Brilliantly Simple Tandem Bike

8/10/2019 Brilliantly Simple Tandem Bike

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http://www.instructables.com/id/brilliantly-simple-tandem-bike/

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brilliantly simple tandem bikeby Nkevin90on June 26, 2008

Table of Contents

brilliantly simple tandem bike .....................................................................................................

Intro: Brilliantly simple tandem bike .............................................................................................

Step 1: Parts ..............................................................................................................

Step 2: Wheelses ..........................................................................................................

Step 3: Rear bike ..........................................................................................................

Step 4: Attatchment .........................................................................................................

Step 5: Finishing touches ....................................................................................................

Step 6: Gearses and brakeses ................................................................................................

Step 7: You're done! ........................................................................................................

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Intro: Brilliantly simple tandem bikeHow to make a tandem bicycle from two bikes! no welding, no fancy tools needed other than a power drill.

Step 1:Partsyou're going to need:

-crescent/ adjustable wrenches-chain breaker-extra chain-electric drill-bolts/ nuts-two bicycles, nothing fancy (possibly a smaller frame for the stoker if you'd like, and if you're picky and want certain cranks, go with frames with square/ taper BB's)-crank puller (optional)-allen keys-basic bike tools-probably some other stuff I can't remember right now.

Step 2:Wheelsestake the front wheel off of whatever you're going to make the rear bike, and just as well, dismount the front bike's rear wheel.

using a combination of wrenches and or pliers, do what you can to remove the axle from the front wheel that you just took off. we're discarding it, so make no specialeffort to keep it in great shape, though I highly recommend keeping the innermost washers in the best condition you possibly can.

we're also removing the rear wheel's axle, so once again, try your best to remove all the washers while keeping as much as you can in tact. a workbench clamp is ver

helpful in such removal, as sometimes certain sides get stuck. I do not at all recommend using a pair of plyers as a clamp, as you'll strip the threading on the axle easithan you can possibly imagine.

anyhoo, just make sure you have all the washers and nuts from both hubs aside from the ones that press against the bearings in the rear, because they'll probably be bit of a different size.

the whole point of this step if you're handy enough and don't feel like reading, is that we're putting the rear axle in the front wheel. i t's longer, and we need that extra bilength.

I haven't tried this with a quick-release axle, though I'd be surprised if it didn't work. under the same token, why would you need one?


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Image Notes1. extra bolts I used as spacers2. fork on the outside3. rear dropout4. this is the middle wheel, by the way.

Image Notes1. sorry for the blurriness, but my forks wouldn't fit inside the rear dropouts, so I

just stretched them to fit on the outside instead.

Step 3:Rear bikethis doesn't necessarily need to be in any particular order, in when you do this, but on the rear bike, we're going to need to drill at least two holes through the headtubeand through the steerer tube of the fork. drill holes corresponding with the size bolts you're going to use. I also wouldn't recommend smaller bolts, considering that we'going for strength here.

this drilling is going to prevent the frame of the rear bike from turning like the cargo of a semi-truck, which could be catastrophic if it happens on a left turn for thedrivetrain.

MAKE SURE THAT WHEN YOU DRILL, THE FORK IS LINED UP PERFECTLY STRAIGHT WITH THE FRAME. I don't think I need to explain why. it might be easiercheck this with a front wheel mounted, or if you particularly don't care about it, clamp it in a vice as I did.


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3. rear dropout4. this is the middle wheel, by the way.

Step 5:Finishing toucheshopefully, like I suggested, you used a rear bike with at least a double crankset. that's vital.

let's get the chain on now. or two. or three actually.

yeah, you'll need three chains for this bike as well as a breaker. first off, fuse two chains together, and add or take out as many links as you'll need to get the chain tostretch from one set of cranks to the other. and make sure your pedals are set to where you want them just as well. you can do this using a chain breaker, which areabout three bucks at your local walmart.

naturally, the holes in the second bike's headtube are going to stretch, and considering that, so is your chain on those nasty turns. a simple solution is taking an oldderaileur and fastening it to the dropouts of the first bike, but only using the bottom pulley. this will tension the chain from the bottom up, as you see, and prevent it fromfalling off.

once you've routed your chain through the deraileur, connect the chain.

so that's one down. oh yeah, and you're going to want to fasten it to the top gear of the rear cranks.

the middle ring (I drilled out the little one because I'm anal), will work great for the drive ring, as you will, and operates on the same principle as a regular bike's drivetrawould.

just so the chain doesn't fall off, I took an old front deraileur and bolted it on as another safety precaution.

