Marauder Reloaded

[BRADinSTL]

What a 'teaser' photo (looks great)... it must be getting close to the release date!!

My question is this: The rear swingarm looks factory assembled. Is that scavanged off of a bike with rear suspension?

The main reason I'm asking is I've got a line on a cheap (Huffy) MTB bike with a very similar rear suspension and I'm wondering if I should jump on it for this build...

Thanks, BRADinSTL

[AtomicZombie]

Thanks! Next few weeks, the plans should be ready.

Yes, that rear triangle is the same as the StreetFox - compliments of a $129.95 mountain bike from the deparment store. You can get a lot of good stuff from a dept. store bike. The only thing low end is the frame due to its all steel construction - but that's great for us.

Brad

[BRADinSTL]

Still in-search of a donor bike for this project... most of the rear suspension bikes I find are aluminum framed, so this is tougher than I thought. It looks like the rear wheel is a 26", correct?

Thanks,
Brad

[locolarry]

Try Target..Magna series, take a magnet with you...KEEP THE MAGNET AWAY FROM YOUR CREDIT CARDS!!! How do I know? Let's just say that I HEARD it somewhere and leave it there...

Yes, it's a 26 in the plans...

You can use the Aluminum bike as a last resort...you just have to scrounge up the right size piece of steel tubing for the pivot..

Larry

[AtomicZombie]

Yes, there is no problem with an aluminum rear triangle. Pop out the plastic plugs from the pivot tube and find a steel one of the same inner diameter.

Brad

[BRADinSTL]

Pop out the plastic plugs from the pivot tube and find a steel one of the same inner diameter.

Brad

I may have too... sounds challenging to find a steel tube of the same size, but if I get tired of waiting I'll give it a try.

Thanks
BradinSTL

[TheKid]

The bikes I found had an aluminum frames, (1 20" Rhino, 1 26" Magna) but the rear triangles are steel. I couldn't find a piece of tubing the right diameter for the pivot tube, so I cut a piece of 1 1/4" conduit lengthwise for a little more than I needed. I made 2 cuts, so there was a 1/4" wide sliver taken out. Then I cut it to the correct length. I put the pivot bushings in, and clamped the opening tight. It took a little more fine tuning with the grinder to get a tight fit. When the bushings fit nice and snug, I welded the seam. Wallyworld usually sells both an aluminum frame suspension bike with a steel rear, and an all steel frame, usually for $10 less.

[BRADinSTL]

... When the bushings fit nice and snug, I welded the seam...

Great solution... can't find it, make it. That's why I come here !!!
Thanks Kid.:)

[TheKid]

You'll find many of us do the same thing if we can't find the right size tube. If you want to join two lengths of square tube, you'll almost always find the next size smaller doesn't fit tight enough to make an inside coupling. In that case, you just make one from angle iron, bed posts being a good free source for materials. Just watch for people throwing out old beds. Richie Rich used this method to convert his Delta Wolf to a quad, which is reversible. I used it many times in the past in construction work, and applied it to the square tube bike frames.

[fasteddie]

I am just about finished with my first zombie project(maurader reloaded). I bought a donor bike at WalMart for 84 bucks with the right looking swing arm. I was wondering why on the steering column you wouldn't just extend it with some round tube of the same size, then cut the bolt and extend it with some small round tube. Seems that that might be easier. That's my last project before running the chain and cables. I do have to say I like the ease of assembling this bike. I was all so thinking of adding a 24 inch suspended front with disc brakes, like on the Mongoose. But first I am going to learn to ride a bike all over again.

[gbbwolf]

I am just about finished with my first zombie project(maurader reloaded). I bought a donor bike at WalMart for 84 bucks with the right looking swing arm. I was wondering why on the steering column you wouldn't just extend it with some round tube of the same size, then cut the bolt and extend it with some small round tube. Seems that that might be easier. That's my last project before running the chain and cables. I do have to say I like the ease of assembling this bike. I was all so thinking of adding a 24 inch suspended front with disc brakes, like on the Mongoose. But first I am going to learn to ride a bike all over again.

Well I used 3/4 emt on mine and cut bike stem and bolt in half.
Stem from bmx slid right in.
Then I welded 1/4 inch solid rod to bolt.

5 weeks and no breaks on my delta wolf.

Nelson

[fasteddie]

What you guys need is a piece of mechanical tubing. It comes in alot of different sizes. Used it alot with race car stuff. Try your local steel yard. I know the object is not to get spending, but a small machine shop could probably knock one out pretty reasonable.

