2 person | Side by Side | Tandem Rail Bike

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  • Опубліковано 4 лип 2024
  • This 2 person, side by side, tandem rail bike device was designed and built for use on abandoned and defunct railways only. For those who have followed this journey, the new style of rail bike that you see here allows an easier universal fit for all bike sizes and styles, and it relies only on the top and inside of the rail as contact points. This is based on our experience that many of the old abandoned rails have very rough and corroded outer rail walls while the inside wall, on the majority of them, are still in suitable shape for guidance.
    The bikes used in the video are 29" mountain bikes. The front wheels straps to the aluminum frame so that when the rider completes the rail section of a trip, they can put the front wheel back on the bike and continue in standard mountain bike mode.
    I used aluminum extrusion on this version so that modifying and adjusting the geometry was simple and cost effective. I want to try and make the device as small as possible, while still maintaining the optimal performance.
    Buy your Suluk 46 Ultralight Backcountry Gear here: www.suluk46.com
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КОМЕНТАРІ • 47

  • @Suluk46
    @Suluk46  2 місяці тому +11

    First rule of rail biking - don't ride on active railways.

    • @royreynolds108
      @royreynolds108 2 місяці тому +1

      Unless you have permission.

    • @Suluk46
      @Suluk46  2 місяці тому +2

      @@royreynolds108 Fair enough. I just wanted to make sure people know I'm not riding rails with actual trains running on them...seems to be a common comment when I post these videos.

    • @paulguillaume2617
      @paulguillaume2617 2 місяці тому +1

      @@royreynolds108permission from who??

  • @mynameisnotcory
    @mynameisnotcory День тому

    Put a lil front tire rack in there so you can shred or hit a brewery when you go into town…this has some pontential!!

  • @brucewatts6876
    @brucewatts6876 2 місяці тому +4

    Look Mom.... no hands! Excellent

    • @Suluk46
      @Suluk46  2 місяці тому +1

      Lol. Something tells me she wouldn't be impressed.

  • @stevenwolfe2279
    @stevenwolfe2279 27 днів тому +2

    I got some cheap rubber wheels with bearings on sale at Princess auto. They will probably ride nice and smooth, and quiet on the steel rails.
    I would like to build a very similar contraption to what you’ve engineered.
    That looks like 8020 aluminum extrusions, is that right? How much do you think the aluminum would cost that you used, and where did you source it?
    That looks like about the best set up. I’ve seen so far. I am planning on getting some old plastic cutting boards to make a a bigger inside guide wheel on the same axles, to keep my big rubber wheels on the rails. It should avoid the problem of hitting most stuff, because it would more or less mimic a train wheel.

    • @Suluk46
      @Suluk46  25 днів тому +1

      The entire device cost me around $500. I bought the 8020 from McMaster Carr. It's 30mm and the width is around 5 feet, and about 2 feet long. Hope that helps.

  • @davechakh3700
    @davechakh3700 2 місяці тому +3

    Best thing since sliced bread. A speed readout next time would be amazing

    • @Suluk46
      @Suluk46  2 місяці тому

      Radar gun coming up!

    • @alwhalen3488
      @alwhalen3488 8 днів тому

      @@Suluk46 Just get a speedometer app on your phone.

  • @cognac8297
    @cognac8297 2 місяці тому +1

    i like that you made your friend one too , i bought my friend stuff before so we could do stuff together too

    • @Suluk46
      @Suluk46  2 місяці тому

      Haha. that's what friends are for!

  • @ryangregohara
    @ryangregohara 2 місяці тому +1

    The dude that made one in vermont had a dope setup with gear storage and quick removal

    • @Suluk46
      @Suluk46  2 місяці тому

      I might have seen that one. Very cool.

    • @ClearMystic
      @ClearMystic Місяць тому

      Do you have a picture or an ugly sketch of it? Want get one for bikepacking

  • @dienstagfpv4248
    @dienstagfpv4248 2 місяці тому +1

    im glad you have suspension! 😏

  • @royreynolds108
    @royreynolds108 2 місяці тому +1

    If the horizontal wheels against the rail heads to guide the frame are 1 1/2 inches in diameter or less, they should go through the flangeways of the frogs and guard rails. Individual wheels from inline skates could be mounted so they are vertical or almost vertical to be the guide wheels to stay on the rails(say about 3/16 inch from each rail to give a 4 ft 8 1/8 in over the wheels to ride inside the gauge for standard which is 4 ft 8 1/2 in. Those bearings are meant to spin fast so the speed you will be traveling should be under their top RPM.
    With this setup, you could make it for any gauge you desired.

    • @Suluk46
      @Suluk46  2 місяці тому +2

      I had vertical and angled inside guide wheel on some of the previous versions but the end up causing the device to "climb" up the rails and eventually pop off. That's why these are in full horizontal position. I also had smaller guide wheels, which I could go back to, these are skateboard wheels and are about 2 inches in diameter. The rails in the video are wide gauge ~65.5" inside distance, but the aluminum extrusions is adjustable to match whichever gauge you are on. Still some work to get it perfect, but so far so good. Thanks for the input, sounds lie you know your railway dimensions well.

  • @cjc6063
    @cjc6063 2 місяці тому +2

    Concept is very cool, kinda like an amusement park luge track. Didn't look like you really tried to break it / stress test though. Weird how the bike wheels just follow. Maybe you could sync your brakes mechanically. Also wonder if you could get away with baldy mtb if not slick road tires, reduce that resistance. Good amount of luggage space though 😂

    • @Suluk46
      @Suluk46  2 місяці тому +1

      We were out on it for a while, this was more of a demonstration. We ended up breaking the fork mount so I've made new ones myself that are much stronger. Have to go out and test them to see what the weak point is now.

  • @ROMPERRR
    @ROMPERRR 2 місяці тому

    Sick railroad toy! I think going with semi-slick rear tires will be a worthwhile move to make it even smoother....Also love your 993 in Speed Yellow!

    • @Suluk46
      @Suluk46  2 місяці тому

      Might just have to do that. Also need to upgrade the wheels on the frame, a tad bumoy when going over the rail gaps. Also, you know your cars 😀

  • @3bdalr7mn00
    @3bdalr7mn00 Місяць тому

    Imagine if it was a motorbike, that would be really fun 😂

    • @Suluk46
      @Suluk46  Місяць тому +1

      Coming soon!

  • @sawyerpac9878
    @sawyerpac9878 Місяць тому +1

    Hi guys can you help me to uesd my Gold Rush to Untouchable rail bike? I hope you can.i'm Jerry from Santa Cruz ca,

  • @lorenzomartinez531
    @lorenzomartinez531 Місяць тому +1

    Awesome! What happens if one person pedals faster than the other though, would the frame twist ? 🤔 Also wondering if there's anything to keep the back wheels from staying on the tracks. I feel like it could slip off the rails. Great idea though, I love it !

    • @Suluk46
      @Suluk46  Місяць тому

      It might. We broke one of the fork mounts when we hit some thick brush, so I've upgraded that part of it. It's pretty rigid but best if you ride at a manageable speed.

    • @Suluk46
      @Suluk46  Місяць тому

      And the rear tire just follows the front forks.

  • @oldyeller9849
    @oldyeller9849 2 місяці тому +1

    Would be interested in seeing drawings or close up photos of the rail cart.

    • @Suluk46
      @Suluk46  2 місяці тому +4

      Once I get it finalized I'll post the plans.

  • @saxyphone3896
    @saxyphone3896 2 місяці тому +1

    Can you make a up close video maybe of how it is pieced together and what material you used? My friends and I have always wanted to build a rail vehicle as a side project!!

    • @Suluk46
      @Suluk46  2 місяці тому

      I'm still tinkering with the geometry but I will definitely release the plans on my website. They are super fun.

  • @ClearMystic
    @ClearMystic Місяць тому +1

    Great job, most legit railbiking kit I have seen so far.
    Any chance to opensource the plans of the project on your website for community improvements?

    • @Suluk46
      @Suluk46  Місяць тому +3

      I will as soon as I get it to where I want it to be. I'm still making minor improvements, but it's easy to build so should be sometime soon.

  • @pex3
    @pex3 2 місяці тому +1

    Awesome. Do you have a plan for overgrown vegetation?

    • @Suluk46
      @Suluk46  2 місяці тому +1

      Honestly, not really. The 2 trips I have planned have been scouted extensively to ensure both the tracks are in descent shape (and are still there) so them being overgrown really isn't an issue.

  • @maxwagner9371
    @maxwagner9371 Місяць тому +1

    Did you decide to not go beyond a certain speed? Whats the top speed you get get?

    • @Suluk46
      @Suluk46  Місяць тому +1

      This was the first time riding the device so we took it very easy.

  • @timp7447
    @timp7447 2 місяці тому

    If the rattling is jarring at all maybe a suspension seat post could help

    • @Suluk46
      @Suluk46  2 місяці тому

      It sounds worse in the video than it actually is, but definitely need to upgrade the wheels. Bigger and softer.

  • @GoodTrails
    @GoodTrails 2 місяці тому

    Are you going into Agawa?

    • @Suluk46
      @Suluk46  2 місяці тому +1

      Not this time but I was there last year, walked from Fraser to the Canyon stop and it is certainly a candidate for future trips.

  • @jahoo2k
    @jahoo2k 2 місяці тому

    What stops the rear wheels from slipping off the rail? Does it just track so reliably behind the front?
    I kind of want to see a version with an e-bike motor and luggage platform and some solar panels in the middle : )

    • @Suluk46
      @Suluk46  2 місяці тому +1

      The rear follows the front. I haven't had the back wheel come off. E-bikes are definitely on the horizon, just need some protective gear.

    • @stuntmanwill
      @stuntmanwill 2 місяці тому

      I was wondering this, it amazes me that they just don’t slip off the track 🤯