they al have about the same person/ buggy weight ratio of 1/½. (give or take a few.)
but not that big of a difference that you have Carl..
it will probably work fine, but i think you should try
making your buggy max. 55-60% of your weight
(fully geared up that is..) if you want the max performance.!!

my weight ratio is (winter-time extra clothing..) almost exactly
1/½.
wicht for me is a good balance between high speed performance an offroad terrain-expirience...:cool:


again just my thought..


like I said interesting, and I will bear that in mind in the future, I am not too bothered about acceleration, as I dont Race, just beach cruise as fast as possible. I fly access's and am pretty confident with them now, the more weight the straighter line I can keep..

some guys are 127kgs or more I am only 73kgs, I am fully wedged in my buggy.....ejection is not an option, well hopefully not anyway, the buggy will go up with me.

Carl

pea - 12-12-2006 at 05:52 AM



Designed for "the bigger man"? *giggle*

action jackson - 12-12-2006 at 09:17 AM

Yes and you can buggy under it too...............aj

jantie - 12-12-2006 at 12:20 PM

@ Pea

pretty cool picture ..:thumbup::spin:


@ Pablo

what's your game, speed or trick/jump.??


@ Carl
like i said, it wil most probably work fine/perfect.
i also do not (yet..) participate in races and find it great to cruise along the shoreline for several miles, but i do like to go fast.
you'll win probably 10 maybe 15% at speed when you have a good grip on the surface.

you wrote that you are wedged in your bug..??
similar to the new XX-racer i guess..
with an extra bend on the topside in the sidebars..??

aren't you affraid in case of a tipover you'll injure your
spinal cord or neck because you are 'stuck in between'..??

greetz

jantie

Pablo - 12-12-2006 at 11:31 PM

Jantie,

I'm into both, currently using 2 buggies, Borrowing a Libra Super Truck with full BF's, nice buggy, fairly good at holding a line at speed, it's heavy by my standards, but I don't think it meets the 1 - 1/2 ratio though.

The other bug is a homebuilt, it's a little wide for tricks, but super strong and nice and light, complete ready to ride it comes in at 22kg, Fully welded 1 peice frame, Marine grade stainless. I've been using this bug for the last couple years, works good, currently using it for tricks and starting to jump.

I love speed and want to do some racing, problem is our local parks that have decent wind are barely bigger than a football feild during the summer, in the winter it's reduced to about a third of that due to the fact that the city floods it to try and make a skating pond. So I've been getting into freestyle to make use of the small space.


I like flying powered right up though, Usually I'm at least a size or two bigger than everyone else, It's just a little hard holding an edge though at times with the full BF's, the light bug just doesn't have the weight behind it either.

popeyethewelder - 12-12-2006 at 11:36 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by jantie
you wrote that you are wedged in your bug..??
similar to the new XX-racer i guess..
with an extra bend on the topside in the sidebars..??

aren't you affraid in case of a tipover you'll injure your
spinal cord or neck because you are 'stuck in between'..??

greetz

jantie

No Jan only one bend ..not too keen on those xx- racer side rails, and I wont be THAT wedged in, not like some people, I mean I wont be loose or any movement once in the buggy. I dont worry about tipping over, as I have never once had a rear wheel leave the ground....and that is very reasuring

Carl

jantie - 13-12-2006 at 09:32 AM

@ Pablo

you wrote that you like to ride big.
i also like to ride with an as large possible kite.
the acceleration is that way tremendos.
(sample: little over 3 bft and using a 15.5m2 Race pro doing 36MPH.. ) but then you'll need some room,
and that is your problem ...
as for tricks and jumping i have no expirience
(ecxept for a few unwanted ejects...:smilegrin: )

and i can imagine that you find the Libre Truck heavy
when your homemade bug only weighs 22 kg..
if you ever get the oppertuninty to ride a dry lake or beach, maybe you could try adding weight on your Libre Truck and see what it does..

do you got some pictures..??

note:
for anyone who wants to try this,
not only put weight on the rear-side but also on the front.
you don't want a buggy that has way too much understeer.
it will not steer this way..:thumbdown:



@ Carl

i'm also not too keen on sitting wedged in the bug.
in the summertime with wearing only shorts an the
harnass i even got a few cm. to spare.
and because i like to fly big the risk is greater of tipping or eject.

especially during higher speeds and with little bumps
it frequently happens that my outher rear wheel ( the one that is not on the same side as the kite)
does get airborn.

that is also why i've fixed a roll-bar, so the bug doens't
fall on me.
(see picture)
this roll-bar runs all theway down and gives the advantage that you can brace yourself to the max, because the seat will not give way..

greetz
jan

Buggy Weights

popeyethewelder - 13-12-2006 at 12:23 PM

Under load = weight with rider sat in buggy using 3 sets of scales 1 under each wheel

Distance in Metres from rear to front axle centres (eg 1.635) LF = 1.52
Weight in Kg of front wheel under load (eg 45.635) WF = 45.359
Total weight of buggy under load WT = 105.219
Length in Metres from rear axle to tow point on harness LCT = 0.6
Extra weight added in Kg AW = 0
Front Fork weights distance to rear axle LAF = 0
Rear Axle weights distance to front axle LAR = 0

Weight force/moment above rear axle in Kg = 68.94568
( LF x WF )

LCG ( length to Centre of Gravity from rear axle ) in mm = 0.655259
( LF x WF / WT )

New LCG after rear axle weight added in mm = 0 Predicted Front wheel load in kg = 0
( (WT x LCG + AW x LAR ) / ( AW + WT ) ( ( AW + WT ) x LCG / LF )
Predicted Rear wheel loads in kg = 0
( ( AW + WT ) - WF ) / 2 )

New LCG after front fork weight added in mm = 0 Predicted Front wheel load in kg = 0
( (WT x LCG + AW x LAF ) / ( AW + WT ) ( ( AW + WT ) x LCG / LF )
Predicted Rear wheel loads in kg = 0
( ( AW + WT ) - WF ) / 2 )

Front weight as % #REF!
Rear weight as % #REF!

Pablo - 13-12-2006 at 05:46 PM

Jantie,

Been down to Seaside with both the bugs, unfortunatley, low wind the time I had the Super Truck, But Yeah, you really need a little room to open it up, I've gotten some ok runs at the local feild, but nothing spectacular. If I fly with enough power to get speed out of it in a short distance there's way too much sideways slipping.

The trick bug has a 140cm rear axle though, so it does ok with the power. A little bit fun learning to 2 wheel the sucker though.

I plan on heading down to NABX though this year, so I should be able to get some good runs in down there. Problem with the Super Truck though is that it's running full BF's, Not sure if I want to be buying replacement tires for it any time soon, It's a loaner buggy from a freind so I'm also not super keen on buying the proper forks and such for it to run barrow wheels. I may just end up getting a tonne of weights for the homebuilt.

jantie - 13-12-2006 at 10:06 PM

@ Pablo

if it's al loaner, don't put too much time and efford in it..
and for tricks a rear-axle of 140 cm..???? that's pretty long
and is it a problem to run on BF-fulls on NABX??

no pictures of your bugs..??

@ carl

my bug should be back on friday, then i'll put it on the scale again.
so i have the exact numbers of how much weight there is on each wheel.
and i will also measure it so i can give you the exact length and width,
and where my Centre of gravity is..

i'll keep you posted