Took mine for a test drive Saturday. Wobble, Wobble. Finally was able to ride it. Very comfortable. Now I took it apart to paint and modify a few items, steering shaft seems high and shifting is some what stiff.

[fasteddie]

I fixed my steering shaft problem with a piece of 3/4" tubing welded directly to the stem, after removing the very top part. Used a piece of brake line tubing to splice the bolt together. Now time for the final assembly and on the road I go. Wobble, Wobble!

[gbbwolf]

I fixed my steering shaft problem with a piece of 3/4" tubing welded directly to the stem, after removing the very top part. Used a piece of brake line tubing to splice the bolt together. Now time for the final assembly and on the road I go. Wobble, Wobble!

OH Boy I see skinned knees and a lot of pain heading your way if that brake line tubing breaks.

I didn't even get my bolt tight enough to hold the handlebars in place before my welds snapped on my bolt extension.

I used a 1/4 inch solid rod to extend my bolt.
If I had welded it and not ground it down, like I did the second time it would never have broken.

Don't think brake line tubing is going to hold up just my opinion though.

Nelson

[fasteddie]

Thanks, Maybe I will rethink that one some more.

[fasteddie]

Hey GBBWOLF,

You were totally correct, made it 15 minutes before that idea failed. I hate it when someone else is right. Thanks for your input, now on to the steel rod welded together. After that I will search the steel yard for some good round tube.

Will test the new one today as it rained all of yesterday(Cheney,WA) under 50 degrees.

[gbbwolf]

Well I ain't right often according to the wife.
I will inform her and mark it on the calendar.

Nelson

[fasteddie]

Test drive completed. Need some personal training tips or old guys shouldn't try to ride a Maurder Reloaded. After the Wolf set me on the right path with my front bolt issue and moving the pedals forward, was able to start riding. Wobble, Wobble, Sir have you been drinking? As the donor bikes(may whats left rest in peace)had MTN Bike tires or BMX., would street type tires help with stability issues or is it my drinking problem? Also is there a easy to use design program to design a frame with. Hey this is a great hobby, beats fishing. Back to the tread mill and see if I can ride a whole mile and still breath normally.

[John Lewis]

Great to see another one riding. Pics? Gotta have pics. :)

I've not ridden a low racer yet but I have my Marauder plans so it won't be long. Best advice I can give on overcoming the bent wobbles is to relax and use a very light touch on the bars. Keep practicing and in a few days you'll wonder what all the fuss was about.

Bent design programs . There is an online one on bicycleforest but it requires Java
Here's the index page.
http://www.bikeforest.com/CAD/index.php

quite a few interesting cad programs here. I think the one you want is recumbentcad. Unfortunately they're all SWB I think.

There is also this which has a lot of useful info.
http://bikesmithdesign.com/Design/12Steps.html

John Lewis

[savarin]

When I first built my marauder I test rode with jury rigged still red hot from welding handlebars.
Promptly fell off and burnt my belly.
I thought it was the most unwieldy thing I had ever ridden.
Got everything finished and tried a gain. Just like you I was all over the place.
It took a few days to learn to relax and go for it and it now feels as stable as any bike I've ridden.
Relax, just let your hands sort of drape over the bars.
Its a different concept to riding a wedgie.

[fasteddie]

Picture of my Maurader. Still some wobble, but atleast it isn't wobble, wobble. Now time to start adding some better equipment. New wheels, more gears(18 now) Road tires and hopefully disc brakes. I have to say thanks to the AZ, building a quality and affordable recumbent is great fun. I cannot believe the number of people that go Cool Bike, and they really step back when you say that you built it. Always giving credit to the designer and the great website.

[AtomicZombie]

Great show, and thanks!

Brad

[John Lewis]

Looks good. Great effort. I agree with what you say about peoples' comments. I get it all the time

Is the seat fairly upright or does it just ook that way in the photo?

Get out there now and ride!

John Lewis

[SirJoey]

Great lookin' ride, FE! Love the color, too.
Let's see some more shots!

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

[fasteddie]

Seat post is @ 55 degrees, so it must be just the angle of the shot. Sir Joey will post some more pics with me actually riding, just so you know I am not just a builder. Here is my answer to the street fighter. Unfortunately I am no longer allowed to play with this, so I had to find a new toy.

[SirJoey]

WHOA! Sportin' some serious muscle there!
So obviously, they don't call you "Fast Eddie" for nothing, huh?
Let's just hope they don't call you that for EVERYTHING! ;) :D

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

[theTman]

anyone have any complaints or comments on the seating position and the comfort of it on longer rides like say, 20 miles. my mom who's a nurse commented that the position of the neck relative to the body looks like it could cause pain issues, and long term damage.