While I'm taking a break from playing with the monofork, I thought I sketch a design for my 2nd build.

Requirements:
1) A single buggy for regular and bigfoot tires
2) fold in half
3) share rails for regular and bigfoot
4) share axle

As you can see here.. Everything is shared except for the fork. I think it would look much better with 2 different forks

You would need to build two different forks and downtubes if you want to maintain the exact same ride height with standards and bigfoots. It looks great though!!!

Looks pretty good to me Van

No, do something really off-the-wall - hub center steering, use the rider as a stressed member, MacPherson struts :D

you know . . . if you kept only the fork and neck of the bigfoot, the regular tire should still fit inside.

Kami ... the off the wall buggy will always be the first one .. haha.. and I'm not done with that one yet. I figure I build something more standard and clean looking for the second one.

I want to use the exact same rails and axle for both tires so the rails will have to mount under the axle when using bigfoot tires and over the axle when using standard barrow tires.

mdntdncr .. I don't want to use the big foot forks because it would change the height of the front and also the forks are too wide apart that it would not look good.

Van, what I did was make an adjustable rear axle inserts like this w/ multiple holes drilled so it bolts into high mid and low position.

WG , that's a cool looking solution. That would then also shorten your main axle making it easier to transport I bet. I might have to try that modification on my first buggy. On this one, I would like to keep the build as simple as possible so others can build one just like it using simple available parts.

Kami ,

I missed that part about using the rider as a stress member ...ahahha... I'll get going right on it. You'll be my first test pilot.

Quote:

Van, what I did was make an adjustable rear axle inserts like this w/ multiple holes drilled so it bolts into high mid and low position.

This was similar to my thinking on the front fork. but obviously with spacers to center the wheel appropriately. However, it sounds like you don't think the aesthetics can be sufficiently worked out . . . ?

I've seen alot of people using bigfoot forks with the smaller tires and its hideous. The forks are like 12" apart with spacers. The regular tires are only 4" wide so you have alot of space between the forks. It's like putting 12" bicycle tires on a Harley. It just don't look right.

:frog: I'm not stressed what're you on about?

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Originally posted by Kamikuza No, do something really off-the-wall - hub center steering, use the rider as a stressed member, MacPherson struts

MacPherson struts.... hmmm....



:o Don't even want to think about what that would do to the budget.

ATB,
Sam

The Difference in height of the wheels would be about 4 inches from center so on a fork your looking at about a 3" gap if running a barrow tire compared to a bigfoot at it's height. Axle plate on the fork could compensate with holes 2 - 3" apart vertically from one another. As far as the side gaps you'd need to find a way to adjust the fork distance. I've wrestled with this notion a while back and came to the conclusion of just getting 4 ply larger tires - they can be expensive but they will last for a rather long time.

When it comes down to it your either dealing with 2 things - riding terrain differences, or riding style differences. Starting with style, either cruiser/racer or freestyle. Rarely do you see a set of large tires on a freestyler's buggy - the only time I would suggest using barrows. A racer/cruiser will almost always be larger tires, softer ride and more terrain availability. As far as terrain you have either soft or hard - beach or grass=soft [ pavement, dirt, playa=hard. Soft=2 ply hard=4ply.

So unless you're planning to start doing some 2 wheel, backwards, jumping stuff you might just want to stick with the larger tires rather than trying to design a buggy that will fit tires that don't fit your riding style.

Oh, and if you can afford the struts above I highly recommend them.

Thanks for the insight flexiblade. This buggy will be for cruising definitely, no freestyle. It will have a 60+ inch track. I guess the tire size I might stick with will be the bigfoot and the midsize ones. Would the 4 ply standard size tires give less friction for racing?? I was hoping to make it to NABX with this buggy to do some speed runs. What size tires is everyone using on the dry lakes?

I'm gonna have to budget for two struts, one on each side to balance the buggy out.

I had a life-sized poster of the MacPherson struts long, long ago ... the benefits of working part-time in a copy shop. With a laminator machine :D

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Originally posted by van I was hoping to make it to NABX with this buggy to do some speed runs. What size tires is everyone using on the dry lakes?

Most will be on Barrows with 4ply slicks, may see you there

PTW .. when you use the word 'Barrows' , are you referring to what we have here in the USA in size 4.80/4.00-8 tires?

here is mine on "barrows"

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Originally posted by van PTW .. when you use the word 'Barrows' , are you referring to what we have here in the USA in size 4.80/4.00-8 tires?

That's correct Van.

WG .. looks like your ass is 1/2" off the ground!!

Well he was always protected by the PINK SKIRT. But now he needs to boost it up a bit!
No that is his mud flap hanging down. His skinny butt is safe!

Van, that was setup for Kenda multiribs but still had barrows on it.Just thought it showed the 4 inch drop spindles in action.

Quote:

Originally posted by van PTW .. when you use the word 'Barrows' , are you referring to what we have here in the USA in size 4.80/4.00-8 tires?

yes...

like these, front is a 4X8" (8" refers to the rim size) barrow tire, rears are midis

sweet .. I was making sure it wasn't a different size in the UK. I like the forks .. it fits the size of the tire very well.

OK.. finally , a little update. Been busy trying to get some tools built. I spent some time last week to modify my manual pipe bender into a pneumatic / hydraulic bender.

I bought a pneumatic / hydraulic ram from harbor freight and one of those digital angle finder. It makes bending the rails a breeze. Enjoy!!

nice one!

Cool! Everybody needs their toys

that's no toy. that makes toys. and that makes it a TOOL! and Tools are our friends!!!

So that means.. I'm making friends!!! :evil: