Scooter/bike hybrid

[Hive]

Tires

Take a look at those big smooth Bontragers and the Apple line from Schwalbe. The Bontragers are smooth, but thick and grippy. Apples may come smooth and they have a Kevlar insert.

I am currently using a Specialized Armadillo but do not know if they come smooth.

And there are others, maybe Michelins? And the tires Alaskavan and Dbigkahunna mention.

Keep in mind, I run a GEBE belt drive, not a friction.

Tires are one item that must be top quality, particularly on a motored bicycle.

 

[Alaskavan]

Yeah. The middle is where you'd measure it. I read somewhere of someone mounting a rubber roller on a drill press for milling. I think he was making chain tensioners (I could be wrong about that), but it should also work to shape your roller.

 

[dbigkahunna]

On these things, the drive is a compromise. Want to go fast on the flat, you loose it on the hills. Have it set up to climb, then you loose it on the flat. You need something, like maybe a transmission. Hook it on the engine, you start loosing the small thin size.
Hummmm wat to do? Look down. See those two things with leather and rubber on the ends of them? There is your transmission. I have my Dimension Edge scrubber set up for higher speeds on the flats and when I hit a hill, I have to do a little pedaling. It is not like you are having to pedal up the hill, you are just adding a little push as you go up.
This is my style being a middle aged bald headed large recovering welder. I live with the limitations of the engine and drive.
Also go with a smooth tire. Hookworm or City Slicker.

 

[capturedbyrobots]

aftermarket 1.25 roller

Hey guys,
Here's what I'm looking for. Maybe you know where a
good place would be to buy something like this.

I want to find a 1.25 knurled steel drive roller,
that is hollow, so I can mount it on my drive assembly,
and use set screws/tack weld to hold it on
to the original roller shaft.

I have a feeling that a steel roller will be much more reliable than
the skateboard wheel drive roller I've made.

Where would I find such a thing?
If I only had a lathe.....

 

[kerf]

What kind of drive assembly?

 

[capturedbyrobots]

It's a DIY assembly I am using.
I just need the hollow 1.25 knurled spindle, then I'll drill it out to fit what
I need.

See my thread in this section about a Scooter /bike hybrid....

 

[kerf]

Check Staton, Dimension Edge, Dave's Discount Motors.

 

[srdavo]

hmmmm....not sure of the diameter.... but have you looked at bmx stunt/grinding pegs??

 

[capturedbyrobots]

HOORAY!

I'm rollin good now.

I shaved the drive roller in an arc to follow the tire shape
down to 1.25 in the middle,
and it's just right. I can climb the big hills with no problem,
and I get a pretty good top speed.
(don't know exacts, but it feels like low 30's at WOT)
That is perfect for me, as I don't need to be flying.
I have tons of stops and starts here in SF,
so the lower size roller really helps.

I had to add another turnbuckle to the opposite side,
to balance the roller, otherwise the misalignment was trying to push the roller
off the wheel. I'm just using my normal knobby tire for now,
til it's destroyed, then I'll upgrade to a hookworm, or
the city slickers.

The only last thing I need to do to get this functioning well is to
replace the 2 bearings the roller spins on,
as I can hear the clunk of a flattened bearing.

It is so much fun! I stopped riding my bike a long time ago,
because the constant pedaling really irritated a skin problem I have.
I'm hoping I can now go back to riding,
without much pedaling at all.

I'll post pictures when it's all painted and pretty in the gallery.
Thanks guys for all your help!

 

[srdavo]

Congrats on your success!!