Kyoto cruiser with different back?

[Olaf]

Dear zombies :builder2:

I´ve got a question which is torturing me for a few days now.
I´m planning to built a Kyoto Cruiser, I´ve downloaded the plans and besides my studies I´m busy preparing everything so I can start building it in autumn this year.
My question is about the drive train and rear axle. Is it necessary to work with an axle at all? Isn´t it possible to just use two rear forks from old bicycles and weld them parallel to each other? This way you wouldn´t have to go through the hassle with the axle and the big bearings. Plus, you would be able to use normal wheels with normal hubs. The drive trains would be in one line with the wheels and it would be far less material you would have to use.
Wouldn´t it be easier, cheaper en more lightweight to do it that way?

On the other side, the drivers would sit a bit more to the outside of the frame since the two back wheels would be exactly behind their backs. Would that be a problem with the balance of the vehicle?

Please let me know what you guys think about it.

Cheers,

Olaf :rockon:

[TheKid]

What you're describing is two bikes welded to each other. You could use this method to build a quad, or a trike. It's been done before, and you could find them by searching the Net.
This method could be used with a lot of Brad's bikes too. The Meridian for instance, would work well for this application. By combining the front end of the KC using a suspension fork, and two rears from the Streetfox, you'd have a fully suspended tandem delta trike. This would also make it a bit narrower and still be stable.

[Patrike]

Blasphemy - someone kick him off -- I will not stand for someone suggesting to change the Kyoto or any other plans -- kidding!

Good to hear there will be another Kyoto build coming soon - I will watch your progress with a discerning eye!

Check out Joes (http://ca.geocities.com/melonjoe/recumbent.html)social tandem.

Becuase he put the wheels closer together - it was tipy with one rider. And his wheels would not take the same side load as the ones Brad has designed.

Best of luck on you build.

[Olaf]

Thank you for the information. Joe´s trike looks like what I had in mind. Just that he had a good idea to use the crank axle to be able to set the wheels a little bit more to the outside.
I will go and hunt for some donor bikes and I will keep you guys informed about my build.
If you find anything else about this subject, don´t be shy and post it.

Olaf :rockon:

[Patrike]

As Joe mentioned he did his design based on the GEM sociable - found more pics here (http://www.geocities.com/rcgilmore3/tandem.htm).