QX100 Steering Mod

Frisard

Frisard

Active Member
DavidJL said:
I'm Dave. The white box shape you see is a piece of 1 1/2 inch square Al tubing with 1/8-inch walls, making the inside just fit the tube. The boom tube is Al. I definitely had to do some serious sanding to get it to fit. If I had a lathe, I would have done the sanding that way using emery cloth, but I didn't have that so I used a powered palm sander. The set screws should be able to hold the tube, but I also have two hose clamps (Jubilee clips) to make sure. I just happened to have the square Al tubing scraps lying around, so I did it that way. The stem is a Giant Connect OD-2 stem for 1 1/4 inch steerer, which came with an adapter for 1 1/8 inch steerer. I used that adapter to mount the fork clip on the fork steering tube.

With this setup, I could use a standard 1 1/8 headset. On my test rides so far, I have not had any creaking noises. The bar setup is not final yet. The bar ends do make a nice hand position, although it's not as aero. It would be nice to be able to brake from that position. I am going to make a plug for the boom tube. I do like having my elbows close in. To get leg clearance I had to rotate the brake levers. It would be nice if Cruzbike would come up with a conversion kit for the QX.
Click to expand...
We need to get the size of the existing sliding tube so that we don't have to sand. I wonder if John or Robert are reading this thread.
 
Frisard

Frisard

Active Member
super slim said:
I agree completely as long as Cruzbike can keep the price down!!!
Click to expand...
In terms of marketing, I don't think the company would want to offer this kind of steering on the Q-series. It may cut into the higher priced Silvio. The Q-series is an entry level non-racer... touring(?) setup. (see Maria and Jim's Victoria tour in their blog and the 'Adventure-Ready' QX100 pic under products). I ordered a QX100 to take it a step further: to electrify for 'light adventure touring'. I have a geared hub kit on order.
 
Emeljay

Emeljay

WiskersBlowinInTheWind
The OD of the slider is about 1.25 inches. The ID of the boom is also about 1.25 inches. So please read:

tmp_10921-tmp_15473-aviary-image-145731744062339116211169617933.jpeg
 
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Emeljay

Emeljay

WiskersBlowinInTheWind
And try adding power from your upper body by pulling hard on the handlebars especially pulling hard enough to pull yourself off the seat!:eek: One of my younger brothers (11 years younger) is amazed at my acceleration!o_O especially when going uphill!;):D
 
DavidJL

DavidJL

Well-Known Member
Just added two more bar ends to bring the vertical bar ends further forward, giving me a hand position where I can rest my wrists on the main handlebar and comfortably grasp. Not yet ready to further lower the seat.
 
DavidJL

DavidJL

Well-Known Member
Am now trying out experimenting with using the now unused boom tube along with some spacers to get the seat angle close to 30 degrees. Planning on making a headrest using existing holes on seat back using a foam cylinder for the cushion. Also going to try subbing in steel for the aluminum on the steering tube.
 
DavidJL

DavidJL

Well-Known Member
Today got a workable neck rest made. Definitely needed with a 30 degree seat angle. Ran into the tube slap problem. Maybe should paint the insertion part. Had the tube machined to 1.242 inches diameter to match the original slider. Was able to get the cable housings neat and orderly.
To make the neck rest, I used a 2 inch X 1/8 aluminum flat about 24 inches long. Made four bends. Bent it to match the curve of the QX seat. Taped a piece of gardener's kneel pad for cushion for the time being.
Handling is different than the more upright position, but still can ride and pedal with no hands.
What would be nice would be to find a seat with a longer back to replace the stock seat.
 
L

Leo

New Member
Emeljay said:
This has been interesting changing up the steering on my X100.

Experimenting with the steering while trying to be budget conscious and using existing components instead of having parts designed and fabricated for each prototype (expensive for me) has ended up taking more time than I anticipated. But that has been good because it has helped me to appreciate the planning and design that has gone into my Q and X100 (also the Silvio and Vendetta, where I am getting the basic steering design I am attempting to use to modify my X100).

That being said (since it is taking me so long to complete this project! ) I am thoroughly enjoying doing this, and that is good because with my test riding today I found some work still needs to be done. o_O

I put a shim in the clamp that was holding the slider tube to the fork clamp since it slipped during testing of prototype 2.

Also put the seat angle back up a little, and put on the touring/commute rack (kinda hoping to use my X100 to commute to work starting tomorrow).


View attachment 2481


Testing yields:
Seat angle good, check!
Rack good, check!
Oops! :( Although steering was good initially while easy going in straight lines, big circles, and figure 8s, when I did accelerate hard the slider tube slid forward loosing the shim (you know, the Fosters shim that did not work on the handlebars earlier). No check here. :mad:

So back to contemplating, remember, it's the journey, not the destination!;)
Click to expand...

This modification is like an S1 for beginner which is very nice, I hope Cruz bike creates a QX200 for us. Or make the mod kit available.
Always wanted to have S1 but not longer available and the QX100 vertical steering stem somehow not very appearing to me.
 
DavidJL

DavidJL

Well-Known Member
I would like to be able to put the bars right on the axis of the steering boom, like on the Silvio or the Vendetta. It would be nice to have a zero-reach stem that fits a 1.25 inch (31.8 mm) steerer, but there does not appear to be such an animal. In the pics shown I have the bars below the boom, but I moved them back up topside to make sitting up and getting started easier. I went back to using just two bar ends, and mounting the mirror on one of them. The set screws shown on the white square tube are sufficient to prevent slippage. The steering tube shown is steel, to give more stiffness.
I do agree that the vertical riser is not aesthetically as pleasing. I am still trying out different ideas. I am going to call my bike a Q-vio for the time being.
 
Rampa

Rampa

Guru
I would look at the upper sections of other recumbent booms. Check out Performer, and other short wheelbase bike boom setups.

Perftill.jpg
 
L

Leo

New Member
The Performer - Internal Cable Route Tillerset

US$70.00
Weight: 450g

Possible to replace the vertical tube with just bolt on.
I will buy a QX100 if this replacement is feasible.
 
DavidJL

DavidJL

Well-Known Member
Would be interesting to see how that would work. For the time being, I am going to stick with my current mod. I am using the front slider to support the seat back, with spacers to insure that the slider yoke is not stressed by clamping the seat QR. The straight boom setup is solid, stiff, and does not creak. Time will tell how well the headrest holds up, but I do like having flex. Current setup allows sitting almost straight up, a very nice position for starting. I wonder what Robert Holler thinks about what we have done with the QX.
 
T

tiltmaniac

Zen MBB Master
Did you consider using part of an adjustable stem as the bracket for the boom? (I imagine you're done experimenting by now? :) )

The Ritchey ones, in particular have the female (i.e. two tabs with hole in middle) part on the piece which could hold the boom and screw into the CB mount.
I wonder if it might be able to screw into a male part of an adjustable stem of a different brand, in which case, you get a single assembly that could mount directly to the steerer tube and then to the boom.
 
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