DIY

DIY Wobble Bike

This double-jointed rolling wonder lets you steer from both ends. Also known as a “swing bike,” there was even a commercially-produced model that appeared in the 1970s. The wobble bike is one of the many different types of “freak” or “chopper” bikes that you can make. It’s one of the easiest to start with if you have never made something like this before. It’s also great fun to ride and only takes a couple of minutes to get the hang of. After you master the skill of wobble biking, you’ll be able to ride your wobbler nearly anywhere.

You can make a wobble bike in just three to four hours. You don’t need to be very good at welding to undertake this task, but consulting someone with experience handling a welder is a good idea if you’ve never used one before.

Chop Bike #1

It takes two beater bikes to make one wobble bike. Using the cutoff wheel, chop the tubes of the first bike at the three locations shown (1) . A good cutoff wheel will cut through the tubes in just a few seconds. You will end up with a separate front half and rear half of the bike. Use the better of the two bikes here since most of this one will end up in the completed wobble bike.

Chop Bike #2

We mainly need the steering assembly and top tube from the second bike. There are four to five cuts that you will need to make, depending on the bike. Cut the frame and fork as shown (2) . Cut one side of the fork flush with the steering tube; on the other side, leave an inch of tube and cut at the angle shown.

On most bikes, the stem (the thing connecting the steering tube to the handlebar) is aluminum, so you can’t easily weld it. The stem can’t be completely removed because it is usually needed to hold the steering assembly together. So, we need to find an exposed area of steel that we can weld to. The end of the steering tube is is a good spot if it’s accessible. If so, just cut off the handlebar and excess stem. If you can’t weld to the steering tube, then you can weld to the steel handlebar. Cut the handlebar very short (maybe three inches long) to provide just enough space to weld to.

Weld It Together!

In image (3) I’ve highlighted in green the part that came from bike #2. In pink are two steel bolts I welded on to set the tube angle, shown from below in image (4). Check the positioning before you weld to ensure the pedals are at a reasonably comfortable height off the ground. You can’t weld to a painted bike tube, so, near the weld area, use the paint-stripping wheel to clean the tubes down to bare metal. In image (5) I’ve highlighted the welds. After it’s all welded together, paint it!

More details at INSTRUCTABLES.COM/GROUP/MOMENTUM

What You Need (6)

+ 2 steel beater bikes

+ A small arc or MIG welder

+ An angle grinder with cutoff wheel and paint-stripping wheel

Riding Tip

Push the handlebar away from your body when you ride. This will keep the frame straight out in front of you, similar to a normal bike. By following this tip, you’ll be riding confidently in under five minutes. Once you get the hang of it, you can learn to casually swing the front wheel to either side, which is sure to attract attention and garner style points. Have fun!