Anyone had a speed-wobble on a MTB?
01-15-09, 02:07 AM
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Anyone had a speed-wobble on a MTB?
I've been reading another thread in the forum about speed-wobbles... all road bikes and road motorcycle accounts.
Road Bike:
https://nz.youtube.com/watch?v=xODNzyUbIHo
Road Motorbike:
https://nz.youtube.com/watch?v=RmtoOmq3ppw
I'm really curious if speed-wobbles ever happen on front or full suspension mountain bikes. Anyone here experienced a speed-wobble on a mountain bike (XC, FR, DH) or a motocross motorcycle?
Cheers!
.
Road Bike:
https://nz.youtube.com/watch?v=xODNzyUbIHo
Road Motorbike:
https://nz.youtube.com/watch?v=RmtoOmq3ppw
I'm really curious if speed-wobbles ever happen on front or full suspension mountain bikes. Anyone here experienced a speed-wobble on a mountain bike (XC, FR, DH) or a motocross motorcycle?
Cheers!
.
01-15-09, 03:44 AM
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I hate it when that happens. Makes me drop my beer.
01-15-09, 07:53 AM
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It happens to me when I am going down hill at high speed and I have a loaded pannier. I just brake a bit and as soon as it gets under a certain speed (say 50 mph) the wobble goes away. I have started keeping the speed lower on downhills lately anyway. No sense in getting killed.
01-15-09, 10:47 AM
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Never on an MTB; but, oh my lord yes, on a dirt bike. I remember it like it was yesterday. I was about 15 and on a friend's 250 Ossa Stiletto. I rapped it up into 4th on a long straightaway and set up for the corner - - and as soon as I chopped the throttle, it shook so violently it almost ripped the bars out of my hands.
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01-15-09, 11:06 AM
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I said Never - - not never . . . ever . . . wherever.
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01-15-09, 11:20 AM
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Yes, I had a bike with an old, worn out, headset that speed wobbled the faster I cycled. Fortunately it only really affected hands free riding.
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shameless POWERCRANK plug
Recommended reading for all cyclists - Cyclecraft - Effective Cycling
Condor Cycles - quite possibly the best bike shop in London
Don't run red lights, wear a helmet, use hand signals, get some cycle lights(front and rear) and, FFS, don't run red lights!
01-15-09, 01:17 PM
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Through the years I've been involved in the "dirt" side of motorcycling and cycling - and have never known or seen such a thing, until I read about it in a thread in this forum. Never seen it on a DH, or FR or even a BMX bike... or in motocross.
dminor, were you in a dirt track or the road when the 250cc Ossa wobbled?
Totoro, dirt or road downhill? Your MTB has a pannier??
.
dminor, were you in a dirt track or the road when the 250cc Ossa wobbled?
Totoro, dirt or road downhill? Your MTB has a pannier??
.
01-15-09, 01:49 PM
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Dirt. Bit of a braking-bump section. Wasn't a full-blown tank-slapper but it's as frighteningly close as I ever came to having one. Found out that Ossas were prone to that; had to learn to roll off the throttle a bit.
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01-15-09, 02:33 PM
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Almost had one on a high speed run coming down a hill. Some how I grabbed some brake and slowed down, but it was close (plus it was in traffic at fairly high speed).
01-15-09, 05:53 PM
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only on the road bike.
on pavement the fat tires seem to soak up any kind of wobble. on the trail i couldn't tell if it was speed wobbling because of how bumpy the ground is.
on pavement the fat tires seem to soak up any kind of wobble. on the trail i couldn't tell if it was speed wobbling because of how bumpy the ground is.
01-15-09, 09:35 PM
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I've had this happen repeatedly while riding no-hands on the road. Soon as I grab the bars it stops.
I still don't completely understand how it can occur while holding onto the handlebars.
I still don't completely understand how it can occur while holding onto the handlebars.
01-15-09, 10:01 PM
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On a different (and somewhat related topic...)
I've been running my tires at lower pressures lately, and I've noticed some wobbling with I'm cornering at speed. I'm guessing that the lateral forces are too much, with the tire inflated less than normal.
I've been running my tires at lower pressures lately, and I've noticed some wobbling with I'm cornering at speed. I'm guessing that the lateral forces are too much, with the tire inflated less than normal.
01-16-09, 05:13 AM
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OOOh! I remember that, I'd was picking scabs for weeks. My Dragstar used to get them pretty bad too, I dont think the cowboy bars really helped.
A mates CX500 (Honda road bike) was so clapped out the front shook like crazy everytime he braked, but none of my bikes ever did
A mates CX500 (Honda road bike) was so clapped out the front shook like crazy everytime he braked, but none of my bikes ever did
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01-16-09, 09:55 AM
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Never on the mtn bike, whether on or off road. On the road, it happens in a pretty narrow range, ~70-80 km/h. Faster or slower than that and I'm fine.
01-16-09, 06:13 PM
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Yep, my mid '90s Slingshot will do it. Had it happen while coasting on a paved downhill, sitting up hands free to drink.
Agressive geometry combined with the mid-frame 3M "spring" board.
Agressive geometry combined with the mid-frame 3M "spring" board.
01-16-09, 06:55 PM
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