The total cost was some where between $100- 200 dollars and this was for the steel that I bought from a steel merchant rather than Bunnings/Masterrs as there cost are a lot higher and you Have to buy a certain size only . I found gathered and picked up about 4-5 bikes to cut up for parts . One for the back half two for the front wheels assemble and a good set of gears from one of them . I started collecting a bikes about a month before starting the project .
Great work, very informative video. Id like to share a great tip for stick welding. When you place the earth lead put a bit of scrap plate steel with it. Use this to warm up your rods by dragging them along it before commencing the structural weld. That way the rod will be ready and strike an arc easily. Also the weld will be cleaner and stronger. Great vid tyvm
Thats great to hear you are going to build a recumbent, welcome to the world of recumbents as once you have ride on a recumbent theres no going back. Good luck on the build.
Been riding my AZ Streefox for about 6 weeks now. Steering and all has worked great from the first. My main difficulty has been with the deraileurs and idler pulley. Ive about got it all worked out though. Redid my derailleurs to position closer to the gearing. Changed the idler from a metal idler like in the plans to a nylon idler pulley. The dang metal one was too loud. Heck im using a 220v arc welder. Does fine. Dont really desire a MIG. Do like your chop saw though. Now i need to change my crank bearings, they are too loud. Hope to build more trikes, bikes from AZ. Oh, the seat, i ended up with a padded seat all the way up to support my head with lumbar support. I just kept positioning temporary boards til it felt right and then used hard foam to prop the lumbar and head, then 2 inch foam over that off an old mattress pad.
I started welding when i was 18 years old , i had to teach my self , the same with wood work and cabinetry. I learnt how to plaster tile and lay floor boards etc. You have to start some where and as you go along you will get better and better at it . You just have to start. Theres places to learn how to weld try your local tech school , from there the only thing holding you back is yourself and your imagination....
Very nice trike. Have you thought about making a 4 wheel bike. Taking 2 mountain bike wheels and use them in the back and 2 slightly smaller wheels in the font. Keeping the peddles where they are.
A trike for under $200, nice. 👍 as for modifications, I would have angled the boom up for the pedals and not added the heavy metal rack piece. Raising the boom for the pedals makes for more efficient pedaling. And a set of bolt on aluminum bike racks would be more than sufficient for anything you’re going to carry on them, and be much lighter. The only criticism I have is you welding over the paint. I see you’ve been welding for years, self taught, my grandfather taught me how to weld, he was an owner operator of a welding shop. Built horse trailers and did repair work mostly, but he was big on starting with a clean, rust free surface. Clean off the paint before you weld, you’ll have a much better looking and stronger weld when you’re finished. But over all, nicely done. Kind of makes me want to build my own. 👍
@@MyJessmatt I'm heading to see a few trike manufacturers in EU in the coming weeks. Starting with Azub later this week. Quite excited to see & try their full ranges. Going to SPEZI too, check it out for ideas.
Good video and a good explanation, it looks so simple, use a simple weldig machine. And it is always exciting when the trike goes for his first ride. I see that you have fun on the buildingplan and fun at the ride. Keep on going.
Thanks for the video, I have plenty of donor bikes and plan to build a trike myself, If I do well on the trikes I will probably tig weld the rest and possibly go to aluminum built frames.
Most Excellent Work was well done Sir! Now I just wish I had a shop set up with tools to do my one trike projects. Sadly everything I had owned in a tool shop was stolen while I was serving in the military. Anyway, it looks like you had done an excellent job and a very well done video. I estimated that for the cost of the tools and equipment I would have spent on a new trike. (sigh) But I am hopeful some day I can put one together. I am already collecting the spare bikes. For both the Trike & trailer.
Hi Niall. As a guide wheel, try using the toothed wheels from a spare rear derailleur with a spring to keep a little tension. There shouldn't be any noise cause the teeth would catch and move with it also it should keep the chain in good line with the chainwheel and freewheel.
Hi, I have replaced the old guide wheel with a toothed one after making the video with not much success, next i may try tubing as a guide. House reno's have taken up much of my time so i have had to put the trike on the back burner for now.
Thanks for the comments I have been able to ride much as we have just bought another house so till Things settle I will have to wait but I am really dieting to get on the bike as soon as I can happy riding ..
Hey Mr Niall, Nice work & inspirational. I'm about to get started on cutting up n making both (wife & myself 1). As Mark Alden mention his tip & another FYI: if you'd wire brush- cleaning or grinding the area that Ur trying to tac weld, it helps w/starting Ur arc. Just a helpful tip (I'm no pro welder by any means) clean area makes for easier n cleaner welds. Enjoyed it 👍n Thx from DavnTenn
Hope it goes well I am looking at an updated video sometime in the new year when i have more time and a possible new bike build , a cargo or Christiana style trike.
gracias por compartir tus ideas que han sido muy provechosas para mi porque estaba navegando en busca de informacion para construir un triciclo y como aprovechar al maximo las piezas de bicicleta que tengo. Cuando lo construya voy a postar el video para que puedas ver si puedes aprovechar alguna de mis ideas....un gran abrazo a la distancia hermano!!!
Well done! Very interesting welding tech as well. I have a question. How long is the square tube from the lower suspension joint to the seat angled tube center point right where you have welleded ? It looks very short? Ok. I wait your answer anyway.
You should consider grinding the paint off, that way you don't overheat the parts trying to weld them and get a cleaner stronger weld. Overall nice build.
The box steel was as thin as i could weld with out blow holes in it (about 1.6mm). Weld what every thickness you feel comftable welding, next time Im going to use round piping and thinner and mig weld it to keep the weight down..as im looking at building a fairing for it next. Hopfully next time i will document it a bit better as some times a got carryed away with the building and forgot to video what I was doing..
this video is getting me excited to build my own! so one question i have for you is what the thickness of the steel is that you used is?great video and thanks!
I've just started hunting around for a recumbent trike. this is a lot cheaper than whats on the market here in aus, 2.5k plus. and theres none for sale in tas.
I'll admit I have no experience at building anything but as I watched the video and the problem with the noisy wheel you had to replace, I wondered. Wouldn't it be easier to just put a small pinion in there?? I also thought it would nice to put an extra diagonal support for the rack. Anyway considering it's home-built and your resources to avoid high costs I think you made and excellent job. I've been lately learning about recumbent trikes, I really like what I see. Here I've been trying to find someone to build one for me but I haven't been able yet. I hope you build more and still improve your design!! Best wishes!!
DEAR FRIEND NYALL POVEY suas ideias são fascinantesm e me aguçou mais ainda a ideia que eu tinha anteriormente de fazer algo assim como a street strider caseira, ficou muito bacana também estou fazendo algo parecido com o que voce fez , gostei demais de suas dicas,,,,, parabéns pela criatividade...
Having built my first recumbent in 1989 a few suggestions. Use aluminum tube for the frame You need to be as light as possible. www.aluminiumwarehouse.co.uk/p6/Aluminium_Box/pages.html square tube can be connected with pop rivets and triangular joining plates. www.instructables.com/id/Building-an-electric-racing-car/ Aim for electric assist eventually - trust me your going to need it unless you live in a very flat area. try to fit a 26 inch wheel to the rear, you will be able to take advantage of the higher gearing then the normal BMX 20 inch. Standard bike axles don't like being supported on one side only - they are not really stiff enough. Either turn a thicker axle or support on both sides. Standard bike spokes don't like sideways forces such as your front wheels will get. Toe the tops in and personally I solder wire round the spokes at their cross over to stiffen the wheel. Usually they don't break just pull the head out of the rim.
Richard Harris Thanks for the aluminum tube idea that will be the next one. I do have a 26" rear and as for the 20" front wheels the axles are15mm not the standard ones you get on 20" wheels. Electric assist is something i have been thinking about for the next one . Luckly where i use the trike it is pretty flat.
Came across and rode a recumbent trike for the first time today and found it really fun but like many I don't have £1000 + to spend on the ice trike I tested. Given my 5+ years experience in the engineering field i had to take a closer inspection of the frame and functions and quickly realised that it would be quite a good option for my first home build and found this video quite helpful. Had a few good ideas that I think would be quite effective so ill be doing a video journal myself that ill be sharing soon. Can't wait to get into work Monday morning and start gathering materials for my build.. how many hours would you estimate on your build to date?
Enjoyed your video. Im also building the streetfox and am at the front brake/steering brackets stage. Got past the steering tubes 75deg/ center point alignment stuff, whew! I see you are using a weight bench for your seat. How is that working for you? Im all over the place trying to decide which seat to use.
When I can get around to making the Seat I will try to video the making of the seat . So far the seat is the only part I have had the most difficulty with getting it right.
Hey Niall, Great vid! Did you think of using a small sprocket, like one from a derailer instead of a roller blade wheel? It might offer less friction, but hey, if it works it works!
Yes i did but the derailer sprockects dont have bearings only bushes or at least the couple that i have pulled apart . I have now ordered a new roller that looks better than the roller blade wheel and has bigger and better bearings so hopefully this will be the way to go .
I like the way this is done and am wondering how well this could be made into either an email bike or a hybrid bike with pedal assist and have a trailor hitch to pull a small trailor behind for both going to the store or hunting it would help a lot.
Hi adding a hitch for a trailer with this design might be a problem because of the rear suspension, a fixed rear forks might work better for a trailer and as to a electric assist this would be a good way to go.
I have just watched both of your videos building the recumbent trike. What size steel did you use. I have a couple of 4ft lengths of roof bars (for a roof box on a car) which are 30mm x 20mm x 1mm thick steel. I dont know if this is strong enough or if I have to buy some other steel. I am thinking of doing the same back end as yours instead of a solid build. Suspension seems it would be more comfy. I am thinking 26" wheel on the rear and either a pair of 24" or 20" on the front. Is there a certain distance from the rear fork pivot or join the front axle has to be or is the rule of thumb the centre of the front wheels in line with the knees. I will buy a set of plans from AtomicZombie, but have not decided which ones I will go for. Thanks in advance. I am in Uk.
The steel i used was around 1.2 or 1.4 mmit was as thin as i could find and still arc weld. As to wheels yes the rear is a 26inch and the fronts where 20 inch but not the standard 20 inch. My front wheels where from a ex racing BMX and had 15mm axles that help with the side ways stress that you will incounter when cornering. I had a thought some time later after building it if the detachtable wheels from a childs stroller that people run with would be strong enough as the have a bigger shaft and replaceble bearing sets. Just a thought. As to how far forward to set the front end up Im not sure i would need to find the plans. A quick read and I could not see the distance ,I would need to spend some time reading to find out.
@@MyJessmatt Thanks. You have been a great help with the advice you have given. I have been looking at some BMX wheels with 14mm axles on ebay. I am also thinking of mag wheels instead of spoke wheels for the front. But I dont know if I could get them with the thicker axles. I will have to find out. The steel I have is 1.2mm. I ha ve a gasless mig which should weld them good enough without blowing the metal away.
I like this build and am wondering if this can be made as a hybrid ( gas/electric ) pedal assist trike and add a small pull behind trailor for going to the store also what size are the wheels and can 4 inch wide fat tires be used for this? I am a little large about 260 in weight ( pounds ) I really like the way it is made. What do you think of the idea?
Hey Naill, Been watching your video(s) of your Recumbent bicycle.. great work.. You have inspired me to get started on one and I was wondering.. which plan(s) did you follow from the Atomiczombie website? p.s keep up the great work :)
hi was just wondering what kind of box section steel you use mild or stainless and wall thickness thanks good video want to build one myself did you paint it up when all done would love to see finished trike
hi the box steel is 35mm square and from memory its 1.2-1.5mm thick. Its just had a anti rust paint put on it . I have stripped the seat off to try a differant one as i always had a problem with the mesh cover moving. I dont have a lot of time to work on the trike as we have just moved house and now we are starting to renovate it.
I’m looking for a 3 wheel lay back trike. I had a 3 wheel Recumbent bike by Rebike 30 years ago. It was a seven speeds. My son got stopped by the police for going over 35 mph. I might add he was a big guy and was pretty strong for a 16 year old. My 3 wheel had 1 wheel in the front with 2 in the back. This is what I’m looking for and my dream is to electrify it.
Sentinalh Yes its a street fox , if you have not welded before and are interested to learn there maybe a local school where you can learn to weld or braze. You will always find it comes in handy to weld . Good Luck!
Hi Niall. I have started to build my trike. I have bought a bmx for the wheels. I thought it had 14mm axles but it has 10mm. I still have to get a couple of bike frames for the steering and head sets and a decent bottom bracket. This is the only video I keep coming back to as it is more informative to us. I think i have watched it about 9 times now. Still going to watch a few more. :). What size (thickness) plates did you weld to the steering to bolt the wheels to. I was going to weld the front and back wheel hangers together (front and back, front and back from each side so they match) but the fronts are steel and the reatrs are aluminium. :(. I might weld thick washers on them for more thickness. Thanks for the inspiration and help. Ian
The BMX wheels may not be strong enough in the long term , I managed to find a genuine BMX which had heavy duty axles not sure if they where 14 or 15 mm. I think from memory the plate that the front wheels bolt to was either 15mm or may be 20mm.as to the rear hangers Im not sure what you mean may be a picture would help, steel is going the be less of a problem in the long run which is what most trike's are made of as alloy cause to many problems with factures. Hope this helps. good luck on the build.
@@MyJessmatt Thanks Niall. The hangers are where the rear wheel mounts to. I picked up a mountain bike so I can weld 2 slots together for each side to make them thicker and stringer. Still looking for 14mm or 15mm axle wheels for a bmx. :). Thanks for the advice.
Its all mild steel , the box was 1.6mm and the rest was from bike frame off cuts. The next one will be made from round tubing and Mig welded in stead of welding with the stick welder,( less blowing holes in the thin steel) and change the steering set up.
hi, i have question about front wheel hubs, did you use normal hubs, or hubs made for recumbent trikes and lefty MTB, and are normal hubs strong enough to be used like that?
Hi! I know recumbent bikes are better for people with back issues but all trikes I see including this one have another problem. The backrest is very sloping and you have to bend your back in the upper part to see the road. This causes upper back issues, the body takes the same posture if you are sitting on a desk. Is there a way to make the backrest more upright?
great video! You've mentioned some plans for making a trike. Would you be so kind to give me some info on that? I think i may undertake a trike building project
nice job but man gloves at least, the long leather gauntlets are best. but you successfully completed your project, so my input is irrelevant. it's a nice job.
Have to agree with Martin Parker. Best way is to simply get practice/experience. That's how I learned to weld. Do not try to imitate the welding in this video.
Dean Nunyabis hi I have changed to a gear from a derailleur but found that it didn't work as well I as I liked so I have now changed the design to have a guide as well to keep it on the gear .
That would be heavier than the groceries he wants to haul. There is a reason no one ever put this kind of stuff on pedal vehicles, when you have to pull all the weight around by muscle power. It's why you don't carry around your wallet in a safe, if you see what I mean.
The total cost was some where between $100- 200 dollars and this was for the steel that I bought from a steel merchant rather than Bunnings/Masterrs as there cost are a lot higher and you Have to buy a certain size only . I found gathered and picked up about 4-5 bikes to cut up for parts . One for the back half two for the front wheels assemble and a good set of gears from one of them . I started collecting a bikes about a month before starting the project .
Great work, very informative video.
Id like to share a great tip for stick welding.
When you place the earth lead put a bit of scrap plate steel with it. Use this to warm up your rods by dragging them along it before commencing the structural weld. That way the rod will be ready and strike an arc easily. Also the weld will be cleaner and stronger. Great vid tyvm
Ok I will try this with the next build Thanks
Eu acrescentaria a remoção da tinta no local da solda.
Niall, cheers for posting this, I'm just starting a similar (but two-wheeled) recumbent project , and your video has given me a few hints!
Thats great to hear you are going to build a recumbent, welcome to the world of recumbents as once you have ride on a recumbent theres no going back. Good luck on the build.
Been riding my AZ Streefox for about 6 weeks now. Steering and all has worked great from the first. My main difficulty has been with the deraileurs and idler pulley. Ive about got it all worked out though. Redid my derailleurs to position closer to the gearing. Changed the idler from a metal idler like in the plans to a nylon idler pulley. The dang metal one was too loud. Heck im using a 220v arc welder. Does fine. Dont really desire a MIG. Do like your chop saw though. Now i need to change my crank bearings, they are too loud. Hope to build more trikes, bikes from AZ. Oh, the seat, i ended up with a padded seat all the way up to support my head with lumbar support. I just kept positioning temporary boards til it felt right and then used hard foam to prop the lumbar and head, then 2 inch foam over that off an old mattress pad.
I started welding when i was 18 years old , i had to teach my self , the same with wood work and cabinetry. I learnt how to plaster tile and lay floor boards etc. You have to start some where and as you go along you will get better and better at it . You just have to start. Theres places to learn how to weld try your local tech school , from there the only thing holding you back is yourself and your imagination....
+Niall Povey and a set of safety approved crocks to wear while welding...
Very nice trike. Have you thought about making a 4 wheel bike. Taking 2 mountain bike wheels and use them in the back and 2 slightly smaller wheels in the font. Keeping the peddles where they are.
That's a pretty cool build! :) Congrats!
Thanks, one of the vids that made me build my own one which turned out superb
Wow. Amazing plan on that . Awesome skills. Thank you for sharing .
A trike for under $200, nice. 👍 as for modifications, I would have angled the boom up for the pedals and not added the heavy metal rack piece. Raising the boom for the pedals makes for more efficient pedaling. And a set of bolt on aluminum bike racks would be more than sufficient for anything you’re going to carry on them, and be much lighter. The only criticism I have is you welding over the paint. I see you’ve been welding for years, self taught, my grandfather taught me how to weld, he was an owner operator of a welding shop. Built horse trailers and did repair work mostly, but he was big on starting with a clean, rust free surface. Clean off the paint before you weld, you’ll have a much better looking and stronger weld when you’re finished. But over all, nicely done. Kind of makes me want to build my own. 👍
Great ! Thank You ! Safe and enjoyable riding of course ;)
Awesome Niall, simply awesome. Nice build. Great video.
