Street Fighter

"I was wondering how much others have been quoted to have the adapters made for the Quad." Read more and join the discussion: Street Fighter

Son building a SpinCycle

"Since it's all of 92' out perfect time to get started on a SpinCycle. My 13 year old will be making this along with me. Need to pick up some steel. Called around and one dealer has: 1/8" thick 1 1/2" square tubing $1.58 foot, comes in 24 foot lengths. Said no charge for cutting, if wanted a bunch of little cuts that would be different.

If my calculation is right, 1/8" thick is 0.1250 and would close to 11 gauge. Is this way overkill and going to be too heavy."


Read more and join the discussion:  Son building a SpinCycle

The SpinCycle Stunt Trike is a radical front wheel drive stunt trike that offers a ride like nothing else on the planet. It rides much like any other bicycle, capable of respectable speed, but with a quick flick of the wrist, you are instantly sucked into a spinning vortex of insane G-force.

The great thing about this project is that it can be made using only a few bits of steel tubing, a pair of shopping cart caster wheels, and a recycled kid's bicycle. You will need only a welder, grinder and a few nights work to create what will surely become your new favorite toy. Due to its extremely rugged construction, the SpinCycle Stunt Trike can be enjoyed by all ages, and will easily take the abuse that us "big kids" will force it to endure.

Amaze your friends with five or more high speed 360's in a row, build a pair of SpinCycle Stunt Trikes and start a crazy racing circuit, scare your neighbors, or just have a whole lot of fun while you get a great workout. The SpinCycle Stunt Trike is a forgiving project that can be built with just about any parts you can scrounge up, and leaves plenty of room for your own custom modifications and alterations.

Take a look at our Builder's Gallery to see other SpinCycle Stunt Trike examples, including many creative modifications to the plan. Our international builders community ranges from students to retired engineers, but they all have one thing in common - the desire to build their own stuff!

Tomahawk recumbent lowracer - Atomic Zombie builders gallery

"Here are some photos of my project using your plans. May I say it was very fun and challenging at times, but worth the effort.  Thanks, and I look forward to building another."  Andy Gonzalez

The Tomahawk Lowracer is all about the speed! The extremely laid back seating position means that you will always be able to deliver your full energy to the cranks, as well as cheat the wind in ways that are impossible on a standard upright bike. The short wheelbase configuration offers agile and responsive handling characteristics that make it feel as though you are piloting a jet fighter.

The building process is designed to allow anyone with a Do-It-Yourself desire to finish his or her own version of the Tomahawk without requiring previous bike building experience or specialized tools and skills. The plan is laid out in a format that makes customization or alternate parts usage a breeze, so you will certainly be able to include your own imagination in the process of building a fast lowracer.

With the adjustable bottom bracket and unique frame design, riders with shorter legs will be able to pilot the Tomahawk without dealing with crank interference with the front wheel. Before you start cutting your frame tubing, it is a good idea to read the entire plan so that you understand how modifications may affect the rest of the build. There is plenty of room for your own design changes, and the Tomahawk can be built using the parts you have available to you.

Take a look at our Builder's Gallery to see some other lowracer examples, including many creative modifications to the plan. Our international builders community ranges from students to retired engineers, but they all have one thing in common - the desire to build their own stuff!

Recycled bike chopper - Atomic Zombie builders gallery

"Hello I am Thomas Childs. I just love your web site. I have 6 or 8 of your plans now and I am just loving it. Building over the winter is great for me.

My last bike I built you will see is the weird chopper bike. I build that for an appliance Derby race you had to make a derby car out of used appliances so you will see the back wheel is mounted on a washer drum and I used the outside frame of the washer for the fender and the other parts.

Now that the race is over I am going to put some pedals on it and try and ride it around. Let me know what you think.

Thomas Childs, Bellingham Washington USA"

 Very cool, Thomas!

June 23 Atomic Zombie news

See newest additions to the builders gallery, read about a new Atomic Zombie adventure, a bike builder's story and more here.

Kodiak Yard Trike project - a new Atomic Zombie adventure

[FIGURE - K1] - The E-style BMX works hard to get me up a steep grassy hill

Now that we are living in much more rugged country terrain, I find that my needs for a fun and useful electric vehicle have drastically changed.  Our property is a 120 acre mountain top setting, with a windy paved highway on one side and an endless loose gravel road on the other. We will eventually cut trails through the land as well, which will traverse everything from rock ridges to steep hills.  Currently, I have the E-Style Electric BMX for riding around, but find that it can’t deal with the loose gravel up hills, nor can it cope with the extremely steep hills full of tall grass on our land. Going to the store 5 miles away down the paved highway has been great, though, but I see that I will be back at the drawing board to make an electric vehicle more suited to our new terrain.

[FIGURE - K2] - Loose gravel requires careful choice of traction and suspension

With endless gravel roads to travel down, I want an electric vehicle that can handle the terrain, as well as run for extended periods of time on a single battery charge. A 2 hour run time would be perfect, with a top speed of around 25 miles per hour - a trade between speed and hill climbing ability. I had a project called the “Kodiak Electric Scooter” on my drawing board for a few years, and now it seems like the name may fit my current needs. The original plan was a midsized electric scooter with balloon tires and a beefy motor to carry two people over any type of terrain possible, and that seemed like a good plan. Of course lately, I have been traveling with yard tools and sometimes find the need to move things around the yard (which can be a 20 minute trip if walking), so something a little larger than a scooter seems more logical, and having cargo space would be a bonus.

[FIGURE - K3] - Look what the junk-yard gods left for me to find!

As I was wandering through the back 40 (literally), I stumbled upon a few old 1900’s farming machines and this rotted out home built trailer. The trailer was completely rotten, but under the wood was this 1970s large car or pickup truck rear differential. I have not yet identified the make, but I think it may be from a Chevy half-ton of some kind. Right away, I took my bow saw and cut the differential away from the rotted trailer frame and then pulled it out of the bush by a pair of ropes tied to my belt. An hour later, I was looking over the new find thinking, “Hey, this might be the perfect transmission for my new electric vehicle.”
Huh??! - A truck differential you say??

Well, why not?? Anyone can find one for a few dollars at a scrap yard and you get an indestructible transmission system with a 3:1 or 4:1 built in gearbox, easy to use and powerful brakes on each wheel, and a steel foundation to mount all of your heavy parts such as motor, battery, and controller. Instead of dropping $500 on wheels, brakes, chains, and sprockets, I could just bolt a sprocket to the differential and run a chain right to a small sprocket on the electric motor. The only issue was the width, which was currently 65 inches from tire edge to tire edge, and I planned to cut 4 foot wide trails through the bush. Hey, I am a garage hacker, so I’ll narrow this differential to 40 inches using only an angle grinder and a basic AC welder!

[FIGURE - K4] - Tossing around some design ideas for the Kodiak Yard Trike

With the differential thrown in the plan, the Kodiak Electric Scooter was renamed the Kodiak Yard Trike, and I made several sketches. After a few pages of drawings, I decided that the best configuration for everyone would be a delta trike layout, with a cargo bed at the back, and a small motorcycle front end as this would allow many configurations to be adapted to the plan. With this layout, the Kodiak could be a yard cart capable of moving 1000 pounds or more, a fun ATV for bush use or hunting, a golf style cart for moving guests around the yard, or just an all around fun electric vehicle.

Finding a scrap motorcycle front (wheel and fork) should not be difficult and anything from a 250cc to 750cc scrapped motorcycle could be used. Add in a few lengths of 2 inch square tubing, and the vehicle will be ready for the motor. Ok, narrowing the differential may be a bit of work, but since the resulting motor will only be capable of around 15 HP (depending on your needs), I think a cut and re-welded axle would be fine as long as it was done properly. This cutting and rejoining of the inner axle will mean that no machining or re-splining of the axles will be necessary and that anyone with a hand held grinder could do it.

Stay tuned for more progress!

Since we are in the middle of a move and I have no garage to work in, I will probably get started on narrowing the differential, and hope to post photos of the operation in the next month or two. I think this project is going to be an extremely fun build, and I am looking forward to getting started on it. If you have any suggestions or ideas, then please drop by our forum and join the discussions!

Handmade bike building has many benefits - a builder's story

"Bicycles are a great way to get into shape, or just to enjoy a lazy afternoon stroll in the park.  When you build your own contraption, it makes it even more enjoyable, in my opinion.  There;s just something about feeling the cool breeze on a summer nite on something you have created with your hands. 

My name is Jason Laurich and I live in Princeton, MN, and have been building bicycles for a few years now.  Putting things together, and thinking through the challenges of a build is a great joy.

I even think it's a bit relaxing. The bikes in the picture were all built out of that love for "the trade". 

We, (my three boys and I ), have been known to make that 10 mile trip to the Dairy Queen several times a month. 

My greatest desire is to see kids enjoy the ride, so if you know anyone who might benefit from a bike (especially a tadpole), or they can't build one for whatever reason, please contact me at shockcycle@gmail.com.

Thanks, Jay


P.S. The yellow bike in the picture actually went to a 12yr old boy who had some ballance issues. When I delivered the bike to him, I had to make some adjustments. His dad and I gave him a push and he had the biggest smile. Priceless.  His mom was in tears, and said she had never seen him ride a bike before.  

Wow! It was then that I realized I was at the crossroad of where someone's talent met someone's need.  What a cool place to be.  Thanks soooooo much for inspiring me."

What a great story! Thanks for sharing, Jason. Hope it will inspire others to get building, 

too.

New Brunswick Tradewinds Tandem

Built by Bryan McNamara, New Brunswick Canada

Tradewinds Recumbent Tandem DIY Plan Download - AtomicZombie

The Tradewinds Tandem combines a long wheelbase and short wheelbase
recumbent together to form a speedy and comfortable vehicle for two. The
Tradewinds Tandem frame is light and strong, and because the tandem is
powered by two human engines, it offers many advantages over a single
rider bicycle. Add to this the laid back aerodynamic seating position,
and you have the formula for a very fast and efficient human powered
vehicle.


The under seat steering is extremely comfortable as it places your hands
in a naturally relaxed position, yet gives you confident control over
the steering. The bottom brackets are placed lower than the seat, so you
are pedaling in a relaxed position without having your feet obstruct
the view. Because of the short wheelbase front configuration, the
overall wheelbase of the tandem is quite short, allowing for easy
maneuvering and responsive handling on urban streets. The Tradewinds is a
bicycle for two, but it is completely rideable by only one, if for some
reason the you have to fly solo.


Because the Tradewinds uses commonly available bicycle parts and some
steel tubing, it can be built in a few days using minimal tools. Even if
this is your first attempt at creating a custom cycle, you will have no
problem following along since the steps are detailed along the way with
120 pictures and illustrations. You can also change the design to suit
you own needs. The simple frame geometry is easy to modify. The cost of
the completed tandem is not much more than the cost of a department
store bicycle, if you decide to purchase new parts to complete the
project.


Take a look at our Builder's Gallery to see other TradeWinds examples,
including many creative modifications to the plan. Our international
builders community ranges from students to retired engineers, but they
all have one thing in common - the desire to build their own stuff!

All Atomic Zombie Extreme Machines plans are downloadable PDF format. Multiple discounts, free tutorials, videos, gallery, newsletters, blog and more:









All of Atomic Zombie Extreme Machines plans are downloadable PDF format. Multiple discounts, free tutorials, videos, gallery, newsletters, blog and more. All of our plans are delivered as PDF files containing high resolution images and diagrams for optimal viewing and printing.

Yet Another Texas N00b

"Hey all. I've found my calling!. I love bikes and I love creating and building. This is exactly what I want. Watch out world!"

Read more and join the discussion:  Yet Another Texas N00b

Bike Chopper from Brazil - Atomic Zombie builders gallery

Samuel Santos, Brazil

The Impaler electric trike - AtomicZombie builders gallery

"Hello. Recently, I sent in a photo of the impaler before it was painted. Here is the painted version.

