spokewrench
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
For 3 years, I've wondered how to measure frame flex on my Abound. Maybe Jesus finally gave up on me and showed me the way. 
The bike was on its center stand. I stepped across the BB and pressed the display button to see the state of charge. Four feet below the display, I saw the tire move. Light seesaw pressure on the bars moved the tire from side to side. My butt was against the saddle, so I knew it didn't move. Normally, the center stand lifts the back wheel and leaves the front on the ground. That's why it hadn't happened before. This time, a weight on the rack held the back wheel down and let the front hang. Each time I put pressure on the bars, the battery creaked: another sign of flexing.
Between my thumb and forefinger, I pinched the joint where the fork assembly comes from the bottom of the steering tube. I felt no movement between them when I used my other hand to push and pull the forks, side to side. I checked the joint at the top of the tube the same way. Twisting of the downtube was the only answer.
I put a brick against the tire on each side, then applied seesaw pressure to the bars. The moving tire pushed the bricks 20mm farther apart.
i guess if you sell a bike with such a glaring fault, customers like me will beat a path to your door to buy a newer model.
The bike was on its center stand. I stepped across the BB and pressed the display button to see the state of charge. Four feet below the display, I saw the tire move. Light seesaw pressure on the bars moved the tire from side to side. My butt was against the saddle, so I knew it didn't move. Normally, the center stand lifts the back wheel and leaves the front on the ground. That's why it hadn't happened before. This time, a weight on the rack held the back wheel down and let the front hang. Each time I put pressure on the bars, the battery creaked: another sign of flexing.
Between my thumb and forefinger, I pinched the joint where the fork assembly comes from the bottom of the steering tube. I felt no movement between them when I used my other hand to push and pull the forks, side to side. I checked the joint at the top of the tube the same way. Twisting of the downtube was the only answer.
I put a brick against the tire on each side, then applied seesaw pressure to the bars. The moving tire pushed the bricks 20mm farther apart.
i guess if you sell a bike with such a glaring fault, customers like me will beat a path to your door to buy a newer model.
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