Engine for a Fatbike, for snow/swamp riding

lazylightning@mail.r

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Has anybody put an engine onto a fatbike, like the Surly Pugsly for example? It's possible to ride on snow, soft deep sand, shallow swamps without really sinking in. Now sure what will happen if you get off and take a step though. There will definitely be a need for chain line engineering here. I'm thinking the go ped CVT may be helpful in many ways here. http://www.gopednation.com/forum/showthread.php?t=263571

It's actually possible to ride on top of deep snow without really sinking in.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GobQaXQawoI&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VfefzqMqpw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1upr...PL02E60CAF943BD331&lf=results_main&playnext=2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7ilJJhdySY&feature=related

I've been riding my motorized mountain bike with standard 26X2.1 tires in the snow. If I pedal hard standing and give it plenty of gas, then I can ride through deep snow up to my pedals and axels. It looks crazy, but it actually works. Just don't lose momentum and watch out for naked ice if you don't have studded or screwwed tires. I think it would be super on a fatbike. I plan to put screws in my tires and run up and down the big Moscow river here when it finally freezes over)))
 
I have not seen a motorized Pugsly, but I want one. It would look great with a Russian D engine.
 
I have a Chinese one, but I want a more sporty European engine. I'm not sure the Russian D series is so good) I saw one once in the park neaby, a Russian Rasta man on an old rusty chopper with a banana seat and sissy bar, in dreds and in a helmet. Stoned to the bone I think)
 
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learn how to lace double rims :)

tricky, but possible.

if you get some of those ridiculous "bling" hubs with about 60 odd holes you can even go for triple laced rims... 18 spokes per rim, etc...

you need a spacer between each rim so the tyres can sit on nicely.

or..make a skidoo! old cruiser with half a ski and a spring on front, and two little trolley wheels on a swingarm with the tread section of a motorbike as a belt...

wish i had snow :(
 
learn how to lace double rims :)

tricky, but possible.

if you get some of those ridiculous "bling" hubs with about 60 odd holes you can even go for triple laced rims... 18 spokes per rim, etc...

you need a spacer between each rim so the tyres can sit on nicely.

or..make a skidoo! old cruiser with half a ski and a spring on front, and two little trolley wheels on a swingarm with the tread section of a motorbike as a belt...

wish i had snow :(

lace double rims? What for? Snow doesnt require stronger rims, but better if they are very fat and having low pressure. That will require a fatbike frameset and special rims and tires, no way around it.

I think you had this in mind? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8FefRzcWjg
 
I'm getting closer....
 

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You can get rims as big as 26x4 from here:
http://www.choppersus.com/store/category/3/71/Rims-Only/

I think the biggest problem will be having the power to get the bike to move in that snow. Sinking down 4" in that stuff will require a lot of torque that these little engines just don't have. You'll need to be able to gear way down so I think the only option would be to run a shifter kit and even then I think you'll need to pedal a bit.

I'm getting closer....

Turn on the "macro" setting on your camera. It's the button with the picture of a flower. It allows the camera to focus on objects real close to the lens.
 
You can get rims as big as 26x4 from here:
http://www.choppersus.com/store/category/3/71/Rims-Only/

I think the biggest problem will be having the power to get the bike to move in that snow. Sinking down 4" in that stuff will require a lot of torque that these little engines just don't have. You'll need to be able to gear way down so I think the only option would be to run a shifter kit and even then I think you'll need to pedal a bit.



Turn on the "macro" setting on your camera. It's the button with the picture of a flower. It allows the camera to focus on objects real close to the lens.

I pedal too in the deeper snow. On a snowy yet beaten path underneath, it's okay, but on untouched grassy field, I have to stand on the pedals, crank and give it alot of gas too =-) It's fun. I don't move terribly fast, the motor rev's and I'm cranking away standing and moving steadily yet slowly through the snow. The rear wheel slips a bit as I go and the pace of the engine sounds like the pace of my pedaling))) I've driven in 10 inch deep virgin snow before. The main thing is not to stop in the deep stuf that as no packed snow trail under it, else you won't be able to pedal it going again. Especially if you have to start going uphill. I pick up the bike and push start the engine with the pedal, pull in the clutch and then try to start pedaling with the engine going and rlelease and pedal and all.

The nice thing about the 4 inch tires is that you could easily let some air out. Surprisingly, soft tires don't sink into sand, snow or swampy ground very much. A giant tire with low pressure doesnt sink in at all. But naked ice is still a real bummer and any tire without studs will let you down fast on that stuff. I wear a helmet))) Here the kill switch is really handy when you are sliding on your but on the ice with your shoe caught in the rear spokes and the engine is still reving cause the accelerator is sliding on the ice too. Looks like slapstick I think)

My bike frame probably couldnt handle the 4 in 26er's, would be nice though. It's rather narrow in the back.

Will have spike wheel ready soon. But now, it's above freezing in Russia, the snow is melting %-) It's really crazy weather for January I'll tell you! Waiting for the next freash new snow...muhuhahahah....nobody around in the forest park at night. I can see fine without light because the white snow everywhere lights everything up. Heavan) And my carb likes the cold air)))
 
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