Image Notes1. this is only two chains, though it looks like more Image Notes1. spare deraileur2. middle wheel

Image Notes1. chainring to drive

Image Notes1. chainring to front cranks


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Image Notes1. front deraileur chain guide

Step 6:Gearses and brakesesI figured I'd give the stoker something to do, (okay, realistically, gear cables don't run this long!), so I installed a shifter on the rear bike's set of handlebars which contrthe gears for the bike, though I found out that they honestly don't help so much anyway. ha haa.

and as far as brakes: if you want, you can install two, but they have to be controlled by the captain, because you don't want the stoker doing anything stupid. I highlyrecommend a front brake, and on the middle wheel, you can install a back brake for the front bike, or a front brake for the back bike.

bottom line is, even as heavy as the thing is, it works fine for me with just one brake.

and no bike shop would ever condone this, but if you, like myself, have a nicer deraileur and are lacking horizontal dropouts, get a cheap deraileur hanger and stick it between the hardware and tighten the hell out of that wheel! it's proven to work fine, but looks pretty bad in my opinion.

Image Notes1. shifting2. front brake

Image Notes1. short bars for less leverage


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Image Notes1. non-standard deraileur

Image Notes1. sandwiched hanger


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Step 7:You're done!that's it? what?!

yep. it's that easy. just make sure everything's tight and the hand - controlled parts are properly tuned up, and it's ready for a ride!

so how do you ride it?

yeah, there are three wheels and it's pretty difficult to turn (I say it turns like a semi-truckgoing through the drive-through of mc donald's) but trust me, it's not that badonce you get the hang of making really wide turns.

I recommend having the captain get on first, supportthe bike completely and have the stoker mount themselves on the pedals, then take off with as little horizontalmovement as possible. there might be some play in the rear bike's steering, as why I cutthem down to size, considering that the stoker will have less leverage as aresult, and it's proven to be effective.

I'd cross streetsby walking the bike and never take turns too quickly. also, think about getting a higher pressure middle tire, just because the wheel has twice as muchweight on it as itnormally would.

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Comments

44 comments Add Comment

rickharrissays: Jul 15, 2012. 9:18 AM REPThere is no reason not to keep the back wheel and have 2 separate drive systems .

msspurlocksays: Jul 14, 2008. 12:19 PM REP

I love this. It really is brilliantly simple. Now can you start work on a tandem that's side-by-side? I want to put an electric motor on it. Oh, and a penny-farthingconversion. That'd be cool. I don't ask much, do I? :-)

richardmasonersays: Jul 15, 2008. 12:46 PM REPOf course, if it's side by side then it'snot in tandem. But for a realization of that concept, see this.

genhalftracksays: May 19, 2009. 6:40 AM REPLook what I dug up in the old photos box, from the late 80's. After a benefit ride, Aramis and Clinique, two Estee Lauder brands, gave these away aDrawing prizes, Hope they show.
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msspurlocksays: May 19, 2009. 9:33 AM REPThat's pretty ingenious in itself. Similar to the buddy configuration, but less geared to filming. Lately what I've been wishing for in my space-challenged life, is a tandem add-on, kind of like the one in this article, that's easily separable from the whole. I know they make the Third Wheel, buthat's somebody leeching off the pedaller. I have a design in my head, but it would really be slow, since it involves a modified crankset. That alsoviolates the rule of not requiring a modified mother bike.

carlitossays: Dec 12, 2011. 2:37 PM REPHere you go.. just published my.Side by Side Bicycleinstructable.

msspurlocksays: Jul 15, 2008. 1:17 PM REPLOL! Yeah, I was searching for the right term. Then I thought, to be that technical, is a tandem cycle, usually with three or four wheels, even a bike orbicycle? "Buddy bike" does kind of say it, I suppose. I was picturing more of a four wheel configuration, but this is intriguing, too.

