Power Kite Forum

2 thoughts,... Advice?

soliver - 9-2-2013 at 09:31 PM

1. I find my feet slipping off the pegs a lot,... Any recommendation for an easy DIY foot strap? I have a PL XR front fork.

2. I've been toying with the idea of making a swan neck down tube,... Aside from looking cool and bringing down the COG, what is the advantage? Anyone ever done this on an XR? And if I can weld one up and get the necessary bearings for the front fork bolt, will the XR front fork work with it or would it be better to plan on fabricating a front fork as well?

I may not actually do the swan neck, just toying with the idea,... As if I have the time to do it .

Bigbear97e - 9-2-2013 at 10:16 PM

Saw a post here once . . Fellow made foot peg heel straps out of the closures (buckles and straps) for
his old ski boots . . See if I can find it and link it before Indigo does . . .Lol

bourgeois.jason - 9-2-2013 at 11:59 PM

I did something with rope that works great for me; however, since I am in Angola and will not be home for the next three weeks, I can't take any pictures.

I will try to explain it.

-Drill a 1/2" hole in the flat metal or plastic at the end of the foot peg and sand away any burrs or sharp edges.
-Tie a 3/8" rope to the fork directly above the foot peg with a bowline or another knot that will not come off.
-Wrap the rope around the foot peg as tightly as you can down the length of the peg. This rope will give you some grip on the pegs.
-Pass the rope through the hole that you drilled and tie a simple knot to keep the rope from sliding back through the hole.
-Leave about 6" of rope and cut it.
-Tie a knot at the end of this rope to keep it from unraveling.
-Tie another rope from the top of the fork to the rope you just cut. This rope will keep your foot from slipping off of the sides of the peg or lifting off of the top. It should not be tight over your foot. It is just there for when your feet lift off of the peg during bumps and such.

I know pictures would work much better. I'm sure you will have a solution by the time I get home.

-Jason

RedSky - 10-2-2013 at 04:45 AM

I use skateboard grip tape on the pegs. Works perfectly.

BEC - 10-2-2013 at 06:05 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by RedSky
I use skateboard grip tape on the pegs. Works perfectly.


Skateboard grip tape works great...This is also available at certain stores under anti-slip/safety tape (for stairs etc).

You may also get a set of BMX/Mountain bike grips for handlebars and cut the end off...Slip them over your footpegs. Purchase a pair that has a good pattern on them knowing what your intension is for them.

I'm going to try to upload a photo...(I don't know why I'm even trying..haha). If it doesn't work go to search engine and type in flexfoil buggy foot straps..hit imagines...you will see a couple shots of nylon webbing and how it's wrapped around peg then fork and to the other peg. It has a plastic clip in the middle.

On that same page you may also get some ideas of how others have used the top of snowboard bindings...

foot_strap_iso.jpg - 20kB

BEC - 10-2-2013 at 06:08 AM

^^^^^^^^^^^ :eekdrull: ^^^^^^^^^^^^^


IT WORKED!

soliver - 10-2-2013 at 08:53 AM

Thanks guys, that gives me some ideas on the straps,... Any thoughts on the swan neck downtube?

MDK - 10-2-2013 at 09:53 AM

I think www.popeyethewelder.com has a swan neck for the XR. also having a backrest may help with the feet slipping as well, giving you something to push back on for stability. http://www.awindofchange.com/product/awoc-backrest.html

edit; my mistatke it was for the Flexi http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151252532618999.4...

DAKITEZ - 10-2-2013 at 11:24 AM

you can buy the peter lynn big foot down tube it is a direct fit for your xr+

soliver - 10-2-2013 at 11:25 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by MDK
also having a backrest may help with the feet slipping as well, giving you something to push back on for stability. http://www.awindofchange.com/product/awoc-backrest.html



I've actually got the VTT rail kit which has a really good back support in the seat

DAKITEZ - 10-2-2013 at 11:26 AM

for your feet the grip tape works and I would recommend a heal strap vs the one that goes over your foot. It is much safer. If you flip or get pulled out of your buggy your foot will not get caught. With a strap over your foot your foot may stay caught and the buggy twist your ankle etc.

The style over your foot is best used for freestylers who are wanting to jump. If not jumping then heal straps :)

John Holgate - 10-2-2013 at 01:13 PM

Quote:

If you flip or get pulled out of your buggy your foot will not get caught. With a strap over your foot your foot may stay caught and the buggy twist your ankle etc.


