Hey all! I'm 6'2" tall, I'm riding a stock PL XR+ and I'm wanting to make my buggy longer. I have two options, extended downtube or longer side rails. Even though side rails are more expensive I'm thinking of going that route. Sometimes when I'm riding my kite killers will get caught in the back wheel so I'm wanting those wheels a little further away. If I go the extended downtube route the wheels will be in the same spot but I'll be more comfortable.

Just kinda wanted to get some of your thoughts on the matter before I buy, what's your 2 cents? Thanks for your help!

Another option that you forgot is the wider axle. This will also help with the kite killer situation. Get the side rail package from VTT, the extended downtube, and the wide axle from PL dealer, you will be golden. Not to mention you will have one really nice customized XR. I believe Mike from big mikes kites is the VTT and PL guy on the west coast.

A closer option for ya may be to contact Heliboy on the forum.

He may be able to help you with the down tube situation.

I did all 3 for my PL buggy. It has the Std XR+ fork, kinked bigfoot downtube, long siderails and the long rear axle. I can't stand rubbing my elbows and getting lines run over by the back tires. I guess riders learn to accommodate the close tires but while I was waiting on my Ivanpah to be built and riding a std XR+, I kept scabs on my elbows (except for when I knocked them off again) for 2 months. This configuration mimics what I liked about my first buggy, a Flexi stainless with the wide rear axle which also lengthened the buggy. All this stuff is interchangeable so no worries about fit. I can post a picture of mine if it would help but really its a bigfoot buggy with the std fork and barrow tires.

Haven't sat in a buggy yet, but I think I'd like to get one eventually. Looks like this will definitely be a problem for me too, since I'm 6" taller than ChrisH. Let us know how it all works out please.

All the hoopla about the accuracy of the GPS, and here someone is talking about being tall so he will put longer siderails on the bug to fit him better.
What does that do to the geometry of the bug? Or is the safety and design of the bug less important than the GPS's I use?
Chris...I would change the down tube and the siderails. Something about being in the center of the buggy and keeping equal pressure on all 3 wheels is the general idea, isn't it?

I'm not sure how making the buggy fit your body better and giving it a more stable platform is sacrificing safety. I really don't get the correlation between this concept and using a gps. The siderail/downtube mod alone would mess up the geometry. Adding length but leaving the rear wheels narrow would mess up the triangle between the wheels. Like I said above, these mods closely match the old flexi buggy with the wide axle, and are already proven in the geometry of the current PL bigfoot buggy.

It's the point of buggy safety or design versus how accurate is the GPS. So my GPS isn't right on.
Out of curiosity, has anyone tried out different buggies at speeds greater than say 50mph and done a comparison? On the same day, at the same place, with the same person? How they handle and feel.
I agree the 3 points to a buggy have to have you in the middle. The more spread out the triangle is the more stable, is all I am saying.

Quote:

Originally posted by bigkid It's the point of buggy safety or design versus how accurate is the GPS. So my GPS isn't right on. Out of curiosity, has anyone tried out different buggies at speeds greater than say 50mph and done a comparison? On the same day, at the same place, with the same person? How they handle and feel. I agree the 3 points to a buggy have to have you in the middle. The more spread out the triangle is the more stable, is all I am saying.

I'm not sure if we are arguing or agreeing here. I still don't see how the gps pertains to the OP. I can post up some pics of the PL buggy I have with all the bigger parts on it. I can attest that it is more stable and moves the rear tires back and away from the rider to avoid elbow rubs and line catch.

I have a wide axle for my buggy that i NEVER use. Might be willing to part with it... if interested... Though, just noticed yer in Oregon. Yeah, the darn thing is heavy, shipping might be a bit painful...
:shocked2:

Quote:

Originally posted by BeamerBob Quote: Originally posted by bigkid It's the point of buggy safety or design versus how accurate is the GPS. So my GPS isn't right on. Out of curiosity, has anyone tried out different buggies at speeds greater than say 50mph and done a comparison? On the same day, at the same place, with the same person? How they handle and feel. I agree the 3 points to a buggy have to have you in the middle. The more spread out the triangle is the more stable, is all I am saying. I'm not sure if we are arguing or agreeing here. I still don't see how the gps pertains to the OP. I can post up some pics of the PL buggy I have with all the bigger parts on it. I can attest that it is more stable and moves the rear tires back and away from the rider to avoid elbow rubs and line catch.

