cudak888 

It always surprises me how almost all of these novelty bicycles/tricycles from small, industrial-type US companies demonstrate a knowledge of bicycle design that barely shows any technological advancement from the turn of the century.

Not even a spoon brake to prevent tire wear!

-Kurt

madpogue 

Fixed (don't want to confuse the millennials, now, do we...).

And yeah, I reckon you stop this thing the same way a four-year-old stops a Murray tricycle. As said above, "marriage tester" is more accurate, or perhaps "Bachelor-maker".

Jenniferbeames

Apparently only non-bikers can appreciate my beautiful little bike. It’s ART! Lol and old! The pull thing in the middle is a parking brake, that works. You turn backwards on the pedals to break while your riding. And It’s not terrible to ride, better downhill than up! Do any of you work on bikes for cash and are anywhere near kansas?





Tell me this isn’t a beautiful unique bike!

cudak888 

Hmm, dual coaster brakes. Safer than I thought.

Still thinking of motorizing it?

-Kurt

Jenniferbeames

Yes I am if I can find someone good who I can hire but leaning towards selling. Each person can pedal independently or one person alone but that’s pretty hard, I could not do this going up a hill! I think I’m in over my head at this point. Definitely decided that I should NOT try to do this by myself- some of that talk was a total foreign language to me.

stardognine

I gotta say it, I wouldn’t mind having that canopy, for when it rains. 😁 I’ve been rained on 3 different days now. 🙄😉

madpogue 

Canopy needs fringe.

And +1 hearing about the coaster brakes. Probably the best option with this configuration.

Wouldn't you need two motors?

cudak888 

I'd take shin and leg guards myself; that's where I always get it when it rains...

I think the 24V Hilltopper may have some issues if forced to pull two people and this contraption up a hill (puns not intended), but a single 500W front hub motor ought to pull this thing along just fine - but then you're talking a more expensive system.

There's enough weight on the front with the universal joints and that overbuilt fork that a front motor ought to do the job. Plus, the way it is set up, neither chain drive can be operated independently without causing torque steer.

Come to think of it, with one rider on it, this thing will always experience torque steer, just like most tricycles. Funny how pedal assist would improve this thing in so many ways.

We have a forum for that if you plan on going that route: https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vintage-sales/

-Kurt

SurferRosa

I'm not sure about those first two, but I can sorta understand the third.

tricky 

Get a really powerful motor on that front wheel and this thing will really move!



Just joshin! If it doesn't sell, enjoy your new toy! Don't let us fuddy duddies get in the way of your enjoyment.

Sandstrom

Good point, kind of steers like a tank

cudak888 

So that's what it was made for - bicycle based punishment of Jeremy Clarkson. Now the only thing necessary is to put him in it and unleash the SPEEEEEEEEEED!

-Kurt

agnewton

It definitely has elicited a reaction, therefore "It is ART!". I read your original posts this past weekend, and was looking forward to the photos. Thank you Jenniferbeames

An alternative to the eBay/ Hilltopper conversion would be "Swytchbike.com". I have no experience with them, but they have been aggressively marketing to me through YouTube of late. Currently, you can pre-order and get a discount (50%), but the price is still ~$500 USD. It seems they'll make you a wheel in the size of your choice and then you just have to install the wheel and some basic wiring for a pedal sensor and the battery pack. I'm sure it comes with easy to follow destructions. The power output seems to be the same as the Hilltoppers (250W). There will probably be some inefficiencies in the power output, but you are pedaling what is, practically speaking, a golf cart with a canopy.

... when you take me out in the Surrey with the Fringe on top...

I'd recommend further accessorizing with a fluorescent orange, 15 mph Amish triangle on the rear (to keep it street legal) and dual-cup holders up front. I mean, it's ART, but it's not like you have to suffer for it.

Cheers

Jenniferbeames

Well put! Thank you! So honestly I priced it stupid high (on purpose) since I was so torn. I figured if I made a little money I’d be happy or if it didn’t sell I’d STILL be happy. But I will let all the haters know :-) that I did get ~ 25 private messages saying they wanted it on marketplace in under an hour after I posted! I told them to refer to the auction though. Haven’t checked today yet. I will definitely look into Swytchbike! Thank you all!

madpogue 

So these don't have the cool surrey canopy - https://madison.craigslist.org/bik/d...127899973.html

But evidently you can link them together into one giant six-wheel four-seater. Imagine e-assisting THAT.

(I believe, in that configuration, the model name is "The Partner-Swapper"......)

Jenniferbeames

Those look very cool!

Jenniferbeames

The link doesn’t open, is that for sale now?

SurferRosa

Apparently, the side-by-side tandem is a thing.


Hmm... Could that be David Bowie's alternate reality doppelganger (à la, Dougie from Twin Peaks)? This is getting interesting. Either why, after listening to that soundtrack, I'm ready to turn my life over...

madpogue 

Sorry, try now. Forum munged the link and text together, then when I went to edit it, Windows hard-crashed my workstation. Been one of those days this week.

squirtdad

almost time for friday fish fry or does madison do that?

stardognine

Excellent suggestion. 👍 I don’t eat a ton of fish, but once in awhile, I just gotta have it. And tomorrow’s Friday, whatever that means. 🤔😁😉

madpogue 

We don't in this household, but Madison sure does. Restaurants are still closed, but once they open, you can bet the cats will be at the window catching a whiff from the club on the next block.

kurt runyon

I have two of these. a single seater and an double seater. They were made in my hometown, the factory made weed mowers and the owner had a child that had special needs requirements, I think he was in a wheels chair so this was built and kinda based for that purpose. I will see if I can find more info and post it if I do. I'm looking to get the two I have restored if anyone in Illinois and help me with any infor about someone who might do that . thanks!

kurt runyon

Would you be interested in selling the trike? I have two Im from the town they were built in. thanks

texaspandj

I think that thing is Cool. My wife would especially enjoy working out on one of them.