Don't take your hands off the handlebars of your ebike !

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This should be obvious but apparently its not. Seriously people, its DUMB. If you are checking for 'wobble' in the front wheel then very likely you will GET IT. Here's why... on an ebike, you not only have cables from gears and brakes going up to the handlebar, but also you have a wiring harness to the display, AND, you have extra signal cables going to each brake lever. The combination of wires and cables have varying degrees of tension, and without any hands on your handle bars, the front wheel could very easily turn to one side when you let go of the handlebars. (we get it...when you were a kid with a coaster brake bike and no gears you did the old 'look ma, no hands' - you THOUGHT you were "cool." Well you are not a kid anymore and these are not cable free bikes, and are powered by motors that are pushing you likely beyond your capability if you are even remotely considering doing such a thing just to 'see what happens') . The ebikes cables going to the handlebars could easily create a slight pull to one side or the other, and part of it also depends how they may be wrapped, or even the stiffness/tightness of one of the hydraulic brake cables. So yes, to answer your curiosity, there will not only likely be "wobble" (which is not relevant to telling you anything important about your ebike's road worthiness), but you will also most likely wipe out and injure yourself. So if you REALLY want to see if your ebike's front wheel will wobble (for only God knows why you'd want to do that), then go ahead completely remove all cables, and see what happens. SMH. Anywho, this should go without saying, but may I suggest simply you keep your hands on the wheel at ALL times, head up, and eyes on the road. PLEASE ! And wear a HELMET ! (and yes I have been asked this question as a dealer)
 
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Deleted Member 4210 said:
This should be obvious but apparently its not. Seriously people, its DUMB. If you are checking for 'wobble' in the front wheel then very likely you will GET IT. Here's why... on an ebike, you not only have cables from gears and brakes going up to the handlebar, but also you have a wiring harness to the display, AND, you have extra signal cables going to each brake lever. The combination of wires and cables have varying degrees of tension, and without any hands on your handle bars, the front wheel could very easily turn to one side when you let go of the handlebars. (we get it...when you were a kid with a coaster brake bike and no gears you did the old 'look ma, no hands' - you THOUGHT you were "cool." Well you are not a kid anymore and these are not cable free bikes, and are powered by motors that are pushing you likely beyond your capability if you are even remotely considering doing such a thing just to 'see what happens') . The ebikes cables going to the handlebars could easily create a slight pull to one side or the other, and part of it also depends how they may be wrapped, or even the stiffness/tightness of one of the hydraulic brake cables. So yes, to answer your curiosity, there will not only likely be "wobble" (which is not relevant to telling you anything important about your ebike's road worthiness), but you will also most likely wipe out and injure yourself. So if you REALLY want to see if your ebike's front wheel will wobble (for only God knows why you'd want to do that), then go ahead completely remove all cables, and see what happens. SMH. Anywho, this should go without saying, but may I suggest simply you keep your hands on the wheel at ALL times, head up, and eyes on the road. PLEASE ! And wear a HELMET ! (and yes I have been asked this question as a dealer)
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The folks who ride seriously slack bikes do it all the time. Even over somewhat rough ground.
 
I dont know why you should care if its not directly affecting you, I get it safety is important. Should people also wear helmets and wear seatbelts? Sure, but do people like being lectured about doing so? I dont think so.

I ride my ebike on cruise control with no handlebars sometimes, I do it knowing all the risks and what could happen, thats on me. Is that any of your business if could I fall and crack my face open? I mean I dunno...
 
ki11a said:
I dont know why you should care if its not directly affecting you, I get it safety is important. Should people also wear helmets and wear seatbelts? Sure, but do people like being lectured about doing so? I dont think so.

I ride my ebike on cruise control with no handlebars sometimes, I do it knowing all the risks and what could happen, thats on me. Is that any of your business if could I fall and crack my face open? I mean I dunno...
Click to expand...

I can sympathize with your sentiments but I can sure see Mike's position. He sells a lot of bikes and has lots of customers he knows and some he knows well. I'm sure it pains him greatly when he sees some of his people get hurt and sometimes hurt badly.
 
Yeah I am equally on the same boat, neither for or against really...just something to talk and ponder about.
 
heheh I only do it if I am super tired and its a good straightway road without any hazards...it sure makes for some funny looks from people driving, seeing a 'self driving bike'.
 
ki11a said:
I ride my ebike on cruise control with no handlebars sometimes
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I think this is what they meant. Handlebars are a necessary bike component for turning. o_O I want to know where you mount the brake levers when you remove the handlebars for a ride:p Kidding!

I sometimes will go hands free on a path/trail to give my back a break. Pedal assist, class 1 and going 10mph. It's not a cool thing as I only do it when nobody's around. Just a quick position change on a long ride. One of my bikes can't be ridden this way due to a wobble.
 
