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Jeep AWD Mtn. Bike

Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2008 4:26 pm
by Legacy777

Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2008 5:07 pm
by smh0101
(Hope this isnt off topic)

That thing is really cool... But couldnt that driveshaft make it a lot harder to pedal?

Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2008 5:19 pm
by Legacy777
Probably....I was thinking about that.....and I'm not sure how well it does in actual riding.

I think I read that they geared it pretty low, which probably helps alleviate the extra friction on the drivetrain, etc.

I'm also unsure how it would feel, because if you're spinning in some mud or what not, and have the front wheel engage, you're likely to lose your balance and fall over, where having just the rear wheel spinning is a little more managable.

Either way, it's pretty neat technology how they ran the drive shafts through the frame!

Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2008 5:26 pm
by smh0101
Yeah, that would be wierd if it was spinning.

I wonder how reliable that driveshaft system is... seems like it could have some weak spots.

Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2008 6:17 pm
by AWD_addict
Cool that it's shiftable, but I doubt I'd want to pay for it.

Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2008 6:31 pm
by 86ruguy
Yeah, it's really cool. However, I've never even paid that much for a CAR

Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 1:03 am
by Murphy
thats awesome, when i trail ride the trails are usually very soft and muddy, not a big problem with moving forward, but turning is more difficult. it would help ALOT when you are trying to climb rocks, big tree roots and going through deep washouts at slower speeds.

thats abut the average price on a bike for medium to hardcore riders. my sisters commuter bike was $900, her road bike was $1100.
race bikes get to $2k+ and are incredibly lightweight, if you are very strong you can hit speeds around 50mph, thats not even going downhill

Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 1:57 am
by ericem
IMO when I am going up a hill it will be impossible. With some good tires on my bike I can go up anything and fly at the same time. I would be worried about the exposed gears as well, what if a rock gets in there?? Won't it just lock up and you die?

Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 2:06 am
by James614
smh0101 wrote:I wonder how reliable that driveshaft system is... seems like it could have some weak spots.
I doubt it.... human pedal power is pretty weak and reeeeeeeeeally slow, it looks to be fairly suitable unless you're well over 250lbs.


Back when I used to off-road with my bike, I used to wish there was a 2WD system like this. Being shift-on-the-fly is really nice, too. Heck, if I had the money and was still a trail rider, I'd buy one of these no questions asked :-)

Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 4:48 am
by biggreen96
thats pretty cool. But I'm going to get a Giant Reign X0 instead. I used to have a kona stinky, but somebody wanted it more :( .

Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 4:57 am
by Murphy
i have noticed Subaru owners seem to typically been outdoors type people, especially if they own an Outback or Forester or any wagon model, and most definitely if they own a late model or classic Subaru (GL, Brat, Loyale, etc.).

Newer Legacy owners tend to be business people, and Imprezas tend to be kids who are "well to do", or people who live in upscale suburbs, which is also true for the Tribeca (not the kid thing)

Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2008 2:44 pm
by BAC5.2
This setup has been out for quite some time.

I rode one around a parking lot and it was novel, but it would be a pain on the trail.

If you can't do it with 1wd, you aren't going to be able to do it with 2wd. In all my years of riding, I have never once wished I had another drive wheel. I dunno, maybe I don't ride slowly enough to take advantage of something like this. Even in slow riding, to warrant this, you'd have to be going REALLY slow in a REALLY low gear, and stability in those situations is questionable enough as it is.

Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2008 3:40 pm
by 93forestpearl
When I was riding back and forth to school in the winter I often wished I had something like this. Studded tires don't help in over 3" of snow. Unloading the rear tire to pedal harder just resulted in a loss of traction.

Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2008 4:09 pm
by SubaruNation
i don't get why you would want an AWD mountain bike..
i mean it's cool but almost pointless.

Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2008 4:12 pm
by Subtle
If you are having trouble with rear traction, it is usually steep enough that the front wheel starts to lift off the ground. :smt048

Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2008 5:12 pm
by evolutionmovement
Yeah, snow's the only place I can see it helping. I know I'm nowhere near good enough shape to handle that kind of friction and weight.

Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2008 9:52 pm
by SubaruNation
warning: sterotype...look away now if you are easily offended.


people that ride up hills on bikes are dumb.

[/stereotype]

i can see the snow thing however, if it works as well as it's supposed to

Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2008 10:44 pm
by Murphy
i am still not convinced it is completely useless


i always get my front wheel wedged in ruts and big tree roots and logs, it would help a lot with things like that.
i still it would help steering in snow and mud a lot, i think it would make a difference with mud because you could keep up speed easier, your front wheel would not be putting a huge drag on you, especially when it is clogged with mud and locks up.

Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2008 11:16 pm
by evolutionmovement
But you've still got to lug it through. I can see the point with a dirt bike, but human power doesn't quite have the same punch. I'd like to see one in action.

Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2008 1:48 am
by Arctic Assassian
This helps up here. My buddy has the 20 incher for winter time when his normal rig just wont go, and hes still running double studs. BTW it's geared about .8:1- pedal:wheel

Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2008 8:48 pm
by SubaruNation
i'll stick to park :lol: