Voyageur

[gphil]

Golly Brad thanks for the new bike. Now that is all I needed, more decisions to make. WHICH ONE ???//// I know build em all. Beautiful job and ride. gphil

[LO2W]

Looks great. May just have to re-think and put the Tour Master on hold. This looks like a better first project.

[fultondp]

Brad,

Did you ever get a chance to weigh the Voyageur?

Inquiring minds want to know...


Darren

[jezusjonz]

Hey Brad what size did the wheels end up being. Wanting to build the Voyageur but hoping I have all the extras needed.
Thanks Terry

[Radical Brad]

41 pounds for The Voyageur.

Brad

[trikeman]

For those of you who lean towards being weight weenies (such as myself) build it without the rear suspension (see my badly done Gimp graphics in the Voyager thread) and save 5-10 pounds. I always figure 10 more pounds for rear suspension, based on the differences in weights of 25Hz's trikes with and without suspension, and the fact that the 2 rear triangles with suspension I have from donor bikes are boat anchors. Brad figured 5 pounds in another thread on the topic, so your mileage may vary, depending on the weight of the rear triangle and shock. Mid 30s should be easy for those that don't need suspension. A lighter mes seat, some fancy wheels, etc. and you get the idea. This is a very clean design. However, I think the suspension rear per the plans is an easier build, since you don't have to futz around with the rear triangle much.

[SirJoey]

That LWB lowracer I just finished only weighs 6 lbs more, which is kinda surprising,
considering it has a good bit of (heavier) square frame tubing, a 1-piece boat-anchor
crankset, fenders, 26" steel wheels, a steel kickstand, & an extra gooseneck for accessories.

But then again, no rear suspension, which is kinda heavy as TM pointed out.


http://img384.imageshack.us/img384/7131/sirjoeysigmedij1.gif

[trikeman]

If I didn't have a glass smooth rails-to-trails trail to ride on, I am sure I would feel differently about suspension btw.

[fultondp]

So,
with no suspension and a 200 lb rider, how much frame flex could one expect?
Enough to be a concern?

Darren

[Radical Brad]

I would be highly concerned about the frame using round tubing without suspension with any rider. Square tubing is so much stronger for this kind of thing.

Brad

[badcheese]

For what it's worth, I have been riding my High Roller long distances on streets (75 miles last Sunday!), and I sometimes wish it had more spring to it. The streets I ride are pretty nicely paved, very few potholes, but when I hit bumps, I have to lift my upper body slightly out of the seat or it feels like I'm being kicked in the back. Keep in mind that human legs make excellent suspension, and on an upright bike you can always lift out of the saddle slightly when you hit a bumpy patch.

Granted, the HR is stiffer than an unsuspended Voyageur would be due to the square tubing and shorter boom. Unless your entire route is "smooth as glass" (lucky trikeman), some sort of suspension is not a bad idea. Not just to spare the frame from the abuse (as Brad is concerned about), but to spare your body from the abuse as well. On my DF road bike with thin frame tubing, narrow rims, and 110psi tires, I can ride off of curbs (carefully) with no damage to the bike or myself. I have no eagerness to try that on my HR, even with big 1.5" 60psi tires. I think it would feel like getting hit in the back with a 2x4 (that's framing lumber, for you metric folks).

The thing I like most about my HR compared to Voyageur is that it's short enough to fit in my basement or on my car's roof rack. I could see building a SWB version of Voyageur. The head tube would almost be close enough to do direct USS instead of remote USS. On the other hand, the suspension would require more distance between the seat and the rear wheel, so you'd end up with a different weight distribution. Lots of possible combinations!

[PeterT]

. I think it would feel like getting hit in the back with a 2x4 (that's framing lumber, for you metric folks).



Then why didn't you just say getting hit by a 50 x100 stud?

PeterT :jester: :jester:

[likebikes]

I am all over BCs comments. I'm planning a H-R seat with a little shock absorbtion built in. BC, you'll recall I was worried about my feet being elevated above my waist, I came to the conclusion that a seat with some spring under it (I haven't come to a final decision how) would both cushion my ride and raise my seat to crank aspect and help eliminate the circulation issues I was concerned with. That might be an easy modification for a completed bike like yours as well. Once I get a design finalized, I'll post it.
As far as Brads new design, beautiful and simple. I like it!
I would have done my LWB build like this had I seen it three years ago.

