Buggies for tall people?

[Sirblackadder]

Hi!

 

This week I had my first buggying experiences and *really* loved it. The buggy was a PL Comp with big foot tyres.

 

On the forums, I read a lot of debate about the PL Comp and some of the design choices made for this buggy (like the pluggable axle and the rattling coming from it). But that was not what bothered me while trying my first runs and turns. It was my legs and knees hurting badly after about half an hour.

 

I reckon my near 2 m were just to tall for this special buggy. My legs needed to be awkwardly bent while sitting in the PL Comp. That's despite I had the front tyre mounted as far away from the seat as possible.

 

Now I'm wondering if there are buggies around which would suit tall people better than the PL. I guess I'll not be going into high speeds because the fields around here are just too small to really pick up momentum. Hence, a lighter, more trickable buggy would presumably be a wiser choice. I plan to buy my own buggy somewhere around the end of the year and am looking to spend around 400 - 600 Euros.

 

Can you give some advice?

 

Kind regards, Malte.

[encona1599968593]

Howdy I am 6ft 3 inches and use a Flexi buggy and find this very comfy and a good buggy to trick with

 

Steve

[HD462]

Hi Malte,

 

I've recently got a VMax, and only being 5'6" and 30" inside leg. There's about 6-8 inches of downtube under the seat unused. So I would think it would adjust well out for allowing someone with longer legs to use. One to look at, you often see 2nd hand ones on here. I paid £250 for mine, and it was in very good condition with only a few small marks on it.

[desciple]

I am 186cm or thereabouts and the Vmax all extended is perfect. Of course with a swan neck down tube you'll get an even better ride!!

[freejam]

Libre V Max and Special both have lots of extension - no problems - I'm 6' & there's still about 8" to spare on each tube to go.

[djstu_d]

and for the realy tall people out there, Libre do an extended down tube for the v-max which is 6" longer than the standard down tube.

 

hth

[RAID]

Can also vouch for the V-Max. I'm not as tall as you at 5ft 11" but I'm heavy at around 100kgs and pretty broad in the shoulder so got the Libre to cope with all the extra pounding I was to give it. I found PL and Flexi buggies way too restrictive and uncomfortable for long days at my weight and width.

[Sirblackadder]

Thank you all so much for your kind replies. So i get the impression that most of you would go for a Libre V-Max (presumably the 'L' version) for people with long legs.

 

2 questions:

 

1. "V-Max" sounds like it was designed with respect to high speeds. Would you recommend a V-Max for smaller fields, too, where agility is one of the key features of a buggy? When I say smaller fields I'm thinking somewhere around 2-4 football fields.

 

2. What is a swan neck?

 

Best wishes,

Malte.

[RAID]

In answer to your questions..

 

The V-max is considered an entry level race buggy. It's larger and better built and as a consequence more stable, but heavier. It has more extension on the downtube than most freestyle type buggies, so good for longer legs.

 

A swan neck down tube is a bent downtube in order to lower the buggies centre of gravity. They're mainly used in conjunction with larger wheels as larger wheels lift the buggy higher so you need to compensate.

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v292/russgunn/pm-swan-neck.jpg

[RAID]

Oh yeh, and you'd have no problems with a V-max on smaller patches. Just don't expect to do flying 360's in one!

[oc1rob]

I have a Vmax and a Flexi and fit both quite happily (6'2" / 1.88m)

Both are fine for general bugging, but the Vmax will deal with the speed a bit better.

 

In your fist post you mentioned that you liked the PL pluggable axle. If you want this feature but find the comp too small you could also consider the XR (stronger built and a bigger) or the RACE which you will have absolutely no problems fitting into.

[BFG]

I have a Vmax and am 6' 5" no problems at all and i have long legs. The L is for the size of the seat i believe. worth checking as the small ones are a bit tight if you have a big ar*e

 

 

 

BFG

[the_fettler]

im 6'5 and the vmax (swan neck) is about as far as it can go and its just perfect. Buy one you'll love it

[Hopewell]

I am 6ft 4 and use a Cameleon Pogona... I would NOT ride anything else now!! Lovely piece of creativity!! :D

 

If you are on a buget try to get one second hand, there have been a few knocking around recently...

 

But REMEMBER fly before you buy!

 

Try what ever takes your fancy... Cameleon will come out ontop

 

SB

[Sirblackadder]

Hi again.

 

The Flexifoil buggy is very difficult to get over here in Germany, the same with the Pogona. Hence, I am strongly leaning towards the V-Max.

 

Libre offers the "basic" V-Max in two different versions, one being made of full stainless steel, the other only partly.

 

What does this mean for the stability and durability of the buggy? And what material is used instead of stainless steel for the normal version?

 

Bye, Malte.

[oc1rob]

Hi again.

 

The Flexifoil buggy is very difficult to get over here in Germany, the same with the Pogona. Hence, I am strongly leaning towards the V-Max.

 

Libre offers the "basic" V-Max in two different versions, one being made of full stainless steel, the other only partly.

 

What does this mean for the stability and durability of the buggy? And what material is used instead of stainless steel for the normal version?

 

Bye, Malte.

 

Std Vmax is plastic coated mild steel (can rust if the coating is damaged) the stainless ones are refered to a V2a or V4A or something like that.

 

Mild steel is still pretty solid, you just need to look after it a bit more (i dont bother that much!) especially if you fly at the coast a lot

There is a big cost difference between the standard and the Stainless ones though!!

[Guest Flexi Moderator #1]

We (Flexifoil) do sell an extra long down tube. It retails at £49.95 (inc vat)

Extra Long Downtube (including front fork bushes) The product code 53103

This means even if you are very tall the standard flexifoil buggy will be okay for anyone up to about 6' 6".

Regarding getting hold of this part if you contact our european distributor -

Mellow, on [32] 58 52 45 49

Mellow will be able to put you in touch with someone, who will be able to help you get hold of this part (and buggy).

Hope this helps - cheers.

FM1:eek:

[Sirblackadder]

We (Flexifoil) do sell an extra long down tube. It retails at £49.95 (inc vat).

 

Thanks a lot for the information. Does this down tube fit with the wide wheels option?

 

Regards, Malte.

[RAID]

I'd imagine it's just steel and therefore not rust proof. If it's powder coated however you shouldn't have a problem.

[8015]

We (Flexifoil) do sell an extra long down tube. It retails at £49.95 (inc vat)

Peter Lynn also do one for their buggies - I think it fits all models, anyway there is one on the for sale forum somewhere!

 

I've never looked too closely at Vmaxs but they are very popular in the powder coated finish around here. I understand they are galvanised under the coating so it would take a lot more than a few scratches to make it rust (major areas of powder coating and zinc would need to be missing).

 

Decide what you want to do - tricks or speed. You will not always be flying on the same field, in fact if you really get the buggy bug you may find another site further away that you always go to instead. Flexi or Pl buggies make good sense for tricking, V-maxs or even bigger buggies if you will end up going for speed. Of course you can always sell a buggy if you change your ambitions! Look around on forums (find some German ones as you are in germany, I'm told really good bargains come up on them) and you will probably find exactly what you want for sale eventually.

 

JIM

[dave whale]

Hi i am 6ft 6ins tall and have no problems with a flexi foil buggy.If u are interested monkey nuts is selling a flexi buggy with many extras which includes, wide axle as well as ordinary axle. Plus extended front down tube plus 2 sets of wheels all u need 4 the tall person its on the 4sale pages.