Homemade Bicycle Sissy Bar
Sissy bars are often added to motorcycles to give the rider or passenger something to recline on. They are also used to attach bags or luggage, and carry-on bags called sissy bar bags can be found at many bike shops. In the 1960s, sissy bars were added to bicycles, including the popular Schwinn Sting-Ray.
What is a Sissy Bar?
Sissy bars are most commonly found on low-rider bicycles, allowing the rider to lean back while riding. Essentially, they are just a U-shaped bar strong enough to support the weight of a rider. They attach to a bicycle's rear axle and seat clamp. Without a sissy bar using both for support, the rider's weight or even a nasty pothole could send the sissy bar falling to the ground behind the bicycle, creating a potentially disastrous situation. Sissy bars are available in a variety of sizes, some peeking just a few inches above the seat while others stretching well over the rider's shoulders. Height depends on preference. Sissy bars are often just as much for show as for practicality. When riding fast, a bicyclist typically leans forward and does not use the sissy bar at all. When not installed for practical reasons, sissy bars are a customization to give a bicycle the appearance of a motorcycle. Typically, they are made of chrome or aluminum. The simplest sissy bars are just straight metal bars bent into a U-shape and then screwed into the bike's rear axle and seat. More complex sissy bars often have spirals twisted into the length of the bar, spikes soldered into the back or other designs built into the bar to make it stand out. Sissy bars can be a unique addition to give a bicycle individuality.
Make a Sissy Bar
The first part of making a sissy bar is selecting its material. The most important factors for a sissy bar are that it needs to be stable and it needs to be sturdy enough to support the rider's weight. Optimal materials are aluminum, chrome and any flexible metal. Sissy bars even can be made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe if you do not have the equipment to bend metal. If you use metal, a suitable rod should be cut to the appropriate length. Bending the rod can be done using a vice grip, or you can wrap it around a sturdy pole such as a lamppost and bend it with your bare hands. Once bent, the longest sides should be parallel and close enough to each other to attach to the bicycle's rear axle. Holes have to be drilled into the rod so it can screw into the axle and seat. If you opt for PVC pipe, you can use two separate straight pipes for the sides and a U-bend for the sissy bar's top. The customization, however, is all in the paint job and artistic designs you put on the sissy bar.
