your first wipe out on a bsr

[sweav]

I got really brave today, wheelied in first, second and third. Before I knew it I was up on a corner and I couldn't get it slowed down. Tried leaning into the turn but it still threw me off the side. The next thing I new I was in front of my bsr and it was running over me. I got some road rash on my elbow and twisted my ankle (I think I got my ankle caught under the front tire as I was going off) The worst thing about it was 3 of my friends were standing there watching it all. My wifes only question was "you didn't hurt the barstool did you?" :dizzy:

[Mike Bean]

Sweav,

Sorry to hear about your crash. I have fallen off my BSR a few times while riding wheelies, but nothing as bad as you.

Hope you recover fast and get back on and ride again. Be sure to ride a wheelie again, don't let the crash slow you down.

I get a bit nervous when riding wheelies because I only have one wheel in the back and it is a careful balance of throttle. When I start moving faster and faster on that one wheel all it takes it a little too much gas and the BSR spins out from under me.

Get well!

Mike

[monkey-1]

Sorry to hear about your wipeout man! When I was married and my then wife would see me do something and hurt myself, I would never hear the end of it. Be glad your wife isnt like that!

[sweav]

I think I figured out the problem. I think the problem is the mechanical caliper just doesn't have the strength to get it slowed down at higher speeds. I am going to put a hydraulic set up on it. If anyone can help with ideas or a used set of front brakes please let me know. I'm worried that with just the back brakes I'll just lock the rear wheels up and slide rather then slow down. I've been on crutches since the wipe out, I got both my knee and ankle.
Monkey, my wife was like that when we were first married but over the years she knows it's going to happen and she can't stop me. So she has accepted it. I road motorcross for a while and she has seen me do alot jumps and everything else, I think that's when she got immune to it.
Hey Mike, it's great to see the site back up!

[RUBICON]

Something for all of those that think front brakes will keep you out of trouble....first ...do you have a good working hydraulic set on the rear?....If so then you can really lock them up...thats easy.....and if you are like 99.9% you have no diff therefore both wheels brake equally....it takes a few feet to stop..practice how far it takes......ride within this limit....or....a spend an outrageous amount of money for front brakes used on carts with a center of gravity 2" off the ground.....and lock them up at speed....I would expect you could travel quite a ways in the air...depending on how hard you flap your arms...before you faceplant and in a second or so get hit by a tumbling barstool....suffice to say...the sliding rear only brakes is like an idiots anti-lock brake...it decellerates you close to the limit of balance and control with you sitting so high.....something to think about..

[sweav]

My thought on the whole front set up is that you can't run them with out a proportioning valve to ease the preasure to the fronts. They also have an adjuster for the linkage to the masters to do the same thing, it puts more preasure on the rear then the front. You are right about the fronts being high priced. The one thing I'm looking at is set up the brakes so that I know I won't have any problems with them. I think putting front brakes is out of the question due to price of them. The way I have the weight ditributed on the frame I should be fine. I just don't want to be thrown off of it again or loose control that easy, that SUCKED

[Mike Bean]

I think I figured out the problem. I think the problem is the mechanical caliper just doesn't have the strength to get it slowed down at higher speeds.

Sweav,

Not to doubt you, but do you think a hydraulic brake system would have prevented the accident? From what you wrote it appears you did not know you were so close to the corner.

If the brakes were better they may have just thrown you off anyways.

I know the mechanical brakes work ok. But if you are running high speeds you will not have the quick stopping power like hydraulic brakes. I don't think the mechanical brakes were designed for high speeds. I run about 40 MPH and I can usually stop when needed.

I have a 67 Firebird that had Drum Brakes on all four wheels and let me tell you stopping that pig on the Interstate and even around town driving was tough. It is easy to get spoiled with the hydraulic discs.

Just my .02 cents...

Mike

[sweav]

Mike it's worth a dhot, with the mecjanical brake I can't even tell that I'm hitting the brakes. That's why I was looking at putting front brakes also, along with the rear brakes. I think I've found some small mechanical calipers that I can use on the front with the hydralic rears. I don't know if I could have avoided being thrown off with the hydralic brake, probably not but I do know htat I need to get better brakes onto it. I don't know how fast I was going, I was in third at full throttle, probably if I didn't act like an idiot it wouldn't have happened. I go back to the docs today, the pain and swelling in my ankle hasn't gone away at all. Maybe I'm just making excuses for my own stupidity. You have ran both mech. and hyd., wich one do you think has the better braking capability?

[RUBICON]

SWEAV.....The most profound remark you make is about taking responsibility for your mistake..It takes a REAL MAN to admit his mistakes...heal fast!....learn the lesson...get back on and stay within the limits of the design and your ability....and have fun..and as I often say....LIFE IS A JOURNEY...ENJOY THE RIDE...(not in a wheelchair with a halo screwed into your headbone )

[sweav]

Thanks Rubicon, I still want to figure out a way (cheap way that doesn't look cheap) to set up front brakes. I think it would look pretty good, a little over the top but then whats not over the top about these.

