OSS vs USS What should I use?

[John Lewis]

Well it's decision time. OSS or USS.

I have OSS on my two wheel bents and USS on my tadpole trike.

Is there an advantage one way or the other with DeltaWolf ?

Comments and suggestions /experiences welcome.

John Lewis

[robertwb70]

I LOVE USS, but OSS is usually much easier to make. When I ride my USS bike people always ask me "how do you steer?", it helps keep you from getting into technical conversations with people who wouldn't understand anyway.

[TheKid]

I get that question a lot. I just grab the hand grips and push them back and forth, and say "like this". Installing USS on the DW is easy using Brad's method. I tried it, it works well, and if you use wide bars that you could fit your body between, getting on and off is easy. I used a hole saw to cut the holes for the head tube. This is available from the main site, under the heading "Video's and Files" :

http://atomiczombie.com/videos/dwmod1/dwmod1.htm

On my tadpole, I have a shortened steerer tube welded under the main boom, and the bars are inserted into a stem welded to a shortened head tube. It's the same system used on the KC and Fighter for the conductor steering.

[gbbwolf]

I get enough question's on how do I steer with my linkage system on my oss steering so I can only imagine how many I would get with USS.

I do get people who want to sit on my bike grabbing the handlebars to sit down.
Glad I made them really well.

I been thinking of doing the USS steering just so they don't break my steering trying to sit down.

Nelson

[back2life]

what does uss and oss mean?

i also like the idea of steering directly to the fron wheel is it hard or complicated to do. Or should i just build my first one just like the plans and then start experimenting on the next build?

[TheKid]

Under Over
Seat Seat or Above Seat Steering
Steering Steering

[TheKid]

The verticals didn't work so well. I used linkage steering on the Meridian, because It was one of my first builds. I started to use it on the Hauler. But after some mods, the Hauler looked like direct steering would work, so I tried it and it does. I currently use linkage on the Streetfox, but the steering response would probably be better with the semi-direct steering in the plans. If I don't end up putting a fairing on it, I'll switch to semi-direct steering. I say semi-direct, because there's a need for a tie rod between the steering arms.

[John Lewis]

I have no problem with using either method. My tadpole has indirect USS with two sets of linkages. The two wheelers are all direct OSS.

Here is how a friend did one of his.

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh98/lew2au/Uni_joint.jpg

There is a distinct difference to steering depending on orientation of the joint. The way it is here proved best.

I could of course put in USS headtube as per Brad's mod and it would be possible to use OSS from that tube I think and have a choice.

A flip stem would make things easier with OSS.

All food for thought.

John Lewis

[Locutus]

Hey John, is that u-joint steering linkage sloppy or tight? I've been told by other AZ Krew members that u-joint linkage can make for sloppy steering, so I'm eager to get your first hand impression.

[John Lewis]

Hey John, is that u-joint steering linkage sloppy or tight? I've been told by other AZ Krew members that u-joint linkage can make for sloppy steering, so I'm eager to get your first hand impression.

My impression of it was good. There was no slop and it felt fine once you became used to the direction the bars moved.

Stan did say that the orientation of the linkage was important to the feel.

I'll check with him next time I see him.

I believe it was a steering uni joint from a small car.

John Lewis

[John Lewis]

Well now I have a rolling frame so I have to decide.

I think I'll go ahead and make the seat. I'll use my standard mesh seat that I use on all my bikes I think.

Then, I will mock up both OSS aand USS and see which feels best.

Thanks to everybody for your input.

John Lewis