This bike is electrically powered by 24 volts and a 600w currie motor. I used two identical children's bikes, some square tubing and electrical conduit.

Thank you for the inspiration! -Richard Gue, Pasadena, MD"

UK Recumbent Bike - Atomic Zombie builders gallery

"Hi Atomic team. Here is my latest machine, the most comfortable one I have built yet. Hope you like it. Ray from the UK"

Stretch Cycle Recumbent - Atomic Zombie builders gallery

Stretch Cycle, LWB, electric, www.thegreensceneev.com edjackie88@aol.com built by Ed Storey. 26 inch rear ampedbikekit hubmotor. 48 volts, 22 amps, fast, fun, smooth, and weird to steer. ~ Ed Storey

The Quest for the perfect Electric Minibike

"Now that we are living in the rugged country, I am finding the need to design the perfect electric minibike. I currently ride the E-Style BMX, but find that it lacks the power to handle our steep rolling hills and fields. The roads here are loose gravel and can have some serious washboards, which means suspension is a must.

As soon as I figure out where I am going to weld here, I will be working on "The Kodiak Electric Minibike (or trike)", and am just looking for ideas and suggestions for now.

My goal is a minibike with a range of at least 25 miles and a top speed of about 25 miles per hour, with massive hill climbing and off-road power. For an engine, I have settled on the PMG-132 running at 48 volts."

Read more and join the discussion:  The Quest for the perfect Electric Minibike

Builder profiles send in your stuff

Thanks to those of you who sent in profiles of yourselves for the AZ newsletters last year.

Hoping to resurrect Builder Profiles starting this month.

Read more  Builder profiles send in your stuff

Tilting trike

Ok, if any of you is planning to build a twist FWD like this. I have a story: I initially had welded the bolt that holds the power pulley directly onto the frame. It was not my best weld, but there was plenty of metal holding the bolt. However, I was really grinding after a full stop at a stop sign, when the bolt came off!

Read more and join the discussion Tilting trike

What is your best dumpster diving find? Atomic Zombie builders forum

"I've got a couple. First one is came home from the big box store getting materials for a house project and a house that is rented out had 3 bikes sitting on the curb for the trash man. Went back and got them. Sold one for $40 or $50...kept the others for chopping."

Read more and join the discussion:  What is your best dumpster diving find?

Building TWO Vikings this summer! Atomic Zombie builders forum

"A neighbor wants a Viking and has some steel connections, so he bought 24 feet each of 2" 16ga and 1 1/2" 16 ga square tube.

I've wanted one for some time too, so we're going to build two of these babies at the same time! We're going to do some sort of fully independent drive system on them."

Read more and join the discussion: Building TWO Vikings this summer!

 Viking Recumbent Tandem Trike DIY Plan 

Note: this is a very large file and probably cannot be downloaded if you have slow, or dial-up Internet service

The Viking is a very unique tandem trike that includes an independent transmission system that allows one rider to stop pedaling without affecting the other. The Viking Tandem Trike uses commonly available 20mm disc brake hubs, so there are no hard-to-find or overly expensive components needed. The frame is completely made of square steel tubing, and everything else on the Viking Trike can be found at bicycle shops or hacked from scrap bicycles.

The building process is designed to allow anyone with a Do-It-Yourself desire to finish his or her own version of the Viking Trike without requiring previous bike building experience or specialized tools and skills.

The plan is laid out in a format that makes customization or alternate parts usage a breeze, so you will certainly be able to include your own imagination in the process of building a recumbent trike.
If you have been eyeing up those expensive imported tandem trikes, but think $8000 is a bit too steep of a price tag, then get out your tools and build it yourself! For thousands of dollars less than the price of a basic tadpole trike, you can create your very own tandem trike that will rival many of the factory built machines available.

Take a look at our Builder's Gallery to see other Viking Trike examples, including many creative modifications to the plan. Our international builders community ranges from students to retired engineers, but they all have one thing in common - the desire to build their own stuff!


All of our plans are delivered as PDF files containing high resolution images and diagrams for optimal viewing and printing. See our collection of DIY plans here.

