had a really bad idea, figured id share!

[snydur]

ive been down but not out of bikes lately (school, and holidays mostly) but ive decided im going to get another one started before christmas. so, i got to doodling, made abunch of ideas for cool crazy custom frames, basic bikes, and then mid geometry class today (aka, brainstorming hour) i had a most ingenious idea! a full suspension leaf spring bike. now follow me here
http://www.flickr.com/photos/64339611@N03/6268180766/

it would be only the front half of a cantilever frame, and in place of the two skiny rails, there would be two small leaf springs from the rear of saaay a honda or something small. pivot up front on the green dot, and blue dot would be a stud to keep the point of suspension right there below the seat. and no bottom tube. so could this work? would i need a tensioner? or should i be good when i sit on the bike and force the wheel backward when the spring spreads? :mrgreen: i really reallly need something to do.

 

[outskirtscustoms]

Well in order for it to work and actually have suspension you'd have to either cut in front of the bottom bracket or run something to keep the chain tight. either way it'd be LOTS of fabrication.

Why not just use a dropout extension that pivots and let the leaf spring follow the line of a rear fender and make a few truss rods?
Very similar to this image I found on google but with dropout extenders in place of the swingarm.

 

[snydur]

:shock: the simplicity. haha. i see exactly what your going with there. and it makes alot of sense. huh. . . to my doodlebook!

 

[OUTLAW]

very interesting conceptions on both. I like it. :idea:

Outlaw 8)

 

[outskirtscustoms]

Glad I could help. :wink:

 

[ozzmonaut]

I guess I was thinkin along the same lines as outskirts. Basically I was thinking to use a mountain bike frame rear half, but replace the coil spring with the leaf by welding the coil spring mount to the top of the leaf and run struts similar to the pic he put up. However you'd probably be stuck running a derailleur in the rear to keep the chain right. If you wanted to still go single speed you could tighten the derailleur adjustment screws to the point where the chain stays stationary as far as the chainline is concerned.

 

[c.p.odom]

UGG, Who in their right mind would try to revive quarter elliptic leaf springs. This has been done to death and it is one of the worst suspension systems ever.
Did anyone notice that this hugely over sprung design does not have any dampening system?

 

[outskirtscustoms]

UGG, Who in their right mind would try to revive quarter elliptic leaf springs. This has been done to death and it is one of the worst suspension systems ever.
Did anyone notice that this hugely over sprung design does not have any dampening system?

What if instead of using leaf springs you used some sections of cut up snow skis? I know they have a bit of spring to them. Would they be strong enough to hold and provide the needed spring? Oh you got my gears turning now. :mrgreen: