Answers for why the bike wobbles back and forth when standing on the pedals and working it

Asked by: Gregory Clampton

The pedals are left and right from the contact point between tires and ground, and when standing up one needs to compensate the twisting force from pedaling by twisting the handlebars the opposite way. This wastes strength, but the force can be reduced by moving the pedal closer to contact line by tilting the bike.

What causes bike to wobble?

In bikes, speed wobble starts when something causes the front wheel to accelerate to one side. This could be something as simple as the rider shivering on a cold descent, the rider sneezing, a gust of wind, a bump in the road, or perhaps even a wheel that’s not quite true.

How do I stop my bike from wobbling?

First, if you have time and sufficient room to do so, lightly hit your bike’s rear brake. Understand that applying the brake could enhance the wobble, but it will also slow down your bike. As you slow, the wobble will stop at a lower rate than it started at.

Why does my bike back wheel wobble?

One of the most common causes for a rear-wheel wobble is misaligned spokes. If your spokes are not evenly tensioned on either side of your bike, then this can cause some serious problems. Have any one of these spokes become too loose or too tight and you’ll likely see a wobbling wheel while biking down the road.

Why did the front wheel of the bicycle wobble?

“Shimmy is caused by the gyroscopic force of the front wheel whose tilt is roughly at right angles to the steering axis, making the wheel steer to the left when it leans to the left. This steering action twists the top tube and down tube, storing energy that both limits travel and causes a return swing.

How do you deal with speed wobbles?

Get low, relax your legs and focus on keeping your upper body over your board and positioned slightly forward. Attack the hill and if your board starts to wobble, stay relaxed and confident. Practice Slowing Down & Stopping!

What is a death wobble?

Death wobble happens in Jeeps, 4x4s, and trucks when rapidly rotating steering wheel components cause your steering wheel to move rapidly from side to side. This causes your vehicle to feel like it’s about to fall apart and you want to hold onto the steering wheel for dear life.

How do you deal with speed wobble on a motorcycle?

Quote from video: While gently rolling off the throttle. If it's a violent shake. You're not going to be able to overcome it with your strength. So don't grab hold of the handlebars.

Why does my motorcycle wobble at low speeds?

The most likely causes are the front tire, either the brand or the wear it has recieved, and the steering head bearings. A bearing problem is usually just about being a little loosely adjusted. Tourance and road or trail attack tires like to wobble even when new for example. Also make sure the fork legs are parallel.

How do you fix a loose bike rear wheel?

Quote from video: Now what you want to do is first figure out if your bicycle wheel is wobbly. And where it's wobbly so to do that you want to sort of line up your eye roughly with the brake pad you want a good view of

How do you balance a rear bike wheel?

Quote from video: For sideways and up-and-down movement to adjust the tension in this box you will need a spoke key such as this. There are various sizes.

How tight should wheels be on bike?

So how tight should front bike wheels be? Tight enough that the wheel does not feel loose when you rotate it. You can test this by turning the bike upside down and spinning it. If it is wobbling or there is any sideways movement, it is too loose.

How tight should bike spokes be?

Put your thumb around one spoke and your fingers around the spoke next to it and squeeze. The spokes should feel tight and firm. They should have just a little give when you squeeze them fairly hard.