Electric Trikes - Atomic Zombie builders gallery

"These projects are electric and built by me. Thanks, Wayne."

Handmade bikes from the UK: Atomic Zombie builders gallery

"More pictures for your gallery. Many thanks from Terry in the UK."

Wow, Terry, you sure are busy! Nice work. Cheers.

Mark's Night Rider chopper - Atomic Zombie builders gallery

Homemade kid's bike from Australia - Atomic Zombie builders gallery

"Here is a photo of a bike I threw together for my kid in the middle of building my own bike. I know it's a little tame but my kid is only 4 years old :) and it still turns a few heads when we go riding.

Thanks for the Inspiration.  David,  Melbourne, Australia"

German chopper by Stefan - Atomic Zombie builders gallery

"Hi people. I´m Stefan from Stuttgart, Germany, and I just finished my first chopper. Since I saw all the crazy stuff at your site, I couldn´t stop thinking of building my own chopper, so I bought a welding machine and that's what came out.

Next step is a electric motor  like a pedelec system, because we have so much hills around here,
It's not easy to find a flat street. Here are a few pics from me and my bike for your gallery.

Greez, Stefan"

Settling in to our homestead

We have arrived at the property with some limited Internet access, getting used to the great outdoors and simple living. It will take awhile for us to get organized and find some reliable Internet access, but in the meantime, still checking in on the forum and answering your questions when we can.

Weather has gone from very cold to very hot in a matter of days, some torrential rain, damaging winds, wicked lightning and warnings of possible hail and tornadoes. Interesting times living in a camper and tents when the wind is howling all around in the darkness.

Quite an experience brushing my teeth outside while the deer watch, having a shower using solar heated water in the shower tent watching blue jays and hummingbirds flying about. The bees busily pollinating the apple and Sasaktoon trees. Listening to the tales of our neighbors about the resident lynx, cougars, deer, bears, coyotes and timber wolves in the area.

We are surviving. It's going to be an interesting adventure. Bear with us while we make the transition during these months. The views and the wildlife are spectacular. We really have found where we belong and it's a great feeling.

One of our regular visitors.

KoolKat and Radical Brad

OverKill bike chopper by Phil - Atomic Zombie builders gallery

"Hi. Just thought I'd share some photos of my chopper project based on your OverKill chopper plans. This will be the first of many custom bikes based around your designs. Thanks guys. Phil"

OverKill Bike Chopper DIY PDF Plan - AtomicZombie

OverKill is appropriately named because everything about it is way over the top. With its ridiculously wide rear wheel, and ultra long forks, what else could it be called other than OverKill? Does a chopper really need a dragster tire on its rear end, or such a high frame? Not really, but does a roadster really need a Hemi? You know where I'm going with this. Actually, the main reason I built OverKill to such outlandish proportions was to retaliate against the mass marketing of big box store choppers.

Even though this sick chop has proportions that rival some of the petrol-burning street customs, it certainly won't bust your wallet or require you to spend the next year in a machine shop. The fact is, OverKill is built from nothing more than an old car rim, some scrap bicycle parts, and a few lengths of electrical conduit using only a welder and grinder. Yes, anyone can pull this one off using the tricks shown in the plan.. Every step of the build is detailed using high resolution photos, and you will be amazed at how simple it is to add bicycle spokes to the car wheel, and there is plenty of room for you to add your own evil modifications to the frame. How does it ride? Dude, look at this beast, it was made for cruising!

As you can see, OverKill not only rides well, but it dominates the road with its radical proportions and kicks dirt in the face of conformity. Choppers belong to us garage hackers, so let's take back what is rightfully ours and send a message to those who think mass production is the way to go. Get building!

All of Atomic Zombie Extreme Machines plans are downloadable PDF format. Multiple discounts, free tutorials, videos, gallery, newsletters, blog and more.

All of Atomic Zombie Extreme Machines plans are downloadable PDF format. Multiple discounts, free tutorials, videos, gallery, newsletters, blog and more:

All of our plans are delivered as PDF files containing high resolution images and diagrams for optimal viewing and printing.