Thanks I have an idea to build a two wheel cargo bike later this year when i retire.
@@MyJessmatt I'm heading to see a few trike manufacturers in EU in the coming weeks. Starting with Azub later this week. Quite excited to see & try their full ranges. Going to SPEZI too, check it out for ideas.
Nobody on youtube ever uses more protection than a helmet when welding. It's important.
Very good. I learned a lot from you. Thank you.I made a trike inspired by his trike. I used the same technique
Good video and a good explanation, it looks so simple, use a simple weldig machine. And it is always exciting when the trike goes for his first ride. I see that you have fun on the buildingplan and fun at the ride. Keep on going.
Thanks for the video, I have plenty of donor bikes and plan to build a trike myself, If I do well on the trikes I will probably tig weld the rest and possibly go to aluminum built frames.
you´re driving on the wrong roadside :-) greeting from the continent
Super 👍
AC stick welders are a bugger to use, my hats off to you Mate!
grind a little of the blue paint off first where your going to make your tack.. makes for an easier start.
Most Excellent Work was well done Sir! Now I just wish I had a shop set up with tools to do my one trike projects.
Sadly everything I had owned in a tool shop was stolen while I was serving in the military.
Anyway, it looks like you had done an excellent job and a very well done video.
I estimated that for the cost of the tools and equipment I would have spent on a new trike. (sigh)
But I am hopeful some day I can put one together. I am already collecting the spare bikes. For both the Trike & trailer.
Hi Niall. As a guide wheel, try using the toothed wheels from a spare rear derailleur with a spring to keep a little tension. There shouldn't be any noise cause the teeth would catch and move with it also it should keep the chain in good line with the chainwheel and freewheel.
Hi, I have replaced the old guide wheel with a toothed one after making the video with not much success, next i may try tubing as a guide. House reno's have taken up much of my time so i have had to put the trike on the back burner for now.
Try grinding off the paint for a better strike.
Thanks for the comments I have been able to ride much as we have just bought another house so till
Things settle I will have to wait but I am really dieting to get on the bike as soon as I can happy riding ..
I will buy one, will you make one for me? Please! 😊
Hey Mr Niall, Nice work & inspirational. I'm about to get started on cutting up n making both (wife & myself 1). As Mark Alden mention his tip & another FYI: if you'd wire brush- cleaning or grinding the area that Ur trying to tac weld, it helps w/starting Ur arc. Just a helpful tip (I'm no pro welder by any means) clean area makes for easier n cleaner welds. Enjoyed it 👍n Thx from DavnTenn
Hope it goes well I am looking at an updated video sometime in the new year when i have more time and a possible new bike build , a cargo or Christiana style trike.
gracias por compartir tus ideas que han sido muy provechosas para mi porque estaba navegando en busca de informacion para construir un triciclo y como aprovechar al maximo las piezas de bicicleta que tengo. Cuando lo construya voy a postar el video para que puedas ver si puedes aprovechar alguna de mis ideas....un gran abrazo a la distancia hermano!!!
Well done! Very interesting welding tech as well. I have a question. How long is the square tube from the lower suspension joint to the seat angled tube center point right where you have welleded ? It looks very short? Ok. I wait your answer anyway.
You should consider grinding the paint off, that way you don't overheat the parts trying to weld them and get a cleaner stronger weld. Overall nice build.
Thanks. Nice ride.
Lots of good incite here, thank you! Have you considered converting to scratch start tig welding? You can use your current welder. It works great!!
How do you convert it?
Thanks for the great video. Hoping to do something similar in the near future.
The box steel was as thin as i could weld with out blow holes in it (about 1.6mm).
Weld what every thickness you feel comftable welding, next time Im going to use
round piping and thinner and mig weld it to keep the weight down..as im looking at building a fairing for it next. Hopfully next time i will document it a bit better as some times a got carryed away with the building and forgot to video what I was doing..
Hello friend a favor square tube that measures have , which is its thickness. Thank You.
Excelente es usted muy ingenioso.
Now install a hub motor on the back wheel to make an E-Tadpole. :)
Thanks for the tip this will help heaps!
this video is getting me excited to build my own! so one question i have for you is what the thickness of the steel is that you used is?great video and thanks!
But plans from atomic zombie. It's got all the answers
I've just started hunting around for a recumbent trike. this is a lot cheaper than whats on the market here in aus, 2.5k plus. and theres none for sale in tas.
Sir. You might get a book about welding. And maybe get a grinder to help prep the surface?😮
Im not use to welding such thin metal and I have two grinders thank you.
Great! I am studying from your video.thank you!
I'll admit I have no experience at building anything but as I watched the video and the problem with the noisy wheel you had to replace, I wondered. Wouldn't it be easier to just put a small pinion in there??
