The "Fat Hippo" utility bike build

[cowboyona426]

I have some non-leading axle forks off a DS80 that have almost zero underhang past the axle if you'd be interested ?

 

[Wonderspoon]

My boy Ryan is an awesome fabricator and better human but he gave up on this site. Still, this build got some national attention

http://hooniverse.com/hooniversal-car-of-the-year/hcoty-2018-the-fat-hippo-utility-bike/

[Tye Durden]

3 hours ago, Wonderspoon said:

My boy Ryan is an awesome fabricator and better human but he gave up on this site. Still, this build got some national attention

http://hooniverse.com/hooniversal-car-of-the-year/hcoty-2018-the-fat-hippo-utility-bike/

I just spent an hour looking at his jeep build. Though the last post he did on the pirate forum was I think 18 months ago or so. 

[RK-REX]

On 12/23/2018 at 1:09 AM, Wonderspoon said:

My boy Ryan is an awesome fabricator and better human but he gave up on this site. Still, this build got some national attention

http://hooniverse.com/hooniversal-car-of-the-year/hcoty-2018-the-fat-hippo-utility-bike/

Deleted...

Edited December 26, 2018 by RK-REX

[cowboyona426]

On 12/22/2018 at 10:09 PM, Wonderspoon said:

My boy Ryan is an awesome fabricator and better human but he gave up on this site. Still, this build got some national attention

http://hooniverse.com/hooniversal-car-of-the-year/hcoty-2018-the-fat-hippo-utility-bike/

Are you saying there won't be any updates here for the Hippo anymore???

[Wonderspoon]

Are you saying there won't be any updates here for the Hippo anymore???

Hippos have to resurface for air occasionally so maybe there’s hope.

[cowboyona426]

23 hours ago, Wonderspoon said:

 

Hippos have to resurface for air occasionally so maybe there’s hope.

 

Well that really sucks, I was really enjoying following along as things progressed.

[ITLKSEZ]

Thanks guys. I'm still around; I just get tired of the off-topic noise around here. If I have any updates worth sharing, I'll definitely post them up.

I just noticed the voting is open for the Hooniverse Car of the Year, so if you want to see if the the Hippo can hold its own against high-dollar custom cars, throw a vote its way! Happy new year!

https://hooniverse.com/hcoty-2018-its-time-to-vote/

[bowhunter007]

Thanks guys. I'm still around; I just get tired of the off-topic noise around here. If I have any updates worth sharing, I'll definitely post them up.

I just noticed the voting is open for the Hooniverse Car of the Year, so if you want to see if the the Hippo can hold its own against high-dollar custom cars, throw a vote its way! Happy new year!

https://hooniverse.com/hcoty-2018-its-time-to-vote/

Voted! Happy New Year!

 

[trailmeisterjoe]

Got mine ?

[KEITH OLSON]

Thanks guys. I'm still around; I just get tired of the off-topic noise around here. If I have any updates worth sharing, I'll definitely post them up.
I just noticed the voting is open for the Hooniverse Car of the Year, so if you want to see if the the Hippo can hold its own against high-dollar custom cars, throw a vote its way! Happy new year!
https://hooniverse.com/hcoty-2018-its-time-to-vote/

Voted

[mtdirtbag]

Done!

[Tye Durden]

? leading the voting!

[cowboyona426]

Tally up one more vote for the hippo!

[RK-REX]

Voted! Still in the lead!!!!

[irme42day]

I voted and have enjoyed reading and following to build. Is it time for "Desert Trials?" Golden Valley would work well to test it in everything from dry wash sand to mountain top. 

[Pincushion]

Voted

 

you're slaying them!  40% of the vote

[woods-rider]

Casted my vote

[Slackkinhard]

16 hours ago, irme42day said:

I voted and have enjoyed reading and following to build. Is it time for "Desert Trials?" Golden Valley would work well to test it in everything from dry wash sand to mountain top. 

the low gearing would be a bitch out those open spaces....but hell, I'd do it. I'm guilty of driving 4x4s through that wasteland, so it's gotta be better than that

[Pincushion]

I got to inspect and test ride the hippo yesterday and was super impressed with it.  You've all seen the build pics and know the level of effort and fabrication required to build it, but seeing and riding the machine takes my appreciation to a whole new level.  The bike feels rock solid and I quickly forgot it was a home build consisting of multiple frames and endless fabrication.  It feels and operates like you'd expect a production machine to and the layout is very comfortable.  Also, the attention to detail is top notch as is the purpose built nature of everything.... best saw mount I've ever seen, removable receiver, etc. 

 

It's difficult to describe the ride in words.  It feels like sitting a quad (duh...quad frame and seat) and the big balloon tires give it that 'floaty' feel like a quad, but that's where the similarities end.  I didn't ride it long or in a variety of terrain, but I can say that on soft dirt the beast is unstoppable.  It went straight up every hill I pointed it at with zero wheel spin or the front end getting light.  It simply eats hills and then asks for more.  Riding it on a side-hill was a hoot.....I was a little nervous at first, but quickly relaxed once I realized how much grip the tires have.  The low center of gravity really shines here and keeping the bike on the trail was a non-issue.  The old girl works and works good! 

 

Many thanks to ITLKSEZ for building it and letting me try it out!  Now I want one ?

Once the winch is installed you can probably make some decent scratch towing idiots out of the woods.  Just post up on Lemonade peak and tow unknowing fools out of deadmans gulch?