Author Topic: Balls!  (Read 4839 times)

Balls!
« on: 04 August, 2008, 07:39:02 pm »
Saw this outside a local bike shop, a heavily modified Optima Rhino.







Any ideas what the balls are for?

Valiant

  • aka Sam
    • Radiance Audio
Re: Balls!
« Reply #1 on: 04 August, 2008, 07:44:59 pm »
Is that a motor on the back?

The balls could be an auto engine cut off if the bike leans too much.
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Re: Balls!
« Reply #2 on: 04 August, 2008, 08:19:01 pm »
Fully battery powered lighting and motor!




Valiant

  • aka Sam
    • Radiance Audio
Re: Balls!
« Reply #3 on: 04 August, 2008, 08:42:43 pm »
Power, speed, weight and range please?
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Re: Balls!
« Reply #4 on: 04 August, 2008, 08:56:45 pm »
No idea whatsoever!

This was simply outside the shop - one that stocks virtually everything (as you will note from the adjacent rickshaw!)

Re: Balls!
« Reply #5 on: 04 August, 2008, 09:58:32 pm »
Is it threaded rod?  If so, a stand perhaps ???

Becky

Re: Balls!
« Reply #6 on: 04 August, 2008, 11:13:29 pm »
It's a Currie Electro Drive, up to 1000W available I believe from the makers.  There was a guy in the hillclimb competition at Cyclefest in 2004, riding his homebuilt 8 Freight-alike with such a motor.

I have no idea about the balls and threaded rod.  Given the robust construction and locknuts top and bottom, it looks more like a device to stop the thing tipping over, than a stand.

handcyclist

  • watch for my signal
Re: Balls!
« Reply #7 on: 05 August, 2008, 10:24:23 am »
That's a mystery.

No use as anti-tip - look at the distance from the back wheel compared to the track at the front. The support from the balls wouldn't buy much stability.

If lowered at the same time, they could be used as a stand to get the back wheel off the deck - but it seems a massively over engineered effort when a couple of bricks or a lump of wood will do the same thing.

Odd.

(Just noticed the rear is suspended. Perhaps they are comedy bump horns. Bump - Parp! Parp!)
Doubt is is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd.

Re: Balls!
« Reply #8 on: 06 August, 2008, 12:35:04 pm »
just a thought , maybe they are to prevent grounding going up and down kerbs . the balls would be rubber and maybe not as heavy as they look and it wuold explain the need to have a degree of strength in the bars  :)
the slower you go the more you see

Re: Balls!
« Reply #9 on: 06 August, 2008, 01:19:32 pm »
Don't think to prevent grounding.  The balls are almost at the contact point of the rear wheel.

Valiant

  • aka Sam
    • Radiance Audio
Re: Balls!
« Reply #10 on: 06 August, 2008, 05:48:46 pm »
It's a Currie Electro Drive, up to 1000W available I believe from the makers.  There was a guy in the hillclimb competition at Cyclefest in 2004, riding his homebuilt 8 Freight-alike with such a motor.

I have no idea about the balls and threaded rod.  Given the robust construction and locknuts top and bottom, it looks more like a device to stop the thing tipping over, than a stand.

Cheers
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Zoidburg

Re: Balls!
« Reply #11 on: 06 August, 2008, 05:57:04 pm »
I am thinking the threaded rod with the balls on the end is a field expeidient work stand for tinkering with the the drive train when needed

That thing must weigh a fair bit

Hummers

  • It is all about the taste.
Re: Balls!
« Reply #12 on: 06 August, 2008, 07:14:12 pm »
I am thinking the threaded rod with the balls on the end is a field expeidient work stand for tinkering with the the drive train when needed

That thing must weigh a fair bit

Yep. I reckon so too.

They are locked off at the top (I suppose) so you can crank them down.


H

Re: Balls!
« Reply #13 on: 09 August, 2008, 09:43:21 pm »
They are a stand to allow maintenance, fettling and repair!


Adam

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Re: Balls!
« Reply #14 on: 10 August, 2008, 05:03:28 pm »
Electric motor, lights and indicators!

I'd agree they're a stand, but rather than being used to help for fettling, I'd say they're just to hold the rear end up, when switching to a non electric wheel - like when the battery's run flat! 

If the owner does that quite regularly, it would be a great time saver.
“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving.” -Albert Einstein

rogerzilla

  • When n+1 gets out of hand
Re: Balls!
« Reply #15 on: 10 August, 2008, 05:32:13 pm »
Stabilisers, like on modern archery bows?
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handcyclist

  • watch for my signal
Re: Balls!
« Reply #16 on: 10 August, 2008, 08:41:46 pm »
Been watching the Olympics have we?  ;)
Doubt is is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd.

Treewheeler

Re: Balls!
« Reply #17 on: 15 August, 2008, 10:59:11 am »
Is that Reg's shop in Fishbourne on the A259...?
 

Re: Balls!
« Reply #18 on: 16 August, 2008, 07:46:17 pm »
Is that Reg's shop in Fishbourne on the A259...?
 

Yep - a true cycling emporium!

One of those places where you can get almost anything!