I also thought it would nice to put an extra diagonal support for the rack.
Anyway considering it's home-built and your resources to avoid high costs I think you made and excellent job.
I've been lately learning about recumbent trikes, I really like what I see. Here I've been trying to find someone to build one for me but I haven't been able yet.
I hope you build more and still improve your design!!
Best wishes!!
Yes the recumbent is still going but I have taken up down hill mountain bike riding lately so it has not been out much .
DEAR FRIEND NYALL POVEY suas ideias são fascinantesm e me aguçou mais ainda a ideia que eu tinha anteriormente de fazer algo assim como a street strider caseira, ficou muito bacana também estou fazendo algo parecido com o que voce fez , gostei demais de suas dicas,,,,, parabéns pela criatividade...
Having built my first recumbent in 1989 a few suggestions. Use aluminum tube for the frame You need to be as light as possible.
www.aluminiumwarehouse.co.uk/p6/Aluminium_Box/pages.html
square tube can be connected with pop rivets and triangular joining plates.
www.instructables.com/id/Building-an-electric-racing-car/
Aim for electric assist eventually - trust me your going to need it unless you live in a very flat area.
try to fit a 26 inch wheel to the rear, you will be able to take advantage of the higher gearing then the normal BMX 20 inch.
Standard bike axles don't like being supported on one side only - they are not really stiff enough. Either turn a thicker axle or support on both sides.
Standard bike spokes don't like sideways forces such as your front wheels will get. Toe the tops in and personally I solder wire round the spokes at their cross over to stiffen the wheel. Usually they don't break just pull the head out of the rim.
Richard Harris Thanks for the aluminum tube idea that will be the next one. I do have a 26" rear and as for the 20" front wheels the axles are15mm not the standard ones you get on 20" wheels. Electric assist is something i have been thinking about for the next one . Luckly where i use the trike it is pretty flat.
Hi Niall. What did you use for an axle for the front wheels? Mild steel or hardened steel?
The orignal axles where what i used , those wheels came from a racing BMX so it had 15mm not 10 mm axles, the 15mm are far stronger than normal ones.
Great video, very inspiring,
Thanks👍
Came across and rode a recumbent trike for the first time today and found it really fun but like many I don't have £1000 + to spend on the ice trike I tested. Given my 5+ years experience in the engineering field i had to take a closer inspection of the frame and functions and quickly realised that it would be quite a good option for my first home build and found this video quite helpful. Had a few good ideas that I think would be quite effective so ill be doing a video journal myself that ill be sharing soon. Can't wait to get into work Monday morning and start gathering materials for my build.. how many hours would you estimate on your build to date?
Thats why I tryed building mine.
Enjoyed your video. Im also building the streetfox and am at the front brake/steering brackets stage. Got past the steering tubes 75deg/ center point alignment stuff, whew! I see you are using a weight bench for your seat. How is that working for you? Im all over the place trying to decide which seat to use.
It was ok for the first hour or so but I do get a sore bum after a while so the search is now on for a set of plans for a better seat.
When I can get around to making the Seat
I will try to video the making of the seat .
So far the seat is the only part I have had the most difficulty with getting it right.
So did you find your standard wheel axles hold up ok? Because most recumbent trikes have a lot bigger hubs?
Parabéns. Belo trabalho!
Excellent video . Thanks .
muchas gracias, en lo sencillo también hay belleza.
Hey Niall, Great vid!
Did you think of using a small sprocket, like one from a derailer instead of a roller blade wheel? It might offer less friction, but hey, if it works it works!
Yes i did but the derailer sprockects dont have bearings only bushes or at least the couple that i have pulled apart . I have now ordered a new roller that looks better than the roller blade wheel and has bigger and better bearings so hopefully this will be the way to go .
Is there a easy way to adjust the kingpin´s because there we need to be precise for the camber and wheel adjustment. is there a kind of mold for?
i like it. but gonna make mine into an electric bike.
can u show more on the steering assembly i am still having issues figuring this out ty.
\thatnks for posting great video it has given me a few ideas
nie ważne jak,ważne że sam.Dobra robota!
What hubs/axles did you use for the front wheels? I cannot imagine that a stock axle would support the weight when fastened on one side only..
The wheels came off a BMX bike that had heavy duty axles 15mm not the standard 12mm.
I like the way this is done and am wondering how well this could be made into either an email bike or a hybrid bike with pedal assist and have a trailor hitch to pull a small trailor behind for both going to the store or hunting it would help a lot.
Hi adding a hitch for a trailer with this design might be a problem because of the rear suspension, a fixed rear forks might work better for a trailer and as to a electric assist this would be a good way to go.
