Comments on: A Speed Wobble, Could it be the Wheels? http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com/A_Speed_Wobble_Could_it_be_the_Wheels.html Perhaps the Best Hub on Cycling Information Fri, 23 Dec 2011 09:25:35 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: neil hasson http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com/A_Speed_Wobble_Could_it_be_the_Wheels.html#comment-1497 neil hasson Wed, 10 Mar 2010 08:54:01 +0000 http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com/?p=400#comment-1497 My Giant TCR, which is now 10 plus years old, has just developed the dreaded death wobble. I have been running the same set of Mavic Ksyrium Elite wheels for a few years so don't quite understand wht this has just started happening. On one ride I thought a trip to casualty was beckoning. i have not lost confidence in a bike that I have always loved and treasured. Any ideas / suggestions cheers Neil My Giant TCR, which is now 10 plus years old, has just developed the dreaded death wobble.

I have been running the same set of Mavic Ksyrium Elite wheels for a few years so don’t quite understand wht this has just started happening.

On one ride I thought a trip to casualty was beckoning. i have not lost confidence in a bike that I have always loved and treasured.

Any ideas / suggestions

cheers

Neil

]]> By: Paul \'Slim\' Morris http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com/A_Speed_Wobble_Could_it_be_the_Wheels.html#comment-120 Paul \'Slim\' Morris Fri, 14 Aug 2009 10:31:28 +0000 http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com/?p=400#comment-120 Speed Wobble is the bain of cyclists and motorcyclists, alike. Old Kawasaki 900's came factory equipped with a tank slapping wobble. It turned out the headstocks were welded onto the frame offset from center. For this reason I'd suggest looking at the dish on the wheels as opposed to trueness. My own Honda 750 had a wobble that was cured by putting brass swing arm bushings in place of the plastic stock bushings. Off-road cyclists should pay attention to the tightness of their suspension linkage. Speed Wobble is the bain of cyclists and motorcyclists, alike. Old Kawasaki 900′s came factory equipped with a tank slapping wobble. It turned out the headstocks were welded onto the frame offset from center. For this reason I’d suggest looking at the dish on the wheels as opposed to trueness. My own Honda 750 had a wobble that was cured by putting brass swing arm bushings in place of the plastic stock bushings. Off-road cyclists should pay attention to the tightness of their suspension linkage.

]]> By: Rob http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com/A_Speed_Wobble_Could_it_be_the_Wheels.html#comment-113 Rob Fri, 14 Aug 2009 10:26:41 +0000 http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com/?p=400#comment-113 I run standard 32 and 36 spoke wheels on my bikes and have never experienced wheel wobble the only issue i have is in the head angle of my old Falcon 531 frame its very light even a bit twitchy but if you ride with your hands on the bars it's not that much of a problem I do prefer riding my tange 2 frame tho I run standard 32 and 36 spoke wheels on my bikes and have never experienced wheel wobble the only issue i have is in the head angle of my old Falcon 531 frame its very light even a bit twitchy but if you ride with your hands on the bars it’s not that much of a problem I do prefer riding my tange 2 frame tho

]]> By: Rich http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com/A_Speed_Wobble_Could_it_be_the_Wheels.html#comment-110 Rich Fri, 14 Aug 2009 10:22:22 +0000 http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com/?p=400#comment-110 I have another shop doing a complete retension on the wheels per Ritcheys specs (which they sent me)The wheelset came on a BikesDirect Motobecane Imortal Force. I questioned the ability of the wheels prior to ordering and even asked if I could exchange or trade up to a stronger wheelset. (exchanged e-mails with someone named Karla)The E I got back said: Ritchey lists no weight limit on these wheels.The tires are Kenda Kaliente Pro 125psiI did replace the front wheel with a 36spoke V setup I run on my 91 Paramount for a trial."What" I discovered was-like automotive or motorcycle wheels/tires-you can't mix and match.(and I don't currently have access to a set of wheels with the 10spd.setup)The wobble comes at speed. Regardless of whether downhill (tho those bladed spokes are brutal with a crosswind or oncomming truck at speed)or flatline, once the speed gets much above 21/22 the twitchiness begins.The tires seem far to prone to 'tracking' any soft groove or depression (think those snakes of tar they use to patch cracks in the roads)they encounter.I'm hoping the 'other' LBS can shed some light on the matter. While I'm currently down to 205,I don't see me dropping into the 150 pound range in this lifetime. I've heard good things about the Easton EA90SLs (28/24(but at the price they're asking I need to be 100% sure it's the wheels.I will probably put the set of Vittoria Rubino Pros on and see if that helps any once the wheels come back. The VRs are a slower heavier tire but.... I have another shop doing a complete retension on the wheels per Ritcheys specs (which they sent me)The wheelset came on a BikesDirect Motobecane Imortal Force. I questioned the ability of the wheels prior to ordering and even asked if I could exchange or trade up to a stronger wheelset. (exchanged e-mails with someone named Karla)The E I got back said: Ritchey lists no weight limit on these wheels.The tires are Kenda Kaliente Pro 125psiI did replace the front wheel with a 36spoke V setup I run on my 91 Paramount for a trial.”What” I discovered was-like automotive or motorcycle wheels/tires-you can’t mix and match.(and I don’t currently have access to a set of wheels with the 10spd.setup)The wobble comes at speed. Regardless of whether downhill (tho those bladed spokes are brutal with a crosswind or oncomming truck at speed)or flatline, once the speed gets much above 21/22 the twitchiness begins.The tires seem far to prone to ‘tracking’ any soft groove or depression (think those snakes of tar they use to patch cracks in the roads)they encounter.I’m hoping the ‘other’ LBS can shed some light on the matter. While I’m currently down to 205,I don’t see me dropping into the 150 pound range in this lifetime. I’ve heard good things about the Easton EA90SLs (28/24(but at the price they’re asking I need to be 100% sure it’s the wheels.I will probably put the set of Vittoria Rubino Pros on and see if that helps any once the wheels come back. The VRs are a slower heavier tire but….

