DIY RAIL BIKE for less than $100

I have designed and built many variations of a single person railbike over the last year or so. However, each one of them is very specific to the bike frame geometry and requires significant design and manufacturing skills. I decided that I wanted to build a cheap and simple railbike, one that was made of parts anyone can buy from a local hardware store and can be easily adjusted to fit any bicycle. I also wanted it to work very well.
And here it is, made from wood, screws, plastic wheels, a steel shaft cut with a hack saw, and some bolts to hold the circular plastic cutting board flanges to the plastic wheels. Add a universal fork mount from Amazon and you can build this in a few hours. The total for this entire build was $95 and I am sure you can do it even cheaper if you spent time looking for deals or going through surplus stores.

[@Suluk46]

My previous railbikes were difficult for many people to build. This one is simple, cheap, uses parts from any hardware store, and can be built in a couple of hours. Most importantly, it works. Have fun and be safe!

[@chriscole1726]

This could transfer ro my moped really nicely

[@weeblis]

I am totally making this, maybe two! Riding is always fun with more people

[@Suluk46]

You can use the same rig for 2 bikes. Just put another mount on the opposite side. You ride right beside each other.

[@AndrewDasilvaPLT]

I'm glad more people see that cutting boards are a cheap and viable way to have easily shaped Delrin!

[@Suluk46]

It took me a while to figure that out. I was browsing in the dollar store when I saw them and thought, hey why don't I just cut circles out of this with a jigsaw!

[@maarten_notjustagrip]

@@Suluk46 Ive found the cheap cutting boards wear out really fast. A friend gave me some really tough plastic for guides, but he unfortunately couldnt give me a brand name.

[@jeffrey5961]

on the 2 X 4s you put the front wheels, put a third wheel and a trailer connection on and the two bikes could then ride off tracks pulling the "trailer / rail car". nice videos of your efforts. thank you.

[@Suluk46]

I'm like what you are thinking!

[@dwilson2548]

I found your design very interesting and I'm liking it... However I'm thinking skateboard bearings in the wheels will make the rolling resistance just about disappear. And being that you're using simple 2 by 4 instead of using a cutting board on the inside possibly a skateboard wheel lowered on the inside touching the inside of the rail again reducing friction. 🤔. But I am going to try The cutting board first. 😎👍👍

[@Suluk46]

Check out my latest version. The one in this video was a simple DIY version. Not one I would use for my long trips.

[@gavinholmes7768]

Awesome! Thank you for posting!!

[@Suluk46]

My pleasure. Thanks buddy.

[@OnePage-m3p]

❤Taiwan number1

[@spookerr]

Maybe put a third crossover 2x4 amd a piece of plywood up above to put a standing passenger in between? Great video.

[@Suluk46]

Thanks man. We've got big plans!

[@spookerr]

Also. Where do you get the wheels? Thats my stumbling block from building one. Not sure how/where, you got the wheels? ​@Suluk46

[@maarten_notjustagrip]

Howzit going Bro? I saw another video recently, where the couple simply built a flat square platform with wheels and guide wheels, and mounted those fork mounts on it. Perfect for carrying the packs and the dog when you go bivvie riding. LOVING the wood tho. QUITE the change from your usual HI tech.

[@jimkroll8513]

How simple! This is a wooden dolly that copies the metal structure of a dolly used to build kiln cars to roll into dry kilns to dry lumber. attach front fork and go

[@Suluk46]

Yes! Quite simply. I'm working on a newer version that is a bit more robust but uses the same principle.

[@vljt8960]

Impressive work! Is the frame welded in such way that the rear wheel won’t drop off the rails in a turn?

[@Suluk46]

No, the back end is free, it just follows the front.

[@hike2bhuman110]

This is genius, 2x4 construction, if you break down in open prairie they can be used to make fire. 😂

[@Suluk46]

Lol. And build a shelter...multi-use.

[@ArtemiosFilatov]

It's good if the until the railway gets a bit curvy

[@Suluk46]

No issues with turns. Got almost 300km in it.

[@utopia2112]

It would be helpful if you posted a parts list in the comments.