Great video
Where did you get the plans please im in the uk
Good work. What is the chassis/body sizes?
I have just watched both of your videos building the recumbent trike. What size steel did you use. I have a couple of 4ft lengths of roof bars (for a roof box on a car) which are 30mm x 20mm x 1mm thick steel. I dont know if this is strong enough or if I have to buy some other steel. I am thinking of doing the same back end as yours instead of a solid build. Suspension seems it would be more comfy. I am thinking 26" wheel on the rear and either a pair of 24" or 20" on the front. Is there a certain distance from the rear fork pivot or join the front axle has to be or is the rule of thumb the centre of the front wheels in line with the knees.
I will buy a set of plans from AtomicZombie, but have not decided which ones I will go for. Thanks in advance. I am in Uk.
The steel i used was around 1.2 or 1.4 mmit was as thin as i could find and still arc weld. As to wheels yes the rear is a 26inch and the fronts where 20 inch but not the standard 20 inch. My front wheels where from a ex racing BMX and had 15mm axles that help with the side ways stress that you will incounter when cornering. I had a thought some time later after building it if the detachtable wheels from a childs stroller that people run with would be strong enough as the have a bigger shaft and replaceble bearing sets. Just a thought. As to how far forward to set the front end up Im not sure i would need to find the plans. A quick read and I could not see the distance ,I would need to spend some time reading to find out.
@@MyJessmatt Thanks. You have been a great help with the advice you have given. I have been looking at some BMX wheels with 14mm axles on ebay. I am also thinking of mag wheels instead of spoke wheels for the front. But I dont know if I could get them with the thicker axles. I will have to find out. The steel I have is 1.2mm. I ha ve a gasless mig which should weld them good enough without blowing the metal away.
I like this build and am wondering if this can be made as a hybrid ( gas/electric ) pedal assist trike and add a small pull behind trailor for going to the store also what size are the wheels and can 4 inch wide fat tires be used for this? I am a little large about 260 in weight ( pounds ) I really like the way it is made. What do you think of the idea?
Hi Robert, you might want to go to Atomic Zombie website and ask them these questions as that is where I bought the plans from. Good luck
You god, thanks, I've been killing the head in the shop, thinking how to make the main draw.
i enjoyed that video as allways
Very interesting I would suggest with the chain guid wheel, why not use an old single speed sprocket from a rear wheel.
Hey Naill, Been watching your video(s) of your Recumbent bicycle.. great work.. You have inspired me to get started on one and I was wondering.. which plan(s) did you follow from the Atomiczombie website? p.s keep up the great work :)
yep bought the plans from Atomic Zombie they not hard to follow just take your time .
What was the approximate cost of your project?
nice work mate, even with old school arc welding, i am looking to use similar plans but tig and aluminum.. hiw comprehensive were the plans?
Troy Dawson still the most common and popular form of welding.
Pretty good if i can follow them, also Ive had the arc since I turned 21 Im now 57 , one day I might get a mig.
Pretty good if i can follow them, also Ive had the arc since I turned 21 Im now 57 , one day I might get a mig.
hi was just wondering what kind of box section steel you use mild or stainless and wall thickness thanks good video want to build one myself did you paint it up when all done would love to see finished trike
Hi I used mild steel not stainless as I was using a stick welder.
hi the box steel is 35mm square and from memory its 1.2-1.5mm thick.
Its just had a anti rust paint put on it . I have stripped the seat off to try a differant one as i always had a problem with the mesh cover moving. I dont have a lot of time to work on the trike as we have just moved house and now we are starting to renovate it.
I’m looking for a 3 wheel lay back trike. I had a 3 wheel Recumbent bike by Rebike 30 years ago. It was a seven speeds. My son got stopped by the police for going over 35 mph. I might add he was a big guy and was pretty strong for a 16 year old. My 3 wheel had 1 wheel in the front with 2 in the back. This is what I’m looking for and my dream is to electrify it.
Its funny, I'm going to be building this exact same trike soon. Street Fox right? I've never welded before but we'll see how it goes.
Sentinalh Yes its a street fox , if you have not welded before and are interested to learn there maybe a local school where you can learn to weld or braze.
You will always find it comes in handy to weld . Good Luck!
awesome....sir may i know what new innovation u hv made in this trike
Hi Niall. I have started to build my trike. I have bought a bmx for the wheels. I thought it had 14mm axles but it has 10mm. I still have to get a couple of bike frames for the steering and head sets and a decent bottom bracket.
This is the only video I keep coming back to as it is more informative to us. I think i have watched it about 9 times now. Still going to watch a few more. :).