[mini me]

hi, i think some racing gokarts have front brakes that would probly work on a bsr. check out this link http://www.tsracing.com/store/showdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Product_ID=430&CATID=13

its a bit pricy but try ebay and your local gokart racing store.:smash:

[Woodchuckscustoms.com]

Check out www.outlawracing.net and look for the NoS Model This machine has a sweet front and rear brakeing system:thumb:

[sweav]

mini me - your right, 500 is a bit much. I just seen a set on e-bay, rotors, hubs, calippers and spindles. The guy even told where to get them and how much they were new (398) and they still went for 455. Will never understand e-bay, people wil buy used stuff for more then they can buy new.

Woodchuck - I've seen that one before, killer little barstool. Wish I had the money (and an understanding wife) to get a set up like that. I'll keep lookin g and working at it and I'm sure I'll come up with something.

[1100kaw]

Hey sweav
i've been reading about your accident, hope they can fix you up without a knife.
I am still in the R & D stages with my stool, I have hydrolic rear brakes, they work fantastic. I am using a motorcycle hydrolic lever, takes hardly no pressure to lock it up.
thats why I mention it. when I stopp it slides pretty easy, as a matter of fact I can get up some speed and lock it up and slide a big "J" skid, like we used to do on the Schwinns. Its a blast.
Point is, good brakes are important, but as light as these things are, and with the racing slick tires, I dont see how they can stop a whole lot better. If you are running a sticky tread type tire, that may be a different story.
Just a thought
Hope all goes well on your end.
DD

[sweav]

I'm looking at a way of setting some 4" manual drum brakes inside the front rims and running the cabble on the bottom side of the of the frame. I have a set of drums that will fit into the rims off of an old quad. With a little fab work and tieing into the cable that runs to the master I think I can get them to work. Won't lock the fronts up but it will probably give it alot more braking power. Was also looking at a way off running the cables inside the frame to keep them out of sight. I don't think the drums themselves will really stand out or at least I hope not. Don't want something that looks like it's just thrown together. Thanks 1100, hopefully everything goes ok, find out next week. More pissed about it then anything else. As far as wheight. I think I have a little heavier frame then everyone else, I used 1 1/2" square and ran a little longer wheel base to be able to fit the motor in. Once I get the doctors ok, I have everything I need to tear it back down and change out the brakes and I'll play around with the front drums and see if I can get them to work.

[sniffles]

Hey Sweav,
Why don't you just buy dual rear hydraulic brakes? For what your spending on those drum brakes (usually around 80-90 range) you can get hydraulic rear brakes for about 50 bucks more. That way you don't have to worry about flying over the handlebars.

[sweav]

Sniffles I know I'm going to be able to lock the rear up with one caliper, having 2 will just lock it up sooner. I'm wanting to put a little drag on the front just to help in slowing it down and stopping. I know I'm probably being a bit poranoid and foolish right now and will probably waiste my time but I've already got all the parts that I need to play with the drum brake idea. I know everyone is telling me that the hydraulic will work better and I know they will but I'm still going to try the front brake thing. It will be cool if it does work.

[sniffles]

It would be cool but I'm just not into it because of the cost. How is that motor of yours working out. What's your gearing and top speed?

[sweav]

Sniffles Don't know what the top speed is, I'm running a 44 tooth drive sprocket. Everyone was thinking I was close to or a little over 30 when it threw me and I wa in third. Probably won't find out top speed untill I'm sure everything is working right and I get comfortable on it again. I picked up the speedo that Rubicon told me about and am going to get it set up when I tear it back down. Have you posted any pics of your build yet?

[sniffles]

No, I haven't because I put one measurement in the wrong place so I got to tear everything apart. This is fun even though I messed up it is still a lot of fun because I'm only 12 so this is all new to me. With the help of bm1 I am going to upgrade my 6.5hp briggs intek all the way to around 13hp! Git R' Done!

[sweav]

Just be careful sniffles and take your time. Relax and take the time to understand what your doing and why. You'll have alot better build that way. By the time your done you'll have alot of things taken back apart and put back together. You need to post some pics and let all of us see how your doing.

[WarPaint]

Hey sweav sorry i haven't been online but my PC crashed. Oh man i remember my first wipeout. Don't want to do that again. Mine isn't as fast as yours but the ground is just as hard. Well got to go. Send me a e mail and we will talk more.
C YA

[sniffles]

Yah Sweav, I'm going to be more careful. Luckily I didn't have it all welded so it shouldnt be too hard to fix. It will be pretty fun riding 13 horses about 33" off the ground!

[sweav]

Just to let everyone know, I went and seen a specialist about the ankle. NO SURGERY, Thanks god. He said I had torn some muscle and pulled about everything in my ankle. Then he asked how I did, by this time I was tired of explaining but my wife was there and she even brought pics. The doc was impressed and said he never seen one before and this was a new one for the books. I'm still gimping around on the crutches. He said I can't put any wheight on it for a few more weeks. Theres was talk about selling the bsr but my wife asked why, gotta love her, so it's staying. Just have to use my brain better. I gave up on the front brake idea, to much involved without buying the kit but I do have the hydraulic set up to put on. I'm heading out to Dallas today for the week for training, boss figures I can't hobble around and work, I can hobble around and catch up on training! Again, to evrybody that is building there first one, and to evryone else too, use your brain! STUPIDITY HURTS!

