Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[stevenh]

I went to take a ride on my 2020 SR/F last week and it suddenly felt very strange while riding.  It felt like the front end was really "heavy" while cornering and my rolling resistance felt higher than normal (even when backing the bike out from the garage).  I put it up on the stands and both wheels seem to roll freely, but the rear wheel might be a little "stiffer" than before.  How free should the rear wheel roll when off the ground with power off?  I'm thinking perhaps I lost a bearing on the motor or rear wheel (the front wheel is very free).

Steve

[JaimeC]

Did you check the air pressure in the tires?

[stevenh]

Did you check the air pressure in the tires?

Wow, something so basic and I did not think to check.  I am not very proud of myself, but the rear tire was very low.  I checked before the first ride of the season, must have picked up a slow leak.  Thanks!

She rides fine now.

Steve

[Specter]

there's always going to be a little resistance, especially if any energy is on the motor, ie it's on and you have regen set.


if you were losing a bearing, it'd be fairly noisy too, you should hear rattling, grinding, noises that just.. shouldn't be there.  heft the bike up on the stand, turn it on and give it a little whirl, see if you can see / hear anything that may be off on it.


with that out of the way, the rear wheel should not give you problems in the front as you describe.

front wheel is always going to go roundy roundy because there's nothing on it, unless you are dragging a brake
back wheel is always going to be a bit stiff, it's got a chain / belt on it and is driving a motor, which if it's energized ANY, even if you are not riding, is going to have some sort of field on it, which may give you... lets call it magnetic braking/resistance.  it won't go roundy roundy, it'll go, brrrR and come fairly quickly to a stop, because it's doing work, with no more active energy input to it, (you pushing it).

besides for cornering, any other oddities when riding, does it feel squishy, wants to wiggle around, which would indicate tire issues.

if you have a slow leak, you can get to the point where it suddenly feels like you are riding in mud.

with what jaime told you to do, tires should be checked every ride, as they often won't give you any indication they are low until it's very late in the game, and now they are critically low. 

if it is a tire and you were at the point where it was affecting your ride that significantly, you need to check your tires very carefully, as that can damage them really quick.  it won't be tread damage but cracking on the sidewalls and possible internal damage you didn't see.  keep an eye on them for bubbling and things that would require an immediate replacement.

aaron

[ESokoloff]

Consider a Bluetooth tire pressure monitoring system such as FOBO bike 2,
https://a.co/d/cSpZsvX 
Of course you’ll need to also mount your phone to your bike if you haven’t already.

[stevenh]

there's always going to be a little resistance, especially if any energy is on the motor, ie it's on and you have regen set.


if you were losing a bearing, it'd be fairly noisy too, you should hear rattling, grinding, noises that just.. shouldn't be there.  heft the bike up on the stand, turn it on and give it a little whirl, see if you can see / hear anything that may be off on it.


with that out of the way, the rear wheel should not give you problems in the front as you describe.

front wheel is always going to go roundy roundy because there's nothing on it, unless you are dragging a brake
back wheel is always going to be a bit stiff, it's got a chain / belt on it and is driving a motor, which if it's energized ANY, even if you are not riding, is going to have some sort of field on it, which may give you... lets call it magnetic braking/resistance.  it won't go roundy roundy, it'll go, brrrR and come fairly quickly to a stop, because it's doing work, with no more active energy input to it, (you pushing it).

besides for cornering, any other oddities when riding, does it feel squishy, wants to wiggle around, which would indicate tire issues.

if you have a slow leak, you can get to the point where it suddenly feels like you are riding in mud.

with what jaime told you to do, tires should be checked every ride, as they often won't give you any indication they are low until it's very late in the game, and now they are critically low. 

if it is a tire and you were at the point where it was affecting your ride that significantly, you need to check your tires very carefully, as that can damage them really quick.  it won't be tread damage but cracking on the sidewalls and possible internal damage you didn't see.  keep an eye on them for bubbling and things that would require an immediate replacement.

aaron

Thanks Aaron, it was the rear tire pressure (it was VERY low, I can't believe I did not check that first).  I ordered a new set of tires anyway since my Diablo Rosso III tires were nearly showing the wear bars..

Steve

[stevenh]

Consider a Bluetooth tire pressure monitoring system such as FOBO bike 2,
https://a.co/d/cSpZsvX 
Of course you’ll need to also mount your phone to your bike if you haven’t already.

Just ordered.  Those look great.  Thanks.

Steve

[T.S. Zarathustra]

Consider a Bluetooth tire pressure monitoring system such as FOBO bike 2,
https://a.co/d/cSpZsvX 
Of course you’ll need to also mount your phone to your bike if you haven’t already.

I personally prefer Tire Pressure Monitoring System with a dedicated display. Like attached screenshot. This display is rechargeable. Mine easily goes for 2-3 months without having to be charged. And I replace the batteries in the sensors when I replace the tires.

[JaimeC]

Did you check the air pressure in the tires?

Wow, something so basic and I did not think to check.  I am not very proud of myself, but the rear tire was very low.  I checked before the first ride of the season, must have picked up a slow leak.  Thanks!

She rides fine now.

Steve

I asked because the symptoms you described are EXACTLY the ones I feel whenever my tires get low. I know I SHOULD check the tire pressures before every ride, but... 

[MVetter]

Don't beat yourself up about not thinking about checking tire pressure. The takeaway here is that you were alert enough to notice a problem in the bike and attempt to diagnose it in the first place. Good on you.

[Tony]

I recently had a tire puncture and experienced the same, mine was on the front wheel. I always imagined a MC tire puncture would be quite dramatic, instead it just makes the bike feel "heavy" as you said.

[Specter]

Tony, don't let that lure you into a false sense of security that flat tires on a bike are no big deal now.
the bike can fishtail very bad, or flat out just throw you down on a flat.
going fast they are not that horrible, slowing down its bad, and don't forget riding on that can fiddle up your rim too.
those can get very expensive, especially if you are 'dual use' ing your bikes and have some cast rims or the oz on them or something.
200 for a new tire.  ehh not happy
2000 for a new rim... now im sick to my stomach. that's insurance claim territory there.

aaron

[2020_SRS_Commuter]

Did you check the air pressure in the tires?

Wow, something so basic and I did not think to check.  I am not very proud of myself, but the rear tire was very low.  I checked before the first ride of the season, must have picked up a slow leak.  Thanks!

She rides fine now.

Steve

Two suggestions
1) Spend 40$ on one of those chinese air pressure monitoring kits from amazon. Its worth it.
2) This is, evidently, not an issue any more but if you want to break out rolling resistance of the motor and wheel, take the belt off.