I made a design for something like this over the last couple days. It'll be made out of a 26inch 18 speed mountain bike. It will have normal handlebars though, connected by linkages to the rear wheel. there will be three handlebar tubes (or whatever they're called) that pivot for the steering. The center tube will be in front of the seat with a rod going diagonal to the one in front of it and a rod straight back to the rear from the very front.
@iLoveu4ll So when the handle bars turn one direction, the rear wheel turns the opposite, but the bike turns the correct direction. It'll be a long wheelbase recumbent. Seeing your bike in action makes me want to go outside and start cutting up my bike right now haha.
I am interested to know how fast did you manage to ride it, and if the bike became too unstable at high speeds. I understand it is ridable, but do you know if it is dynamically stable (ridable with no hands?).
I plan to build a rear wheel steer recumbent, I have read that Python has stable problems in high speeds. How fast have you ridden it? Was it wery stable?
You have developed a great design! How did you come to the geometries? You say you do not have plans so did you scratch build it by eye? I ask these questions for a couple reasons. With great respect for the design/er I dare say this bike needs to be brought to those that would love to ride it as well as those that love to ride but may need this design as uprights may have become to uncomfortable for them to ride. Help those in the world that love riding as well as great design!!!! NICE!!!
Very interesting design. Would there be any disadvantage to moving the steering pivot forward. I built a similar fwd rws recumbent back in 1983, the pivot was more vertical. I just could not ride it, so it was made into a trike and then the junk heap.
So is it stable? Look how low & compact it could be made if designed for 20" and the rider was moved a bit to the rear. Is the current weight distribution good, it seems to have a front weight bias, but maybe it's the key to stabilizing FWD RWS?
Yes it is very stable. In convention bicycle design there is always more weight over the drive wheel than the steering wheel. This design follows the same thinking.
How hard is it to ride in the beginning, assuming one is used to riding recumbent? Do You have any building specifications available? It's a really interesting project. Looks neat, has a very simple drivetrain and the weight is really impressive. Is it made from scrap road bike frames?
There is a learning curve to riding this bike even if you are used to a recumbent. A friend of mine took about 20 minutes to learn to ride this design. I don't have any plans as of now. It was built of aircraft grade 4130 chromoly and 6061 aluminum tubing. No used bike frames were injured or kill in the making of this bike. Thanks for you interest.
Looks great, many have given up on the dream of the RWS, the problems seemed insurmountable. Is this based on the Python or and original design? I have never seen the unique handlebar setup before, it looks like you have the solution to the problem.Will you be offering plans, or framesets?
This is my original design. It is simular to what others have done. What I did different was the steering ratios. I do not have plans to offer frameset or plans. Who knows what might change in the future.
Great idea to spread the word about FWD-RWS bikes! Someday, when I finish my car project, I will get busy on my own bike (something I have dreamed of building since 1994 when I read about Cornelius's FWD-RWS bike).
is 23 pound the weight of the frame, or the bike including all parts?
It semes low for the whole bike.
subsoilB 1 month ago
Have you considered a RWS leaning delta?
Boyntonstu 4 months ago
I made a design for something like this over the last couple days. It'll be made out of a 26inch 18 speed mountain bike. It will have normal handlebars though, connected by linkages to the rear wheel. there will be three handlebar tubes (or whatever they're called) that pivot for the steering. The center tube will be in front of the seat with a rod going diagonal to the one in front of it and a rod straight back to the rear from the very front.
iLoveu4ll 8 months ago
@iLoveu4ll So when the handle bars turn one direction, the rear wheel turns the opposite, but the bike turns the correct direction. It'll be a long wheelbase recumbent. Seeing your bike in action makes me want to go outside and start cutting up my bike right now haha.
iLoveu4ll 8 months ago
I am interested to know how fast did you manage to ride it, and if the bike became too unstable at high speeds. I understand it is ridable, but do you know if it is dynamically stable (ridable with no hands?).
Thank ou
VRagusila 1 year ago
Great design. Any chance of sharing your design with a fellow bent builder?
BTW, I enjoyed your other vids too.
Rod
San Francisco
rodjava 1 year ago
Very impressive! What is the wheelbase and the steering angle?
poitco 1 year ago
Hi.
I plan to build a rear wheel steer recumbent, I have read that Python has stable problems in high speeds. How fast have you ridden it? Was it wery stable?
raftmant 1 year ago
You have developed a great design! How did you come to the geometries? You say you do not have plans so did you scratch build it by eye? I ask these questions for a couple reasons. With great respect for the design/er I dare say this bike needs to be brought to those that would love to ride it as well as those that love to ride but may need this design as uprights may have become to uncomfortable for them to ride. Help those in the world that love riding as well as great design!!!! NICE!!!
RILSKIN 2 years ago
Very promising! The bike. The video is much less exciting :) The first 80% is flat, the music is khm... not my favorite. :)
RekuPapa 2 years ago
Fantastic bike !
Pixouf 2 years ago
Very interesting design. Would there be any disadvantage to moving the steering pivot forward. I built a similar fwd rws recumbent back in 1983, the pivot was more vertical. I just could not ride it, so it was made into a trike and then the junk heap.
dodden1 2 years ago
So is it stable? Look how low & compact it could be made if designed for 20" and the rider was moved a bit to the rear. Is the current weight distribution good, it seems to have a front weight bias, but maybe it's the key to stabilizing FWD RWS?
saurus1989 2 years ago
Yes it is very stable. In convention bicycle design there is always more weight over the drive wheel than the steering wheel. This design follows the same thinking.
Denrnr 2 years ago
How hard is it to ride in the beginning, assuming one is used to riding recumbent? Do You have any building specifications available? It's a really interesting project. Looks neat, has a very simple drivetrain and the weight is really impressive. Is it made from scrap road bike frames?
saurus1989 2 years ago
There is a learning curve to riding this bike even if you are used to a recumbent. A friend of mine took about 20 minutes to learn to ride this design. I don't have any plans as of now. It was built of aircraft grade 4130 chromoly and 6061 aluminum tubing. No used bike frames were injured or kill in the making of this bike. Thanks for you interest.
Denrnr 2 years ago
Looks great, many have given up on the dream of the RWS, the problems seemed insurmountable. Is this based on the Python or and original design? I have never seen the unique handlebar setup before, it looks like you have the solution to the problem.Will you be offering plans, or framesets?
olsonspeed 2 years ago
This is my original design. It is simular to what others have done. What I did different was the steering ratios. I do not have plans to offer frameset or plans. Who knows what might change in the future.
Denrnr 2 years ago
Fantastic video!
Great idea to spread the word about FWD-RWS bikes! Someday, when I finish my car project, I will get busy on my own bike (something I have dreamed of building since 1994 when I read about Cornelius's FWD-RWS bike).
cbulen 2 years ago