[RUBICON]

well1111....some of us build and especially ride Barstools because it is outrageous....reckless.....foolharty ( old term)...or makes us feel young.....and stupid!....like when we were young and dad said " Son you'll get hurt doin' that....and you didn't listen......its the dare devel in us....cheating death....or injury....but remember one thing.....Evil Knivel got paid a lot for his risk......so who pays to watch you break your neck?....your neighbors...the kid down the street...the 6:00 news station that films the pile of broken parts...or the blood spot on the street???....naaaah!.....

[RUBICON]

well1111....some of us build and especially ride Barstools because it is outrageous....reckless.....foolharty ( old term)...or makes us feel young.....and stupid!....like when we were young and dad said " Son you'll get hurt doin' that....and you didn't listen......its the dare devel in us....cheating death....or injury....but remember one thing.....Evil Knivel got paid a lot for his risk......so who pays to watch you break your neck?....your neighbors...the kid down the street...the 6:00 news station that films the pile of broken parts...or the blood spot on the street???....naaaah!.....
I remember my days of riding motocross....fell a few times...real bad...healed quickly....girls loved it....then one day....married...no girls lovin' it anymore......then the crashes hurt longer...and longer....and the bones took longer to heal....and the young kids that were invinceable....started passing me....and running me off the track.....so...I don't run with the "big dogs"....stay on the porch and build barstools....and remember WHEN....

[voodoo_stepchild]

I think I figured out the problem. I think the problem is the mechanical caliper just doesn't have the strength to get it slowed down at higher speeds. I am going to put a hydraulic set up on it. If anyone can help with ideas or a used set of front brakes please let me know. I'm worried that with just the back brakes I'll just lock the rear wheels up and slide rather then slow down. I've been on crutches since the wipe out, I got both my knee and ankle.
Monkey, my wife was like that when we were first married but over the years she knows it's going to happen and she can't stop me. So she has accepted it. I road motorcross for a while and she has seen me do alot jumps and everything else, I think that's when she got immune to it.
Hey Mike, it's great to see the site back up!

I went with the MCP setup and bought a universal cluth lever and perch and a clutch cable for a 2003 kx250 and made an adapter to slide over the master cylinder and the ball from the cable goes in the other end. The cluth lever and perch was 19 bucks and the cable was 12 bucks I think. Locks the rears up if ya wanna

[tqm3]

I got really brave today, wheelied in first, second and third. Before I knew it I was up on a corner and I couldn't get it slowed down. Tried leaning into the turn but it still threw me off the side. The next thing I new I was in front of my bsr and it was running over me. I got some road rash on my elbow and twisted my ankle (I think I got my ankle caught under the front tire as I was going off) The worst thing about it was 3 of my friends were standing there watching it all. My wifes only question was "you didn't hurt the barstool did you?" :dizzy:
I'm also not looking foward to the first wipeout as the wife will be chewing on my hide end for a while. I switched to a carlisle floating mechnical brake, works a ton better than the one I had before. Hope you heal up fast!:cheers:

[tqm3]

Just to let everyone know, I went and seen a specialist about the ankle. NO SURGERY, Thanks god. He said I had torn some muscle and pulled about everything in my ankle. Then he asked how I did, by this time I was tired of explaining but my wife was there and she even brought pics. The doc was impressed and said he never seen one before and this was a new one for the books. I'm still gimping around on the crutches. He said I can't put any wheight on it for a few more weeks. Theres was talk about selling the bsr but my wife asked why, gotta love her, so it's staying. Just have to use my brain better. I gave up on the front brake idea, to much involved without buying the kit but I do have the hydraulic set up to put on. I'm heading out to Dallas today for the week for training, boss figures I can't hobble around and work, I can hobble around and catch up on training! Again, to evrybody that is building there first one, and to evryone else too, use your brain! STUPIDITY HURTS!
Well I broke my leg on Labor Day, It was four wheeling, NOT on the bar stool. I see the Doctor today and see if it needs pinned.....:cussing:

[elvergon]

I haven´t finished my BSR by now, but I will in 5 more days. Steering bar and clutch/hydraulic brake bomb/throtle control pending to install. I only need to paint it by now.

But with HP ranging from 12.5-18 hp I will surely fall ;)
I´m using kawasaki rear caliper from a ninja style sport bike. Don´t know the number. But if that caliper can stop a +200 lbs bike (ya pretty rought estimate) and going at +100 mph, I kno it can stop my BSR anytime I want.

and ya I agree with Rubicon....when you decide to build a BSR that´s the first outrageous thing you´re doing. Get some good brakes and don´t fall!