[@Suluk46]

It's in the video

[@utopia2112]

@@Suluk46 Not really - having ALL parts either in a list in the video description or on-screen all at once at some point in the video would have been nice. Cheers, tho.

[@Suluk46]

No worries, I hear ya, lots of people asking. But I'm not doing a tutorial on how to build these. I share enough information for people to build them with all the videos. That way it will fuel innovation as opposed to halting it. Honestly, you can do it with super basic tools, just watch the videos and take some notes, I built the one in the video in a couple of hours. It'll make a fun weekend project and then the testing is where you fine tune everything. Enjoy and good luck.

[@susanthompson6881]

I have looked at other rail bike designs and yours is the best well constructed design with true sturdiness over all components. What is the distance of the two 2-4’s from the front wheel to the rear wheel? I am looking forward to making a rail bike based upon your design. That is an awesome design and video! Thanks…….Mark

[@Suluk46]

Glad you like it. The center to center distance between the front and rear wheels is about 24". I'm building a lighter version as I type this. Have fun, this stuff gets addictive!

[@Omniespresso]

Did you weld the bikes steering so it doesn't turn?

[@Suluk46]

No, it's free. It just follows the front.

[@UPRailfan]

Very cool, I’m gonna attempt this myself and was curious what your dimensions are

[@Suluk46]

Just make it wide enough to fit your local tracks. Nothing too fancy needed.

[@susanthompson6881]

I have another question for you. The wheels that you used, what is the diameter of the wheels that you use? I noticed that they are wide and somewhat flat in the circumference. I am definitely motivated. A project in this coming spring. Thanks again!…Mark

[@Suluk46]

They are plastic castor wheels. 5" in diameter and about 2" wide. The flange is 7" in diameter and a 1/4" wide made from plastic cutting boards I bought at the dollar store.

[@daviddavids5088]

How did you keep bike tire on the track looks good 👍 Happy New year

[@Suluk46]

Thanks and happy new year! The rear tire just follows the front, so no need for a guide on it.

[@Abandoned_HS]

Can you post a link to the fork mount you used?

[@Suluk46]

It's just a cheap universal Amazon mount. Any one will work as long as it fits your bike.

[@Lillstisse661]

What would be the max speed with these wheels? I am quite interested in building something like this myself but I need to be going quite fast as the track I'll be running on is 110km round trip.

[@Suluk46]

This is really an economical version of some of the more refined versions I have built. If you want to go far and fast, I would upgrade the wheels with something that had proper bearing. These are just cheap plastic wheels with plastic bearings.

[@nandrews8412]

Dual electric scooters. 😉

[@Suluk46]

Coming up!

[@Treefort1]

This was awesome!!! My wife has been after me to replace my BBQ cutting board. I LOVE to repurpose, so it looks like I have a new weekend project! The ending was perfect, watch out for the LEO's.

[@Suluk46]

Happy you like it. Have fun out there 😀

[@hotchihuahua1546]

Lots of promise with your design with a lot of flexibility! 👍

[@Suluk46]

Thanks! It's fun playing with different designs.

[@tribalsean]

OUTSTANDING! Love this! Dual bikes, C'mon!! Awesome work, buddy. Totally dig it

[@Suluk46]

Dual electric bikes and then motorcycles 🏍️

[@svenhoogland9034]

What are those little white clamps he used at the small wheels to keep everything in place?

[@Suluk46]

They are shaft collars to keep the axles in place.

[@svenhoogland9034]

@@Suluk46Thanks! Im not that technical at all so I google all the parts to make a list

[@pex3]

Yes!!!!! LFG Steve!!

[@Suluk46]

The world needs more Railbike!

[@wisconsinfarmboy9232]

Great video, can you tell the length of the 2 x 4s after cut. Looks like 3 footers and 5 footers? Thanks

[@Suluk46]

The wheel spacing is about 24" so the length of the 2x4 holding the wheel has to be longer, around 3 feet. The inside width of the track is around 65.5 inches, so each piece spanning the tracks is almost 6 feet long.

[@wisconsinfarmboy9232]

@@Suluk46 thanks