We are in agreement, The GPS is another subject out side the box.
My point is the GPS in another tread is drawing more attention and is of less importance than the design of a buggy that can carry you at a speed greater than 60 mph with more implications to death than all the talk of how your GPS is not accurate. OK?

Sorry it took so long for me to respond, I've been busy lately. I would love to buy all 3 but if there's no way I can afford it right now. I have to get one thing at a time, money is tight. If I could just buy all 3 I wouldn't have asked for your opinion on which one I should get. I'm kinda apprehensive to get the wider axle because I think it might inhibit my freestyle abilities. I guess I could always switch back when I'm not going for a world speed record!:roll: I really appreciate all your guys' insight and I will make a decision soon.

Ragden, thank you so much for the offer, u2u sent about details.

Quote:

Originally posted by bigkid Quote: Originally posted by BeamerBob Quote: Originally posted by bigkid It's the point of buggy safety or design versus how accurate is the GPS. So my GPS isn't right on. Out of curiosity, has anyone tried out different buggies at speeds greater than say 50mph and done a comparison? On the same day, at the same place, with the same person? How they handle and feel. I agree the 3 points to a buggy have to have you in the middle. The more spread out the triangle is the more stable, is all I am saying. I'm not sure if we are arguing or agreeing here. I still don't see how the gps pertains to the OP. I can post up some pics of the PL buggy I have with all the bigger parts on it. I can attest that it is more stable and moves the rear tires back and away from the rider to avoid elbow rubs and line catch. We are in agreement, The GPS is another subject out side the box. My point is the GPS in another tread is drawing more attention and is of less importance than the design of a buggy that can carry you at a speed greater than 60 mph with more implications to death than all the talk of how your GPS is not accurate. OK?

a popularly setup buggy will get to you places before your GPS starts reading speed records

worry about your equipment and skill first. all the rest will fall into place after.

I've been all those places. I'm 6', but have a buddy I ride with who is 6'4". The XR+ with the extended tube just isn't quite there for him, but was fine with me.
VTT has some better rail / seat options that should improve the XR+, He used mine for a pattern and I will pick it up at DeadBird Friday to finally see the difference.

In my opinion, you want the wide axle. I've flipped with the regular axle and it wasn't much fun. Maybe to watch, but not for me. It helps with the kite killer in the wheel thing too.

By the time you retro fit everything you are trying to retrofit, you could probably sell your current buggy and with the money you aren't spending on refitting it, you can get pretty close to one of the VTT buggies.

Or if you want to spend a bunch of money, I have a brushed stainless MG Cruzer I might be talked out of.

VTT? Where do I contact this person to look at side rail and seat options? I've heard of him several times but all I can find on the net is a couple buggies, no side rails or seats to be seen.

I have flipped several times in my XR+ and it's definitely not always fun. Yes, believe it or not, sometimes it is fun. The worst time was when I was going about 35mph down a hill on grass and my foot slipped off the peg. That caused the wheel to turn sharply left and then I endoed (over the front of the bug) and landed on my (protected) head. Not even a long axle can fix that. Must make heel straps soooon!

If you are serious I think the wide axle should be the first upgrade. You will definitely feel more stable. I also shortened my foot pegs as I felt they were too wide. Now, the VTT upgrades....
before...

after....

Van



Van the Man!

nice bug cheese

The US must be the land of giants!
I extended my PL Race bug with the longer side rails and down tube. Made the world of difference.
Much increased stability and confidence at speed and swapping out barrows for bigfoot lights really improved things. (BF forks)

Quote:

Originally posted by BeamerBob ...I can't stand rubbing my elbows...

I'll second that, but I've found long sleeve men's dress shirts are fantastic protection from tire burn. I've picked up some nice shirts at the second hand store and turned them into buggy wear. I feel the contact but I get to keep all my skin.

Philip

Very nice bug Cheese! I appreciate the pics! I don't care for the length of the footpegs either, I'm going to have to cut them like you did. It's looking like I'm going to end up with the wide axle and a longer downtube. For now, anyway.

I'd like to take a look at Van's seat and side rails but the buggies and accessories section of his site is not working. All I get is is a bunch of blank boxes. Anybody else seeing the same thing? Wondering if it's on my end or not.

Thanks for all the helpfull replies!

Contact ECKS.com for VTT products.

I don't have the side rails on the site yet because it was still in prototype. I'll update my website soon ... too busy making new stuff in the garage .. haha.

Thanks Van, looking forward to seeing prices and pictures. I'll be saving my pennies in the meantime!