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I have found My Vado is So well balanced I can easily ride a 1/2 mile or More no handed : I do use precautions : I keep it in eco and stay under-17MPH >

It also occurred to Me that COURT and Crew Regularly test stability going no handed . Court does it every Video . Even over bumpy areas when doing their E-Bike Reviews : IMO going No hands I did as a Kid for sometimes the whole ride > We never thought about it being dangerous: I ride with People that are scared to try it : For them I would say don't :

Lets be fair Some people just aren't as coordinated as others are : We aren't all equal in most arenas . I would never promote going no handed to anyone : There are also certain bike paths I wouldn't : I've also ridden bikes that going hands Free didn't seem the smartest idea :

Kinda like wearing a Mask : I personally KNOW Masks are Stupid : But I would never say that to someone who believes they are being protected by wearing one > Although I have to admit Going no hands is likely 100 times more dangerous then going mask-less will ever be : Scientifically Speaking that is :)
 
I think Mike is well intentioned and correct in his opinion. Personally, I think it is foolish for anyone no matter what age to ride without hands. Should an animal or or automobile, or pothole or whatever you encounter and you have no control of your bike steering, you are probably going down. The fall could easily result in breaking teeth, facial and body fractures and the least, damaging your expensive bike. Good for you Mike, in my opinion, you’re 100% correct.
 
Bigal1463 said:
I think Mike is well intentioned and correct in his opinion. Personally, I think it is foolish for anyone no matter what age to ride without hands. Should an animal or or automobile, or pothole or whatever you encounter and you have no control of your bike steering, you are probably going down. The fall could easily result in breaking teeth, facial and body fractures and the least, damaging your expensive bike. Good for you Mike, in my opinion, you’re 100% correct.
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You don't have to explain what a fall can do, I think that's obvious. There are two kinds of cyclists; those that have had a broken collarbone, and those that will.
 
I'm too old to ride the hands-free style. I'm not a kid anymore, and the high speed of e-bike is something very different from riding a folder I used to ride when I was very young. Valid points Mike!

P.S. Try to drive your car hands-free if you think riding e-bike hands-free is cool.
 
BarryS said:
Kinda like wearing a Mask : I personally KNOW Masks are Stupid : But I would never say that to someone who believes they are being protected by wearing one
Click to expand...
Ok, I'll bite. No one outside of a medical pro donning PPE under supervision thinks that wearing a mask will protect the wearer. But in the herd, as it were, mutual mask wearing protects us from each other's mouth and nasal ejections and exhalations. If you're the only person in the room not wearing a mask, you're the asshole. The mask on your own face doesn't protect you, but everyone around you wearing a mask does protect you.

Back on topic, yes, wear the helmet. Always. Safety of hands free varies with the ebike, no problem with a 4 inch stable fatty for me riding on PAS in mid-teens speed, though I don't try to turn hands free since I have the front fork set kind of soft.
 
Deleted Member 4210 said:
This should be obvious but apparently its not. Seriously people, its DUMB. If you are checking for 'wobble' in the front wheel then very likely you will GET IT. Here's why... on an ebike, you not only have cables from gears and brakes going up to the handlebar, but also you have a wiring harness to the display, AND, you have extra signal cables going to each brake lever. The combination of wires and cables have varying degrees of tension, and without any hands on your handle bars, the front wheel could very easily turn to one side when you let go of the handlebars. (we get it...when you were a kid with a coaster brake bike and no gears you did the old 'look ma, no hands' - you THOUGHT you were "cool." Well you are not a kid anymore and these are not cable free bikes, and are powered by motors that are pushing you likely beyond your capability if you are even remotely considering doing such a thing just to 'see what happens') . The ebikes cables going to the handlebars could easily create a slight pull to one side or the other, and part of it also depends how they may be wrapped, or even the stiffness/tightness of one of the hydraulic brake cables. So yes, to answer your curiosity, there will not only likely be "wobble" (which is not relevant to telling you anything important about your ebike's road worthiness), but you will also most likely wipe out and injure yourself. So if you REALLY want to see if your ebike's front wheel will wobble (for only God knows why you'd want to do that), then go ahead completely remove all cables, and see what happens. SMH. Anywho, this should go without saying, but may I suggest simply you keep your hands on the wheel at ALL times, head up, and eyes on the road. PLEASE ! And wear a HELMET ! (and yes I have been asked this question as a dealer)
Click to expand...
Yes mommy.🤨
 
Hey thanks to the poster I actually am very appreciative of this post I have a very high powered 160 NM ebike and when I took my hands off for a moment the wheel started shaking and I assumed that there was something wrong with the bike out of balance or wheel problem etc. so thank you for making me understand the obvious
 
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