[Freth]

Years ago I built something along these lines (Bentech LWB (http://www.bentechbikes.com/)). I found that using a chromo round main-tube allowed for some riding flex and comfort. Of course I had to get a friend to TIG weld it ... I don't have that equipment or expertise. But it saved excess wt. and rode great. HOWEVER, I ended up riding the SWB model (made from muffler pipe) more often ... because it was easier to transport. I didn't have a utility van or pickup truck to haul the LWB around.

[Racer46]

How to transport a LWB with a Honda Civic:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/31561226@N03/sets/72157616391893120/

Yes; It hangs way out there.

No; I don't have any problems with it in traffic / construction zones. Most road lanes are 12', the bike is just under 8'. I do have to be a little more carefull but I used to have a motor home that was wider than this.

The rack was purchased from e-trailers dot com along with the hitch. I added 8" to each arm to make it long enough to carry the bike.

[Kobber]

Hi everyone,

The Voyageur has really caught my eye. For those of you following my thoughts in a parallel thread (Underseat steering on a HighRoller? (http://forum.atomiczombie.com/showthread.php?t=3079)), this will not be news. I'm now leaning towards a Voyageur–HighRoller hybrid, if such a thing may be.

I'm vaguely sourcing parts and think I might have a deal to be grabbed, but I need to know if the Voyageur has a 24" or a 26" wheel at the back. Anyone know? I'll get the plans later, when I'm decided, but this info could help me decide whether to buy this bike I've seen.

Thanks in advance.

Kobber

[trikeman]

I'm vaguely sourcing parts and think I might have a deal to be grabbed, but I need to know if the Voyageur has a 24" or a 26" wheel at the back. Anyone know? I'll get the plans later, when I'm decided, but this info could help me decide whether to buy this bike I've seen.

Thanks in advance.

Kobber

This question doesn't have as much meaning on a homebuilt, especially one as simple as the Voyager. Brad has made the statement before that he never (almost?) uses 24" wheels. That said, if you build it using a 24" wheel or a 26" wheel from a donor bike it will be fine IMO. It will slightly change the seat height, and horizontal tilt of the frame. A 24" wheel will also give you a slightly lower gearing, so it will not have as much top end speed, but will climb better. By the way many 24" rear triangles will take a 26" wheel if you don't try to put too fat a tire on it. I also have some 24" BMX wheels and tires that are actually larger than some 26" wheels I have with skinny tires.

The Voyager is a great looking bike, and I think it has probably taken the easiest-to-build title from the Meridian. Buy it and be the first to build it.

[Radical Brad]

I have never used a 24 inch rim on a bike , but that is going to change starting today.... new trike on the way. 24" could be used on the Voyageur though.

Brad

[Kobber]

This question doesn't have as much meaning on a homebuilt, especially one as simple as the Voyager.

Good answer, trikeman, and one that I was half expecting, to tell the truth. That's the beauty of it: I could put a 6-foot tractor tire on the durn thing if I wanted to (and had the thighs to match). But being such a beginner, I tend to rely on the experience of an accomplished builder like Brad. If his original design calls for a 26" wheel, I'll take that into account.

Thanks for the info about the 24" triangles. Never tried, but I may get around to it one day.

Back to my cogitations .... Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Kobber

[Kobber]

I have never used a 24 inch rim on a bike , but that is going to change starting today.... new trike on the way. [...]
Brad

Looks like I came on board just in time to witness history.

But, geez, Brad, how many hours are there in the day in Thunder Bay?:confused: Did the Superior Being set you down in some sort of temporal loop? Or have you just forgone sleep entirely?

I am now mocking up my plans, just to see if my ideas can work on paper first. I'll submit something soon for peer review - if I may be so bold as to consider myself a peer amongst such august company.

Take it easy!

Kobber

[Radical Brad]

I sleep with a welding helmet on and an angle grinder strapped to my arm!

Brad

[Kobber]

Sounds like Brad of Borg. I believe you already know Locutus?

[sinner4]

I have never used a 24 inch rim on a bike , but that is going to change starting today.... new trike on the way. 24" could be used on the Voyageur though.

Brad

I picked up a 20" wheeled small soft tail mountain bike today, how about keeping the 20" in the rear and a 16" up front???

This could be be for a small person or a kid, but not for the 230# kid in me. I'm working on a clone of the Tour Master, then a real "Marauder Reloaded"

Rich-

[PeterT]

I sleep with a welding helmet on and an angle grinder strapped to my arm!

Brad

So if you sleep a welding helmet on, and cuddle an angle grinder, what does Kat have for her comforts? :cheesy::jester: