Bikes are a great way to move around. They are not only faster than walking but you can get good exercise out of them. Recumbent bikes are not as common as regular bikes like mountain bikes, they are usually something you find in a bicycle enthusiasts garage.
Since not many people are in the market, they can often demand a hefty price to own one. This is a pity because their backrest make them very conformable. Their commonly low profile makes them great for racing.
Thankfully there are ways, you can build yourself a high-quality recumbent bike. This article will be going through 15 DIY recumbent bike builds you can use to get yourself one.
Table of Contents
1. Parts from recycled parts
Using recycled parts is one of the best ways to get your bike while keeping the costs low. This is especially important considering that the mass-produced bends and conversion kits are likely to cost you a lot of money. You should use the used bike parts.
Swap the wheels of the front and the rear wheels of the bike. You should ensure that the brake is well installed. Extend the height of the handle to give that laid-back feel. Switch out the seat and get the reclining one to complete the recumbent bike.
2. Recumbent bike with a motor
Like most bicycle DIYs, most of the parts in use will be from salvaged bicycles. As such most of the really difficult bits are already solved for you.
The bottom bracket is fashion from the square steel bars. With some welding, you can attach the back and the front wheel to the frame. The drive train and pedal are also attached to the body frame. When installing the breaks, you should also install a salvage electric motor for the extra kick.
3. Long wheelbase recumbent
This bike is famous for its ease of use. It is relaxing due to the low-intensity nature of moving the bike. Most of the parts can be gotten from salvage of mountain bike parts.
What cannot be salvage can be bought at the local stores. The tubing used is from the salvaged parts. The wheels in use are the same as any of the mountain bikes on the market. Make sure to keep the transmission underneath the seat.
4. Full suspension recumbent bicycle
Recumbent bikes are known for their comfort; you can enhance that level of comfort with the addition of suspension for a smoother ride. Like most of the other bike DIY projects, the parts are mostly recovered from used parts.
The suspensions also recovered are mounted to the back of the wheels giving the cyclist an even smoother ride. The bike has two gears to stop the chain from being too long, reducing the rate of failure.
5. Wooden recumbent construction
This is a good-looking bike. It is made from salvaged bicycle parts, wood, and some canvas. This would be great for a ride through the open air.
Fashion the pieces of wood into the frame of the bike. The salvaged bike parts would make the drive train and the wheels. The canvas is used to make the reclining seat.
6. Recumbent bike no welding required
Welding is a skill that most people just do not possess. Other people, especially younger people may be apprehensive about working with or around open flames.
An alternative to this is to make the bike frame from wood. With the salvage from other bikes, and the light plywood. You can affix the rest of the parts, including the chain and the wheels from those bikes. On completion, you will have a fast laid back bike.
7. Wooden framed recumbent
This bike oozes style. With stained wood and a perfect laid-back seat, it gives comfort on top of the style.
Since it's a recumbent-styled bike, it is important to make sure the bike stays as low as possible to make sure you keep balance. The bike has a 48-inch wheelbase. The frames are made from five layers of plywood. The seat is made with plywood and has a headrest.
8. Simple Recumbent Bike
This is the basic most recumbent bike you can make. It is made from steel tubing and parts from the recovered bicycle parts.
Working with the steel tubing is going to need a bit of experience in welding. The steel tubing will form the central frame and the back portion of the reclined chair. The pedals should be installed to the front of the bike. The result is a fairly standard recumbent bike.
9. Low drivetrain wooden bike
With some scavenged bikes and a month of your time, you could build this gorgeous bike yourself. The frame is made from laminated wood to handle the warping.
The chains and the tires were bought at the store. The main issue to keep in mind for this bike is the front chain and the length of the brake cable. These have been known to become loose over time.
10. Short wheelbase recumbent bike
With a smaller wheelbase comes a lower center of gravity and consequently the speed. The gear and the pedals will be on the front of the first wheel.
With old parts, you can make the recumbent bike. This tutorial uses a twin spur frame as opposed to one heavy giant steel tube. To get the lightweight and the strength, the use of lightweight steel tubes that run the length of the bike.
11. Hunor recumbent bikes
This award-winning build is from Germany. From old bicycles, you can build a relaxing low-lying bike, with style.
The frame is made from steel from reclaimed bikes. the parts that cannot be found are custom made, with parts from the local stores. This bike is made with European stylistic sensibilities as it has a head badge to identify its maker.
12. Regular Bike Mods
This bike is simple to make. It involves using an existing bicycle and changing the drivetrain to the front from the bottom. With a salvage bike, switch the gear and the pedals to the front.
This would require a longer chain that you can find at many hardware stores. Remove the seat and add the back support. You can also move the seat lower to the central frame of the bike to make it more laid back.
13. Wide wheelbase recumbent racing bike
As the name suggests this bike is not just built for comfort but also for speed. This machine of speed can be crafted at a considerably lower cost when compared to what you might get at the store.
This build requires very little skill and no machined parts at all. The parts will be used from salvaged bicycle parts. The frame comes from a single basic square steel tube from the hardware store. All you need is basic welding, to complete it.
14. The lowracer
Like most recumbent bikes, it has a very low wheelbase. Due to the really low center of gravity, it makes this bike particularly great for racing. This coupled with its aerodynamic stance makes it great for racing.
All the necessary parts are from salvaged bikes and a long square steel tubing in the central frame. The drive train starts at the front to ensure the bike can stay lower enough for the speed that it would need to have. The seat is at the center to have the weight properly balanced throughout the bike.
15. Tadpole recumbent bike
No machined part and very few skills required. This makes this bike exceptionally easy to make. It is lower riding and very comfortable.
All you need is salvaged parts for the gears and wheels. The main body frame is a square steel pole, which can be bought at the local warehouse as well as the chain for the drive train. The pedals are at the front, and the seat low and at the center, this makes it fast and easy to handle.
Conclusion
A recumbent bike is a thing of beauty. The speed and comfort it offers an elevated mode of travel. Having to bend and sweet your way to your destination is a stable of regular bikes.
However, most people have not had the experience of using one, as the often large price tag has relegated it for use by only enthusiasts. However, with a few salvage bikes and a couple of dollars, most people can find a DIY tutorial to make one for themselves.
For most of these tutorials, the skill floor is low enough that almost everyone can engage. In the end, they will have a recumbent bike and the satisfaction of having made something of their own.
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