john3347says: May 8, 2011. 9:52 AM REP"Back in the day" I used to weld a washer onto the dropouts and spread the fork blades and slide one fork over the rear wheel of another bicycle and makeno additional modifications. This way, the bicycle would bend in the middle in turns and not require 40 acres and skidding the tires through turns. The forkwould quickly work its way out of the axle of the front bicycle without the 360 degree retention provided by the washer welded to the fork dropout. The chaithat is connecting the two bicycles together in this example is completely unnecessary. It is not only not necessary to prevent the rear fork from pivoting inturns, but quite undesirable. both forks should be able to pivot.

As another poster here discusses, I used to string 3 or 4 bicycles together by this method. I never tried more than 4.

FYI: "Tandem" refers to the arrangement of one in front of another; not to quantity. Mother duck and all her little ducklings following along behind her are "itandem".

Nkevin90says: Oct 18, 2011. 7:24 PM REPTrue; I know your comment is old and I hadn't really ever gotten around to replying to it, but my goal was to make a connected-drive tandem, as mostreal tandems are. It did take a lot more effort to set this particular version up for something that turns less efficiently than what you described, but this hmore of a genuine tandem feel (minus that third wheel) than simply stretching out the fork on a beater bike and attaching it to another.

At any rate, if I build another one, it probably will have independent drivetrains!

grannyjonessays: Oct 18, 2011. 6:36 PM REPMy brothers did this 50 years ago.We laughed so hard!
http://www.instructables.com/id/brilliantly-simple-tandem-bike/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/grannyjones/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/grannyjones/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/id/brilliantly-simple-tandem-bike/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/Nkevin90/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/Nkevin90/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/id/brilliantly-simple-tandem-bike/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/john3347/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/john3347/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/id/brilliantly-simple-tandem-bike/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/msspurlock/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/msspurlock/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://cdn.instructables.com/F88/WDKN/GW3X2H6E/F88WDKNGW3X2H6E.LARGE.jpghttp://www.instructables.com/id/Side-by-Side-Bicycle/http://www.instructables.com/id/brilliantly-simple-tandem-bike/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/carlitos/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/carlitos/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/id/brilliantly-simple-tandem-bike/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/msspurlock/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/msspurlock/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments


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alexpuffssays: Apr 6, 2011. 2:22 PM REPHey !It's a very nice idea !I'll try to make one as soon as possible,congratulations!

O-Budd-1says: Feb 11, 2011. 11:37 AM REPIf I may?

It steers like a truck because it can't flex around the middle wheel.

Back in the middle of the last century (ok, I'm an old coot ), we used to chain as many as 15 bikes together by hooking the fork of one over the axle of thebike in front, usually for parades. Watching them snake thru the floats was wild as all the riders usually dressed up as clowns.

Each bike kept it's own chain drive and coaster brake (pre-ten-speed era), but the lead guy decided where you went ... and no arguing about it.

Take the bolts out, disconnect the rear bike drive from the front bike and you'll find it works a lot better.

Budd

zogworthsays: May 23, 2010. 12:57 PM REPI just thought I should let you know, a side by side is usually known as a sociable, because you can chat :)

Dan Marshallsays: Mar 18, 2010. 9:25 PM REPCheck out http:/TinyURL.com/TandemEquivalentTinyURL.com/TandemEquivalentIt shows another solution to the same problem which is arguably simpler and more manuverable.

jalbert_designersays: Oct 5, 2008. 7:07 AM REPThe reason that you have to make really wide turns, cross streets by walking the bike, never take turns too quickly, and the whole bike is difficult to turn, isthe fact that you've bolted the head tube, preventing the bike frame from pivoting in a turn. However, a bike with three (in-line) wheels MUST have a pivotpoint to turn properly.While (I agree) this would be catastrophic for the drive train that you've built, it would work fine if each bike were to keep its own (independent) drive train.What I mean is, why not just connect the front fork of the rear bike, to the rear axle of the front bike, and be done?..And best of all, this way you wouldn't need to splice a super-long chain together, or deal with complications of trying to share the drive train.

