rbent Forum - Print Page

rbent Forum
https://rbentonline.org/YaBB.pl
General Category >> Technical >> Converting Carbent To Tiller Steering
https://rbentonline.org/YaBB.pl?num=1487350367

Message started by jayg on Feb 17^th, 2017, 10:52am

Title: Converting Carbent To Tiller Steering
Post by jayg on Feb 17^th, 2017, 10:52am

I've been bashing my shins on my Carbent high racer's Superman handle bar, since I bought it new in 2009. Progressively added spacers to the riser to raise the bar height, until my forward vision became somewhat blocked. As a result, I stopped riding the bike. A shame, since it's my lightest bike and best hill climber. Purchased a Metaphysic bike with tiller steering in 2016. No shin bashing and full forward vision on that bike. Recently, I started toying with the idea of converting the Carbent to tiller steering. Finally, decided to go ahead and do it. Ordered a Performer tiller assembly from RBR in Pennsylvania for a little over $100. The steerer tube on the bike's carbon fork presented a problem. I expected it to be fabricated of aluminum, but instead it was all carbon with a large minor diameter internal thread. Had to drill the thread out and ream the ID with a Harbor Freight reamer to get an expanding plug star nut to fit the inside of the steerer tube. Was going to leave the steerer tube its original length, so the steering conversion would be reversible, but the steerer tube wall was so thin, decided to cut the steerer tube shorter for safety's sake. Used a 60 mm carbon headset spacer between the headset and steering block. Rode the bike on yesterday's Clown ride to test the conversion. Shallow learning curve, since I'm used to the tiller steering on my Meta bike. Really pleased with the result - no shin bashing, and I can see where I'm going.

http://i1021.photobucket.com/albums/af339/jayg_2010/DSC00368_zps3063ee5b.jpg (http://s1021.photobucket.com/user/jayg_2010/media/DSC00368_zps3063ee5b.jpg.html)

Carbent with stock superman bar

http://i1021.photobucket.com/albums/af339/jayg_2010/DSC00425.jpg (http://s1021.photobucket.com/user/jayg_2010/media/DSC00425.jpg.html)

Carbent's stock open cockpit

http://i1021.photobucket.com/albums/af339/jayg_2010/DSC01079_zps3p0ehlrc.jpg (http://s1021.photobucket.com/user/jayg_2010/media/DSC01079_zps3p0ehlrc.jpg.html)

Carbent with tiller steering

http://i1021.photobucket.com/albums/af339/jayg_2010/DSC01081_zpsj5h9kvki.jpg (http://s1021.photobucket.com/user/jayg_2010/media/DSC01081_zpsj5h9kvki.jpg.html)

Carbent's closed cockpit. Replaced the old ICE headrest with ICE's latest version. Also, installed an ICE tail light mount adapter.

Title: Re: Converting Carbent To Tiller Steering
Post by JimFPU on Feb 17^th, 2017, 11:01am

If you need to adopt any kids to help spend all that cash you have laying around, I promise not to use a surrey again.

Title: Re: Converting Carbent To Tiller Steering
Post by jayg on Feb 17^th, 2017, 1:25pm

JimFPU wrote:

If you need to adopt any kids to help spend all that cash you have laying around, I promise not to use a surrey again.

Title: Re: Converting Carbent To Tiller Steering
Post by Action Lad on Feb 17^th, 2017, 10:29pm

jayg wrote:

Carbent's closed cockpit. Replaced the old ICE headrest with ICE's latest version. Also, installed an ICE tail light mount adapter.

Title: Re: Converting Carbent To Tiller Steering
Post by jayg on Feb 18^th, 2017, 9:22am

Action Lad wrote:

[quote author=jayg link=1487350367/0#0 date=1487350367]Carbent's closed cockpit. Replaced the old ICE headrest with ICE's latest version. Also, installed an ICE tail light mount adapter.

This ought to be fun. More convenient, to be sure, I can't wait to see you on it. Do you think your performance numbers will be enhanced, at least slightly, for the more aero position? [smiley=shrug.gif] [/quote]

Don't have much performance left to enhance. All I know for sure is my shins feel a lot better. :D

The tiller assembly presents less area to the air stream than did the open cockpit assembly, but the trade off is that my arms are now exposed to the air stream (but tucked into my sides). With the open cockpit assembly my arms were straight out. Really hard to make a performance comparison. A lot of high performance high and low racers are equipped with tiller steering, so maybe it does provide an aero advantage.

Title: Re: Converting Carbent To Tiller Steering
Post by JimFPU on Feb 18^th, 2017, 8:10pm

jayg wrote:

[quote author=JimFPU link=1487350367/0#1 date=1487350905]If you need to adopt any kids to help spend all that cash you have laying around, I promise not to use a surrey again.

