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The MOD project was a great opportunity to do something you would want to do as a 6 year old boy: design your own big wheel. We are not talking about a $29 big wheel at the big box store - we're talking about an aluminum-framed-power-drifting-awesome machine!
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/83704c60c27922c5828821e26a20bdae/b69cc94a6cd6bf1a035b4a81391a6166a7cf86c1616c74d494cff9462faf1e4a98695ad24e91e5a0_rw_600.jpg?h=1d71af6bd6af6bd92fea7da4e1f33c7a)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/83704c60c27922c5828821e26a20bdae/d8e64fb4e3ff56271daf415b872f850b2d352fad15f13dca071be80875e1ac709156b8f87634e2f2_rw_1200.jpg?h=74e62f9c87ef3b36970d4340ed1ccf72)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/83704c60c27922c5828821e26a20bdae/0ec2e5d0922dd17be266427c2c49f38bd945d6b1657a540aede682377ea230ccbc39a74bf54efe61_rw_1200.jpg?h=714f5094f9a197ca1f3ec30dc4b5dd75)
Sketch concepts - I did a few quick sizing studies based on current products. The product manager wanted to add a special feature: make it adult-rideable. So the geometry needed to be able to stretch a bit...
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/83704c60c27922c5828821e26a20bdae/1826775f167ab8317d7e5994e36f2a70ab2879b64458b963f81cef26995283689030253e5c02bf51_rw_1200.jpg?h=dab3d37486a9b5a559b31884077fa42d)
We got the first proto back from our vendor (there was still snow on the ground) and did an indoor test with various aged children. We found a few surprises like the brake levers - too far of reach for such little hands! We modified them accordingly. The painted wheels didn't work as planned on polished concrete either...
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Unintended user scenario: Travis Pastrana. The man took a MOD and back flipped it (among other stunts) It is rather amazing he did not break his neck, and amazing the MOD held up to the test!