What size (thickness) plates did you weld to the steering to bolt the wheels to. I was going to weld the front and back wheel hangers together (front and back, front and back from each side so they match) but the fronts are steel and the reatrs are aluminium. :(. I might weld thick washers on them for more thickness.
Thanks for the inspiration and help. Ian
The BMX wheels may not be strong enough in the long term , I managed to find a genuine BMX which had heavy duty axles not sure if they where 14 or 15 mm.
I think from memory the plate that the front wheels bolt to was either 15mm or may be 20mm.as to the rear hangers Im not sure what you mean may be a picture would help, steel is going the be less of a problem in the long run which is what most trike's are made of as alloy cause to many problems with factures. Hope this helps. good luck on the build.
@@MyJessmatt Thanks Niall. The hangers are where the rear wheel mounts to. I picked up a mountain bike so I can weld 2 slots together for each side to make them thicker and stringer. Still looking for 14mm or 15mm axle wheels for a bmx. :). Thanks for the advice.
just wondering, was all the steel used to make the trike mild steel or a mix of chromo and mild steel?
Its all mild steel , the box was 1.6mm and the rest was from bike frame off cuts.
The next one will be made from round tubing and Mig welded in stead of welding with the stick welder,( less blowing holes in the thin steel) and change the steering set up.
hi, i have question about front wheel hubs, did you use normal hubs, or hubs made for recumbent trikes and lefty MTB, and are normal hubs strong enough to be used like that?
The front wheels where from a racing bmx bike that had 15mm axles not the standard 12mm axles, you could try wheel chair hubs as they are similar .
ok, thanks, i forgot about wheel chair
Hi! I know recumbent bikes are better for people with back issues but all trikes I see including this one have another problem. The backrest is very sloping and you have to bend your back in the upper part to see the road. This causes upper back issues, the body takes the same posture if you are sitting on a desk. Is there a way to make the backrest more upright?
Yes but it kind of defeats the design to make it more wind resistance than a upright bike .
great video! You've mentioned some plans for making a trike. Would you be so kind to give me some info on that? I think i may undertake a trike building project
Atomic zombie warrior racing trike
nice job...thanks.
Execellent video!
Fiz o meu Quadbike com tubos também. Mas ficou muito pesado.
very good
nice job but man gloves at least, the long leather gauntlets are best. but you successfully completed your project, so my input is irrelevant. it's a nice job.
Have to second wearing protection. Welding arcs give off very strong radiation in the form of UV-C.
Pretty sure at his age he doesn’t really give a shit
He's in Australia mate. Our skin is tough as nails due to the harsh conditions. lol.
At least he could have ground the paint off before welding, lol.
Ok fair point I will have to find an old shirt to where. Thanks
Молодец. Я тоже буду делать трайк)))
Good..
what size steel did you use for the frame....was it 40mm x 40mm or 50mm x 50mm?
I think from memory it was 40 x 40 and as thin as i could buy which is why i had problems welding it . I wanted to keep the weight down.
thanks...was the thickness 2mm.....really liked your video on the build.
I think it was thinner but depends on what you can weld without melting it.
Try a bit of loctite 'wick in' in between the plates in your welder. It'll take the rattle out.
thank you sir it is helpful to me
nice, very nice !
Where do I learn how to do this? What's the name of the dicipline used to build things like these? Welding, sawing and all that...
Björn Kihlberg it's called fabricating, and welding, Google schools that teach it even in africa there are schools that will teach you
Have to agree with Martin Parker. Best way is to simply get practice/experience. That's how I learned to weld. Do not try to imitate the welding in this video.
@@Ihaveausernametoo yep same here, practical experience......just get some scrap steel n a cheap (preferably MIG) welder and have a go !
Very very good
nice job
What size square tubing are you using one or one and a half inch square tubing?
Thank you so much
instead of using the skate wheel to keep the chain off the frame, what about using a derailleur pulley from another bicycle?
Dean Nunyabis hi I have changed to a gear from a derailleur but found that it didn't work as well I as I liked so I have now changed the design to have a guide as well to keep it on the gear .
Hi did you make any special changes to the front wheel axels
would like to have seen the rack being built choice of backbox maybe motorcycle box with lights on back side panniers
That would be heavier than the groceries he wants to haul. There is a reason no one ever put this kind of stuff on pedal vehicles, when you have to pull all the weight around by muscle power. It's why you don't carry around your wallet in a safe, if you see what I mean.
Hola amigo buen invento tienes algunas medidas como para tener alguna idea ..
Did you get some inspiration for this trike from the AtomicZombie site?
valveman12 Yes thats where i first saw them and I bought the plans from them.
Niall Povey Atomic Zombie is a resource full site. Currently building the Warrior Trike.