Nkevin90says: Oct 5, 2008. 11:21 AM REPoh yeah, of course I've thought of that, but it's not as tandem-esque without the synchronized drivetrain ; ) I'm not sure how the rear wheel would fastenon though without a super oversized axle though, because the fact that the rear is a front hub with a rear axle gives you enough play to fasten themtogether. it'd be interesting to see how a pivot bike would work though. turning would probably be wicked confusing for the stoker.

laughingcoyotesays: Jun 15, 2009. 10:52 AM REPOld Man Mountain uses super long axles with their axle-mounted racks. Might be able to get some from them and perhaps use some ideas from th

mounting.

Megawattsays: Apr 4, 2009. 7:28 AM REPdoes it work?

SirJoeysays: Jan 15, 2009. 8:19 AM REPPretty funny, & definitely original! Kudos! :)

vinnygx3pimpsays: Nov 23, 2008. 5:14 PM REPHey Kevin I didn't know you were a member of instructables though I kinda thought you were. It's Vincent from South. You know the kid who doesn't know whato cut on the frame.

technodude92says: Sep 3, 2008. 2:56 PM REPthis must confuse the heck out of onlookers!

Nkevin90says: Sep 3, 2008. 3:31 PM REPoh, it does. one kid said to me "NICE BIKE!", and I say "thanks," because it is, and all borat-style or something, he comes back with "NOT!" I couldn'thelp but laugh. he had to be jealous.
http://www.instructables.com/id/brilliantly-simple-tandem-bike/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/Nkevin90/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/Nkevin90/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/id/brilliantly-simple-tandem-bike/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/technodude92/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/technodude92/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/id/brilliantly-simple-tandem-bike/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/vinnygx3pimp/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/vinnygx3pimp/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/id/brilliantly-simple-tandem-bike/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/SirJoey/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/SirJoey/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/id/brilliantly-simple-tandem-bike/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/Megawatt/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/Megawatt/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/id/brilliantly-simple-tandem-bike/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/laughingcoyote/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/laughingcoyote/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/id/brilliantly-simple-tandem-bike/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/Nkevin90/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/Nkevin90/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/id/brilliantly-simple-tandem-bike/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/jalbert_designer/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/jalbert_designer/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://tinyurl.com/TandemEquivalenthttp://www.instructables.com/id/brilliantly-simple-tandem-bike/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/Dan+Marshall/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/Dan+Marshall/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/id/brilliantly-simple-tandem-bike/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/zogworth/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/zogworth/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/id/brilliantly-simple-tandem-bike/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/O-Budd-1/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/O-Budd-1/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/id/brilliantly-simple-tandem-bike/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/alexpuffs/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/alexpuffs/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments


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technodude92says: Sep 4, 2008. 6:43 PM REPyes, after BORAT, the world will never be the same.

discontinuuitysays: Jul 14, 2008. 11:21 PM REPI'm sure there's a way to make it bend in the middle, you just would have to have two different drivetrains. Maybe you would need to change the angle on trear steering tube. After all, these things work fine:

Kitemansays: Jul 13, 2008. 4:58 AM REPI'll second uldics' comments about the too-close pictures, and isn't the join between the bikes a weak-point? Would it not be better to add some sort of crosbracing between the two bikes? Still the pictures in steps 6 & 7 are great - it takes a double-look to be sure how many bikes you are looking at.

PKMsays: Jul 13, 2008. 8:19 AM REPI think the advantage this way is that the bike can pivot about the... transverse axis? at the middle wheel axle, which is necessary as it has three wheelIf the frame was completely rigid imagine what would happen when you hit a speed bump. If you had some pretty serious suspension on the front forkand back frame it might not be as necessary. I'd like to see what would happen to the handling if you didn't lock the back bike's forks...

Visitorsays: Jul 14, 2008. 5:27 AM REPIf the middle fork was not locked, then the bikes would lean in different angles when cornering. Because the middle fork is leaning backwards, thefront bike would lean more in the corner and rear bike would lean less. Handling while cornering would be tricky. All in all, this design is on a deadend track. A neat way to spend a day tinkering, but it will never produce a properly working bike. I mean trike.

Kitemansays: Jul 13, 2008. 9:37 AM REP>doh

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Brilliantly Simple Tandem Bike