Four kids times $256,000, each, to get them to age 18. No can do. :D

Hey, when are you going to visit and do Kenny's Lancaster Airshow ride with us again?

http://i1021.photobucket.com/albums/af339/jayg_2010/DSC00619.jpg (http://s1021.photobucket.com/user/jayg_2010/media/DSC00619.jpg.html)

Jim FPU and Kenny J, post airshow ride.
[/quote]

What fun that was, will have to figure out how some year. VA is a long drive for a one day ride. Of course my velo does have its own top...

Title: Re: Converting Carbent To Tiller Steering
Post by Action Lad on Feb 19^th, 2017, 7:14pm

jayg wrote:

A lot of high performance high and low racers are equipped with tiller steering...

Notably, the venerable NoCom.
(Oh be still, my heart!)

Title: Re: Converting Carbent To Tiller Steering
Post by jrob_bent on Feb 22^nd, 2017, 8:20pm

Jay, i am with you on tiller steering. I banged my knees bloody with the superman bars on the Musashi. The guy I bought the Baron from wants my Musashi, but with superman bars. Would you want to sell the ones that came off your Carbent?

Title: Re: Converting Carbent To Tiller Steering
Post by jayg on Feb 22^nd, 2017, 8:56pm

jrob_bent wrote:

Jerry,

I want to keep the superman assembly for when I sell the Carbent way down the road, and the buyer prefers that type of steering. I do happen to have the original handlebar (A wide Bacchetta bar) I took off the bike when I replaced it with a wider RANS bar. I would be willing to part with it, but you would still need the other steering components.

Title: Re: Converting Carbent To Tiller Steering
Post by jrob_bent on Feb 23^rd, 2017, 6:04am

What would you want for the handle bar? I have a stem for it.

Title: Re: Converting Carbent To Tiller Steering
Post by jayg on Feb 23^rd, 2017, 7:28pm

jrob_bent wrote:

What would you want for the handle bar? I have a stem for it.

I have a box it will fit in. Just pay the shipping cost and it's yours. PM me your address, if you want it.

The bar has the same reach as the stock Musashi bar, but is is 65 mm narrower. Could be a leg interference problem when turning with it installed on your Musashi. The reason I removed it from my Carbent is that I experienced leg interference when I replaced the stock bar end shifters with trigger shifters. I wound up installing a wider RANS bar. That would be an alternative for you, if my Bacchetta bar wouldn't work.

Title: Re: Converting Carbent To Tiller Steering
Post by jrob_bent on Feb 23^rd, 2017, 9:22pm

jayg wrote:

[quote author=jrob_bent link=1487350367/0#9 date=1487851486]What would you want for the handle bar? I have a stem for it.

Title: Re: Converting Carbent To Tiller Steering
Post by jayg on Feb 23^rd, 2017, 9:31pm

jrob_bent wrote:

[quote author=jayg link=1487350367/0#10 date=1487899705][quote author=jrob_bent link=1487350367/0#9 date=1487851486]What would you want for the handle bar? I have a stem for it.

Title: Re: Converting Carbent To Tiller Steering
Post by jrob_bent on Feb 24^th, 2017, 6:32am

See you Tuesday.

Title: Re: Converting Carbent To Tiller Steering
Post by jrob_bent on Mar 5^th, 2017, 8:11am

Jay, the handle bars worked out great. Thanks a heap!

Title: Re: Converting Carbent To Tiller Steering
Post by jayg on Mar 5^th, 2017, 8:54am

jrob_bent wrote:

Jay, the handle bars worked out great. Thanks a heap!

Glad they worked. Thanks again for the ADEM headrest.

Title: Re: Converting Carbent To Tiller Steering
Post by jrob_bent on Mar 10^th, 2017, 8:47am

Jay, I was wrong about the gearing on the Baron. Instead of the compact double, it has a 39-53T on the front and 12-28 on the rear. Not the best for climbing steep hills. :P

Title: Re: Converting Carbent To Tiller Steering
Post by jayg on Mar 10^th, 2017, 9:18am

jrob_bent wrote:

Jay, I was wrong about the gearing on the Baron. Instead of the compact double, it has a 39-53T on the front and 12-28 on the rear. Not the best for climbing steep hills. :P

Yeah, that's White Rock Lake trail gearing.

Title: Re: Converting Carbent To Tiller Steering
Post by jrob_bent on Mar 10^th, 2017, 10:05am

jayg wrote:

[quote author=jrob_bent link=1487350367/15#16 date=1489157275]Jay, I was wrong about the gearing on the Baron. Instead of the compact double, it has a 39-53T on the front and 12-28 on the rear. Not the best for climbing steep hills. :P

Yeah, that's White Rock Lake trail gearing.
[/quote]

That is for sure. 34" to 107" gearing. I am starting to get my legs and lungs back into riding shape. Climbing some of the larger hills around Sanger and Argyle with the lowest gearing of 34" will do that! I am still about a month from really being in shape. I supplement that by hooking the grand kids wagon to my trike and pulling them both up my daughter's driveway, which starts at 3% and goes to 9% grade. They love it while PA is grunting hard! ha.