Hi folks, weez here. I'm in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales, Australia, about 100km/60mi west of Sydney. I'm a recovering American, moved to Sydney in 1996, an Australian citizen since 2003.
Once in a while I get a bee in my bonnet and build Tour Easy inspired recumbent bikes.
'Orangebike' is a straight TE pinch, made from old bikes and new tubing.
http://machinegunkeyboard.com/bikes/orangebike_rhs_primer.jpg
http://machinegunkeyboard.com/bikes/orangebike_rhs.jpg
'Limo' was built for an Aussie land giant who is a skosh under 7 feet tall and weighs about 100kg (220lbs). Intended for a smooth paved bike trail, no front suspension needed.
http://machinegunkeyboard.com/bikes/limo_rhs.jpg
'TourSleazy' was built in 2002 as a suspensionless TE clone, similar to Orangebike.
Unfortunately, a drunk ran a red light in front of me while I was on a motorcycle around 1990. After 6 knee surgeries, I can't pedal much. So, in 2004, TS sprouted rear suspension, a Honda G100 97cc SV, 2.5hp engine, centrif clutch, 7:1 primary reduction drive (including 84T, dinnerplate sized sprocket) and a differential drive system made from freewheels to permit drive from the engine, pedals or both at once, with all drive transmitted through the rear derailleur. Shimano Mega-Range cluster added for a super-low 1st gear.
http://machinegunkeyboard.com/bikes/ts_lhs_r34.jpg
Total reduction in 1st gear is about 13.2:1. Climbs hills fairly well, could be better. Sustains 55-60km/h on the flat, will run 74km/h on the 3600rpm rev limiter in top gear down a slight grade.
http://machinegunkeyboard.com/bikes/ts_rhs.jpg
http://machinegunkeyboard.com/bikes/ts_lhs.jpg
After 2 years and about 1000km buzzing around Sydney at 50-60km/h- with never a comment from the constabulary, despite our pathetic 200W limit for power assist bikes- the solid front fork started showing signs of metal fatigue on the bottom of the steering tube. Bought a 26" MTB from the local Aldi with suspension and disc brakes. Front end in mockup in these shots:
http://machinegunkeyboard.com/bikes/toursleazy_new_frt_end_01.jpg
http://machinegunkeyboard.com/bikes/toursleazy_new_frt_end_02.jpg
http://machinegunkeyboard.com/bikes/toursleazy_new_frt_end_03.jpg
TS is now stripped and clamped in the workstand, getting a new front frame section to accommodate the new fork.
http://machinegunkeyboard.com/bikes/ts_lhs_stripped_workstand.jpg
While it's there, I have plans to eliminate the rear 7-speed derailleur, which requires serious heroics with chain tensioners to keep the very floppy chain on the sprockets at speed; derailleurs just were never made for running at 60km/h. Planning on replacing it with a 3 or 7 spd internal gear hub... gotta replicate the gear range of the derailleur, if possible...
http://machinegunkeyboard.com/bikes/ts_rhs_chaintensioner.jpg
...unless someone has a better idea.
While the Honda G100 on TS is ultra reliable and very quiet, I've since moved from hilly northwestern Sydney to the much more hilly Blue Mountains area.
As Capn Kirk said to Scotty- MORE POWER!!
The Blue Mountains are now a World Heritage Listed National Park- petrol powered bicycles are not smiled upon out here. Zo... the next bike is going to be built around this beast...
http://machinegunkeyboard.com/bikes/lem200_01.jpg
http://machinegunkeyboard.com/bikes/lem200_02.jpg
It's a LEMCO LEM-200C pancake motor, weighs only 10kg, good for 27kW (32hp) peak and about 6kW (8hp) continuous output. Planning to run it on 48V, but that's about all the planning that's gone into it yet!
cheers
-weez
Once in a while I get a bee in my bonnet and build Tour Easy inspired recumbent bikes.
'Orangebike' is a straight TE pinch, made from old bikes and new tubing.
http://machinegunkeyboard.com/bikes/orangebike_rhs_primer.jpg
http://machinegunkeyboard.com/bikes/orangebike_rhs.jpg
'Limo' was built for an Aussie land giant who is a skosh under 7 feet tall and weighs about 100kg (220lbs). Intended for a smooth paved bike trail, no front suspension needed.
http://machinegunkeyboard.com/bikes/limo_rhs.jpg
'TourSleazy' was built in 2002 as a suspensionless TE clone, similar to Orangebike.
Unfortunately, a drunk ran a red light in front of me while I was on a motorcycle around 1990. After 6 knee surgeries, I can't pedal much. So, in 2004, TS sprouted rear suspension, a Honda G100 97cc SV, 2.5hp engine, centrif clutch, 7:1 primary reduction drive (including 84T, dinnerplate sized sprocket) and a differential drive system made from freewheels to permit drive from the engine, pedals or both at once, with all drive transmitted through the rear derailleur. Shimano Mega-Range cluster added for a super-low 1st gear.
http://machinegunkeyboard.com/bikes/ts_lhs_r34.jpg
Total reduction in 1st gear is about 13.2:1. Climbs hills fairly well, could be better. Sustains 55-60km/h on the flat, will run 74km/h on the 3600rpm rev limiter in top gear down a slight grade.
http://machinegunkeyboard.com/bikes/ts_rhs.jpg
http://machinegunkeyboard.com/bikes/ts_lhs.jpg
After 2 years and about 1000km buzzing around Sydney at 50-60km/h- with never a comment from the constabulary, despite our pathetic 200W limit for power assist bikes- the solid front fork started showing signs of metal fatigue on the bottom of the steering tube. Bought a 26" MTB from the local Aldi with suspension and disc brakes. Front end in mockup in these shots:
http://machinegunkeyboard.com/bikes/toursleazy_new_frt_end_01.jpg
http://machinegunkeyboard.com/bikes/toursleazy_new_frt_end_02.jpg
http://machinegunkeyboard.com/bikes/toursleazy_new_frt_end_03.jpg
TS is now stripped and clamped in the workstand, getting a new front frame section to accommodate the new fork.
http://machinegunkeyboard.com/bikes/ts_lhs_stripped_workstand.jpg
While it's there, I have plans to eliminate the rear 7-speed derailleur, which requires serious heroics with chain tensioners to keep the very floppy chain on the sprockets at speed; derailleurs just were never made for running at 60km/h. Planning on replacing it with a 3 or 7 spd internal gear hub... gotta replicate the gear range of the derailleur, if possible...
http://machinegunkeyboard.com/bikes/ts_rhs_chaintensioner.jpg
...unless someone has a better idea.
While the Honda G100 on TS is ultra reliable and very quiet, I've since moved from hilly northwestern Sydney to the much more hilly Blue Mountains area.
As Capn Kirk said to Scotty- MORE POWER!!
The Blue Mountains are now a World Heritage Listed National Park- petrol powered bicycles are not smiled upon out here. Zo... the next bike is going to be built around this beast...
http://machinegunkeyboard.com/bikes/lem200_01.jpg
http://machinegunkeyboard.com/bikes/lem200_02.jpg
It's a LEMCO LEM-200C pancake motor, weighs only 10kg, good for 27kW (32hp) peak and about 6kW (8hp) continuous output. Planning to run it on 48V, but that's about all the planning that's gone into it yet!
cheers
-weez