Flexscoot : our coming out

Flexboardz · Post by **Flexboardz** » Sat Jan 19, 2013 1:31 pm

Yes, under an hidden identity (FlexScoot), Flexboardz makes scooters (electrical)....
Before being hard on me, please notice that it rides like a board (see video below w/o handling bar)...
And we keep making boards !!
<iframe width="853" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/y786KVHNIDk?list=UUmAXNygCnK9XShqhciIhFUQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

BgSurfer · Post by **BgSurfer** » Sat Jan 19, 2013 2:49 pm

Three-wheelers would be my choice for an electric. Is it a hub motor?

Does it steer using the rear truck only? Does the front wheel pivot?

My concern would be the potential for being injured/impaled badly by the raised front fork structure.

Flexboardz · Post by **Flexboardz** » Sat Jan 19, 2013 3:11 pm

Yes, it's a 500W hub motor + lithium battery...

This video without handle bar was just made to show the difference with regular 2 wheels scooters ...

It's normally used with a handle bar wide enough to prevent such risk (and much more convenient for urban transportation)... so front wheel steers for low speed maniability and rear truck makes the carving at speed...

It makes the ride much more stable/safe/fun than 2 wheels scooters...

<iframe width="853" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/aqFm_xIpyDs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Jimmy Chaos · Post by **Jimmy Chaos** » Sat Jan 19, 2013 3:23 pm

Flexboardz · Post by **Flexboardz** » Sat Jan 19, 2013 3:34 pm

well, intrinsically safe is a way to explain to "non boardriding people" what a (good) board is : you lean, it turns and bring you back on balance...

In any case, compared to 2-wheels scooters(intrinsically unsafe), it's basically true...

Brennig · Post by **Brennig** » Sat Jan 19, 2013 3:37 pm

I love the stuff you guys make, it's awesome. Thanks for sharing it with us.

PS - Whooho for Pays Basque, coming from Pays de Galles! I want to see an Basque nation where the main mode of transport is a Flexboard (or Flexscoot).

Flexboardz · Post by **Flexboardz** » Sat Jan 19, 2013 3:44 pm

Thanks for the support, Brennig ...specially coming from you

Brennig · Post by **Brennig** » Sat Jan 19, 2013 4:20 pm

No problem. By the way I think I have finally managed to understand how your trucks work!

One question, do the strut bushings provide the turning resistance? Or are there bushings hidden within the kingpin compartment?

Flexboardz · Post by **Flexboardz** » Sat Jan 19, 2013 4:36 pm

The turning resitance is provided by the rubber bushing hidden withing the crosspiece (on the picture below, you can see a bit of it (black rubber) below the "elastomere" word). It get compressed when turning...

Brennig · Post by **Brennig** » Sat Jan 19, 2013 4:41 pm

Is the other bushing there because the fixed point ("this point is fixed") rotates around the kingpin (moves along two axis) so the strut needs to "tilt"? Hard to describe, but the bushings are on the strut because it needs to "tilt".

I think I understand it now, it is a very simple idea but complex and hard to get it right, very clever. I will start messing around with the idea.

Flexboardz · Post by **Flexboardz** » Sat Jan 19, 2013 4:56 pm

Thanks.
Yes, the other bushing is there because the tendons (strut) needs to rotate slightly as the "fixed point" moves a bit left/right and up/down.

Brennig · Post by **Brennig** » Sat Jan 19, 2013 5:00 pm

Yes, that is what I meant. I am certain I know how they work now, hooray! Looking forward to playing around with the design. Thanks for the explanation.

Flexboardz · Post by **Flexboardz** » Sat Jan 19, 2013 5:13 pm

Welcome...

Brennig · Post by **Brennig** » Sun Jan 20, 2013 10:39 am

I am just trying to put it all into yummy equations so I can play around with them, just need a few numbers. What is the distance from the axle to the deck pivot (not the "fixed point") and the axle to the deck (height)? Basically, the length of the arm and the height difference between the axle and deck.

Thank you!

With a 14" axle track, 8" wheels, and the axle inline with the deck I managed to get 30 degree deck lean.

So shorter axle, bigger wheels, bigger axle-deck height = bigger deck lean. 30 degrees is a nice number, change the axle to 12", wheels to 9", and you get over an inch of clearance at 30 degree lean.

Flexboardz · Post by **Flexboardz** » Sun Jan 20, 2013 12:08 pm

Arm length : 15 to 17 cm
arm height :4.5 cm
Track is around 30 cm
It leans around 45 degres (eventhough it's not really necessary to lean that much)

<iframe width="853" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/uQHykgcGW7Y?list=UUmAXNygCnK9XShqhciIhFUQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Brennig · Post by **Brennig** » Sun Jan 20, 2013 1:59 pm

Do you know the effective king pin angle?

SpinDR · Post by **SpinDR** » Fri Mar 15, 2013 12:37 pm

Honestly, I'm not the biggest fan of scooters, but this one is a cool change. I like the 3-wheel stance as it allows for it feeling more like a board. The fact you don't need the handlebars also helps. Seems pretty stable also. How fast can you get that thing up to?
Unfortunately I've never had a chance to ride one of your guys boards, but it does seem like it would make a nice trail board with the seperate suspension.

Post by **McCarver** » Fri Mar 15, 2013 2:05 pm

I just wish my bank would screw up and give me unlimited funds already

SpinDR · Post by **SpinDR** » Fri Mar 15, 2013 3:41 pm

McCarver wrote:I just wish my bank would screw up and give me unlimited funds already

Dear god if only mccarver... so many things to build.. like a real dirt park

Flexboardz · Post by **Flexboardz** » Fri Mar 15, 2013 3:48 pm

Thanks a lot for appreciating the difference...

Frankly, I was not a great fan of scooter either...but they are very convenient for urban use ...and as, with 3 wheels, it keeps a board riding feeling, I am changing my mind since I rode the Flexscoot.

In fact, that is what decided us to develop the flexscoot as a product.

Honestly, for the time being, I am a bit screwed as someone stole my last flexscoot proto which causes us a bit of problem for the rest of the dvt

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Flexscoot : our coming out

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