]]> By: M James Correia http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com/A_Speed_Wobble_Could_it_be_the_Wheels.html#comment-109 M James Correia Fri, 14 Aug 2009 10:21:41 +0000 http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com/?p=400#comment-109 Welcome to the world of cycling?? Yes I had the same problem with my Rolfs when desending, the cure is to match up the bike it self with the correct wheels, LBS should help you. Why does this happen ?? its called balance of the bike built and you the rider. Your weight and the bikes equip. are very important. The cure for me was to use a set of velomax rims and use the rolfs on my other bike that was alittle smaller. I now ride with the prefect match of wheels to size bike ratio using weight as the common plan. Heavy bike 15 pounds lighter wheel; lighter bike heavy wheels its prefect. Welcome to the world of cycling?? Yes I had the same problem with my Rolfs when desending, the cure is to match up the bike it self with the correct wheels, LBS should help you. Why does this happen ?? its called balance of the bike built and you the rider. Your weight and the bikes equip. are very important. The cure for me was to use a set of velomax rims and use the rolfs on my other bike that was alittle smaller. I now ride with the prefect match of wheels to size bike ratio using weight as the common plan. Heavy bike 15 pounds lighter wheel; lighter bike heavy wheels its prefect.

]]> By: John http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com/A_Speed_Wobble_Could_it_be_the_Wheels.html#comment-107 John Fri, 14 Aug 2009 10:19:51 +0000 http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com/?p=400#comment-107 Make sure you check your tires (and tubes) to see if they are the culprit. Make sure you check your tires (and tubes) to see if they are the culprit.

]]> By: BIKE MAN http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com/A_Speed_Wobble_Could_it_be_the_Wheels.html#comment-106 BIKE MAN Fri, 14 Aug 2009 10:19:18 +0000 http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com/?p=400#comment-106 ok rich two things that i would look into, i think your wheels are to light for your waight i see u are running 20 spoke in the front and 24 in the rear thats allmost my light race wheels the rims are flexing from side to side.YOU did not say what kind of tires that you have allso i would look at the tires if the rimes are flexing side to side u may have worn a spot on the tires allso like a car thats out of alignment.i hope this will help and happy and safe rideing ok rich two things that i would look into, i think your wheels are to light for your waight i see u are running 20 spoke in the front and 24 in the rear thats allmost my light race wheels the rims are flexing from side to side.YOU did not say what kind of tires that you have allso i would look at the tires if the rimes are flexing side to side u may have worn a spot on the tires allso like a car thats out of alignment.i hope this will help and happy and safe rideing

]]> By: Steve C http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com/A_Speed_Wobble_Could_it_be_the_Wheels.html#comment-96 Steve C Fri, 14 Aug 2009 09:50:41 +0000 http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com/?p=400#comment-96 I have a fairly new set of Mavic Ksyrium Elite wheels that do not seem to wobble at speed when I ride holding the handlebars. When I let go, the front wheel starts a gentle wobble that rapidly develops into a very significant wobble.I recently experienced a glass puncture flat on the front and had to replace the tire. I do not believe I have a wheel problem, I believe it is an unbalanced tire/tube combination or the tread pattern that’s causing this problem.As soon as I replace the tire (again) and tube I’ll know but for now I’m going to live with this minor inconvenience as I don’t care to ride with no hands…usually not a good thing anyway. I have a fairly new set of Mavic Ksyrium Elite wheels that do not seem to wobble at speed when I ride holding the handlebars. When I let go, the front wheel starts a gentle wobble that rapidly develops into a very significant wobble.I recently experienced a glass puncture flat on the front and had to replace the tire. I do not believe I have a wheel problem, I believe it is an unbalanced tire/tube combination or the tread pattern that’s causing this problem.As soon as I replace the tire (again) and tube I’ll know but for now I’m going to live with this minor inconvenience as I don’t care to ride with no hands…usually not a good thing anyway.

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