Hey guys just priced some steel for my new bug it will be a homemade flexi

The details

The back axle will be sch 40 1" so that my curent axles will be a good weld in fitt the side rails will be the same
I will be using the Ubolt setup i just saw on that new bug

I was thinking for the Head bolt using 1" altread just to keep my bolt size the same and for all the plating i was thinking 1/4"

For the down tube and headstock i was thinking 1" By 2" rectangle for the downtube and 1" for the bearing seat and 1 1/4" for the head tube

1" tube and 1/4" plate for the forks

I already have wheels and Tires for the 1" axles

I am 6' 2" 300LB and i was wondering if this setup will be stout enough

It will all be mild steel

I want to hear all comments

the materials are looking like about $45 dollars and my local guy doesn't have stainless but it will be Crome Powdercoated

300 lbs. is pushing the limits of that material,if it was stainless ,not so bad. Upgrade to 1-1/4 sch.40 and it would be better. You need to make a big boy frame, that needs big boy material!

A regular Flexi frame has about a 1-1/8" diameter. Not sure of wall thickness. Donnie is the man and I was going to suggest 1.25" diameter for your side rails and 1.5" for your axle. Don't scrimp now so you don't have to rebuild it right after finishing. Good for you for giving it a go on your own. :bigok:

that is not going to hurt me on weight i do want to freestyle this bug

I plan on building a big boy for speed in the future

the 1" is the Id or inside diameter i think the wall thicknes is between 1/8" and 1/4"

I am pretty sure its 1/8"

But i have never built before so i will listen to the experts the 1" is going to let me use a plug weld for my rear axle but i could always work something else out

still need imput

You could probably save some weight and some money by just going to your local steel supply and getting yourself some 1.5" .098 wall welded tubing (.120 wall would be recommended). The cost for tubing will be less than the SCH 40 and the larger diameter will give you more strength than the smaller without adding that much more weight - the tubing may actually be lighter than the SCH 40.

I too would recommend going larger than the 1" for your weight and size.

Just for reference, the PL XR+ buggy uses 1.25" diameter rails at .065 wall. It holds up very well with riders up to the 275 lb range, 300 lb starts to push the limits a little but it can still handle it. Rear axle is 1.50" @ .065 wall. Downtube is 2" x 2" square @.065 wall. I would suggest doing at least the same for your downtube. 1" x 2" is pretty small.

Good luck on your build! Be sure to post pictures and let us all know how it is going for you.

I thought so on the down tube but thought it was rectangular i must have been mistaken

the sch 40 was only $1 a foot or something like that my selection is kindof limited but i can atleast get to the min flexi requirments

My steel guy is a small family type business and the nicest guy in the world so i will probable stick with him but i will definatly go up in size per the sugestions

More input

Pleese and thankyou

there is a library full of experiance and knowledge at anyones disposal thankyou for all of yalls help

show us some pics when you get it done--id like to see it.......

Good Luck Looking_Up

This link may help you

Making a Buggy

Thanks popeye I have spent may hours milling on your sight and imo it is one of the biggest assets to the Kiting community I look forward to you expertise do all of the dimensions sound ok for a rider of my weight

When you are looking at the size and strength of the tubes , make sure you consider the length. If your axle is short, you can go light. But if your axle is long, your weight is being leverage across that axle and it will bend.

Yes it will be a small freestyle peter Lynn copy but I still weigh 300 lb with gear so that was really my biggest concern