Currently, we are able to supply a detailed blueprint for the Longtail or the Xtrabike, including Metric and English dimensions. Each set of plans will include several views, and cursory assembly recommendations. We are currently planning a more comprehensive "Project Manual for Self-Led Production of Load Carrying Bicycles". The creation of this Project Manual will be funded by a generous grant from the Korein Foundation, and will take place in 2006.
The current plans will be enough for an experienced welder to fabricate a Longtail or an Xtrabike.
- The Xtrabike is compatible with 26" mountain bikes.
- The Longtail is really designed more for the Chinese single speeds, such as Flying Pigeon, Neelam, Phoenix, and Forever.
Permitted Uses:
XAccess technologies are the intellectual property of Xtracycle, Inc. and Xtracycle Access Foundation. As such, we must review your intended use of the plans prior to releasing them. The plans are generally available to individuals and small organizations for a small fee (see below).
Above: Area of detail from XAccess cargo bicycle plans.
Below is a list of hypothetical examples of acceptable uses of XAccess plans:
- I represent a small community-based nonprofit in Thailand, and I would like to make some Longtail bicycles for our village.
- I work for a technical vocational school in Senegal, and I would like to use the Xtrabike as one of our class projects.
- I travel back and forth to Uganda, where I volunteer for an economic development NGO that serves fisherman on Lake Victoria. I would like to sell Longtail bikes to the fisherman.
- I live in a sustainable community in the United States and I would like to use the Xtrabike for my family/community transportation.
Some uses of XAccess technologies are more widespread or more comprehensive and therefore deserve a more in depth partnership agreement prior to us releasing plans. Here are some examples of such uses:
- I work for a large international NGO that is looking to include a transportation offering in our African programs. I would like to purchase plans and pass them on to our programs officer for Sub-Saharan Africa.
- I work for a prominent bicycle importer serving East Africa. I would like to provide a low-cost cargo bicycle in addition to our current line of bicycles. I would like to purchase plans and pass them on to our factory in India for production of a trial run.
- I work for a large bicycle nonprofit that ships used bicycles to developing countries. I would like to purchase plans for XAccess bicycles and produce them in the United States to ship to Africa and Central America.
For all of the examples above, a more in-depth conversation is required in order to develop a shared plan that will best serve the target group.
If you are ready to receive blueprints, please follow the instructions below:
FOR DELIVERY BY MAIL:
Please send a money order for $35 to Xtracycle Access Foundation, 1336 Channing Way, Berkeley, CA 94702. If you would like to make a payment online, you can use the online service PayPal to send us the money by email. To make a PayPal payment, you must register at www.paypal.com. Then send a $35 payment to donations@xaccess.org . Please include a brief letter explaining your intended use of the XAccess plans.
FOR ELECTRONIC DELIVERY OF XACCESS PLANS:
To receive plans by email, please use PayPal to send $21 to donations@xaccess.org. Or send us a check at Xtracycle Access Foundation, 1336 Channing Way, Berkeley, CA 94702. Please include a brief email explaining your intended use of the XAccess plans.
ADDITIONAL DONATIONS:
Any additional donation you or your organization can make to XAccess will be
directed towards the Project Book for Self-Led Load, described above.
QUESTIONS?
Please email techinfo AT xaccess.org .
CONTINUED CORRESPONDENCE:
If you have a success story or photographs of you and your team using the Longtail or the Xtrabike, please stay in touch with us. These testimonials and photos are very helpful to us in improving the products themselves, our plans and instructions, and our fundraising.
