Long Wheelbase Easy Racer clone frame plans
These instructions are intended to help the home-builder construct a
frame which approximates an Easy Racer.
Hints:
- Frame - You will have to locate two old bikes. Police auctions and garage sales are
great places to pick up old 10 speed bikes cheap. The bikes can even be wrecked, as long
as the sections you need are still straight. Look for aluminum components and bolt
togather cranks, they are a dead giveaway that the bike is worthy to cannabalize. Avoid
bikes with 1 piece cranks... You will need about 6 feet of 7/8" tubing (preferably
aircraft quality) for the lower frame. Alternatively, you may find a golf pro shop in your
area that will sell you some nice un-chromed golf club tubing. You will also need about
3.5 feet of 3/8 inch or 1/2 inch tubing to be used as a cross brace.
- Wheel - It's probably best to buy a 20" (451mm) front wheel.
- Handlebars can be bent from 3/4" electrical conduit with a conduit bender, or your
can buy them.
- Seat - can be made with conduit as well, then brazed and covered with mesh material, or
you can buy one. Many people are also very inventive with padded plywood seats...
Cut the frames in the areas indicated by the next two drawings:
Hints:
You will need to mitre the tubes to fit, as different head tube sizes will
make dimensions vary. You may need to add extra support inside the sections where the
tubes butt together to strengthen the joint and provide support while brazing.
Arrange the tubing sections as below:
Hint:
Top seat-stays will be braised to the top frame tube. extra supports need
to be added by the rear up-tube to provide added support, and to center the stays.
The angle of the steering is very important. Make sure that there is
about 2" of positive trail (shown in the picture below).
If all goes well, you should have a great, long wheelbase bike. Good
luck!