Custom Diwheel bike with moving rings rolls back and forth
Sam Barker produces Diwheel, a custom bike with two large moving rings and a plastic bucket seat that rolls the user around without pedaling. Using metal fabrication, 3D printing, and suspension design, the pilot and content creator aims to create a bike that can speed back and forth while the rider stays seated inside the moving rings and without swinging. The project begins with the idea of improving an earlier monowheel prototype, which had problems with balance and structure. For this new version, Sam Barker decides to use two large circular rings made from 5 mm thick, 100 mm wide mild steel tubing. These rings form the outer rolling parts of the machine, and they are bent and cut by a metal fabricator in Sheffield, then welded into complete circles.
Inside these rings sits the inner frame supporting the seat, suspension, and rollers. The frame is also made of 5 mm steel plates and box sections, and it connects to the outer rings with rollers that let the frame rotate freely inside the moving rings. The rollers are printed in nylon using a 3D printer, which is stronger and more durable than the earlier PLA plastic versions that broke quickly. The content creator has to adjust the rods using a homemade setup involving a 3D-printed adapter and a drill to make sure the bearings fit properly. Once the rollers and bearings are complete, they are pressed into the roller mounts and installed onto the frame of the Diwheel bike with moving rings.
all images courtesy of Sam Barker
Plastic bucket chair for the rider’s seat
The suspension system is another key part of the Diwheel bike with moving rings. In an uploaded video, the content creator builds his ride’s frame with H-shaped brackets to hold the suspension units and connect the inner frame to the outer structure. These parts allow movement and help absorb shocks, keeping the ride stable and balanced. The plastic bucket seat comes next, placed inside the inner frame and will later include a five-point harness for safety.
The seat placement is low to keep the center of gravity near the bottom of the rings to make the rolling easier and prevent tipping. Sam Barker also plans to add a top brace and a motor system with batteries, though these have not yet been installed, at least not with the first part of the video (the follow-up is set to come out in the near future).
Sam Barker produces Diwheel, a custom bike with two large moving rings
Final version of the ride comes with electric motors
During assembly, each outer ring weighs about 60 kilograms, and the two rings together surround the inner frame, creating a dual-wheel or di-wheel structure. The frame is inserted into the rings using a ratchet strap to preload the suspension, and Sam Barker tightens the top rollers to secure everything in position. Once assembled, the machine can roll forward and backward on flat ground, with the seat staying level inside the rings.
To finish the structure, he grinds down rough welds on the steel rings to make the rolling motion smoother for the bearings, and 3D-printed spacers are added to keep the bolts and roller positions aligned. The content creator says that the final version will be powered by electric motors with about 60 kilowatts of total output, and so far, he has not yet shown any tests, or whether his Diwheel bike with moving rings works, in the first part of the Youtube video.
inside these rings sits the inner frame supporting the seat, suspension, and rollers
the plastic bucket seat is placed inside the frame and will later include a five-point harness for safety
the seat placement is low to keep the center of gravity near the bottom of the rings to make the rolling easier
the two rings together surround the inner frame, creating a dual-wheel
so far, the pilot has not yet shown any tests of his custom ride
project info:
name: Making A Bike With Tank Steering – The Diwheel
design: Sam Barker | @_sam__barker_
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