Sixty Fiver

Braking could be an issue if a 20 was put into a 24 or 25 inch frame and a smaller wheel under a higher load is not going to take bumps as well as a larger wheel and in many cases would be downright harsh.

My utility trailer has 26 inch wheels and takes bumps like they're almost not there... just like my longbike.

Cody Broken

I first saw a home built xtracycle on Instructables, long time ago. Just revisited that post and saw one built by a U.S. soldier in Iraq. Here are some photos:

Sixty Fiver

badmother - Those bags have been sitting in my garage for a decade waiting for another motorcycle and are working really well on the longbike.

I plan on having some full length canvas bags a la xtracycle made up in the future.

donnamb 

I know Clever Cycles sold out of their stock - did Citybikes sell out of theirs?

BikeKraft

A friend had searched the local shops and found only one shop that had one for sale. It was the 26" model. Not the right size for my bike (or hers). She purchased the kit and a new bicycle and had them assemble it. Just in time to ride in our neighborhood 4th of July parade with little Annie on the snap deck. I'm going to order one off the internet and wait for them to restock.

Sixty Fiver

badmother - Have you thought of using an mtb or other bike with a sloping tt ?

Sixty Fiver

A few more mods...

(image tags removed)

Sixty Fiver

My front shifter cable goes under the bb... the brace would have interfered with the cable save for the housing I ran from the cable guide up the seat tube to shield it. I considered drilling a cable guide to run through the brace as well.

My rear brake is a v brake and just has a longer cable running from the seat stay and through the framework to keep it out of the way... the rear shifter cable is routed the same way and I had to use a tandem cable for that.

A cross type LT would be a great idea for moderate loads as it would run out a little faster and could still handle a fair deal of weight.

I have 4 people interested in coming in to our bike shop to build their own long tail bikes and it's really a matter of finding the right donor parts, namely those low end FS bikes that we rarely put any time into.

Buglady

I'm interested in the way you havbe used the derailleur on the original rear dropout to keep the chain tensioned.

Are you going to add side cargo decks like the FreeRadical, or keep it as a straight longtail with big panniers?

Sixty Fiver

I think my winter project will be to build up some cargo decks and perhaps have some slings stitched up... those over-sized paniers can already carry a lot of stuff.

vanilla ice

I want to try this 29 front and a 16 inch rear tire..

lilricky

Can the BB of the donor be welded to the main bike? Or is it best to devise an attachment for it to be bolted on? I'm starting a project that will join a woman's 26" MTN bike to the seat post of an old Schwinn Varsity. My plan is to weld it in 3 spots, the top tube,the down tube and the BB.
Any obvious flaws to this idea?
Thanks

HSean

I'll let mine become part of this thread to, oh I forgot to mention something, today It was tested that this 5$ garmet bag for suits is waterproof, so if you wanna big saddle bag, go to your local thrift store and sniff one of those out, it's great, and it has secret pockets, anyway, for something as old as this, it's doing really fine, i wanna find some whitewalls for it,

cavit8

I'd be particulalry interested in photos of the joint areas of these bikes. I find looking at the photos its tough to tell the various techniques people may be using.

HSean

Most the joints we use are the same, some weld, but the Bottom bracket of the Suspention bike triangle fits into where the rear wheel of the bike you attack to, then you take a straight pair of handle bars use that as a brace, from where suspention bike shock goes to front bike down where to kickstand would go, it's a very simple design.

cavit8

Thanks HSean

I was pretty sure about the suspension triangle mount but couldn't see if most people put a bolt obliquely through at the chainstay/bb intersection or if there was another way to do it. As long as there's a reasonable firm butt joint, I don't imagine the bolt gets stressed too much.

HSean

The bolt you speak of down there on the bars where the chainstray is, I do put them there, just to prevent the bike from lifting when I pick it up, I use a quick release pin, also so the bike is storable.

alanf

Wow that wooden rack is gorgeous! Maybe if you were to slip some 1/4" or 3/8" dowels in between the cross pieces of the rack... Sorta like the old woody cars.
You're giving me ideas. I really like that wood rack!

mplsmtb

Here's a pic of my DIY Longtail. Next step is the framework for the storage containers.

More pics and info here.

alanf

mplsmtb
Excellent. There is lots of space for carrier stuff in the back. Post pics when you get it done.

mplsmtb

I found some time to work on the storage containers... got one side nearly done. Once I get the other side complete, I'll take it out for a ride and gets some better pics.

More info and pics here.

fenderbender

Great piece of engineering MPLSMTB! Appreciate your inspirational pics as I'm toying with the idea of a bolt-together build myself. But I'll probably fit some type of flatbed cargo rack on each side as it's more adaptable to different type of loads.

roughrider504

The improved Xtracycle is finally together after mentally designing it for months. Sixty Fiver's idea of mounting two normal racks together and using a skateboard as a deck was the missing link in my design. Cool features are a PVC cover for the brace and the fact that it is a single speed. No hills in New Orleans to worry about!

Sixty Fiver

RR - I guess I owed you for some inspiration... that looks great.

mplsmtb

I'm mostly done with my DIY longtail... the grocery getter. I think it turned out pretty well. Still some minor modifications (and maybe a rattlecan paintjob) left to go. Here are some pics.

More pics and info here.