[Zen]

So, I'm willing to post this and look stupid. Flame away if needed.

I was riding yesterday and changed lanes on the freeway. I believe I hit a buckle in the road, felt like riding over a curb. I was going about 60 and it popped me off the seat and jarred my arms pretty well. Never really felt out of control - stayed on no problem.

The problem is that I don't see any obvious signs of damage. Wheel looks good, forks look good, no leaking that I can see. My mind keeps telling me that something doesn't feel the same, though I cannot find anything obvious. It just doesn't feel as smooth, but part of me just wonders if it is in my mind.

While I've done my share of work on the bike, I'm no expert (obviously) and not a mechanic. Before I decide to take it in and get reamed on labor charges, what can I look for?

 

[hogcowboy]

First thing that comes to my mind is to see if you can see any signs that you might have knocked a wheel weight off. Other than that I'd just ride it out for a while until I could figure out something more specific. Or you just may be a little suspicious.:icon_susp

 

[BillM]

You can look for the other half of the cat you ran over...

 

[jstar61]

No flaming here.
If you have a jack, jack it up and spin the tires to make sure they are true.
Could you have lost a weight from one of your wheels?

 

[speed59]

Hey, better to be paranoid on two wheels than to be in ambulance wondering if you should have been ! Check it out until you're satisfied!

 

[Zen]

Thanks folks!

I did think about wheel weights, but since I didn't know how many were there to begin with, I wasn't sure.

I jacked it up and will tie the handle bars straight and use a carpenter square to see if it is true.

 

[yfx4]

I agree. My first thought was that the triple tree could be tweeked out of alignment. use a square, sight down the tubes, etc.

 

[jstar61]

Thanks folks!

I did think about wheel weights, but since I didn't know how many were there to begin with, I wasn't sure.

I jacked it up and will tie the handle bars straight and use a carpenter square to see if it is true.

FWIW...If you don't find anything obvious, I would hold off taking it to a dealer, ride it around for a while. Your probably just being overly cautious, which is a good thing. I've done the same thing myself. Chances are a dealer would do less than what you are doing, and either find something mysterious or tell you there is nothing wrong.

 

[Zen]

The only thing I notice is the brake pad rubs on the rotor slightly in about 1/4 of it. It does add friction, but doesn't stop the wheel from turning. I couldn't really detect alignment or bent area of the rotor.

 

[2manytoys]

Give yourself some time on the bike. It may be your brain and may need to recover a bit. It is a very powerful processor and sometimes overreacts trying to keep you safe

 

[Gonzo1970]

No flames.... legitimate concern..

I would:

Check the rim... with my finger. Run your finger on the lip of the rim and feel for any deformaties.

Check the tire. CLOSE. A hit like that can pop a belt. Spin the tire, and put your hand on it (gently) and any abnormalities... ditch the tire.

Honestly, it could be a wheel weight popped off, but that would be a shake, vibration, or Shimmy.... You didnt say any of that. It just "dont feel right". Could that be in your head? Yes. Is it? Probably not.


Better safe than sorry, brother.

-Gonz

 

[desert rat]

Hold a stait edge of some kind at the center of the tread and rotate the tires(fender to tread) see if it rises and falls. The if you have a way to reair the tires deflate them and do it again, Sometimes belt problem manifest them selfs in the deflated state. If you have spoke weights they will come off on real hard hit to the tire.

 

[hawkvtx]

Usually a weight will leave some kind of mark or sign where it was. One that's clamped on the wheel usually leaves a tell-tale sign of where it was. The stick on kind is more obvious. Check for marks where a weight may have been. Then switch to dynabeads. I got tired of tossing weights and made the switch.

 

[h.arachnid]

Paranoid is good, checking is wise, but everything may be fine. I hit a 4" deep pothole at about 35, thought I'd popped a tire! Careful inspection then, and thorough inspection when I got home showed no damage, everything aligned and true. These bikes are tough!

But I had never paid such close attention to the feel as I did on the ride home, and every vibration worried me.

 

[jrh_67]

I had something similar to me when I wasn't paying enough attention and hit a railroad track at speed. Somehow the bike dipped down and my butt stayed up and when the bike came back up it almost put me over the handlebars....looked like a cartoon I'm sure! I really thought I had bent a rim afterwards but after getting home and checking everything out and a few rides later realized it was all in my mind! Was a pucker moment for sure though and I can only imagine how much my friends would love to have a video tape of that moment...lol

 

[wren]

Sometimes paranoia is just smart thinking.

Wren

 

[Charlie D]

to be safe you can reseat the axle per the book to make sure it is still square

 

[RRCCBB]

PAranoid..... just kidding really check it until u are satisfied. the bike need to be right for u to be safe. and a good nights rest will settle your nerves.

HKinda of Ironic I almost hit a large rachet buckle on the way to work yesterday. there was 2 of them I had to do a s manuver to avoid them .....I may have been a little to close to the cage infront on me ...only doin 30 mph but I know beter..

Be safe and always check the ride before headin out and especally after a big bump
Glad you are safe and listen to the guys above they know there stuff

 

[Zen]

All the help is appreciated. I took it out yesterday and still feel something is amiss.

Basically it feels as though I can feel more of the road and that the ride is not as smooth. Not an obvious wobble, just a vibration of sorts.

I will work through a methodical plan of checks from those mentioned above and find a smooth parking lot to test in.

I will update as I do this in case it helps others through similar issues someday.

Sent from my SCH-I510 using Tapatalk

 

[w3jnp]

I was riding yesterday and changed lanes on the freeway. I believe I hit a buckle in the road, felt like riding over a curb. I was going about 60 and it popped me off the seat and jarred my arms pretty well. Never really felt out of control - stayed on no problem.

Come on up to Pennsylvania. Our roads are teriffic. We are the only state that can turn a pothole into a speedbump. What you describe is what we consider smooth road. +1 on check the wheel weight.