Schoolproject: building a cruiserbike

[UnDerzon3]

Hi
My name's Rasmus. An 18 year old guy from Sweden which is about to start a project in school. My idea is to build a cruiser bike from scratch. I haven't really decided how the design of the frame will be but i'm working on it. What I do know is that I'll be using 1,5" tubes for the entire bikeframe and I've also been thinking about puting a 120mm wide motorcycle wheel as the backwheel for my bike.
For a long time now I've been locking on the Firebikes FBR bike and I'm thinking about having that design as some sort of output for the design. I've also been thinking about puting a springer fork on the bike but that pretty much everything i've decided so far.
I'm probaly going to start this topic by posting some ideas for the design and i'm glad if you guys could tell me what you think about things I'll be uploading here.
thats pretty much what I have to say for now, if you have any questions feel free to ask.
// Rasmus

this is the latest sketch of the design, tell me what you think

[Dr. Tankenstein]

I like the overall simplicity of the frame, can definitely see the influence from Firebikes.

I say, build it!

Cheers,
Dr. T

[wimpy]

Yep, that's Firebike allright. Good choice, 'cause it looks good. Springerfork looks o.k. too. Don't mind my personal taste, but I would reconsider the seat and sissybar. A nice cruisersaddle could give the bike a less massive look on its backside. But it's up to you to decide. Good luck and have fun, building it.

[King Zebba]

Nice design you have there. I'm currently having a custom frame built by Sam at firebikes with some of the same features your thinkin about. The cool thing about your bike is that your going to build it yourself. Awesome! Here is a couple of pics of my design.
http://i1089.photobucket.com/albums/i35 ... 680001.jpg
http://i1089.photobucket.com/albums/i35 ... an0001.jpg
Good Luck with your build!

[Wildcat]

I sure wish I had the wherewithall to build frames. I like the shape, and I think a few rollers to guide the chain along with the frame, so it follows the lines of the frame, would look good.

[Spincycle]

Frame is looking good. I'm not liking the sissy bar. I think with 1.5" tube your springer fork will look "dinky." Why don't you build your own springer fork with some thicker tubing, say 1." I would also rake the front end some, cause that will look better and your foot won't scrape the front tire when cornering. Or just move the bottom bracket shell back. Keep us updated.

[UnDerzon3]

glad to hear that you guys liked the framedesign. I've looked at your comments and i've redesigned the last sketch I made and acording to your thoughts the bike would look a little like this...

i've replaced the springerfork with a triplefork and tilted that a bit. And i've changed the seat to a regular cruisersaddle. Hope you guys like it even more this time

//Rasmus

[King Zebba]

I'm diggin this one a lot better.

[valy]

hello Rasmus
my opinion it to put under seat a shock apsorber to give a motorcycles look and beter confort

[X-RAY]

when i first saw design 2, i thought the rear was suspended, pivoting where it mounts to top tube. spring could go on the non-drive side at the bottom, opposite the chain, seat would move with the swingarm. were you thinking that too? even as a hardtail it looks pretty cool. not sure if a radial-spoked rear rim is up to the stress, but as a bicycle-drawing-person myself, they are much easier to draw.

[UnDerzon3]

when i first saw design 2, i thought the rear was suspended, pivoting where it mounts to top tube. spring could go on the non-drive side at the bottom, opposite the chain, seat would move with the swingarm. were you thinking that too? even as a hardtail it looks pretty cool. not sure if a radial-spoked rear rim is up to the stress, but as a bicycle-drawing-person myself, they are much easier to draw.

the saddle's going to be mounted on the top tube and it ain't going to move with the swingarm.
With my first design where i had the seat with the sissybar I kind of thought that the sissybar was going to be some kind of support for the rear but now i probably gonna stick with some sort of cruisersaddle
hope it was some sort of answear to you question

// Rasmus

[wimpy]

Hey Rasmus,
I think, the bike looks much better now. Wildcat mentioned a chainguide/-spanner and I agree with him. If your chain has a length of almost 2 regular chains, it's wise to consider some sort of tensioningsystem. With mine, I used a rollerskatewheel. And last, but not least: build it, following your own ideas. Have fun, dude.

[UnDerzon3]

Hey Rasmus,
I think, the bike looks much better now. Wildcat mentioned a chainguide/-spanner and I agree with him. If your chain has a length of almost 2 regular chains, it's wise to consider some sort of tensioningsystem. With mine, I used a rollerskatewheel. And last, but not least: build it, following your own ideas. Have fun, dude.

Hi It's fun to hear that you like it
i will consider the chainguiding but first things first, the project is really "only" the building of the frame. I have a timelimit and to be sure to not surpass that time i set the project to only be the framebuild. The rest of the build is gonna be something i will have to deal with later

//Rasmus

[c.p.odom]

Does your design intent match your fabrication abilities?
Using 1.5" tubing for the chain/seat stays is problematic without some more design work.

[wolfy]

Does your design intent match your fabrication abilities?
Using 1.5" tubing for the chain/seat stays is problematic without some more design work.

God im lucky i can change a saddle