I use heel straps too and love them. BUT, your foot can and does get caught if you go over the front. Don't ask me how it happens because I honestly can't figure it out but it has happened to me and one other that I know of with heel straps. Mine are seatbelt webbing....next time I'll try and use something stiffer.

You can also get an old bicycle tyre, cut it to length and use a good contact adhesive to secure it to your pegs for grip - I found it works really well.

MDK - 10-2-2013 at 01:45 PM

rubber strip for heel strap will hold its shape better and have a little grip, cut out of an old tire maybe?

indigo_wolf - 10-2-2013 at 06:32 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by MDK
rubber strip for heel strap will hold its shape better and have a little grip, cut out of an old tire maybe?


Dirtslide made heelstraps and top straps from two sets of Ground Industries Talon foot straps. You can see his handiwork about 3/4 of the way down in this thread: Lookin For A New Buggy.

The only concern I would have with rubber for the heel straps is that if they have any kind of age on them, they might be prone to UV damage/dry rot and when they go, they might do so suddenly.

You might want to consider two layers of wide nylon or polyester webbing (the latter would be less prone to UV damage and mildew if it gets wet. You can still sandwich the rubber or other material between the layers of webbing to give it some shape.

If you don't have a local source, Strapworks is a good source of webbing in a variety of colors, materials and widths.

Sorry for the delayed response.... headless chicken day.

ATB,
Sam

MDK - 10-2-2013 at 07:02 PM

Quote:
Quote:


The only concern I would have with rubber for the heel straps is that if they have any kind of age on them, they might be prone to UV damage/dry rot and when they go, they might do so suddenly.


ATB,
Sam


good point, PTW used a heavy duty strap that holds its shape real well but I haven't been able to find a source for it, I ordered some from strapworks but its not a rigid as what I have on my PTW

BEC - 10-2-2013 at 07:05 PM

They also sell webbing at EMS, REI, or other rock climbing stores...Usually by the foot and in lots of colors.

@ John Holgate
I use the footstrap above my foot exactly like the pic I posted. I had some fellow PKF members tell me to go the other way for safety. I tried to do a heel strap, but it didn't work for me. My feet bounce too much going through the horse pastures I ride in and it would be extremely difficult to keep your feet on the pegs with just heel straps.

However....The reason why I think it gets caught (happened to me) is because the sole on your shoe or boot grabs the strap as you go over the front..For me that was scarier then just trying to rip my foot out of the strap set-up on top. I guess It's all just personal pref.

BEC - 10-2-2013 at 07:08 PM

They also sell webbing at EMS, REI, or other rock climbing stores...Usually by the foot and in lots of colors.

@ John Holgate
I use the footstrap above my foot exactly like the pic I posted. I had some fellow PKF members tell me to go the other way for safety. I tried to do a heel strap, but it didn't work for me. My feet bounce too much going through the horse pastures I ride in and it would be extremely difficult to keep your feet on the pegs with just heel straps.

However....The reason why I think it gets caught (happened to me) is because the sole on your shoe or boot (back part) grabs the strap as you go over the front..For me that was scarier then just trying to rip my foot out of the strap set-up on top. I guess It's all just personal pref.

abkayak - 10-2-2013 at 07:17 PM

i donate platelets like every 4 weeks..after they wrap my arm w/ this 2le sided sticky tape.. I always make sure to carefully take it off and wrap my foot pegs w/ this tape....it is real slip resistant and kinda cushy.....someday I hope to get like 2" of this stuff on little by little...my feet stay nice and glued to the pegs and i get a good feeling every time I look down......give till it hurts somebody needs it more than you.

John Holgate - 10-2-2013 at 08:40 PM

This is an early heel strap with rubber - worked ok for a while but the rubber started to perish so I replaced it with seatbelt webbing. The beauty of the Vmax footpegs is you can sort of hook your foot a bit underneath the bend too - no bouncing out over bumpy paddocks.




Here's what I did on my alloy bug first - just some tightly stretched shock cord and bicycle tyre on the peg..




But if you really want your feet to stay put....



soliver - 10-2-2013 at 10:09 PM

Remember,... 2 thoughts............

GREAT FEEDBACK on the foot straps guys, you all have given me some ideas to try which I plan to implement,... But,...

WHAT ABOUT THE DOWNTUBE? Any thoughts on welding up a swan neck downtube for my XR VTT Frankenbuggy? Is it worth it? What does it offer other than a lower COG? What's the advantage of a lower COG? Can I still use the XR's front fork? Will it be relatively simple or difficult?

Anyone,... Anyone,... Beuller?