[quote="190E.sg"]
Bought a alu seat post and seat that came with seat post clamp and a quick release. The seat clamp was fixed tight to the post with 2 pieces of rivets to prevent any movement or seat falling off in un-clamp mode. Machined a new shaft for the quick release to fit the swivel mechanism. The result was very satisfying and the seat can now fold and unfold neatly.

Folded position
[img]http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a162/190mwkc/A-Bikefolded-1.jpg[/img]

[/quote]

190E.sg - nice seat, where did you buy this seat? in SG or online, tell me the address if it is from singapore.

Thanks

Hello,

By 'two rails' I just mean the seat clamp attaches to two tubes under the seat, like the one in the photos above. Most seats are like this and the most important thing is that it can fold down enough (about 90 degrees). Some other seats, such as BMX seats (Which I personally think are the best, especially for small light bikes) have 'pivotal' mounts that wouldnt fold all the way down and the seat would stick out.

[quote="Artefex"]Folding Seat Using Standard Parts.

To make the seat fold it should be the kind that attaches with two rails, using a saddle clamp that allows adjustment off the seat angle. A quick-release bolt replaces the bolt in the clamp so that the seat can be easily folded.
The only non-standard part is a bolt through the clamp so that it doesnt fall off the seat post while folding.
[/quote]


I am noob, I dont get quite well, how you installed two rails. Any photos of underneath the seat? So that easy to understand.

I can tell you that it is not a genuine A-bike. :wink:

Hi 190E.sg, where did you order your A-bike? Is it the real thing?

Thanks. It's not a branded one. Just cost $17.

Nice saddle, what make is it?

Hi to all A-Bikers,

Thanks for sharing all your experience. I finally got my A-Bike/8 (with 8 x 1.24 inch pneumatic wheels). It is a wonderful piece of engineering invention. However, it lacks minor details that can make the bike more fun to ride. Already, like you guys, I have plan to make improvement.

The first item was the seat. Incidentally, the mod I did was quite similar to Artefex's mod. The pics show the mod on the seat.

[img]http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a162/190mwkc/A-Bikeseat2-1.jpg[/img]

Bought a alu seat post and seat that came with seat post clamp and a quick release. The seat clamp was fixed tight to the post with 2 pieces of rivets to prevent any movement or seat falling off in un-clamp mode. Machined a new shaft for the quick release to fit the swivel mechanism. The result was very satisfying and the seat can now fold and unfold neatly.

Also fitted a tail just beneath the seat.
[img]http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a162/190mwkc/A-biketaillight-1.jpg[/img]


Folded position
[img]http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a162/190mwkc/A-Bikefolded-1.jpg[/img]

The front and rear post are rather weak. I can hear snapping noise once in a while during ride. At this moment, I'm machining bush for the front post to make it more firm. If the result does improve the ride and eliminate the noise, I will post it.

Best wishes for the new year.

Hi!

finally I did it right this:

Just remove the grips, slide off the brake lever and switch to the other side.

Easy and work fine.

Thanks!

Welcome all,
Another delayed response...have been on holiday.
I think the easiest way to change the right and left brakes would be to switch the whole brake lever. Just remove the grips, slide off the brake lever and switch to the other side.
Or you could change just the cables but I think this would be difficult. They are hard to reach inside the tubes and are joined in some places with connector blocks. At least the front one was, made it quite hard to remove.
Post some info on how you did it if you are succesful! (We need to keep this forum alive somehow).

I'm very interested in the left/right brake handle change as well. I can predict that I'm going to be going down a hill one day and forget that the right brake is the front one and and up going for a spill...

Greats mods, Artefex!

I bought mine in these days, and arrived yesterday (from other person that bought it for a gift and it doesn't like finally) and I have a question about the brakes. I like the idea of removing the front brake, maybe i'm going to do that, but I was thinking to change the left hand brake (rear brake) to the right hand brake, because here in Spain (I don't know out of here) the rear brake always is at the right hand brake (I'm not sure if I'm explaining it clearely). Do you think is possible to remove the left hand brake and change the rear brake to the right hand brake?

Thanks a lot.

Not had time to remove the freewheel yet...
Partly because I also had to deal with the chain stretching after a lot of use. It was already a bit too long when I got the bike but was quite tight on the H tension setting. Recently I found the chain length had increased by a suprising amount and was starting to rattle and get stuck against the wheel and gearbox. Because the chain tensioner was already on High, I tried removing one pair of links from the chain but this was too short on Low tension!
I couldnt find a half link for this size chain on the internet so made my own;
[attachment=0]Half Link.jpg[/attachment]
I just bent one set of outside links into a half link shape and filed the holes at one end a bit larger, so the link pin will move smoothly instead of locking. The smaller end then goes between the next set of outside links (one inside link removed) and is pinned in place like normal.
This link is stiffer than the rest but the chain still bends and the chain is perfect at Medium tension.

Back to the problem of increasing the A-bike top speed, the 8" wheel copy solves this problem.
Calculating the distance travelled for each crank rotation (As shown above for the different freewheels) with the 8" wheels gives: 8": (14*35)/(8*9)*20cm*Pi = 427,605
This is 33% more distance travelled than the 6" wheels, still using the original gears.

Folding Seat Using Standard Parts.

Finally replaced the seat. Personally I didnt find the original one uncomfortable but the post was too short. Used a BMX seat instead because they are small, practical and look cool.
To make the seat fold it should be the kind that attaches with two rails, using a saddle clamp that allows adjustment off the seat angle. A quick-release bolt replaces the bolt in the clamp so that the seat can be easily folded.
The only non-standard part is a bolt through the clamp so that it doesnt fall off the seat post while folding.
[attachment=1]BMX Saddle.jpg[/attachment]
[attachment=0]BMX Saddle Folded.jpg[/attachment]
The bike now feels more stable because contact with the seat is better than with the original and the height is correct. The bike is also smoother to ride after I tried using a silicone lubricant on the plastic steering bearings.

I think I have found the correct freewheels here [url]http://www.pietendebmx.nl/shop/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=2_56&zenid=1de17c8d8036ad1522fc239ce8ede078[/url]
The ones on the Soulcycle website are the left hand drive type or non standard sizes.
My understanding is that the freewheel thread must be the 'English' size, 1.370" x 24tpi

Ill see if it is possible to remove the old one before I order them...