moskitOS - A recumbent trike you can make mostly from wood (thelemmy.club)

submitted 2 weeks ago by livligkinkajou@slrpnk.net to c/libre_hardware@lemmy.ml

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cross-posted from: https://slrpnk.net/post/37376302

Full construction and details at moskitos.org

Source: https://mas.to/@meganL/116471791500973082

This is one of the people/teams competing for an innovation prize at #Spezi2026. A recumbent trike you can make mostly from wood. "Open source" (I put it in quotes because I know definitions vary and I'm not clear which one this uses).

I'm told the cost was about 1,200, but that is a lot less than a similar recumbent trike with a metal welded frame would cost for materials (not to mention the labor time, skills).

Front wheel drive and the whole rear moves with the handlebars.

"Based on a concept invented more than 10 years ago by two brothers, the moskitOS tilts and turns thanks to the clever use of an articulated trapeze that allows the whole front section, including the rider, to lean when cornering! This solution also has the advantage of driving the front wheel directly, avoiding the classic long transmission chain used on almost all similar vehicles."

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[-] Trex202@lemmy.world 7 points 2 weeks ago

When the pedals are ahead of the front tire, it becomes a Bullpup Trike

[-] PeterLinuxer@lemmy.ml 7 points 2 weeks ago

I like the idea. But why does it cost 1200,- dollars? I mean wood and metal is not THAT expensive.

[-] MachineFab812@discuss.tchncs.de 8 points 2 weeks ago

Looks like that's the Bill-of-Materials if an individual sources the exact parts they specify at retail. That's without including the value of the tools one would need to own already, plus skills with said tools, and time

Basically, a BoM is used in the DIY space to give one a realistic idea of what a project will cost them "at a minimum" - it's not a "with profit for us" "price", it's a "don't go into this half-assed and come after/bash us months/years later for mis-leading you about what's possible with fuck-all for skills, resources, or perseverance".

I would like to think I could get it done much cheaper, in the way a shade-tree mechanic can keep an absolute piece-of-trash on the road for years, but won't sell or recommend it to a friend, but even more-so, I would rather spend the time and resources making something I could be proud to pass-on to a beloved family-member or best-friend, so "$1200" is the minimum figure I'm going to use when deciding whether to commit to this project.

https://moskitos.org/en/do-it-yourself/

[-] livligkinkajou@slrpnk.net 3 points 2 weeks ago

I don't know where those numbers came from, tbh. A year ago they had some CNC wood kits that cost € 170

[-] PeterLinuxer@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 weeks ago

Ah, thanks for the clarification. 170,- € sounds good :)

[-] Batmorous@lemmy.world 2 points 1 week ago

This is just from 1 to a few people that made it so imagine how much awesome stuff we can get made with an open source vehicle/public transit international movement for making all kinds of stuff!

I want that movement more than ever before

this post was submitted on 04 May 2026

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