Rear steer, front drive, will it balance?

[yoothgeye]

So I saw this instructable about making a mini recumbent from a kid's bike ( http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-a- ... -Kid-Bike/ ) I kept it in the back of my mind because it was such a simple idea and I had lots of little kids bikes, but I didn't like his chainline, so I had it in my mind to turn the bike around, flip the rear wheel and make it front drive and rear steering. So Cody and I did it last week:

After a few hours of building we got on it to ride, it was not rideable. So back to the drawing board thinking that the tiller type steering was throwing us off, we welded on another head tube with a reversing gear so that the steering would turn opposite, that didn't work either, still not rideable, you just can't balance this thing.

Is there something wrong with the idea of rear steering on a bicycle that I don't know about? Maybe someone could ride this bike with practice, but I just wanted something that anyone could ride.

Before we scrap the bike, I am going to cut off the steering reversal, and instead make a double rear fork to hold 2 side-by-side wheels making it essentially a trike.

 

[user 135]

It will work maybe just too small of bike.

A whole site on it. http://www.wannee.nl/hpv/abt/e-index.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbqnSTa-gQY
watch this one http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIuETJ17 ... r_embedded

 

[Anonymous]

I wouldnt even try to ride that Suicide Machine'''


I'd rather try THIS.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ui5yPjPZ ... r_embedded

 

[yoothgeye]

Mine looks crazy, but it would sure look good in the parade if it was rideable.

Oh, I reserved my spot in the Christmas parade.

 

[jalopyjimmy13]

maybe to short of a wheel base?

 

[SSG]

Rear steering tends to be particularly problematic.

 

[jackdaw]

maybe to short of a wheel base?

Kinda seems like it, maybe? Then I look at those links, the guy with the horse head on his bike has got it goin' ! Suh-weet!

Good luck yoothgeye!

 

[ozzmonaut]

Befor you scrap it, I would try moving the rear wheel about 18" behind the seat. You would have to bring the steering bars a longer distance to get them where you can have your hands on it. I think the problem is that your weight is right on top of the steering. Bikes are easy to steer because there's no stress on the steering. But steering with a 170 lb man sitting on your handlebars could get much more difficult.

 

[Bigcam59]

Taller wheels and moving the steering back might be the ticket...

 

[yoothgeye]

I think the problem is that your weight is right on top of the steering. Bikes are easy to steer because there's no stress on the steering. But steering with a 170 lb man sitting on your handlebars could get much more difficult.

Who are you calling a 170 pound man? I'm 210 thank you very much.

Actually, with the weight over the steer tube it keeps it from being any "twitchier" than it already is.

 

[jerrykr]

figure out a way to lock down the steer tube so that you can't steer it.
see if you can learn to coast it in a straight line without moving your legs.
if so, after you have the hang of the thing, try pedaling, if that works, release the steering and try again.

I think its flawed to begin with. your wheel base is too short, your center of gravity is too high and not between the wheels, and the motion of your legs tends to transfer your weight side to side to get you off balance, since it will be difficult to balance in the first place.

Just my worthless .02.

 

[yoothgeye]

I haven't messed with this bike again, but we did make another front drive bike the other night, it has front and rear steering, like an odd swing bike. I'll have to post photos, it is rideable.