frame ideas. i need major help.

[mcA896]

okay. next year in school i am going to be making a frame. i know that a hardtail would be easier, but i really want to make a steel FR/DH (ish) frame. i have sufficient TIG skills to do the job, and can get materials fairly easily. Weight is not an issue at the moment. I need ideas for suspension design, linkage ( i would rather do a single pivot due to lack of cnc machine to make plates, but i could probably fab some plates out of cold rolled steel if needed) My first vision was something similar to a santacruz super 8, except tube frame, and steel. i like how BMW front triangle are designed, so i would most likely base my front triangle off that. I do not want the complicated pulley deal, though. something simple. Also, what would i do travel wise? seattube length? toptube length? head angle? I am 5'11, and have long arms/legs. ZEDRO, you made a frame. please give me some insight.

[mcA896]

oh yeah...one other thing, where can i buy dropouts/bb shell?

[Jayridesacove]

some info on parts here, you might have to scroll a bit.

http://www.ridemonkey.com/forums/showthread.php?t=113828

[mcA896]

thanks. so far, i have come up with this for the initial design. obviously, it is a rough sketch, so ignore angles, shock mount position, etc. i like a frame w/ slack angles and an ultra low standover.

[HRDTLBRO]

For dropouts/bb shells, contact some different steel makers, such as Reynolds...they may be able to supply dropouts, shells, headtubes, etc. They have a website, but I don't remember it off the top of my head.

[DHRracer]

Try www.bikeschool.com as well as Paragon Machine Works,wwwAnvilbikes.com and Nova cycle supply.

[mcA896]

thanks again. so far for angles/dimensions i have this:

68 degree head angle
22" toptube
16.75" swingarm length (swingarm is chain/seat stays)
uber slack (think evil imp) seat tube angle

for the pivott points, should i take a plate and cut/shape it to the correct size/shape and then have a horizontal tube going across the bb area to house the bearings?

what is the most common bb size? 69mm or 73mm? i plan on using a 135mm hub if that makes any differance.

[legend_killer]

check out www.swdracing.com

[buildyourown]

ok, start here (http://www.geocities.com/smonfrey/index.htm)

This will give you lots of links for tools, materials, and skills.

I have built many bikes. I know the temptation to build a DH bike is huge. However, building bikes is more than welding a couple of tubes together. You will learn more than you know on your first bike. Go cheap on tubing and build a hardtail. Then tackle a DH bike. Otherwise, you will waste lots of time and money and most likely, you will end up with some expensive wall art. My first 3 bikes are wall art. One of them is Titanium with over $200 in tubing. It's lying on my basement floor.

The beauty of building a hardtail is that all of the parts are available. You can uild the whole thing with nothing but a good set of files, a few inexpensive hand tools, and a torch. It is very, very hard to design a FS bike that can be built without a mill and a lathe.

Good luck and have fun. If you want specifics about supplies or technique, PM me.

[mcA896]

Buildyourown, after reading your post i think i am going to tackle a hardtail first. i would really like to use stainless,since it welds much nicer than reg. steel. i do have a mill and lathe available to use, but i am not very skilled at using them. i also have welding machines, grinders, drill press, bandsaw etc available to use.

[ChrisRobin]

Ha! I was around when zedro was making his frame. He'd come by the shop and show me his prgress which was impressive. That whole ordeal made him almost lose his mind.